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Hi-Fi corner: Rock pedigree makes Riva’s Turbo X the Bluetooth beauty to beat

riva turbo x bluetooth speaker
Image used with permission by copyright holder
What do Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, Tom Petty, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, The Who, RUSH, and Guns n’ Roses all have in common? They’ve all worked with Rikki Farr, the man behind the Riva Turbo X Bluetooth speaker. And if you’re thinking that kind of musical background might result in a portable speaker with a sonic pedigree that stands above the rest, then you’d be right.

Where other portable speakers fail to deliver on their bold claims of superior sound, the Riva Turbo X delivers … and then some. In the same class as Bowers & Wilkins’ luscious T7 and Bang & Olufsen’s spritely Beoplay A2, the Turbo X delivers rich bass with surprisingly deep extension, a smooth and clear midrange that adds realism to vocals and instrumentation alike, and the kind of treble response that high-end home audio speaker manufacturers chase after for years. It’s the sort of speaker a that impresses musicians as well as audiophiles, with all of the modern conveniences we’ve come to expect from a high-end portable.

Related: Outfit your home in style with the W7 multiroom speaker

Riva says the Turbo X can play at about 75db (which is louder than you think) for up to 26 hours. That’s some incredible battery life. It can use that big battery to charge your device, too, but more importantly, it supports a 45-watt amplifier that powers a total of seven drivers.

The Riva Turbo X will power your party, indoor or outdoor, thanks to a Turbo EQ switch which boosts bass and treble just enough to help cut through the din of outdoor noise. Plus, if you want to use it as a mini home theater speaker (there’s nothing mini about how it sounds), it packs a virtual surround processor which expands the sound stage without adding a bunch of out-of-phase mess.

We’ve heard loud speakers before, but rarely with such incredible fidelity. That’s really where the Riva Turbo X surpasses its high-end competition. It offers the brute force needed for a big sound, but avoids sacrificing balance and nuance in the process. You can find a speaker that sounds different, but you can’t do any better — especially in the bass department. We can’t overstate how great the bass is.

Oh, and a high-quality travel bag is available for just $30.00. Not sold yet? Pick one up here at Amazon and give it a shot for yourself. We don’t think you’ll be returning it.

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Connecticut cigars are the clear winner for smoking on a hot summer day, in the morning with some coffee, or when you just don't want a swift kick in the teeth (of pepper). There's no shortage of options, either. Connecticut shade wrappers are one of the most prevalent in the world of cigars, and it's certainly the most common natural shade. Maduro is also popular, but the two wrapper types couldn't be any more different. Connecticut wrappers, and by proxy Connecticut cigars, are typically mild to medium in strength and brimming with creamy, smooth flavors. They're composed of tobacco leaves grown in the Connecticut River Valley in the United States -- which is where the name Connecticut comes from. Consistent and flavorful, some of the best beginner-friendly cigars are Connecticut-wrapped, but you should never sell them short. A Connecticut shade cigar can be just as refined, elegant, and premium as any other. If you know where to look, you may even find some of your favorite blends in the category across a wide range of brands and cigar makers.

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The best Connecticut cigars I've tried and tested
While the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is considered a Connecticut shade, I did my best to steer clear of recommending them for this list. They're better classified as a Maduro shade or darker cigar. That doesn't mean you should avoid them, quite the contrary. But for this list, I wanted to stick to smooth, relaxing smokes that are strong on flavor but not quite so strong on pepper and spice. I also tried not to choose a lot of repeats. If you see your favorite cigar missing, that might be because it was recommended on another list or it just didn't make the cut. If you have any recommendations of your own, I'm always available through social media or email. Without further ado, let's get this thing started.
Aganorsa Leaf Connecticut

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