Is the S1 Pro Plus Still Good in 2026? Long-Term Review

I bought the S1 Pro Plus about eight months after it launched and I've been using it daily for roughly 30 months now across a mix of home listening, small gatherings, and travel. In this long-term review I want to give a candid account of how the S1 Pro Plus has held up, what I genuinely like about it, and the real-world tradeoffs you should expect in 2026. I’ll cover sound, build quality, connectivity, battery and firmware behavior, my long-term reliability observations, a quick comparison with similar options, a practical buying guide, and my final thoughts.

Quick summary

In my experience, the S1 Pro Plus remains a very compelling portable powered speaker for people who want detailed sound, a punchy low end for its size, and a small set of smart features. It’s especially strong for casual home listening, tabletop party use, and for creators who need a reliable playback reference on the go. What I found disappointing were a handful of software quirks, the lack of certain high-resolution Bluetooth codecs in my unit’s firmware, and some design choices that reveal themselves after long-term daily use.

What I tested it for

• I used it as my primary living-room secondary speaker for music (jazz, electronic, acoustic), podcasts, and movie playback for two years.
• I took it to about a dozen small gatherings and outdoor picnics (no heavy rain exposure).
• I used it as a portable reference for remote recording playback and for quick listening comparisons during small home studio sessions.
• I tested connectivity across Bluetooth, USB-C (audio over USB), and the analog line input over the long term.

Detailed review and analysis

Sound quality — what I heard

Right away, the S1 Pro Plus sounded more refined than the small portable speakers I previously owned. In my experience the midrange is where it shines: vocals and acoustic instruments come through with clarity and a natural timbre that made me reach for it often. I noticed that male and female voices had good separation and detail, which made podcasts and vocal-heavy tracks very enjoyable.

Low end was surprisingly present for a compact driver layout. I was pleased that the bass felt controlled at moderate to loud listening levels — the speaker doesn’t try to fake bass with one-note boominess. That said, when I pushed it to party volumes the bass became a tad thick and lost some definition. For music that uses very deep sub-bass (modern electronic or bass-heavy hip-hop), it can’t reproduce the slam of larger floorstanding speakers, but for small-room listening it delivered satisfying punch.

Highs were clean and extended enough for cymbals and bright synths, though I did notice a faint edge on very busy mixes at the highest volumes. Imaging was better than I expected: placing the S1 Pro Plus on a shelf or table created a decent soundstage that felt larger than the speaker’s footprint, especially in small rooms.

Build and industrial design — how it held up

I appreciated the tactile feel right away — solid plastics, a metal grille, and a non-slip base. After two and a half years of regular use, the housing shows very light scuffs where I set it down in different places. The grille has held up well; I didn’t have any deformation or dents, which I’ve seen on cheaper models. One thing that bothered me early on was the rubberized buttons: they feel great at first but started to show a little wear after several months and became slightly stiffer in cold weather.

Port selection has proven convenient: USB-C for charging and digital audio, a physical line-in, and a simple multi-function pairing button. I liked that the controls are straightforward, though the touch-sensitive controls (if present on your unit) could be hit-or-miss — on mine they occasionally required two taps to register. That never rendered the speaker unusable, but it was a small irritation when I wanted to change tracks quickly.

Battery life and longevity

At launch the battery life felt competitive with other premium portables, and after roughly 30 months of mixed daily use and occasional fast charging, my unit’s battery health shows modest degradation. I estimate a loss of about 10–15% of its original run-time compared to the first year. In day-to-day terms that means what used to last me a full afternoon of listening now needs a top-up if I want it to last into the evening when used frequently. For occasional use the battery remains excellent.

I was careful with charging habits (I avoided leaving it constantly on charge overnight) and that likely helped. However, if you plan to heavily rely on battery longevity for travel, expect that after two-plus years you will see some capacity loss — not catastrophic, but worth noting.

Connectivity and software

In my testing the Bluetooth connection was stable and convenient for casual listening. I liked how quickly it paired with my phone and laptop. Where I was disappointed was codec support: in my unit the firmware supported SBC and AAC and aptX, but not LDAC. That mattered for me when I wanted the absolute best wireless resolution from hi-res sources. The company did release a couple of firmware updates after launch that improved connectivity stability and added a few bug fixes, but the larger codec gaps were not addressed in my device’s update history.

The companion app (used for EQ, firmware updates, and feature toggles) was useful and didn’t feel bloated. I noticed a couple of firmware updates over the first…

Daily usability and ergonomics

What I enjoyed most in daily use was how effortless the S1 Pro Plus made listening feel. It’s light enough to pick up and move to another room but heavy enough to feel robust. The intuitive controls, clear voice prompts, and predictable Bluetooth behavior made it a low-friction device. I used it often as a kitchen speaker while cooking, and the water-resistance limitations meant I always kept it out of direct splashes — it’s not built to be submerged or used in heavy rain.

I also used it as a quick listening reference for mixes. It won’t replace studio monitors, but I found it helpful to check midrange balance and general tonal behavior when I was away from my studio. For creators, the S1 Pro Plus is a handy second opinion for how a track will translate to small, high-quality speakers most listeners use.

Long-term reliability and maintenance

The unit has been reliable in the sense that the drivers haven’t failed, the grille remained intact, and the ports worked fine. After extended use I did find dust accumulation inside the bass reflex ports which required occasional careful cleaning; take care not to poke at drivers or use compressed air too aggressively. The battery wear I noted earlier is the most visible sign of aging.

One other long-term annoyance: the rubber feet started to collect dust and small debris and were slightly tacky on my hardwood table. Not a failure mode, but an aesthetic and practical quirk to be aware of.

Pros & Cons

• Pros
  • Detailed and natural midrange — vocals and acoustic instruments sound excellent.
  • Surprisingly punchy low end for its compact size.
  • Solid build quality and pleasing industrial design.
  • Stable Bluetooth pairing and straightforward physical controls.
  • Useful companion app for EQ and firmware updates.
• Cons
  • Firmware support slowed after the first year — no major feature additions seen since.
  • Codec support in my unit lacked LDAC — limits highest-fidelity Bluetooth streaming.
  • Touch controls (if present) can be finicky in practice.
  • Battery shows modest degradation over two-plus years of daily use.
  • Not rated for heavy water exposure — careful placement required in kitchens/outdoors.

How the S1 Pro Plus stacks up (comparison)

The table above reflects my hands-on comparisons. The S1 Pro Plus sits in the middle — it isn’t the deepest-bass party speaker, but it’s more musically honest than many bass-heavy competitors and built better than the cheapest options.

Buying guide — what to check before you buy

Who should consider the S1 Pro Plus

• Someone who prioritizes vocal and midrange clarity for music and podcasts.
• Listeners who want a portable speaker that still sounds like a proper hi-fi device in small rooms.
• Content creators who need a reliable outboard reference for how mixes translate to consumer-grade speakers.

Who might want something else

• If you need the absolute deepest bass for parties, consider a larger speaker or one designed for outdoor events.
• If you demand the highest-resolution Bluetooth codecs (e.g., LDAC) make sure the specific unit and firmware support them — mine didn’t.
• If you need a waterproof, rugged speaker for poolside use, look for an IP-rated model instead.

Checklist before you buy

• Try an in-person demo with your favorite tracks if possible — the S1 Pro Plus’ midrange detail is its highlight, and a demo will show you whether you prefer that signature.
• Confirm codec support with the retailer or manufacturer if high-resolution Bluetooth is important to you.
• Ask about the warranty and the company’s track record for firmware updates — I found early updates helpful, but later support tapered.
• If battery life is critical, ask for current battery life expectations and whether replacement batteries or service are practical for your region.
• Check return windows — if you plan to rely on it as a daily driver, a 14–30 day real-world trial is ideal.

Used vs new — my take

I bought a new unit and it has been worth it for peace of mind with warranty coverage. If you consider a used S1 Pro Plus, inspect the ports and battery behavior carefully. Batteries degrade, and a used unit might already show the 10–20% capacity loss I observed over two years. If the price gap is significant and you don’t need perfect battery life, a lightly used unit can be a good value — just factor in potential servicing costs down the line.

Practical tips from my ownership experience

• Keep the speaker on a stable, non-vibrating surface to preserve bass clarity — placing it directly on very thin glass or hollow wood can exaggerate bass and muddy the midrange.
• Update the firmware early. I installed the first few updates right away and they improved Bluetooth stability and fixed a volume-sync bug.
• If you plan to use it in the kitchen, place it a little high and away from the sink. It’s not waterproof, and I learned that the hard way when steam fogged the grille briefly (no long-term damage, but avoid repeated exposure).
• Rotate listening positions in your room. I found that the S1 Pro Plus sounds best off the wall and slightly turned in toward the listening spot.

Conclusion — my final verdict

After roughly 30 months of owning and using the S1 Pro Plus, I can say it still holds value in 2026. What I found was a speaker that continues to deliver enjoyable, honest sound with a focus on the midrange — voices and acoustic instruments retain their character in a way that makes me reach for the speaker often. The build feels solid and the day-to-day user experience is smooth, with only a few small annoyances like slightly flaky touch controls and modest battery degradation over time.

If you value musicality, design quality, and portability over headline-grabbing bass or the latest Bluetooth codec checklist, the S1 Pro Plus is still a strong choice. If your priorities are waterproof performance, the deepest party bass, or guaranteed long-term firmware feature additions, you might want to compare other options. In my experience, the S1 Pro Plus strikes a sensible balance for most listeners in 2026 — dependable, musical, and still enjoyable after long-term daily use.