Does the Nordell Micro have an SD card slot?
We get this question surprisingly often, and fair enough. In a lot of speakers the memory card slot is either hidden so well you'd need an archaeology degree to find it, or it simply doesn't exist. Fortunately, the Nordell Micro has one.
Short answer: yes
The Nordell Micro has a TF card slot – which is essentially a microSD card slot. TF (TransFlash) and microSD are the same thing – different name, same tiny piece of plastic. Slide the card in, the speaker detects it and starts playing. No app, no pairing, no faffing about.
This is a handy feature especially when Bluetooth isn't an option. Like in the cabin sauna where you wisely left your phone on the table inside. Or when you want to hand the speaker to your kid without also handing over your phone.
How to use the TF card
- Get a microSD card. Capacity doesn't really matter – 8 or 32 gigs will do just fine.
- Load music files onto the card using a computer. MP3 files are the safest bet.
- Insert the card into the TF card slot on the speaker. You'll find the slot on the side of the speaker.
- Turn the speaker on. It'll detect the card and start playing automatically. If it doesn't, hit the Play/Pause button.
- Skip tracks using the +/- buttons.
That's it. No need to download an app, create an account, or sell your soul to some cloud service.
A few practical tips
- File format: MP3 is the safest choice. WAV and FLAC might work, but MP3 always delivers.
- Folder structure: Keep it simple. Dump the files in the root of the card or in a single folder. A complicated folder tree can mess up the playback order.
- Formatting the card: If the card doesn't work, format it to FAT32 on your computer and try again.
- Playback order: The speaker plays files in the order they were copied to the card. If the order is wrong, wipe the card and copy the files in the order you want.
What about other connections?
The Nordell Micro also works with Bluetooth (version 5.3, range about 10 metres), obviously. The TF card is just a handy alternative for situations where you don't want to or can't use Bluetooth.
Charging is done via USB-C, but the USB connection can't be used for music playback – it's strictly for charging.
If the card doesn't work
- Check that the card is the right way round. Sounds daft, but this is the most common cause.
- Try a different card. Cheap no-name cards are sometimes incompatible.
- Format the card to FAT32 and copy the files again.
- If nothing helps, drop us a message at info@valco.fi. We'll sort it out.
And cheers for asking before trying to force an SD card into the USB-C port. We've seen that happen, and it doesn't end well for anyone – least of all the card.
