PUNK (Wireless Speaker) Review

Fierce sound and a tough body, all in the palm of your hand.

The PUNK wireless speaker from SOL REPUBLIC is the perfect gift for audiophiles on the go. It’s water, dust, and shock resistant finish means it can stand up to whatever you have to dish out. Throw it in your backpack for instant sound for study sessions, or stuff it in a pocket for portable sound wherever you go. The PUNK has a rich, vibrant sound in an incredibly portable little package, and its intuitive interface makes it easy to use for music lovers of all tech levels.

At first glance, the PUNK isn’t very notable for anything other than its vibrant variety of colors. It comes in your choice of seven different colors, from basic black to sunshine yellow, allowing users the opportunity to match their speaker to their personality. The speaker itself is very small and compact, measuring in at around four inches square. The speaker comes with a micro usb cord for charging (a wall adapter is not included), as well a cord that can be used to connect your speaker to a stereo for use as a Bluetooth hub.

The PUNK speaker is really quite simple to use, and the very compact manual reflects that with just a few pictures illustrating the capabilities of the unit. On the one hand, that makes it pretty easy for users to figure out, even if they aren’t very good with technical language. On the other hand, a little more in depth instructions would like benefit those who are new to this type of device. The top of the device is all speaker, with one side hiding the line-in, line-out, and charge jacks under a rubber flap.

The top side of the speaker holds the buttons needed to use it. The positive and minus buttons obviously control the volume of the speaker , but you can also use them to get a quick read on your battery level. Simply hold both buttons down simultaneously, and a cool robot voice will let you know if your battery is full, half full, or needs charging. In between the volume buttons is an LED light that blinks blue when in pairing mode (when it stops blinking you’ll know you’re paired), and red when your battery is low.

The only other buttons you’ll need in this bluetooth button, which you hold down for two seconds to enter pairing mode, and your power button (I’m pretty sure you can figure that one out on your own). All of that is pretty easy to catch on to, even for users who aren’t particularly tech savvy, but there is one feature which might be puzzling for some. There is a round threaded hole in the bottom of the device. This is a 1/4’ threaded mount, meant to be used to attach the PUNK to your bike using third party accessories. It’s a cool little feature that lets you really take your music everywhere.

The PUNK is a rather versatile device, considering its compact size and design. It can be used wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled device, or plugged in to non-Bluetooth devices via the included 3.5mm jack.  With a range of up to sixty feet, you can wander your house and still stay connected for uninterrupted sound. And that sound is surprisingly full and rich, given the small size of the speaker, and there is little in the way of distortion. Add to that its up to eight hour battery life (somewhat less than that if you’re rocking out at full volume – and let’s be honest here, we all are – but still a respectable four to six or so), and you have a device that is definitely up to the challenge.

The PUNK Wireless Speaker from SOL REPUBLIC offers powerful sound in a portable little body that can stand up to your active lifestyle. Whether you’re searching for the perfect gift for the music lover in your life, or a vibrant new addition to your own audio collection, the PUNK is a great choice for audiophiles on a budget.