The SuperTooth Disco 4 speaker

We've long been fans of the SuperTooth Bluetooth speaker here at Android Central — from the original (and some still say the best) SuperTooth Disco to the Disco 2 (you might remember this video from that one) to the iterative Disco 3. At CES this year, we got our first look at the Disco 4, which we now present for your approval.

The bottom line? This is a pretty damn good Bluetooth speaker in a small, portable form — and for just $49.

The basic specs are you've got an 8-Watt rechargable speaker. It's got one driver and one bass port (and, yeah, it's stereo). It's got Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP, NFC and can pair a maximum of eight devices at once, but only have one connected at a time. The design is that of a horn loudspeaker, with a handle on top. Disco 4 is, by design, a short-term, portable speaker. It stands 5 inches tall by 6 inches wide, and it's about 5 inches deep. The Disco 4 weighs just over a pound. It's a little large for a suitcase, perhaps, but it's still a pretty portable device.

Operation is blissfully simple. Round back there's a power button, Bluetooth LED, microUSB port and a 3.5mm jack. Charge it up — takes about 2 hours, SuperTooth says — hold down the power button to turn it on, and you're good to go. You can initiate the Bluetooth connection via NFC by placing your phone on top of the speaker, at he aft end of the handle. Or to pair manually, hold down the power button until the pairing light starts to flash. (The Disco 4 Bluetooth pairing code is 0000.)

Note that there are no volume buttons — that's all handled on your phone or tablet.

As for battery life, SuperTooth rates the Disco 4 at 2 to 3 hours at full volume, 12 to 15 hours at a more moderate level.

The most important part, of course, is sound. And while we wouldn't necessarily expect much from a small $49 speaker, the Disco 4 is surprisingly good. There's a decent amount of bass, and highs are crisp and clear. You might get a little bit of distortion at max volume, however, but that's not overly surprising. Again, it's a no-frills portable accessory — you're not going to be pairing it to a second D4 for use at home or an office. But for what it is, the sound is remarkably good.

The Disco 4 is available in black, white, gray, red and blue. You can pick one up for $49 directly from SuperTooth.