Skip to main content

The Honeycomb HC-1 Bluetooth speaker follows nature’s blueprint for unique design

Honeycomb is a brand new company jumping into the already crowded Bluetooth speaker market, so its premiere product needs to stick the landing and create a buzz (sorry, we couldn’t resist). The HC-1’s unique design, build, and sound quality may help the company do just that.

The hexagonal body borrows directly from one of nature’s most ingenious engineers, the honeybee. Structurally, the honeycomb is efficient, using less material for greater strength and durability. Honeycomb claims that the shape also helps the speaker achieve a wide sound field. However, that’s probably more due to the fact that the unit packs four full-range 10 Watt drivers behind its metal grille, as well as two dynamic reflex ports for bass enhancement.

Recommended Videos

The controls, located on top of the speaker beneath a soft-touch silicone pad, are fairly straightforward. We did find, however, that the “+” and “-” keys for changing volume with long presses and skipping tracks with short presses made it too easy to over adjust the volume or mistakenly switch tracks. Bluetooth pairing and selecting the other input sources like Aux-in, USB, and SD is easily done via the input mode key, designated by an “M.”

Interestingly, there are two ways to power the speaker and charge the 2200mAh internal battery. The speaker comes with a large, laptop style power adapter brick which isn’t exactly convenient for travel, but it can also be charged via the microUSB port. On a full charge, the battery lasts about 6-14 hours of playback depending on input source, playback volume, and whether or not you charge any devices using the power bank feature, though for a speaker this size, we wish there was a bit more capacity there.

The four drivers allow the speaker to easily fill a room with sound, though the speaker does tend to distort notably at max volume. As for the audio quality, out of the box, the speaker had a few issues with overblown bass and a midrange that didn’t stand out. It was easy enough using an equalizer app to tweak the ranges and improve the sound clarity, though this isn’t an option when using the SD card or USB inputs.

For a portable speaker, the HC-1 is on the large side, weighing in over 4 pounds, but it can still be moved easily from room to room. The speaker’s build quality is solid, and its unique design is likely to gain some attention in either the red and black model we reviewed, or the available silver and white color combination. The sound needs a few EQ adjustments to hit that sweet spot, but it is pretty enjoyable once you’ve struck the right balance, especially for its relatively affordable $129 price point. Add in an ample feature set and multiple input options and the HC-1 is well worth considering for those eyeing an entry-level speaker with a standout design.

The HC-1 is available for purchase from Amazon now.

Philip Chung
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Philip is an industrial engineer who truly enjoys writing and exploring new tech products. He started writing reviews in 2010…
Morel Biggie wireless speaker promises big sound in a small package
Morel Audio BIGGIE in the Ruby Red finish, sitting atop a coffee table.

Despite its name, the Morel Biggie wireless speaker is a very portable Bluetooth speaker. You can easily carry the portable, battery-operated speaker around from room to room or while out and about thanks to the built-in leather-like handle.

Measuring just 7 inches tall by 7 inches wide and looking to be about 3.5 inches or so in depth, the 5.7-pound Biggie boasts advanced digital signal processing (DSP) technology that optimizes sound quality. It includes a two-way bass reflex system with 60-watt Class D amplifiers; a custom-made 4-inch, 45-watt woofer; and Morel’s own 25mm, 15W soft dome tweeter. So expect both booming bass and clear high frequency from the small package while listening both at home and while on the go.

Read more
Bose has a bigger Bluetooth speaker to power your next pool party
Bose SoundLink Max in blue.

Sometimes, your outdoor (or even indoor) gatherings require a bit more power when it comes to blasting out the tunes. Bose's new SoundLink Max is designed for just that scenario, and it can be preordered in black or blue starting May 2 for $399. Shipping expected on May 16 -- just in time for the start of the summer season.

The SoundLink Max is essentially a larger, more powerful version of the existing SoundLink Flex. The two Bluetooth speakers share a lot in common, including their design. Both are fully waterproof and dustproof (and can float) thanks to an IP67 rating, both have a USB-C connection for charging, and both can be wirelessly linked to other Bose Bluetooth speakers and soundbars via SimpleSync.

Read more
Sony’s ULT Power Sound headphones and speakers go big on powerful bass
Sony ULT Wear and ULT Field 1.

Sony has announced a line of wireless audio products under a new sub-brand called ULT Power Sound (or ULT for short). They look familiar because they are the next-gen versions of three of Sony's existing product lines: Extra Bass headphones, portable Bluetooth speakers, and tower-shaped party speakers.

They'll all be available this spring, but Sony hasn't given exact timing for release dates.

Read more