Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends Review: Portable Bluetooth speaker with FM and USB-C charging

Compact and portable speakers that are reasonably priced are often designed to be user-friendly and easy to transport. However, there are a few standout options in the market, and one of them is the Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends speaker from Muzen Audio. This cute portable speaker with FM and USB C charging capabilities, and its design sets it apart from other portable speakers. Although it may appear to be a toy for children, the OTR Metal Line Friends is a modern mini FM radio Bluetooth speaker with a range of connectivity options that make it ideal for wireless audio streaming in today’s era.

Boasting an irresistibly cute design, a built-in radio tuner, numerous connectivity choices, and coated in Morandi’s creamy matte full-metal paint, the Muzen OTR metal speaker offers a plethora of features at an affordable price of only $121. Can this delightful and charming mini FM radio Bluetooth speaker be considered the ultimate gift option? Read on to discover the answer in this comprehensive review.

Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends Review

Unboxing

The attention to detail of the Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends mini FM radio Bluetooth speaker is evident from the moment you lay eyes on its sales package. Delivered in a charming plastic suitcase with a sleek leather handle and immaculately crafted internal compartments, the packaging is just the beginning of the care and consideration that has been poured into this product.

Upon opening the package, you’ll find a host of essential equipment nestled inside. The contents of the package include:

• Carrying Case
• OTR Metal Speaker
• Sticker
• AUX Cable
• Type-C Charging Cable
• Manual
• Tote Bag
• Theme Card
• Luggage Tag

Design

The Muzen Audio Line Friends bears a striking resemblance to the Muzen OTR wood speaker series of portable music players, which was inspired by retro radio sets. Apart from its styling, the device is further distinguished by its vibrant color, with the Morandi creamy hue and brown knob unit sent to us being particularly noticeable and attention-grabbing.

The craftsmanship of this structure is remarkable, exuding a sense of immense durability, sturdiness, and finesse. It has been fashioned out of meticulously wrought aluminum, punctuated by a few delicate plastic accents. Upon unboxing it, we were pleasantly astounded by the impeccable quality of its construction.

The speaker’s size measures 3.46 x 2.56 x 2.2 inches, which are relatively generous proportions for a 5W speaker. Despite this, the dimensions typically remain compact and contained.

On the Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends, you will find the controls situated on the front panel. The front face features a custom FM radio tuner adorned with a teddy bear face. This tuner is accompanied by a translucent good night dim light and the speaker driver which faces forwards. Additionally, two other buttons allow for volume management and the selection of various modes including Off, Bluetooth, AUX, and FM.

The back of the speaker has a USB-C port for wired charging or plugging the add-ons, and an auxiliary socket for 3.5mm connectivity. The speaker is very compact, and all the controls fit quite comfortably and work well, without the Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends feeling too crowded or difficult to operate.

Connectivity

The portable speaker is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, and it performs its duty flawlessly without any major glitches. We have experienced no difficulties pairing it with a variety of devices, and there is zero lag when viewing videos, movies, or TV series. Moreover, its signal range extends to approximately 10 meters in the absence of any obstructions.

The Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends speaker comes equipped with an FM radio, but its reception can be enhanced by purchasing a micro USB OTR Metal Line Friends antenna or the OTR Metal Line Friends Cony Pat Light, both sold separately. Our personal setup includes the OTR Metal Line Friends Cony Pat Light, which can be easily attached to the charging port located at the back of the speaker.

The radio boasts exceptional performance, providing excellent reception even in the absence of an antenna. This feature proves advantageous in remote regions. However, if you reside within or near an urban setting, the need for such add-ons would be negligible.

Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends specifications

• Frequency range: FM 87-108.5MHz
• Receive sensitivity: 3uV
• SNR: ≥75dBA
• Selectivity: >60dB
• Distortion: ≤0.5%
• Input: 5V/1A
• Max. power output: 5W/Bluetooth; 2W/FM radio
• Bluetooth version: 5.0
• Bluetooth connection distance: distance≤10m/distance≤32.8ft
• Bluetooth maximum EIRP: <10dBm
• Sources: Bluetooth, FM radio, and AUX Functionality
• Speaker: 1.57in/40mm neodymium iron boron full frequency speaker
• Dimensions: 3.46 x 2.56 x 2.2 in
• Weight: about 436g / 0.96lb

Sound

The Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends speaker boasts a distinctive design, but its sound quality leaves something to be desired. While the 5W Bluetooth speaker and 3W FM radio speaker packed into its small body are adequate for some sources of music, they fall short in terms of overall sound quality. Despite this, the warm and fuzzy sound it produces is pleasant to the ears and goes well with the speaker’s super cute retro appearance. For casual listening at home, this speaker is a suitable option. If you’re looking for an outdoor speaker, look no further than the Muzen Wild Mini Bluetooth Speaker. Check out our review of this amazing speaker right here.

When we tested the FM radio function, we noticed that it sounded significantly refined and clean. Despite fully extending the antenna in an open area and adjusting the volume to moderate levels, we detected a lot of crackling and distortion in the radio reception. On the other hand, audio played through Bluetooth or AUX sounded much cleaner with detailed audio.

Although there is a dial for tuning radio frequencies, the Muzen OTR metal speaker manages to lock onto stations automatically without much effort. When using digital connectivity, the two physical buttons on the front can be used to control music.

As I streamed “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus through my Bluetooth-connected smartphone, the track’s powerful beat seemed less like bass and more like popping sounds. Additionally, other bass-heavy tracks seemed a bit muddled. Conversely, listening to SZA’s “Kill Bill” felt akin to experiencing a live performance rather than a mere playback from the speakers. It was as if the music was happening right in front of us.

Battery life

The Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends portable FM radio Bluetooth speaker excels in various areas, one of which is its impressive battery performance. Equipped with a 1000mAh battery, it can be conveniently recharged via the USB-C port located at the back. At 60% volume, the battery can last for nearly 10 hours in Bluetooth mode, while at 100% volume, it offers a runtime of about 4 hours.

However, when using the FM radio mode, we were unable to achieve the 20-hour runtime at 60% volume as advertised by the manufacturer. In reality, the battery life drops to 8 hours in FM radio mode at 100% volume.

Final line

Many affordable wireless speakers are offering decent features, but the Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends portable FM radio Bluetooth speaker stands out for a couple of key reasons – its super cute design with built-in FM radio and extra add-ons like OTR Metal line friends Cony Pat Light that would look nice in the night at your desk or bedroom. It also doubles as an FM radio antenna. Muzen OTR Metal Line Friends can be purchased for $121.68 from Muzen Audio’s official website or Amazon.com with an extra 15% discount when you apply this coupon code: 15TRMUZEN.

While the Muzen Audio OTR Metal Line Friends mini FM radio Bluetooth speaker may not satisfy those seeking heavy bass, it does deliver a clean, precise, and sufficiently loud sound. Overall, there are a few faults to be found with the Line Friends Bluetooth speaker, and it has easily secured its position as one of our preferred choices in this category.

Pros:

• Compact Super Cute design
• Easy controls
• Bluetooth 5.0 support
• Good sound quality for the compact body
• Add-ons for extra charm

Cons:

• Bass feels a little weak
• FM radio sounded less refined
• No water resistance