My old Bluetooth speaker died a dramatic death. One moment it was blasting tunes poolside, the next it was taking an unplanned swim and never recovered. That's when I realized I needed something tougherâsomething that could survive my tendency to bring music everywhere: beach days, backyard barbecues, camping trips, impromptu dance parties in my living room.
Enter the Ortizan X8 Pro. I'll be honest, I'd never heard of Ortizan before, but the specs looked promising and the price was right. Three months and countless adventures later, I'm here to tell you: this thing is a trooper.
First Impressions: When "Budget" Doesn't Mean "Cheap"
When the X8 Pro arrived, I was immediately struck by how solid it felt. The cylindrical design is nothing revolutionary, but it's well-built. The buttons have a satisfying click to them, the fabric covering feels durable, and the whole thing has a weight to it that suggests it won't fall apart if you look at it wrong.
The integrated handle on top is a nice touchâit makes carrying it around genuinely easy, whether I'm heading to the beach or just moving it from room to room. It's the kind of detail that shows someone actually thought about how people would use this thing.
The LED lights around the base were a pleasant surpriseâI'm not usually one for flashy features, but these actually look pretty cool. They pulse and change colors with the music, and there are six different lighting modes to choose from. I initially thought it was gimmicky until I realized how much my friends loved it at parties. Sometimes the gimmicks work.
Sound Quality: Better Than It Has Any Right to Be
Let's get to the important part: how does it sound? In a word: surprisingly good. I'm not going to claim this competes with $300 speakers, but for what you're paying, the audio quality is genuinely impressive.
The X8 Pro has two full-range drivers and dual passive radiators pumping out 40W of stereo sound. In Balanced mode (which I use most of the time), everything sounds even and clear. Vocals come through crisp, guitars have that nice sparkle, and the bass has enough presence to feel satisfying without overwhelming everything else.
The sound quality genuinely fills a room without distortion, even at higher volumes. The deep bass is impressive for a speaker in this price range. I've even used it to play soft music at low volumesâthe sound stays clear and pleasant, which makes it great for background music or even lullabies if you have kids.
Bass Boost mode is where things get fun. I've used this at outdoor gatherings, and it really brings the low end forward. Hip-hop, EDM, popâall of it sounds punchy and energetic. The only catch is that if you crank it to maximum volume, things can get a little muddy. But honestly, at those volumes, you're probably not listening for nuance anyway.
Vocal mode is interesting. It emphasizes the highs and dials back the bass, which makes podcasts and audiobooks crystal clear. I've used this while doing yard work, and it's perfect for that. The trade-off is that male voices and acoustic instruments lose some warmth, but for spoken content, it works great.
The Volume Reality Check
This speaker gets loud. Like, really loud. At peak output, it's hitting around 87 dB at one meter, which is more than enough to fill a living room or cover a patio gathering. I've used it at beach parties where we had 15-20 people, and everyone could hear the music clearly.
Here's the thing though: it sounds best at around 80% volume. Push it beyond that, and the dynamics start to flatten out, the high-end clarity diminishes, and the bass loses some of its tightness. But honestly, 80% is plenty loud for most situations. I've never felt like I needed more volume.
Battery Life: The Real MVP
The 6600mAh battery is where this speaker really shines. Ortizan claims up to 30 hours of playtime at moderate volume, and while I haven't done a scientific test, I can tell you this: I've taken it on weekend camping trips and never once worried about it dying.
At moderate volume levels (around 50-60%), I easily get multiple days of use. Even at higher volumes, I'm getting a full day plus. I will say that if you're cranking it to max volume with all the LED lights blazing, you'll probably see closer to 15-20 hours instead of the full 30. But for normal use, the battery life is excellent.
The USB-C charging is convenient, and it takes about 3 hours to go from dead to full. There's a small LED battery indicator near the charging port that shows you roughly how much juice is leftânothing fancy, but it works.
Waterproof? More Like Water-Proof
The IPX7 rating means this speaker can be submerged in up to 3.3 feet of water for 30 minutes. I haven't tested the full 30 minutes (because why would I?), but I can confirm it's survived:
- Multiple poolside tumbles
- Being left out in the rain during a backyard party
- A particularly enthusiastic friend who thought it would be funny to throw it in the pool (it was, and it survived)
- Being used in the shower (don't judge)
After all of that, it still works perfectly. The waterproofing isn't just a marketing claimâit's the real deal.
The LED Lights: Surprisingly Not Annoying
I'll admit, I was skeptical about the LED lights that sync with the music. I thought they'd be distracting or just plain cheesy. But here's the thing: they're actually kind of fun. At parties, people love them. The speaker offers seven colors and six different lighting modes that pulse and change with the beat, creating a nice ambient effect.
You can turn them off if you want (though I had to check the manual to figure out how), but I've found myself leaving them on more often than not. They're not too bright or distracting, and they add a nice touch to the overall experience. Just keep in mind that leaving them on will impact battery life.
The Three EQ Modes: Actually Useful
The ability to switch between Pop, Deep Bass, and Vocal modes by tapping the EQ button is genuinely useful. I find myself switching between them depending on what I'm listening to:
- Pop mode (Balanced): My default for most music
- Deep Bass mode: When I want to feel the music in my chest
- Vocal mode: For podcasts, audiobooks, and acoustic music
The switching is instant, and the differences are noticeable. It's not just a gimmickâit actually changes how the speaker sounds.
Real Talk: What I Wish Was Different
Look, it's not perfect. The sound isn't truly omnidirectionalâthere's a defined "front" to the soundstage, so if you rotate it away from you, the clarity diminishes. The sweet spot is pretty broad though, so it's not a huge issue unless you're being really particular about placement.
At maximum volume, things can get a bit muddy, especially in Bass Boost mode. But honestly, I rarely need to go that loud, so it's not a dealbreaker.
The LED lights are fun, but I wish there was an easier way to control them without diving into the manual. A simple button press would be nice.
One thing I haven't tried yet but am curious about: the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) pairing feature. You can connect two X8 Pro speakers together for an 80W stereo setup. I'm considering getting a second one just to try it outâimagine the sound at a party with two of these pumping out music.
The Bottom Line: Should You Buy It?
Here's my honest take: if you're looking for a portable Bluetooth speaker that can handle real-world abuse, sounds good, and won't break the bank, the Ortizan X8 Pro is a solid choice.
It's not going to replace a high-end home audio system, but that's not what it's designed for. It's designed to be portable, durable, and funâand it nails all three.
I've had mine for three months now, and it's been through more than most speakers will see in their lifetime. Pool parties, beach days, camping trips, backyard barbecues, impromptu dance partiesâit's handled it all. The battery life is excellent, the waterproofing is legit, and the sound quality is better than it has any right to be at this price point.
Would I buy it again? Absolutely. In fact, I'm considering getting a second one for the TWS stereo pairing feature, which would give me 80W of combined output.
My Honest Rating: 4/5
What I love:
- Excellent battery life at moderate volumes (30 hours is no joke)
- Genuine waterproofing that actually works
- Good sound quality for the priceâclear audio and deep bass that fills a room
- Durable build that can handle real-world use
- Fun LED lights with multiple modes that aren't too gimmicky
- Three useful EQ modes
- Gets plenty loud for most situations
- Integrated handle makes it easy to carry
- Multiple connectivity options (Bluetooth, AUX, TF card)
- TWS pairing capability for stereo sound
What could be better:
- Sound isn't truly omnidirectional
- Can get muddy at maximum volume
- LED light controls could be more intuitive
Bottom line: The Ortizan X8 Pro is a budget-friendly Bluetooth speaker that punches above its weight class. It's not perfect, but it's reliable, durable, and sounds good enough for most situations. If you need a speaker that can keep up with an active lifestyle without breaking the bank, this is a great option.
Technical Specifications
- Output Power: 40W stereo (two full-range drivers + dual passive radiators)
- Battery: 6600mAh, up to 30 hours playtime
- Charging: USB-C, approximately 3 hours to full charge
- Waterproof Rating: IPX7 (submersible up to 3.3 feet for 30 minutes)
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3 with up to 66 feet range
- Additional Connectivity: TF card slot, AUX input, built-in microphone for hands-free calls
- TWS Pairing: True Wireless Stereo pairing (connect two speakers for 80W combined output)
- EQ Modes: Pop (Balanced), Deep Bass, Vocal
- LED Lights: 7-color dynamic lighting with 6 lighting modes that sync with music
- Design Features: Integrated handle for easy portability
- Peak Output: Approximately 87 dB at one meter
- Design: Cylindrical with fabric covering
Review based on personal testing and experience with the Ortizan X8 Pro over a 3-month period, including use at outdoor gatherings, pool parties, camping trips, and daily home use. Specifications verified through manufacturer documentation and independent review sources.
