The Creative MUVO series has been a popular line of portable, weather-proof speakers produced over the past decade in various shapes, sizes and features. The last MUVO product was the MUVO Play launched in September 2019. After more than three years, Creative has finally released a follow-up to the MUVO series.
Progressively, Creative has simplified the list of features with each new model. No longer does the current MUVO speakers support microSD card slots, NFC pairing, or 3.5mm inputs. In the new MUVO Go, even the speakerphone function has been removed. The IPX7 rated speaker can withstand submerging underwater up to 30 minutes, even when the USB-C port is not sealed, just like a smartphone. I suppose the removal of the connection ports and storage slots reduce the risk of accidental exposure to water due to loose rubber seals.
The MUVO Go delivers stereo sound of up to 20W with two Neodymium drivers and a pair of passive bass radiators to pump out strong bass. It’s a familiar design style popularised by JBL Flip, where the bass radiator is exposed at the sides and be visually entertained with the vibrating diaphragms. LIke previous MUVO models, you can pair two MUVO Go to enjoy bigger stereo sound stage via Wireless Stereo Link.
Once the speaker is turned on, it goes into Bluetooth pairing mode automatically, and auto connects the last-paired device. To pair to a new device, press and hold the Bluetooth icon button. The three bright-coloured buttons on the top of the speaker controls playback and volume, presenting a distinctive style. I would say Creative missed an opportunity here to design the “Play/pause” triangle button with the stylised “A” letter from their brand logo.
As it turns out, the MUVO Go is the largest MUVO speaker launched by far, and there can only be one good thing about large speakers, that is, louder, more dynamic sounding, and a larger battery capacity up to 18 hours of playback time. I was thoroughly impressed at how the MUVO Go fills my living room effortlessly with wider open sound, as if playing from a larger pair of speakers. The treble brilliance projects confidently while the lower bass delivers audible resonance though limited by the room acoustics, hence the sub-bass cannot achieve the same reverberating effect as a subwoofer, which is actually within my expectations. As I push the volume to the limit, songs like Billie Eilish “Bad Guy” plays without distortion.
The waterproof rugged design makes it a perfect speaker in wet settings, like the bathroom or by the pool. Take note that the MUVO Go is not omni-directional, so the speaker drivers can only project in one direction and not quite ideal in an outdoor setting.
I still have an old JBL Flip 3 and comparatively, the Flip 3 treble is too bright and harsh. On the MUVO Go, the treble is bright and controlled, the midrange is less forward, delivering a rather clean-sounding V-shaped tuning. On the Creative Stage Air, the midrange and upper bass are its strengths, but lack the clarity that makes music sound sweet.
Conclusion
The Creative MUVO Go keeps the feature list simple but delivers powerful sound quality that satisfies listeners who love audio clarity with a good bass impact. At S$119, it is competitively priced, as always, and offers outstanding value with a sound presentation that easily impress.
Update 16 Dec: The below rating has been revised due to an administrative error.
