Philips S7807: A rugged portable speaker with great sound

The revival of a legendary audio brand culminates in an outstanding portable speaker.

- JAMES BARBER

Philips is one of the great legacy brands in the audiovisual world, pioneering radio manufacturing in Europe before World War II and television after the war. It invented the cassette tape in 1963 and later teamed with Sony to develop the compact disc. Philips owned the Mercury and PolyGram record labels until near the end of the 20th century and even produced a few well-regarded movies.

After deciding to concentrate on its healthcare business, Philips spun off its Philips Hue smart lighting business (an operation now doing business as Signify), sold its small appliance business to an investment firm, and inked a brand licensing deal with the Chinese manufacturer TPV (operating in the U.S. as TP Vision, fave.co/3imlZC4). The Philips audio brand finally returned to the U.S. in early 2022.

The Philips S7807 portable Bluetooth speaker is a solid rectangle that feels more substantial than most speakers its size. The build quality and the excellent audio performance deliver a premium. listening experience.

HOW IS THE PHILIPS S7807 BLUETOOTH SPEAKER BUILT?

The Philips S7807 is a chunky rectangle measuring 4.1x11x4.1-inch (HxWxD) and weighing a hefty 4.18 lbs. That's very heavy for its size, weighty enough to be used as the conkover-the-head murder weapon in the next Knives Out movie.

It's also big enough that a lot of people will have a tough time picking it up with one hand. The speaker does have a pair of posts that allow you to attach a carrying strap. There's an IP67 weatherization rating, meaning the speaker is entirely protected from particulate matter and can be immersed up to about 3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. In other words, it should survive extensive outdoor use.

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