bluetooth speakers
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JBL's extra-tiny Soundfly BT wall outlet speaker gets spoiled by the FCC
JBL is known for its portable speakers, but an FCC filing has revealed that it's willing to make speakers that are almost inconspicuous. The Soundfly BT would represent your everyday Bluetooth speaker save for the very uncommon ability to optionally plug directly into a wall outlet, skipping the power cord. Shades of the previous-generation AirPort Express, anyone? There's not much mystery in other areas, but the 20W stereo output is unusually powerful for something small enough to hang off of a hotel room's power port. Between the manual and live photos, about the only riddles left are the Soundfly BT's official release date and price.
iLuv outs Mo'Beats Bluetooth speakers, looks to live up to its name
All name jokes aside, iLuv is at it again. The company keeps the speaker / dock ball rolling with Mo'Beats, a Bluetooth audio stand for your compatible, on-the-go tech. Sporting a cradle design, the iSP245 allows your slate or smartphone to rest while connected to its speakers, located on each end of the kit. If you're lacking the wireless capability or if you're looking to keep things wired, the Mo'Beats also features a 3.5mm jack. While you'll have to wait until May to throw down your $89.99 on one, you can scope out the full PR just beyond the break.
JBL OnBeat Xtreme review
We've been following the onslaught of AirPlay / Bluetooth speaker systems in recent months, carefully combing through the prospects to find the true contenders. We were recently impressed by Klipsch's Gallery G-17 Air and now we've given the JBL OnBeat Xtreme a testdrive. This beast is step up from the regular ol' OnBeat dock, both in stature and cost. Priced a cool $500... it's sandwiched between the pricey B&W Zeppelin Air and the more modest iHome iW1. So is the JBL dock extreme enough to warrant a purchase? We've been blasting beats through this bad boy for a fortnight, so read on to find out if you should snatch one up for yourself. %Gallery-141416%
XtremeMac InCharge Auto & Home BT chargers stream music, phone calls over bluetooth
There are many ways to get your phone's tunes to your system's speakers, and now thanks to XtremeMac, you have two more. At $80, the InCharge Home BT is just $20 cheaper than an Apple TV, and it only lets you stream audio over bluetooth (vs. video, and WiFi for the Apple TV). Its on-the-go counterpart, however -- the InCharge Auto BT (also $80) -- is a much easier sell, beaming music and phone calls to a car stereo without a need to tether your handset to your receiver. Despite the company name and ubiquitous "Made for iPhone" branding, XtremeMac has confirmed that both devices offer identical functionality with non-Apple handsets as well, along with iPods, iPads, and other bluetooth-enabled gadgets. Available now, both devices support A2DP, connect to your speakers using a bundled 3.5mm cable, and include a 10-watt USB port for charging your devices -- assuming you don't mind cording up, on occasion.
Creative's new Bluetooth speakers sound vaguely familiar
Creative's family of Bluetooth speakers got a few more additions today. The company unveiled the wireless one-piece D80, which for most intents and purposes, is identical to its colorful sibling the D100, save for a lower price tag at $50 and a loss of battery power. The $300 ZiiSound D5x, meanwhile, looks an awful lot like 2010's D5, though this one plays nice with the newly announced D3x modular speaker and DSx modular subwoofer, both of which are priced at $150 a pop. The D80 is hitting this month and the ZiiSound's various components will be arriving this summer, so don't throw out last year's models just yet. Press info after the break.
Devotec rolls out updated Solar Sound 2 Bluetooth speaker
Devotec's new Solar Sound 2 Bluetooth speaker may look nearly identical to the original model we got our hands on last year, but the company assures us that it has in fact been "re-designed from the ground up," and promises that it'll give you a whole lot more for the slightly higher $99.99 price tag. The biggest advantage, it seems, is some significantly better sound thanks to some new and improved speaker cones, silver plated oxygen free copper speaker cabling, and a more efficient power circuit that promises to "get even more juice to the amp and speakers." You'll also get some new gold-plated connectors on the unit itself, along with an integrated line-out, and a slightly larger battery that should give you between five and ten hours of use (compared to eight at most before). Head on past the break for the full press release, and hit up the source link below to get your order in if you like.
IPEVO Tubular wireless speakers aren't quite totally tubular, still slightly rad
IPEVO's products may not always push the envelope in terms of design, but the company definitely seems to have stepped things up for its new Tubular wireless speakers, which we can only hope sound as good as they look. Intended primarily as a portable solution, the speakers are Bluetooth-based, can be charged via USB (for up to 8 hours of playback time), and they can even be locked together to form a tube (hence the name). At $79, however, they are far from the cheapest option around, but you can at least get a closer look at them in the video after the break courtesy of IPEVO itself.
Devotec Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker hands-on and nano-review
So we've been playing with the Devotec Industries Solar Sound Bluetooth speaker system for a couple days now, and we've got to say we're pretty impressed -- we just wish it could run directly (and indefinitely) off the solar panel, instead of requiring an internal battery that takes 12-24 hours to charge from the sun or four hours to charge off USB. That said, you will get eight hours of decent audio when the battery is full, and it's actually relatively loud -- you'll be more than fine indoors and in quieter spots, although cranking things up all the way results in some audible distortion. Of course, it's A2DP, so setup is a breeze with most Bluetooth devices, including 3.0 iPhones, and you can hook most everything else up with the included 3.5mm headphone cable. (Just keep in mind that Apple doesn't properly support AVRCP, so the forward and back control buttons don't work correctly over Bluetooth.) Not bad for $79 -- and you won't have to burn through endless AAs to take your tunes on those summer picnics and beach trips.
Pea Speaker concept makes multi-room audio easy
Look, we never said we meant multi-channel, multi-room audio, nor did we imply that these were the real deal, but the Pea Speaker concept would make it mighty easy to fill up to seven (tiny) rooms with audio sans wires. In theory, Lu Le's peas-in-a-pod-like creation would enable each speaker to play back audio that was streamed over Bluetooth, though just one would posses a global volume control. Oh, and unless these spheres are much heavier than they look, we can imagine your kids having an absolute field day.[Via CyberTheater]
Parrot announces DS3120 Bluetooth stereo, DS1120 Bluetooth speakers
Always one to cut cords at every corner, Parrot has taken advantage of IFA to unveil a range of new Bluetooth-equipped devices, including the stereo and speakers seen above. As you can no doubt surmise, the DS3120 Bluetooth stereo will pull tunes off your cellphone or other Bluetooth-equipped device and pump 'em through the unit's 20W speakers. Those looking to add a bit more ooomph to their phone calls can also use the stereo for some handsfree calling, with the integrated 1.8-inch LCD able to display phonebook information in addition to track and album details. On the non-Bluetooth front, the stereo packs a line-in port to accommodate other devices, along with an SD card slot and a built-in FM radio. If that's all a bit too much for you, you may want to consider Parrot's new DS1120 Bluetooth speakers, which ups the power output to a full 30W, with a Class-D digital amplifier in each speaker. Parrot's also thoughtfully bundled a Bluetooth USB dongle with the speakers, along with an RCA input to let you use 'em other devices. Look for both to be available this October, with the stereo running €169 ($230) and the speakers setting you back €199 ($270).Read - Pocket-lint, "Parrot launches DS3120 Bluetooth home stereo"Read - Pocket-lint, "Parrot launches DS1120 wireless stereo speakers"
Tubular B-Speech Twiddle Bluetooth speaker twists and shouts
Rest assured, we've seen all sorts of bizarre new products hitting the show floor at Computex, but B-Speech's Twiddle may have just ran away with top honors. This tubular Bluetooth speaker sports twin rotatable speaker tubes, A2DP, HSP, HFP, and AVRCP support, a meager six watts of total power, and gets it mojo from four rechargeable AAA batteries. Unfortunately, we've no idea how pricey this sucka will be, but we're pretty sure it'd be great to have around when 1980 calls and demands this and your warming furry carpet back. Catch it dancin' a jig after the jump.[Via AVing]
Com One intros WiFi radio, Bluetooth speakers and headset
Wireless-happy Com One looks to be doing its best to cover the two big wireless fronts at CES this week, trotting out its previously announced WiFi-based Phoenix radio (now in black) alongside a set of Bluetooth-based speakers and a new Bluetooth headset. The retro-styled Phoenix radio will let you pick up Internet radio stations or podcasts from anywhere with a WiFi signal, as well as play MP3s or WMAs from an attached USB drive or MP3 player -- no memory card slots though. Phoenix's own "Phoenix Service" will also let you check the news and weather forecast before you roll out of bed. On the Bluetooth front, the descriptively-named Bluetooth Multimedia 2.1 Speakers will let you pump tunes from any audio source with a 3.5 mm or RCA audio output to the pint-sized speakers with one less wire, while the company's Mic Clip Bluetooth Stereo Headset will give you some A2DP goodness and an embedded microphone so you can go hands-free. There doesn't appear to be any word on pricing or availability for the Bluetooth accessories just yet, but the Phoenix WiFi radio is available now for $249.
