Creative MUVO Go Review: Let’s Get MU-wine

Summer may be a distant memory for now, but there will come a time when we can spend time by a pool listening to music on a waterproof speaker like the Creative MUVO Go. Until then, there are still plenty of things this Bluetooth device can do.

Here’s the full Tech Advisor review of the Creative MUVO Go.

Design and construction

• Simple commands
• IPX7 water resistance
• Different colours

The MUVO Go is a neat package. The cylindrical plastic chassis features a large wrap-around grille to protect the two 45mm full-range neodymium micro-drivers, with two additional passive radiators at each end bearing the Creative logo. There are built-in rubber feet if you want to use the speaker lying down, but it’s just as happy standing up.

Foundry

The controls are minimal, with a plus, minus selection and an arrow on the top of the grill, allowing you to play/pause music and quickly adjust the volume. On the back of the chassis, you’ll find the USB-C charging port, Bluetooth pairing button, and power button. There’s also a recess where you can attach a lanyard, although one is already fitted so you don’t have to worry.

As the cord suggests, this is a portable speaker, and its 204 x 73 x 61mm dimensions and 570g weight mean you won’t need a big backpack to transport it. In fact, Creative says the size of the MUVO Go means it’ll fit nicely in a bike’s bottle cage, so you can take your music on the ride.

If it rains, you won’t have to worry thanks to the IPX7 waterproof rating, which means the speaker can survive immersion in up to 1m of water for up to 30 minutes. So it should survive a fall in the bath, but without an official dust rating, sandy beaches can be a challenge.

I tested the durability of the MUVO Go by placing it on an outdoor table during a Cornish downpour, with the device emerging unscathed. So not only is it waterproof, it’s already been proven to withstand a UK BBQ in June.

The connection is via Bluetooth 5.3, so you can walk about 10 meters away from the speaker before the signal drops, but although the speaker supports SBC, there is no support aptX or AAC codec support – a slight surprise compared to many Bluetooth speakers. Don’t worry though, it will still happily play Spotify and all the other usual suspects without issue.

Three colors are available – Pine Green, Cloud Blue and Midnight Black – the first two looking very funky, while the last is quieter but would probably blend in with most homes a bit better.

Sound quality

• Lots of volume
• Good frequency separation
• Can be paired with a second MUVO Go

The MUVO Go certainly does not lack volume. The two main 10W speakers can easily fill a room with the sound they emit, all without distorting the signal. The available tones have good separation, with everything in its own pocket. Low frequencies are tight rather than booming, but they’re easily heard in the mix.

If anything, to my ears it sounds like the MUVO Go’s sound profile leans prominently into the upper mid and treble frequencies. Vocals really pop, as do acoustic guitars, pianos, or other mid to upper register instruments. This can make it a good choice for singer-songwriter styles, those that support low frequencies all help create a rich sound.

Some genres can get a little too heavy, but I’ve found an easy way to tame those harsher tones: just raise the speaker. This seemed to reduce mid/treble spread in a subtle way while having the added benefit of low frequencies being sent directly to a hard surface (such as a table or chair) which acted as a replacement woofer. You can also lower the volume to tone down anything that sounds a little too Hi-Fi.

Foundry

Of course, it all depends on what styles of music you prefer, as more vintage mixes such as David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust-era tunes all sounded punchy, tight and well-balanced. I was also able to enjoy rock, modern pop, instrumental, jazz, and even a touch of drums and bass without having to fiddle with my phone’s equalizers.

Basically, it’s a decent speaker that can pump out fantastic sounds at small party volumes.

As a simple Bluetooth speaker for podcasts or audiobooks when you’re in the kitchen or other parts of the house or garden, it’s excellent.

Pairing a second MUVO Go for stereo

An interesting feature of the MUVO Go is the ability to easily pair it with another MUVO Go and create a stereo system where the signal is shared between them. It only takes a few button presses (all explained in the quick start guide included in the box) and the two speakers work together to produce very rich sounds.

Foundry

Trying a modern vibe band like Cigarettes After Sex sounded lush with a wider bass profile than I got when trying the same track on a single device. This held true for just about everything I put into the paired setup. Obviously, this literally doubles the price of the system, but if you have one and a friend has one, this feature could really boost the sounds at your next get-together.

Battery life

• 2 batteries 2600 mAh
• Long battery life
• Slow loading

Creative equips the MUVO Go with two 2,600mAh lithium-ion polymer batteries for a total capacity of 5,200mAh, with claims lasting 18 hours on a single charge. Now, it’s worth noting that these numbers are for audio playback at a moderate level, so if you want to crank it up to 11 and party all night, you might find that the music stops a little earlier.

Although I couldn’t use the speaker for 18 hours in a single session, I found that over the course of a week it happily played for a few hours each day and still reported that there was juice left in it. the tank at the end. You can check battery levels by pressing the Bluetooth button twice, which gives you a low (under 30%), medium (30%-70%) or high (over 70%) voice response. So it seems like 6 p.m. is a realistic statement.

Foundry

Fully charging the MUVO Go takes about four and a half hours, so you should make sure to plug it in the night before if you plan to leave early the next day. There’s no charger in the box, but you do get a USB-C cable to use with any mobile charger you have around the house.

Price and availability

You can pick up the MUVO Go for $79.99 / £65.99 / $79.99, an attractive price for a Bluetooth 5.3 speaker that’s waterproof and can be paired with a second unit to create a stereo system. It’s available directly from Creative, as well as third-party retailers like Amazon.

Obviously, that’s not the only show in town, as you can also get the excellent EarFun Uboom ($59.99 / £59.99) which is also waterproof and includes a microphone for phone calls.

The company also offers the EarFun Uboom L ($79.99 / £69.99) which has a similar setup to the MUVO Go and can also be paired with another unit to create a stereo system. There’s also the smaller MUVO Play ($39.99/£34.99) which is waterproof but not as powerful as its bigger sibling.

If you want more choice, be sure to also check our guides to the best budget Bluetooth speakers and the best Bluetooth speakers.

Verdict

The Creative MUVO Go is a decent Bluetooth speaker and its waterproofness makes it ideal for getting out and about. Audio quality is solid, if a little concentrated in the high-mid/treble spectrum, and it can get loud enough to deliver quality sounds for an impromptu party. The real star feature is being able to pair two together to create a stereo system, but that obviously requires spending twice as much money.

Alone it’s a good option for those who want music on the go, whatever the weather, but as a pair it’s great.

Specifications

• 2 x 10W 45mm full-range neodymium micro-drivers
• 2x passive bass radiators
• IPX7 waterproof rating
• Bluetooth pairing button
• power button
• Seeing
• Volume and play/pause controls
• Bluetooth 5.3
• SBC codec support
• 2 x 2600 mAh lithium-ion batteries (5200 mAh total)
• USB-C charging port
• 204 x 73 x 61mm
• 570g