ListenUp Now Carries Brane Audio - Brane X

TL;DR

• Brane X is a premium portable smart speaker designed for immersive sound with a true internal subwoofer.
• Its proprietary Repel-Attract Driver (RAD) subwoofer is specified to reach down to 27.1 Hz in a compact enclosure.
• Modern connectivity: Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.1, Amazon Alexa on Wi-Fi, app EQ, and the ability to group up to 8 speakers.
• Best demo: run two Brane X as a stereo pair for bigger width and more effortless room coverage.

Portable smart speakers are everywhere. Brane X is trying to be something else.

Most portable speakers prioritize convenience first and sound second. Brane X flips that: it’s designed to deliver “big system” energy in a travel-ready footprint - equally at home on a countertop, in a living room, or outside on a patio. We spent time with two units at ListenUp, which let us evaluate not only the single-speaker experience, but also how Brane X scales when you move from one speaker to a stereo pair.

“We set up a pair of Brane X speakers in our ListenUp testing space - and they immediately impressed us. They’re portable, they have a true subwoofer built in, and they sound huge.”

“A few people walked in and literally started looking around the room for a separate subwoofer. When you tell them the sub is built into the speaker, it’s a genuine ‘wait… what?’ moment.”

What Is the Brane X?

Brane X is a portable smart speaker engineered around a legitimate low-frequency solution: a true internal subwoofer, backed by custom processing, and a multi-driver array for clarity and width.

Design & portability

• Grab-and-go build with an integrated carry handle
• Compact footprint for shelves, counters, side tables, or travel

Built for real life

• IP57-rated for water and dust resistance (including short submersion)
• Great for patios, BBQs, poolside hangs, and get-togethers

Key Features (and why they matter)

5-driver array

• 1x 6.5" x 9" RAD subwoofer (high-excursion)
• 2x 2.5" midrange drivers (stereo separation through the mid-band)
• 2x 0.75" dome tweeters (wide, detailed top end)

Amplification & processing

• Four Class-D amplifiers with 200W+ combined output
• Custom DSP (FPGA-based) enabling high-speed, real-time control
• Pressure EQ pump designed to stabilize subwoofer behavior and manage startup/shutdown behavior

What that adds up to in practice: bass extension that holds together at higher volumes, plus an overall presentation that aims for clarity and width, not just “loud.”

What Makes the Brane X Different

1) Bass, rethought for size

Brane X is built around a real low-frequency strategy rather than “bass enhancement” marketing. Its RAD (Repel-Attract Driver) approach is designed to reduce internal pressure forces that can limit deep bass in small enclosures. The goal: deeper, more authoritative low end from a speaker that’s still portable.

“It’s fun to experiment with placement - almost like you would with a real subwoofer. Put one in a corner and the bass weight steps up in a big way.”

2) Immersive sound and clarity (not just low end)

• Dedicated midrange drivers support vocal clarity and instrument definition
• Dual tweeters help create a broad, “walk-around-the-room” soundstage
• Real-time DSP helps maintain tonal balance as volume rises

3) It scales when you want more

Brane X can stay simple - or expand into something bigger. The Brane app lets you fine-tune EQ, manage settings, and group speakers for stereo, multi-room, or party playback (on the same Wi-Fi network).

• Brane Mobile App: bass/mid/treble EQ, custom profiles, naming, firmware updates
• Group up to 8 speakers for stereo, multi-room, or party playback
• 3.5 mm AUX input plus Soundbar Mode for TV / living-room duty

Why We Recommend Two Brane X Speakers (Stereo Pair)

One Brane X is a serious portable system. But two Brane X speakers in stereo is where it starts to feel like a “real setup”: you get a wider image, more separation between instruments and vocals, and easier room (or patio) coverage at the same volume.

“Running two Brane X speakers in stereo through the Brane app sounded massive. The room filled up fast, and the sense of spaciousness was the first thing everyone noticed.”

• Wider soundstage and more stable imaging
• More effortless output (less strain at higher volumes)
• Better coverage for larger spaces and outdoor hangs

Get Brane X at ListenUp

ListenUp's Listening Notes

Nathan’s quick take from our testing room

• “Where’s the sub?” effect: multiple listeners assumed there was a separate subwoofer in the room - because the low end hits like one.
• Placement matters (in a good way): corner-loading one speaker noticeably increased perceived bass impact and weight.
• Stereo pays off immediately: two speakers sounded bigger, wider, and more enveloping - especially on spacious electronic recordings.
• Volume behavior: on very bass-heavy tracks, Brane X stayed clean at moderate volume; pushing hard can introduce some distortion with extreme low-end material.

“On bass-heavy tracks, they stayed clean at moderate volume. When I really pushed them hard, I could hear a little distortion - but that was with extreme low-end material.”

Track picks for demoing Brane X

• Lorde - “Royals” (punchy low end + clear vocal space)
• The TRON album/soundtrack (deep digital lows + wide, cinematic scale)

“We kept coming back to Lorde’s ‘Royals’ for demos. Great recording, big punch in the low end - and Brane X absolutely nailed it. One listener turned around and said, ‘It feels like she’s in the room.’ That’s the kind of spacious, reverb-y realism these can create - especially as a stereo pair.”

ListenUp's Brane X Setup Tips (fast, frustration-free)

Brane X is easy day-to-day, but the first Wi-Fi setup (especially with two speakers) is worth doing step-by-step. Here’s the workflow we used successfully at ListenUp:

1. Pair Bluetooth first (one speaker at a time) so the app can see the speaker reliably.
2. In the app, go to Network settings and choose the option to share your network with the speaker.
3. When prompted, approve the network share on your phone so the speaker can join your Wi-Fi.
4. Repeat for the second speaker, then create a stereo pair and assign Left / Right in the app.

Who the Brane X Is For

• Buyers who want a premium portable speaker that doesn’t sound “small”
• Listeners who care about true sub-bass authority in a compact form
• Anyone who wants a speaker that works indoors and outdoors (and can handle real-life weather)
  
• Anyone looking for a portable speaker that can double as a soundbar

Brane X - FAQ

How easy is setup?

Bluetooth pairing is straightforward. Wi-Fi setup runs through the Brane app (also where you manage updates, stereo pairing, and grouping). If you’re setting up two speakers for stereo, plan for a few extra minutes the first time and follow the network prompts step-by-step.

Is it outdoor-friendly?

Yes - Brane X is IP57-rated for dust and water resistance, including brief submersion. For patios and open spaces, a stereo pair can help fill the area more evenly and keep the presentation big without having to push one speaker as hard.

Can I pair multiple speakers?

Yes. In the app you can group up to 8 speakers for stereo, multi-room, or party playback (same Wi-Fi network).

Can I EQ the sound?

Yes - there’s quick bass adjustment on the speaker plus deeper EQ and custom profiles in the app. If you’re demoing very bass-heavy music, consider starting around moderate volume and adjusting bass/EQ to taste.

Can I connect Brane X to a TV?

Yes. Use the 3.5 mm AUX input for a wired connection, and enable Soundbar Mode in the app to help minimize delay.