bluetooth speakers
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Sony's new ULT Bluetooth speakers are bringing back the '90s bass boost button
Sony just announced a trio of new speakers in a new line of audio products called the ULT Power Series. These speakers include an ULT button that provides a bass boost.
Bose portable speakers are up to 30 percent off right now
Several Bose Bluetooth portable speakers including the Smart Speaker, Revolve+ and S1 Pro are now on sale at Amazon with savings of up to 30 percent.
Marshall debuts the Willen, its first ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker
Marshall has just announced two new Bluetooth options to its stable of portable speakers. The Willen ($119) is the company’s first ultra-compact portable and it’s joined by the Emberton II ($169), which improves on the previous model in a few ways.
The Soundboks Go offers loudspeaker sound in a more portable package
Soundboks announces the launch of the new, more portable Soundboks Go ($699). It packs loud speaker sound and stellar battery life into an even more mobile package. The Soundboks app will also include Direkt, a live streaming platform exclusive for its users.
LG's latest Bluetooth speakers have passive radiators for extra bass
LG has released the XBoom Go PL lineup that may give you pause for your next Bluetooth speaker buying decision.
Ultimate Ears' Hyperboom speaker is a portable party powerhouse
You call that puny wireless thing sitting in your backpack a speaker? This is a Bluetooth speaker: Meet Ultimate Ears' Hyperboom, a $400 13-pound beast that'll let you jam out to serious sound just about anywhere. Unlike the Megaboom 3, the previous top-of-the-line option from Logitech's Ultimate Ears brand, the Hyperboom is powerful enough to pump out music for a decently sized party. And based on my testing, it's a decent option for anyone looking for a sonic step up from smaller Bluetooth speakers.
The top 14 portable audio gadgets you can buy right now
We love our tunes and we're guessing that most of you do too. If you're in the market for some portable audio gear or summer's been so great that you've inflicted serious damage on your current devices, we've got a fresh list of some of the best items out there. Samsung's Level On Wireless headphones are surprisingly comfy and sound great, while UE's affordable new Roll Bluetooth speaker doesn't disappoint. There's plenty more, so check out the gallery below for a rundown of what's new in portable audio or swing by our complete buyer's guide for a full listing of gadgets in every category.
Win a Bluetone 100 Bluetooth Speaker from Cambridge Audio and TUAW
You may remember my review of Cambridge Audio's Bluetone 100 Bluetooth speaker last month. The Bluetone 100 is a 100-watt true stereo speaker that delivers the best sound I've ever heard out of a Bluetooth speaker, and it earned a four star rating out of four stars possible. Well, thanks to Cambridge Audio and TUAW, you're going to have a chance to win one of these amazing speakers valued at US$299.99. As usual, it's easy to enter our giveaway. Here are the rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before October 27 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected in a random drawing and will receive a Cambridge Audio Bluetone 100 speaker valued at US$299.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. \Loading...\
Cambridge Audio releases three new wireless speakers
Cambridge Audio creates speaker products that are usually quite well-received by the press and by users. Last year, the company released the Minx Go and Minx Air 100 speakers, both of which were given a glowing review here on TUAW. Cambridge Audio isn't resting on its laurels; the company today announced the release of three new speakers: The Cambridge Audio Go v2 (US$179.99), Go Radio ($199.99), and the new Bluetone 100 Wireless Speakers ($299.99) all bring the company's commitment to great audio to a new level. The Go v2 adds a built-in battery pack to last year's edition, perfect for topping off your electronics or just getting up to 18 hours of battery life. The device now remembers Bluetooth pairings with up to eight devices for easy handoff and still has the amazing Digital Signal Processing technology of the first version. Go Radio (seen at the top of this post) adds both an FM radio and NFC Bluetooth pairing to the original Minx Go, and also has the big battery of the Go v2. But the best-sounding speakers in the new batch are the Bluetone 100 Wireless Speakers, which combine AirPlay, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility, 100 Watt Class-D amplification, and two 4-inch wide-dispersion balanced mode radiators with the Cambridge Audio DSP technology for loud, crisp, and fill sound quality. We'll have a review of the Bluetone 100 Wireless Speakers soon.
Edifier's e25 Luna Eclipse Bluetooth speakers sound as good as they look
Edifier makes some amazing Bluetooth speakers, and the latest to come out of the company are the Edifier e25 Luna Eclipse Bluetooth speakers. The US$199 speakers are smaller and less expensive than the striking Spinnaker speakers we reviewed in 2012, but still deliver solid sound and good looks. We're also giving away a pair of these gorgeous speakers, so read the review and make your entry. If you're not the lucky winner, you can still get a deal on the Luna Eclipse speakers: just use coupon code TUAWLunaEclipse420 when checking out of the Edifier online store and you'll not only get 20 percent of a pair of the speakers, but free shipping as well! Specifications Price: US$199 Dimensions: 8.74" high x 4.8" wide x 8.35" deep (22.2 x 12.2 x 21.2 cm) Weight: 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) Power Source: AC (adapter included) Connection: Bluetooth, can also use 3.5 mm stereo jack Drivers: 3-inch bass driver and 19 mm silk dome tweeter, plus a 3-inch passive bass radiator in each speaker Frequency response: Right/Left: 6.1 - 20 KHz, Subwoofer: 30 Hz - 1.58 KHz Also included: 3-button remote Design Highlights Maybe it was the fact that I was listening to Daft Punk while reviewing the Luna Eclipse speakers, but the curved shiny plastic of the speaker cases reminded me of some futuristic helmets that the French house duo would wear. The reviewed speakers were bright red, but also come in a shiny basic black and a nice glossy white. A proprietary cable runs between the two speakers to connect them, with a six-pin connector on the back of each speaker. The right speaker includes a small LED to indicate power and Bluetooth status, as well as touch controls on one side for power and volume. Functionality Highlights Whether I'm reviewing plug-in desktop speakers like these or battery-powered portable speakers, I look for two things -- how easy the speakers are to set up and how good the sound quality is. Once I removed the speakers from their protective bags, setup was a piece of cake. You just plug the AC adapter into the wall and a DC plug into the back of the right speaker, then connect the two speakers with a long cable. Tapping the touch-sensitive power button on the right speaker makes an unobtrusive red LED light up, at which time you can pair the speakers to your device of choice. I connected it to my iPhone, waited for a confirming "bloop", and then started pumping tunes through the speakers. These are definitely loud speakers, and the sound quality is impressive as well. I enjoyed watching the bass drivers visibly move when listening to bass-heavy music, and the speakers easily filled a room that usually falls acoustically flat. Any complaints? No. The speakers compliment any Mac, they have great sound, and they're reasonably-priced. The Luna Eclipse speakers will give you years of solid sound. Conclusion I love it when a manufacturer makes it easy for me to give their product a good rating. Between the futuristic design of these shiny speakers, the ease of setup, and the quality of sound provided, the Edifier e25 Luna Eclipse speakers definitely earned their four-star rating. Rating: 4 stars out of 4 stars possible Giveaway One of you readers is going to win this pair of Edifier e25 Luna Eclipse Bluetooth speakers! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before March 11 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a pair of Edifier e25 Luna Eclipse Bluetooth speakers valued at $199.00 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Satechi AirBass Active Bluetooth speakers turn the volume knob to 11
Remember that great scene in the classic 1984 movie This is Spinal Tap, where Nigel is showing Marty his speakers and notes that "this goes up to 11"? Well, he could be talking about Satechi's AirBass Active Bluetooth speakers (US$99.99), which pack a lot of sound into a pair of speakers that can be used with any Mac or PC through a wired connection or with your favorite iOS device through Bluetooth. TUAW had an opportunity to try a pair of these speakers, and you'll have a chance to have a pair shipped to you in our giveaway. Specifications Dimensions: 9.12 x 10.75 x 9.12 inches (23.16 cm x 27.31 cm x 23.16 cm) Weight: 7 lbs. 0.4 oz. (3.19 kg) Connectivity: Bluetooth V2.1 + EDR, or 3.5 mm audio cable Design Highlights The AirBass Active speakers are rather plain, using a glossy black or white plastic shell with a removable foam cover over the front to cover the speaker cones. The right speaker has a power and mode switch on the front (also used for volume control), a connector for the power adapter, a pair of screw clamps for audio cables connecting to the left speaker, a pair of RCA ports for a direct connection to a computer or other component, a standard headphone cable jack for a direct connection to a phone or tablet and a subwoofer output connector. The left speaker just has a pair of screw clamps to receive the wire connection for power and audio. Functionality Highlights After connecting the two speakers together with the included audio cable and plugging in the power adapter, I tapped the power switch/volume knob on the front and was greeted by a flashing blue light telling me to pair with my favorite Bluetooth device. I chose to connect to my iPhone, and with just a few taps on the Bluetooth settings, I was connected and blasting music. When I say "blasting music," I mean it. This is the loudest pair of Bluetooth speakers I've ever tested for less than about $350. Although the MSRP is $129.99, they're selling on Satechi's site an Amazon for $99.99. If you don't mind the rather plain case design, they're an amazing set of speakers. Bass really thumps, but the speakers don't skimp on mids and highs. The AirBass Actives can handle two different auxiliary inputs, and those are easy to switch to with the knob on the front of the right speaker. Probably the only negative? They're not portable speakers, but if you're looking for portability there are literally hundreds of options available for you. Conclusion If you're tired of wimpy Bluetooth speakers, it may be time to graduate to a pair of Satechi AirBass Active Bluetooth speakers. These speakers provide volume and clarity that you'd expect from a much more expensive set, and yet come in at a very affordable price point. Rating: 4 out of 4 stars possible Giveaway We're giving our review speakers away, which is probably a good idea since I'm old and going deaf from listening to too much loud music anyway. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before January 20, 2014 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a pair of Satechi AirBass Active Bluetooth Speakers valued at $99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Logitech Z600 Bluetooth Speakers giveaway
You know that TUAW loves to give away things, and in the spirit of the holidays, we've joined with Logitech to give away one pair of their Logitech Z600 Bluetooth Speakers (US$149.99). Before you fill out that giveaway form at the end of the post, here are some things to know about these stylish speakers. The Z600s can be used with up to three different Bluetooth devices. That's perfect if you have a Mac, an iPhone and an iPad and want all three to have access to the speakers. Don't worry if you have an older device that doesn't sport Bluetooth connectivity, as Logitech provides a tiny USB dongle that can be set up to broadcast to the speakers. Each one of the cooling tower-shaped speakers has controls hidden on the back, but features a touch volume control on the top for easy access. To power the three drivers in each speaker, there's a lie-flat power cable that connects to the AC adapter. The sweet speakers can be yours, provided that you're a lucky little elf and happen to be randomly picked in our giveaway. Here's how to enter... and a few rules: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before December 18, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a set of Logitech Z600 Bluetooth Speakers valued at $149.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Logitech announces stylish Bluetooth Speakers Z600
Logitech has announced another in a series of Apple-compatible accessories, this time a pair of Bluetooth speakers that will compliment any MacBook or iPad. The Logitech Bluetooth Speakers Z600 (US$149.99) are currently available for pre-order on the Logitech website, and will be widely available in the US and Europe in August. The speakers resemble stretched power plant cooling towers, which sounds weird, but actually looks good. On the back of one of the "towers" you can find controls, and both speakers are connected to the power adapter and each other by specially designed lie-flat cables. The circular top of one speaker acts as a touch-sensitive volume control, and up to three devices can be paired to the speakers at any time. If you happen to be one of those folks who has an old Mac that you purchased in the pre-Bluetooth years, don't worry. The Bluetooth Speakers Z600 come with a special USB dongle that allows almost any device to stream music to the speakers. TUAW is expecting to get a pair of the Bluetooth Speakers Z600 soon for a full review. In the meantime, start clearing some space on your desktop for these slender towers of sound.
NuForce launches $300 Bluetooth 4.0 bookshelf speakers, promises to please audiophiles
NuForce has just launched the NuForce S3-BT, a line of high-quality bookshelf speakers that tout Bluetooth 4.0 as one of its main selling points. Most Bluetooth speakers tend to pale in comparison to their analog counterparts, but NuForce is confident its apt-x and AAC codecs will provide CD-quality audio even to the most discerning audiophile. If you're unconvinced, NuForce has also included a set of analog inputs plus the company's own Air DAC wireless system for slightly higher quality audio streaming. The powered speakers have a 3.5-inch bass driver and a 1-inch tweeter each, and the woofer touts a proprietary anti-resonance cone. If you care about looks, the speakers are wrapped in either soft white or black leatherette. They aren't cheap -- a pair will cost you $300 -- but for attractive high-fidelity speakers that won't contribute to your home's existing nest of wires, it may well be worth it.
Turtle Shell speakers bring Bluetooth-enabled weather-resistant music to bikes, strollers and more
The speakers in the image above are Outdoor Technology's Turtle Shell. Expected to retail for $150, the product is currently in Kickstarter at an early-backer price of $99. To date, it's over a third of the way towards funding, with just under two weeks left to go. The idea is this: the speakers mount using standard camera threading. They fit on any tripod or on the mounting accessory, which you see just under the speaker itself. Pricing on the mount is still unclear. It does not appear to be bundled with the $99 pledge, but it is with higher pledges. The product is Bluetooth-enabled and weather-resistant, making it an appropriate accompaniment for bikes, camping, strollers, etc. Just recognize it is a boom box and you'll be entertaining the neighborhood as well as yourself, depending on how much you boost the volume. TUAW received an early review unit, allowing me to test it out in real-world conditions. I had a bit of trouble mounting it in the recommended position until I wrapped my handlebar with some padding. I have an especially small handlebar tube, so this is something I've had to do for my other accessories as well. As you can see, I've normally got quite a bit of stuff on my handlebars -- lights, computer, front pack -- and the Turtle Shell dwarfs them all. (The red bit you see is a velcro extender, allowing my pack to stay attached during testing. The Turtle Shell goes where the bar bag normally attaches.) The first thing I noticed is how heavy an accessory it is, officially weighing in at 11.5 oz. The mount adds another 3.5 oz, for a total of just under a pound, which is a lot to stick on your handlebar. Outdoor Technology recommends placing the speaker on the side with your dominant hand, somewhere near the stem to reduce any weight issues and make riding easier. The unit measures slightly under four inches by six inches along the plane. Once the speaker charged (see the USB cable coming out of its bottom), I took it out for a spin. It synced easily to my iPhone 4S after I switched it on and pressed-and-held a button. And to be clear, I never noticed the weight while biking, and my bike's handling remained completely unaffected. Once mounted, it totally was a non-issue. I put it through the audio-books-along-a-busy-road test I normally use to test output quality. I found that at maximum volume, that music remained audible (perhaps not their lyrics, but at least the lower frequency beats) but that audio books suffered significantly in terms of intelligibility. This is much the same as I've found with any bike-mounted speaker system. The speakers worked far better indoors and at the park -- although they did earn me a hairy eyeball or two at the latter location. The system is non-directional, so audio goes out in all directions. This is, perhaps, not the unit to buy for trail riding if you're shy. Upon returning home, I disconnected the unit to charge it, a task which probably isn't as easy as it could be. It would probably have been easier to wheel my bike to an outlet, and plug in the charger between trips. The provided cord isn't huge but it is plenty long enough for leaning a bike against a wall for charging. All in all, it's a pretty decent system and I liked it. I couldn't help but compare it to the much lighter and friendlier FreeWheelin unit I tested last week, which retails at the same $150 the Turtle Shell will sell for. The Turtle Shell felt much hardier and robust, however. You won't want to have your FreeWheelin on your helmet during rain. (I wouldn't want to be out biking at all during downpours.) If you have multiple people in your audience, i.e. at a camp site or when you're using a stroller, the Turtle Shell will also better meet your needs. For biking, I lean towards the FreeWheelin solution. For me, the Turtle Shell worked best as a portable speaker. I tested it in the kitchen and it provided completely acceptable sound within Bluetooth distances. For outdoors use, I could easily see this at a campground. It feels really durable and probably would stand up to a lot of knocking around -- plus there's that advertised moisture guard. Mostly though, I think this would be a great product for parents with strollers, offering a hard-to-knock-away speaker system for a small family group. In summary, it's a durable, mountable, hardy Bluetooth speaker system with reasonable quality audio. There's a lot going for it and I think many of our readers could find it a useful solution for their outdoor music needs. Turtle Shell is in its last weeks of Kickstarter and is a product of Outdoor Technology.
Proficient Audio launches MaxTV MT2 speaker box, soundbars start job hunt
If Proficient Audio's new MaxTV MT2 speaker box is anything to go by, the company obviously isn't enamored with the latest slew of slim, elegant soundbars. As the picture shows, it's designed to act as a platform for your TV and can support up to 160 pounds -- enough for even the biggest of flatscreens. The hard, no-grille design shows off the box's two 1-inch tweeters, four 2.5-inch mid-range speakers and two 5.25-inch, down-facing subs. Four internal 20-watt, two-channel digital amps take care of the power, and with two of those dedicated to the woofers, we'd expect some serious neighbor-waking bass. It's not just for your TV either, as the built-in Bluetooth supports audio streaming from any of your favorite gadgets. The soundbar-on-steroids is shipping now for 599 bones, and if that sounds a little steep, Proficient Audio assures you that "once someone hears the difference MaxTV makes, they will buy it." Update: We've been informed the unit has a detachable grille (pictured below the fold) which is held in place by samarium-cobalt magnets to ensure no unwanted vibration.
JBL freshens its portable speakers with Micro II, Bluetooth-toting Flip and Micro Wireless
JBL has been on a wireless speaker kick lately -- it might as well throw some truly portable models into the equation. Accordingly, two of the three speakers it's shipping today, the Flip and Micro Wireless, sport Bluetooth audio and a 5-hour battery to cut the cord. The Flip (seen above) is the multi-talented athlete of the bunch: its design can work either upright or on its side to stuff into small spaces, and a built-in mic provides speakerphone duties. The Micro Wireless' puck shape isn't as clever, but it fits a standard 3.5mm input jack and space to clip to a carabiner or lanyard. Both these and the Micro Wireless' strictly wired counterpart, the Micro II, have a bass port to improve the low-end frequencies that are so often missing in this class of speaker. Prices may be the real incentives here: the Flip is the most expensive of the trio at $99, while the Micro Wireless and Micro II are even lighter on the wallet at respective $59 and $39 price points.
JBL's newest Jembe desktop speakers are Bluetooth-enabled, now on sale for $99
The Jembe wired speakers have been out on the market since late last year, but now JBL's finally introducing a wireless variant of these sleek desktop noisemakers. Aside from being Bluetooth-friendly at last, the pair's retaining its "stylish weave design" and adding a Harman TrueStream sound technology that wasn't found on the lesser-priced, cabled Jembe set -- this, naturally, while still utilizing a 3.5mm headphone jack as the main input source. JBL's pricing the new Jembe speakers at $99 in the US and £70 (about $110) for UK folks, with the company set to be taking orders as we speak. For that, however, you'll have to virtually land on either of the links below -- otherwise you can always go with those eccentric (and rather intimidating) Edifier Spinnakers.
Antec SP1 portable Bluetooth speaker stops by the FCC
The last Antec product that blipped on our radar was many moons ago, but it looks as though the company is having a second stab at audio hardware in its latest filing with the FCC. The documents reveal a new Bluetooth speaker going by the handle SP1 and assuming more of a Braven form factor, as opposed to the pocket-sized trend. Antec's Rockus 3D|2.1 speakers were aimed at the higher end of the market, but we would be tempted to bet that the SP1's focus is a little broader. We've struggled to dig up any more detail on the speaker, like launch plans or pricing, but did stumble upon a particularly glamorous advert, which you'll find after the break.
Edifier's Spinnaker Bluetooth speaker system promises not to hurt you, sells for $350
Despite what you might be thinking, what you're seeing above isn't a pair of sleek and very polished viking horns -- instead, you're gawking at an eccentric set of Bluetooth speakers. Adequately dubbed "Spinnaker," the rig measures in at a whopping 16.5 inches in height, and Edifier says the uncommon figure is specifically designed to "project sound toward the listener with front facing tweeters and mid-range drivers." The Spinnaker's compatible with nearly every Bluetooth-equipped (2.1+ EDR) device you may have laying around, but you'll have to shell out a mighty $350 if you're planning on adding these beasts to your sound setup. In any case, Edifier's got 'em up for grabs now on its website, where you'll also find the rest of the audio spec sheet along with some additional press shots.
