REVIEW: LG XBOOM GO XG8 Speaker has high quality sound with great battery life

I've already been able to test some speakers from LG previously and I have always been positively surprised by their quality. The current model is LG XBOOM Go XG8, a slightly smaller version of the brand's speakers, but which still delivers a super powerful sound experience. Right away, it attracts attention because it is easy to take anywhere and has many of the same qualities as the larger version. If you're curious about what else it can do and offer, read on for the review complete.

Design

Last year I tested the LG XBOOM XL7, a speaker that looked like a tower, with wheels and even a customizable screen. Today's version, LG XBOOM Go XG8, it's a little bit different. The “Go” in the name indicates a line of LG speakers with a smaller size, but still with a high level of quality. An interesting difference that LG guarantees here is what it calls military certification. This certification guarantees protection against drops, high and low temperatures. Combined with the IP67K against water and dust, the manufacturer's idea of ​​taking this box anywhere starts to make sense.

This model very much follows what XL7 brought as design, mainly in colors and details. Its body is all black, but with some red details on the front where we have the text “XBOOM”. Despite being black, we have differences in texture in each part. In the main part where the speakers are located, the box is made of a braided plastic material, similar to nylon. On the back, there is only one rubberized door to guarantee protection against water on the USB-2.0 ports and the power input, which could already be USB-C, honestly.

The bass system is interesting, with an algorithm that enhances the sound so you can feel it even at lower volumes. These bass can be perceived on both sides of the box, as on each side there is one of these algorithms, along with colored LEDs and an “X” symbol.

The kit also comes with a removable strap that works in two ways. You place it on the top of the box and fit the ends however you see fit: one like a handbag and the other with a larger strap like a shoulder bag. Both ways are legal and will depend on the moment and personal taste. I like options, so a positive point for LG in this aspect. 

Finally, the interaction buttons are at the top of the box, slightly above the XBOOM logo. In this space you have access to the “+” and “-” volume, play/pause button, on/off button, Bluetooth pairing and “SoundBoost” to amplify the audio. A remote control would be welcome, but I admit that's a bonus, not necessarily a drawback. 

At the rear is where we have a rubberized cover protecting the charging ports and a USB 2.0 to connect other devices to the box. The charging port could be USB-C, to be honest, but it also doesn't offend the lack of it.

Connectivity

the sound box LG Xboom XG8 brings great technologies when it comes to connectivity. With a speaker like this these days, I imagine you'll be using it 90% of the time on Bluetooth. Knowing this, the manufacturer placed the Bluetooth 5.1 in her. This is not the latest version of the wireless connection standard, but it is not outdated either. With it, the technology is now much faster and has very interesting functions, such as being able to connect more than one device simultaneously.

Thanks to this technology Bluetooth, through the app LG, you can connect the speaker to another speaker if you have another unit, creating a kind of super sound in the style of home theaters ou Soundbars. I don't think this function will be used by most consumers, but you never know when a friend will have a box like yours, right?

Because it is a version GO, that is, as if it were an XBOOM Mini, some things were cut. For example, connecting a musical instrument or a microphone is not possible. This does not diminish the quality of the product, but you need to see what you are looking for when purchasing to avoid getting a bad surprise. 

Connecting your devices to it is super easy and straight to the point. Just press the power button and wait for it to turn on. If the button Bluetooth Don't blink, press it to enter pairing mode. The next step is for you smartphone, smart TV, notebooks and so on. Find the box in your Bluetooth configuration and that's it, it will make a noise signaling that it has connected.

You can also stick a Pen Drive into the back of it. In this case, the lack of a remote control will become a slightly more annoying problem, after all, no cell phone or PC to control the music. Furthermore, with this use, protection against water and dust is at stake due to having to leave the back cover open.

app and customization

Just like any smart device today, you can use an app on your smartphone to have greater control over it, whether for personalization, updates or just checking. In the case of the app LG X BOOM, it has good functions and others that are somewhat useless, to be honest. 

As soon as you connect your smartphone to the speaker and install the app, the first option that will be available will be to control the volume of the speaker, as well as its battery level. You can also turn off the device remotely by tapping the top right button.

Things start to get interesting when you get to the tab Equalizer. You can leave it in mode Standard or sound boost. The first would be the cleanest sound, without any type of enhancement. Already the sound boost It will give a full body to the bass, mids and treble. We can also customize the type of sound using the option Custom. In this option you can configure it the way you think is best, and it can be even better than the other two options, as long as you know what you are doing.

The next function is to Side Lighting. Although it doesn't have a large panel like the larger model, the included lights are pretty cool too. There are 3 color customization options: Ambient, Nature e Party. In each one we have a different pattern with some pre-defined color options. If you decide to create your own patterns, the difference in each one will be in the number of colors you can use, reaching up to 3 colors at once. At the bottom you can choose the brightness level of the lights.

One function that I found super unnecessary is media control. It is well done, but out of its time. We currently listen to music directly from music services. Streaming , the Spotify e YouTube Music. The idea of ​​this feature would be to use music folders included on the smartphone to listen directly from them. The only tracks you can find are the audio from the WhatsApp.

To close this part of the application, LG It enables some power and connectivity functions as well. For example, you can set a timer for up to 120 minutes so as not to waste the battery for nothing, or use the Wireless PartyLink, to connect the speaker to Dual Mode with another unit or multimode to add multiple speakers and create super powerful sound. There are several options that make the experience with LG XBOOM GO XL8 very rich.

Audio and sound performance

The LG XBOOM GO XL8 portable speaker is small in size only. Its sound quality is impeccable for use at parties, especially. In my tests, I was unable to use it at maximum volume because the sound was too loud, unfeasible in the conditions I was in. These conditions involve a few scenarios. 

The first scenario is a closed room. In these conditions, to listen to music, if the volume went above 50%, it was just to see how far it reached. On the other hand, when connecting to my smart TV, I had a surprise. I gained experience Soundbar in the bedroom and even at maximum volume, I didn't feel the audio was booming, just mega immersive. I admit I don't have previous experience with Soundbars, but it's still the type of use I would easily have with this box. For comparison purposes, my TV is a Samsung Crystal CU8000 and it has an ok sound, with almost no bass.

Another cool setting was in the backyard, a more open area, where events take place here. This time I tested turning the sound to maximum when playing a song on my smartphone. The result was impressive and I could hear the music from the other side of the house. It would be impractical to have a conversation up close, but it works perfectly as a party tool.

Regarding the genres tested, there was a little bit of everything. From pop to metal, from samba to piseiro, everything was tested and I had a huge smile on my face listening to the songs on it. There is a clear difference when we are using the sound boost and when not. Despite getting louder, some notes are lost in this mode. For my taste, it didn't bother me, but for more trained ears it could be a problem. A cool detail about its use is that we can fast forward and rewind songs with the play/pause button, just like on headphones. With two rings we go forward and with three rings we return.

Battery

On site LG and on the product box we have information that the Bluetooth speaker battery LG XBOOM GO XG8 lasts 15 hours. The website also states that the conditions for this result are a volume of around 50% and no lights. In my tests, I was surprised in this aspect. In fact, the volume did not exceed 50% not because of battery savings, but because it would be impossible to keep it on for so long at home at higher volumes without causing some type of inconvenience.

With the lights, however, I never had to turn them off. The result of this translated into 6 to 7 hours of music a day with the battery reaching 15% on the third day. Honestly, with this daily average it is possible to enjoy a party in peace, but if I needed more in the same day, I would have another 7 hours to spare, fulfilling what LG promises. 

To charge, the speaker comes with its own charger that takes it from 0 to 100% in around 3 hours. Considering the battery performance, it's an ok amount of time and shouldn't hinder the user experience in any way. 

Conclusion

the sound box LG XBOOM GO XG8 It is a technical and visual masterpiece. Whether in the materials used or the ideas put into place for usability, it is a super competent product for its category and certainly one of the favorite speakers I have tested so far.

It is light, easy to use and guarantees excellent sound quality that meets the desires and needs of most people who only need sound for their gatherings with family and friends. Of course, you can't compare it with more powerful versions and other proposals, but wherever it was fitted, it works perfectly.

A LG XBOOM XG8 is available for sale at a suggested price of R$1699 ou R$1648 in cash on PIX via Magazine Luiza. It is not a cheap product, but considering its specifications, it could be a good investment if you are a frequent user of its qualities.

Technical specifications

Brand	LG
Córdoba	Boombox LG XBOOM Go XG8
Tweeter unit type	Cone
Tweeter unit size	1.57 ″ x 1
Woofer Unit	120 x 84 mm
Bluetooth	5.1
Number of channels	1ch (2way)
Output power	60W + 60W
Equalizer	Yes, with sound reinforcement and in-app customization
audio format	SBC and AAC
AC adapter connector	Yes
Charging Time	3h
Battery life	15h
Energy consumption	50W; 0,5W in standby mode
Dimensions	370 x 151 x 147 mm; 3,0Kg
Accessories	shoulder strap
Price	R$1699 at Magazine Luiza

What did you think of LG XBOOM GO XG8? Comment below and don't forget to share with friends and acquaintances who may be interested in it.

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Text proofread by: Pedro Bomfim