CES 2016

With 25 years of history creating a musical enterprise that expands far outside the 4 walls of the historic nightclub in the UK, Ministry of Sound is putting their name on a series of Bluetooth speakers. Debuting at CES 2016 are 5 new Bluetooth speakers with a British sound that’s quite impressive.

The speaker line has three sizes, simply S, M, and L and the S and M come in standard and upgraded versions. All speakers feature Bluetooth with aptX and NFC pairing. The S ($99) is a 2 x 3W speaker while the S Plus ($179) is waterproof with a more powerful 2 x 5W. The S Plus can be paired with another S Plus for true stereo, while the S is non-pairing. Both feature the same drivers and a passive bass radiator. CEO Scott Steinberg will cringe that it’s mentioned, but there’s an unmistakable similarity in design to the Beats Pill. The bass is a bit more controlled on the S than the Pill.

The M ($199) and the M Plus ($249) can both be paired for true stereo sound. A touch-interface on the top controls all aspects of music playback. Both portables can play for up to 9 hours on a charge for added portability. The M Plus adds WiFi for multi-room capability with Spotify Connect, “Live from the Club” and Ministry of Sound Radio giving exclusive access to what’s playing live in the club.

The top of the line consists solely of the L Plus ($349). This speaker is designed to compete with the Sonos system. The L Plus isn’t portable - no battery on board. It has Bluetooth and WiFi and also grants all-access to the “Live from the Club” music streaming live from the Ministry of Sound club. The Ministry of Sound Radio app has eight dedicated channels curated by MoS club DJs. The L Plus is capable of 24-bit audio, and will soon be compatible with Tidal and Airplay.

Multiple L Plus speakers can be set up either as a group or you can stream different feeds to speakers located in different locations. At CES, the speakers were displayed in a suite, so I could give them a decent audition. Honestly, given the club history, I was expecting a really boomy sound. They were refreshingly balanced - warm and impactful on the low-end, but with a really natural midrange and smooth high-end. Stereo imaging was a bit narrow, but what you would expect from a small speaker cabinet.

All speakers are currently available on BestBuy.com. And the best part - all speaker purchases include two complimentary passes for the Ministry of Sound Club. If only it included airfare to London...