Our “modern day” society is filled with an over abundance entertainment methods; some people read, others watch television, some play lazer tag, and some exercise –which I never have understood. This list goes on and on, but rather than rambling on over means of entertainment, I’ll get to the point. Though I do enjoy a good book every now and then, there is one thing my day is never complete without: music. But how am I supposed to enjoy it away from my MacBook? Sure, a pair of  earphones and an iPod will work, however how are those around me suposed to enjoy the musc? Simple, Jawbone’s Jambox.

What is this “box of jam,” you might ask? The Jambox is a very compact, portable wireless speaker which can handle both multimedia and phone calls. In other words, it is a mix between computer speakers and a bluetooth headset, a comptooth speakset if you will.  The Jambox has but three buttons on it: the talk button, the volume increase button, and the volume decrease button. It also has an on/off switch on the side which lights up when the device is on as well as indicates when the device has fully charged (battery easily handles over 10-hours of play time). Lastly, the speaker also has a 35mm audio input jack and a micro-USB port which allows for charging, software updates, and app installations via Jawbone’s MyTalk service.

Up until a month ago, my office was the only place I could actually crank up some songs. Sure, there are some stations on TV which offer music, but I have yet to splurge and get a decent pair of speakers to accompany it, and the last time I listend to music in my bedroom was when I was grounded so many years ago. A month ago, however, I received Jawbone’s Jambox and have yet to leave it at home, better still, my music has yet to leave me.

When people get speakers, they aren’t mainly looking for a nice design, a cool remote, or even a ton of features; sound quality is –well, should be– the priority. It is safe to say that Jawbone’s Jambox is the best sounding portable speaker on the market –or at least from what I have heard thus far. From the highest note, to the lowest, the Jawbone handles it all marvelously. As for the speakerphone, it is the one disappointing feature in the device. You almost have to yell to be heard by the person on the other side. This really does limit the Jambox’s use on a conference table.

Since receiving it, my Jambox has withstood hours on the beach, played ambient music at parties, turned a hotel room into a concert, and made the lake house a party house. It is, without a doubt, the best sounding, most versatile speaker I have ever seen. The Jambox sets the bar, and a rather high one at that. Aside from its speakerphone troubles, there is nothing I do not like about it, which is why I am awarding it a 4.5/5. If you are looking for a quality, great sounding portable speaker, look no further. The Jambox is available for $199 from Jawbone’s store as well as the Apple Store. Buy.com is offering it lower at about $180.