This is the nicest portable Bluetooth speaker I've ever used

Sometimes, you just want something nice.

Often when we talk about tech, we fixate on value. This makes sense: The main question most gadget reviews want to (and typically should) answer is, "Is this thing worth buying?"

The Apple MacBook might be the best looking, most portable laptop ever made, but for that nebulous yet like-minded group of readers we call "most people," it's just too hard of a sell at $1,300. You can get more from other machines at that price.

Bang & Olufsen's new BeoPlay A1 speaker is not good value, necessarily. It's one of the cheapest devices offered by the Danish electronics firm, but all that means is it's $250. You can find other Bluetooth speakers that are more portable, longer-lasting, and more rugged for less than half of that. For about the same price, you can find options that are bigger and better performing.

Even still, I want one, because I don't need everything, and because it's really, really nice. It's not like it sounds bad, either. Here's what I mean.