bluetoothspeaker
Latest
Ultimate Ears' custom-designed Boom 3 speakers match your style
Ultimate Ears' Boom speakers have usually been colorful, but there's been a catch: you've always had to pick from whatever designs UE offered, which didn't help if you thought the company's choices were too gauche. Thankfully, UE has a simple solution. It's launching a MyBoom Studio feature that lets you customize the Boom 3 with a choice of eight colors and 12 fabrics across the body, caps and volume buttons. It's not infinite customization, but you have plenty of room to be flamboyant, safe, or something in between.
Libratone's new portable Zipp speakers come with Alexa
These days, there's no shortage of Alexa-enabled speakers, so companies have to differentiate through design and audio quality. One brand swimming in both is Libratone, which announced a new version of its Zipp and Zipp Mini speakers during IFA 2018. They offer up to 12 hours of battery life and connect over Bluetooth and WiFi -- including Spotify Connect and AirPlay 2 -- USB, and a 3.5mm mini-jack. Both ship with six microphones and, for the first time, support for Amazon's assistant, meaning you can request tunes and pizzas with your voice. Otherwise, you can control the speaker through the touchpad or companion mobile app.
Ultimate Ears' Boom and Megaboom 3 are a pool party's best friend
You can always trust an Ultimate Ears speaker to sound pretty slick, be simple to use and not blast a hole in your wallet, and the newest launches from the Logitech-owned brand are a case of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 -- there never was a Megaboom 2, but for the sake of consistency, Ultimate Ears has jumped a number -- look a lot like their predecessors, but a few design tweaks, added features and attractive price tags define this next generation.
IKEA's first Bluetooth speakers don't need assembly
IKEA's team-up with Sonos might not bear fruit until 2019, but that doesn't mean you'll have to go without distinctly Swedish speakers in the meantime -- in the wake of launches in Sweden and mainland Europe, the furniture giant has brought its inaugural ENEBY speakers to the US and UK. To no one's surprise, they're built to blend into IKEA's minimalist decor. The two sizes (8 x 8 inches and 12 x 12 inches) conveniently fit into the company's latest shelving, while the black or gray polyester fabric on the front makes them a tad friendlier than usual. Naturally, there are stands and wall brackets to help them fit. And in case you're wondering: no, you won't need to spend half an hour assembling the speakers with an Allen wrench.
Google Home’s multi-room audio now works with Bluetooth speakers
Google Home is getting a long-awaited feature: Bluetooth. Previously, only Google Cast-enabled speakers could be looped in to a network of Home-commanded devices. Now users can pair their speaker of choice with the dedicated Home app and voice command it to play your tunes or podcasts.
Soundboks 2 is the massive Bluetooth boombox to rule them all
In February 2016, a new kind of Bluetooth speaker arrived on Kickstarter and easily met its goal. It was called Soundboks, a massive portable battery-powered unit that was built to rock a party and survive the experience with its metal grille and roadie case-style edges. A few months ago, the Soundboks 2 was launched with a series of improvements, including an audio boost up to 122 dB. This speaker has a rock-solid build and owes its beefy output to two 10-inch woofers, a soft dome tweeter and three amplifiers with boost converters to help maximize sound and efficiency. This thing is a monster, but in a good way and I just had to try it out. It's definitely a powerful sound system, but it doesn't come cheap at $899. This speaker wasn't made for everyone, though. It's eminently useful for things like street side busking, flashmob parties, mobile DJing and beach bonfire bashes, while it may be overkill for listening to NPR podcasts in the kitchen. Modern-day Radio Raheems will enjoy the freshly redesigned LiFePO4 battery, which is rated for about eight hours on a charge at full volume and 40 (or more) hours if you're keeping it chill.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Fluance Fi50 Bluetooth speaker!
Speakers don't always need to fit in a backpack or provide a lot of chatter, but you do want them to offer big sound and quality audio output at a decent price. Fluance's $200 Fi50 Bluetooth speaker is a great example of those core basics. This speaker is powered by a 40-watt amplifier, with aptX support, dual tweeters and 5-inch woofers for a loud, warm sound. The Fi50 is enclosed in a hand-built MDF wood cabinet with convenient backlit touch controls on top. You can pair via Bluetooth or connect via a 3.5mm audio jack. Plus, there's a USB port to help keep mobile devices charged. Fluance has provided us with three of its Fi50 speakers for a trio of lucky readers this week. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning. Winners: Congratulations to Anthony A. of Melville, NY; Liviu H. of Jamaica, NY and Philip C. of Victoria BC!
UE's Blast and Megablast join the Alexa smart speaker family
These days, the launch of yet more speakers with Alexa onboard isn't the most exciting announcement. However, these aren't stout smart home speakers or a mere software update, but an entirely new line for Ultimate Ears -- a long-standing favorite for its speakers' audio output and resilience. Today, the company introduces the Blast and Megablast, the network-capable and Alexa-enabled siblings of UE's Boom 2 and Megaboom. This new line was built explicitly for the Amazon Alexa ecosystem of apps and features, and along with the Power Up charging base, offers always-on functionality to cater to your verbal demands. Unlike many other options though, this one also includes an on-board battery for portability.
Fender's Bluetooth speakers look just as you'd imagine
Fender's first set of Bluetooth speakers is unmistakably on brand. For better and for worse, the compact Newport and its bigger brother the Monterey resemble guitar amps. Both come complete with adjustable volume knobs (so you feel like you're tuning the sound) and imposing metal grilles. But with the company also promising "high-quality digital audio," their appeal may stretch beyond the classic rock crowd.
Let's hope this isn't Amazon's touchscreen Echo
Rumor has it Amazon is about to introduce a touchscreen version of its Echo speaker. Bloomberg was the first to report about this last November, although no images of the purported device were shared back then. But today, thanks to AFTVnews, we may be getting an idea of what Amazon has been working on. The original gossip suggested the new Echo would come with a 7-inch touchscreen, and this leaked photo certainly fits the bill. You'll also notice what appears to be a front-facing camera above the display, which makes you wonder whether Amazon could port over some of the fashion features from the Echo Look.
Bose goes premium with its outdoor-ready Revolve speakers
You might see Bluetooth speakers as a commodity item, but Bose is having none of that with its premium, pricey SoundLink Revolve and Revolve Plus models. Much like the Vizio Cast, they output music from 360 degrees, so they sound the same to anyone in the vicinity. At the same time, Bose has eschewed typical plastic materials for a fancy "single-piece aluminum enclosure" that's resistant to spills, rain and splashes with an IPX4 rating.
V-Moda's Remix speaker can be customized with 3D-printed parts
V-Moda has been experimenting with 3D printing since 2015, when it started letting customers personalize their XS and Crossfade M-100 headphones with 3D-printed shields. Just in time to kick off the music section of SXSW, the company is now taking this a step further by introducing the Remix, a Bluetooth speaker that's customizable using 3D-printed parts made from different materials. They're sold separately and allow you to modify the speaker's housing, grille and sides, with prices ranging from $40 (fiber) to an insane $370,000 for a platinum version.
LG wants a levitating Bluetooth speaker in every home
They may seem a bit magical, but levitating Bluetooth speakers have been around for years, often looking as outlandish as the idea sounds. However, LG is the first major electronics brand to throw a product in the ring, and is doing so with its classy-looking, albeit blandly named, "Levitating Portable Speaker," which will be unveiled to the public at CES in January.
Sony made a Walkman for 'Final Fantasy XV' fans
Final Fantasy XV is about to make it's long, long anticipated debut tomorrow, so get ready for the hype (and merchandising). We've already seen a FF XV branded Audi A8, of all things, and Sony has now revealed a limited edition Final Fantasy XV Walkman, headphone and portable speaker. The A-Series Walkman with Hi-Res audio support comes with etched pixel versions of Noctis and Co. on the back, special icons and a fancy box. It starts at 33,880 yen ($300 or so) for the 16GB model.
The best portable bluetooth speaker
By Brent Butterworth This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read the full article here. After testing 118 Bluetooth speakers over the last two years, we think the UE Roll 2 is the best choice for most listeners. It sounds better and plays louder than most competitors, and its slim, waterproof, rugged design lets it survive almost any journey yet still slip easily into a backpack or laptop bag. Seven months of heavy use across the US and around the world have confirmed the practicality and sheer fun of this speaker.
Engadget giveaway: Win a complete set of Ultimate Ears Bluetooth speakers!
Summer is here and, at least in the north-eastern US, it's providing strong sunshine paired with melt-inducing heat. Those vibes have been captured perfectly on Ultimate Ear's latest limited edition UE Roll 2, which features the "Drippy" design from artist Jen Stark. Known for her psychedelic blends of contrasting color and repetitive layers, Stark aimed to bring oozing motion to this speaker's fabric. This week's giveaway is courtesy of Ultimate Ears and includes one of the limited edition UE Roll 2 Bluetooth speakers, along with one of each of its siblings: the UE Boom 2 and Megaboom. These speakers will help you kick out the jams all summer long in waterproof style. Each model has its own level of portability and volume output to fit your activity, plus any two can be paired for stereo sound. Want to get in on the audio fun? Head on down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this full set of UE speakers, including the limited "Drippy" release. Winner: Congratulations to Sergio C. of Sunnyside, NY!
Bose helps kids build their own speaker with a $149 kit
Fresh off of the introduction of its new QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones, Bose is back with another new product. This time around it's the Speaker Cube, a build-it-yourself Bluetooth speaker geared toward kids eight years old and older. The product, which is available now for $149, is part of the company's newly minted BoseBuild education program -- one that aims to teach young people about the science of sound.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Get Together speaker from House of Marley!
This week's giveaway comes just in time for summer, so you can kick up your feet and pump up the jams. The House of Marley has been carrying the legendary Bob Marley's legacy forward with its line of audio products crafted from a variety of sustainable and recycled materials. The Get Together Bluetooth speaker is a clear example, with bamboo panels on the front and back, along with the company's custom Rewind fabric (made from hemp, organic cotton and recycled plastic bottles) to pull it all together. While portable, it's still built for big sound, with 3.5-inch woofers and 1-inch tweeters packed into its nearly 16-inch wide body. House of Marley has provided us with three of its Get Together speakers to help a trio of lucky readers keep jamming all through summer. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at winning. Winners: Congratulations to Jennifer J. of Virginia Beach, VA; Brad B. of Broken Arrow, OK and Ashok G. of Fremont CA!
Sony made a lamp that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker
Today wasn't only about smartphones and headphones for Sony. At its IFA 2015 press conference, the company also teased a lamp that doubles as a speaker -- like the TV remote it revealed recently -- and a new portable projector it's been working on. While Sony didn't share many details about either product on stage, a spokesperson did tell us that the projector can display up to 50 inches. Both devices are slated to launch next spring. In the meantime, here are some pictures of the prototypes Sony brought to Berlin.
The best water-resistant Bluetooth speakers
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a list of the best technology to buy. Read the full article below at TheWirecutter.com. If you are looking for the best all-around value in a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker today, the best one to buy is the UE Megaboom. While there are lots of less expensive models, most that truly approach the Megaboom's performance cost about the same, and none that we've seen can offer its mix of sound quality, features and ruggedness. We came to this conclusion after narrowing down 50-some Bluetooth speakers to 13 water-resistant finalists and testing each of them with the Wirecutter AV team and a deep swimming pool. The $300 Megaboom is pricey, but if you have other budgetary or functional needs, we have a few other picks as well.
