Philips recently dropped the TAX2208 Party Speaker, and it’s clearly meant to spice up your gatherings without dragging you down with bulky designs. This isn’t one of those flashy, over-the-top speakers that demands attention. Instead, it’s got a clean, straightforward design that blends in but still manages to stand out when the music starts playing with those LEDs. But is it enough to make it your go-to party speaker? Let’s dive deeper.
Philips TAX2208 Price & Availability
The Philips TAX2208 is available for ₹3,499 on Amazon, at least at the time of writing. It is available in one colorway, and that is Black. You can buy it via Amazon or Croma.
Pros
- Compact, lightweight design
- Easy to carry with handle
- Multi-color RGB lights
- Loud enough for small gatherings
- Reverse charging feature
- Auto sleep mode saves battery
- Supports microphone input
- Can pair two speakers for stereo sound
- Decent sound
Cons
- Lack of clarity in bass
- No app support
- SBC codec limits streaming quality
- No water resistance
- No grip for horizontal placement
Philips TAX2208: Design and Build
The Philips TAX2208 keeps things simple with a compact and lightweight design. Measuring 24.89 x 24.89 x 34.19 cm and weighing just 2.8 kg, it’s easy to carry around, thanks to a handle on top. While the plastic build doesn’t scream premium, it gets the job done without feeling too cheap.
On top, you’ve got all your essential controls, including knobs for volume, microphone echo, and music, along with ports like Type-C charging, audio in, microphone in, and a USB-A out. Bluetooth connectivity is there, and there’s even a spot beside the handle to rest your smartphone when streaming via Bluetooth.
The vertical trapezium-shaped design makes it easy to place, though it’s more about practicality than style. The control area attracts a lot of dust, though, and cleaning it is not an easy task. For the price, the build quality feels acceptable—not impressive, but not a letdown either.
However, if you’re thinking of placing the speaker horizontally, there’s a small issue: there’s no grip on the longer side. This could lead to scratches or skidding, so you might want to stick to using it upright. Plus, the speaker wobbles when placed horizontally.
Philips TAX2208: Sound
The Philips TAX2208 delivers 30W output, which isn’t uncommon for this segment. We tested the sound with and without the Dynamic Bass Boost (DBB) feature, and the results leaned heavily towards bass. At lower volumes, the audio is decent, but as you crank it up, the bass tends to overshadow the mids, and the overall mix gets muddy.
Disabling DBB doesn’t fully resolve this issue, as the bass remains prominent. The problem is that the bass isn’t clean. Distortion is noticeable beyond 60% volume, and anything over 80% feels excessive, losing the music’s clarity and vibe.
The loudness, however, is a strong point. It’s sufficient for small gatherings of around 10 people, whether indoors or in your backyard. For casual parties or outdoor hangs, it gets the job done, but keep in mind the bass-heavy nature of the sound.
Despite that, I found it to be lacking in the quality of the bass. The thump and the depth were missing in the bass.
There’s no app support, which feels like a missed opportunity, especially since the speakers come with Bluetooth connectivity. Another drawback is the use of the SBC codec, which maxes out at 328 kbps. If you’re into high-res music streaming via Apple Music or FLAC files, this speaker won’t do justice to them.
Philips TAX2208: Battery and Charging
The Philips TAX2208 comes with a 3000 mAh battery, which feels a bit small for a speaker of this size. However, it delivers around 5 to 6 hours of playback at 50-60% volume, with the multi-color RGB LEDs turned on. You can turn the lights off if you’d like to. Speaking of, you can either have a single color or multiple lights in a sequence.
To check the battery status, the speaker has four LED lights on top, showing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%. It charges via a Type-C cable (included in the box), but there’s no charger, so you’ll need to use your own. Charging takes around 2 to 3 hours from 0 to 100%, and you can still use the speaker while it’s plugged in.
One feature that is nice is the auto-sleep mode. If the speaker detects no music playing, it will automatically go to sleep, saving battery life. The speaker also supports reverse charging, so you can use it to charge other devices, though I think the 3000 mAh battery is not enough for any meaningful charging. Perhaps you could top off other devices by 5-10%, but that’s about it.
Philips TAX2208: Additonal Features
The Philips TAX2208 has a few additional features that could come in handy. You can control the echo effect, which is useful for adjusting sound to your liking, especially when using a connected microphone. It supports a 6.3mm microphone input.
Another notable feature is the ability to pair up to two of these speakers for stereo sound, though I only had one for review, so I couldn’t test that out myself. However, the speaker is not waterproof and lacks an IP rating, so you’ll need to be cautious around water or wet areas.
Review Verdict: Should You Buy the Philips TAX2208?
Smartprix Rating: 7.5/10
Design: 8/10
Sound: 7/10
Battery and Charging: 7.5/10
As for pricing, the Philips TAX2208 is typically available for ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 on Amazon, with an MRP of ₹5,490. At the ₹3,500 to ₹4,000 range, it’s a decent option for a budget party speaker. But if you’re someone who craves deep bass, the 8-inch woofer may leave you wanting more.
If your budget allows, it’s worth considering other options with better performance. Additionally, the lack of a bundled microphone is a bit of a letdown, as some other brands offer similar products with microphones included. Still, at ₹3,500, it’s a great value. What are your thoughts on the Philips TAX2208? Let me know in the comments section.
First reviewed in December 2024.
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