Vibes Audio Accessories Extend Function and Battery Life with Modular Case System
I was a big fan of Kyocera’s DuraForce Pro when it came out and the DuraForce 2 made some genuinely helpful improvements. One big step is their compatibility with Vibes Audio accessories.
10-Second Summary
- Vibes Baserox ($29.99) case serves as the base for a modular accessories system
- 3000 mAh wired battery pack ($35.99)
- 5800 mAh wireless battery pack ($54.99)
- IPX7 waterproof Bluetooth 4.0 speaker ($99)
- Other mounts and clips also available
How Vibes Audio Accessories Connect
While all of the Vibes Audio accessories are useable on their own, they do their best work with the Baserox case. It slips over your phone, leaving all of your buttons and cameras functional while providing some drop protection.
There’s a large hole in the back that the accessories clip into. When you’re ready to disconnect it, just pull the latch on the top to release it. It’s simple and effective.
There’s no doubt the system adds some bulk to your phone. If you’re an iPhone or Galaxy user, that might be a bigger concern. I like the Kyocera DuraForce Pro 2 in part because of its rugged build and I’m more than happy to trade-off some volume to get it.
Vibes Audio Vibrox Sound Engine
Design
The Vibes Audio Vibrox Sound Engine bumps up your speaker capability with a lightweight, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless option. To charge it, you need to connect the speaker to its charging base. That seems a bit odd since it means you have to carry with you. The upside is it has a kickstand you can flip out to use the Vibrox as a standalone piece.
Free of its charging cord, you can expect 10-12 hours of sound, depending on how loud you’re listening to it.
Vibes Audio makes the most of what it can put in that small of a package. Their soundboard gets a silver carbon fiber treatment that steps up its visual game. That combined with its vibration technology allows it to stay ultra compact.
Sound Quality
The sound quality is on the boxy side for music. It doesn’t have the full sound of a premium Bluetooth speaker. It’s an upgrade from using the base phone speakers, though. Keeping in mind how small Vibes Audio keeps the footprint and weight with long runtime, you need to keep your sound quality expectations in check.
I’m not the kind of guy that needs to have music going for everyone around me to hear. My eclectic listening habits range from Third Day to Brooks and Dunn to Aerosmith to Bach to… well, almost anything. Since I’m one of the least likely to be asked to DJ a party, I stick to my headphones most of the time.
On the other hand, our team needs to conference call using my phone a lot and that’s where I find a ton of value in the Vibes Audio Vibrox Sound Engine. I get a big volume boost and with excellent voice quality to effectively hear the team on the other end. I’m able to focus on the conversation instead of struggling to decipher what everyone is saying.
Additional Feature Worth Noting
- IPX7 rating – it’s waterproof, so take it anywhere with you!
- Omnidirectional microphone – great for conference calls
- Indoor/outdoor equalizer settings
- Pause/play button
- LED battery indicator on the power button
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of $100 Bluetooth speakers running around. If getting the best sound quality for music is your priority, keep looking. The Vibrox does its best work with spoken words and is fantastic for on the go conference calls in the office or on the jobsite.
Oh, and that integrated voice? Kinda creepy.
Vibes Audio Voltrox Power Bank
When the DuraForce Pro 2’s onboard battery just isn’t enough, you can extend with the 3000 mAh wired battery pack. It clips into the modular case just like the Virbox Sound Engine does, keeping everything together without having to manage multiple separate pieces.
The DuraForce Pro 2 comes with a 3240 mAh battery and adding this pack nearly doubles it. Each Voltrox battery is specific to a connection, so this one comes with a USB C for the phone’s design. You can pick this one up for $35.95.
If you need more power, there’s also a wireless inductive charging option with 5800 mAh capacity, pushing you to 180% more juice than the internal battery alone. Since the DuraForce Pro 2 is Qi wireless charging capable, it’s a solid option. For the wireless convenience and higher capacity, this battery runs $59.95.
Additional Features Worth Noting
- Battery on/off switch – use it only when you need it
- Short integrated cord to phone (wired pack)- no crazy cord management needed
- Micro USB charging port
- LED battery level indicator
The Bottom Line
Extending your battery life is a huge win in our connected world. I love that you can have a separate power supply securely connected to your phone instead of running a long cord to your pocket or managing two devices in one hand.
Additional Accessories
There are several other Vibes Audio accessories you can add to customize your modular system.
- Blank plate cover: $14.95
- Alligator clip: $14.95
- Steel belt clip: $22.95
- Go Pro style phone mount: $16.95
- Go Pro style accessories mount: $14.95
- Sticky mount for accessories: $14.95
Final Thoughts
Vibes Audio accessories aren’t for everyone. They’re incredibly convenient to carry around as a modular system, but it comes at the cost of a much larger phone footprint. If you like your phone to be sleek and slim, there’s a good chance this system will annoy you. On the other hand, I’m making pretty good use of it as a guy who’s constantly on the go and values durability and function over profile.
