There are DIY projects that geeks undertake that are my speed like building your own gaming PC. Then there are DIY projects that are entirely different animals with design and build that you need some serious skills to pull off. These sweet Odyssey 2 speakers are one of the latter type of mods that mortal geeks need not try.
The guy who built these speakers patterned the design after some commercially available and very expensive speakers called Odyssey. He dubbed his creation Odyssey 2 and each of the speakers is handmade and took 400 hours each to complete.
You can see the skeleton of the speakers in the pic gallery below to get an idea how ornate these things are on the inside. The speaker cavities are reinforced with polyester fiber to prevent future expansion. The mid and high range speakers were caved from wood in a lathe machine. The pedestals of the speakers are made from concrete with lead pellets inside to prevent vibration.
Jawbone is no stranger to Bluetooth and personal audio, after all their headsets have consistently impressed reviewers – ourselves included – but according to the company the new Jawbone JAMBOX is paving the way for a new category of mobile audio. Rival wireless stereo speaker manufacturers might argue with that, however, so is the new JAMBOX a case of PR hype above all else? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut.
Hardware
The JAMBOX manages to be both reasonably minimalistic and distinctive in its design, a sturdy, blunt-edged block available in blue, black, red or grey. The top and bottom sections are molded rubber, which stops the speaker from sliding around a desk but does tend to pick up dust and fluff quite readily, while the remaining four sides are clad in a single, folded sheet of mesh with a pressed diamond pattern. Jawbone says their push for using single components rather than multiple sections means there are fewer parts to vibrate and a more durable device; we certainly couldn’t hear any buzzing from the JAMBOX’s chassis, and we feel pretty confident it could survive a fair few journeys dropped into a rucksack.
Controls are split between the top and the side panel. On top are the multifunction button, and volume up and down controls, while on the side there’s the power control, a 3.5mm stereo input for using non-Bluetooth sources, and a microUSB port for recharging. Behind the grill there are two speakers and a microphone for hands-free use. In the box Jawbone include a protective case, the AC adapter, two lengths of USB to microUSB cable and a 3.5mm audio cable.
Jawbone JAMBOX unboxing & demo:
Inside there’s a Bluetooth chip supporting A2DP stereo, and pairing is as straightforward as other Bluetooth headsets and speakers we’ve seen. When initially turned on the JAMBOX automatically goes into pairing mode – the default passcode is 0000 – and we had no problems hooking up our iPhone and other Bluetooth devices. Jawbone are particularly proud of their acoustic layout; for instance the battery is housed inside the passive radiator, so that its weight adds to the power of the bass.
Software
A software section for a Bluetooth speaker might seem unnecessary, but Jawbone is using the same MyTALK platform as with their ICON headset to bring new functionality and apps to the JAMBOX. MyTALK is an online portal through which Jawbone offer firmware updates and other functionality – on the ICON, for instance, there are different quick-dial apps, voice prompt accents, and optional directory enquiry shortcuts – and while it’s early days for add-ons to the JAMBOX it does mean there’s more to the speaker than what it does out of the box.
Everything on the speaker is communicated via voice prompts, since there’s no display, from pairing status when you first power-on, through battery warnings, caller ID of incoming calls, call functions available during conversations, and other prompts. Personalization is possible via MyTALK, including alternative language support. It all works well, though we’d like to see Jawbone offer a companion app for smartphones running iOS or Android, as rivals Sound ID do.
Performance
Small speakers usually mean small sound, so the JAMBOX is a pleasant surprise. Despite its relatively compact chassis, the audio is similar to what we’d expect from a bigger setup. It’s not just power with no refinement, either: the top end has some decent shimmer going on, while the mids are nicely spaced and lack the muddiness you can sometimes find from smaller cones.
Jawbone JAMBOX explained:
It’s the bass that’s the real surprise, and whether it’s Jawbone’s battery-vibrating system, their DSP or some other magic, the end result is real heft to the low-end that you can actually feel shaking the table and the air around the JAMBOX. It obviously depends to some extent on the quality of your source recording – insipid, low-bitrate MP3s are always going to sound lackluster – but there’s little of the squeakiness or tinniness we’ve come to associate with most portable speakers.
Hands-free as a speakerphone, meanwhile – with calls automatically pausing the music playback, if your cellphone supports it – and the JAMBOX makes for a decent impromptu conference call setup. There’s no multi-microphone noise cancellation, and its positioning behind the front grill rather than on the top means it can be somewhat directional in its pick-up, but it still managed to handle several people sat around a table.
Wrap-Up
Bluetooth speakers – like headsets – can be pretty inexpensive these days, and so manufacturers need to offer something significantly more interesting if they want to charge a premium. The Jawbone JAMBOX’s RRP of $199 is no small amount, but the payoff is audio performance that belies its size and portability. While we’d like to see a companion app for modifying settings, the MyTALK companion site does mean Jawbone have room in future to introduce something like that, lending the JAMBOX greater longevity than its cheaper rivals. If you’re serious about speakerphone and mobile music, the combination of flexibility and above-average sound quality makes it tough to beat.
The Jawbone JAMBOX goes up for pre-order at the company’s site from today, with Apple and Best Buy store availability from November 16 2010.
If you’ve got a penchant for vinyl ‘toys’ you’ll immediately recognize these Be@rbrick figures which are now doing double duty (besides making your cubicle/shelf/desk more hip) as large-scale iPhone/iPod docks. There’s not much to report on tech-wise, besides a set of volume control buttons, but because it’s a cute mashup of a teddy bear and a Kubrick figure, you might be dismayed to hear you’ll be dropping ~$183 (¥14,800) if you want one. That is of course if you can beat the vinyl toy collectors to it.
If you are a home theater fan that doesn’t have the space or inclination to run wires all the way around your room for the rear channels wireless is one of the few options if you want surround sound. Aperion Audio has unveiled a new wireless rear surround speaker system called the Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System that will get rear channels in your room sans wires.
The speaker system includes a pair of rear channel speakers that will work with any home theater receiver. The speakers have a 4.5-inch woven fiberglass woofer and are in a 2-way configuration. They measure 9.8-inches H x 6-inches W x 6.3-inches D and weigh 15 pounds. They are powered with a 2x20W Class D amp featuring DSP. Frequency response is 55Hz to 20kHz.
The wireless range for the transmitter is 150-feet so the system will work even in very large rooms. The device uses 2.4GH tech for connectivity and has a USB 2.0 interface and a remote control. The USB interface allows the system to be used for wireless music from a PC. The system sells for $499 and is available right now.
Technically this horn amp is a ‘portable’ speaker solution for your iPhone in that you don’t need a team of roadies or tractor trailers to bring it with you, but on the other hand you can forget about cramming your phone in your pocket while this unique accessory is attached. It’s made of silicone and promises to boost your iPhone’s speaker by 12 decibels without draining the battery whatsoever. It also doubles as a stand working in a landscape or portrait orientation, and is compatible with every iPhone that’s been released. $24.99 available in black, green or light brown.
Need a break? No chance, there are still so many more phones to look at! HTC’s sole Windows Phone 7 launch device for AT&T has just been revealed as the HTC 7 Surround. You’ll remember this as the sexily titled T8788, which made us gape back in August with its unusual design that incorporates a slideout speaker. We can now add an integrated kickstand to the multimedia-friendly physical design, while the spec sheet (available in full after the break) is consistent with the rest of HTC’s lineup. The 7 Surround offers a 3.8-inch WVGA display, a 1GHz Snapdragon chip from yesteryear, 576MB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera with 720p video, and Dolby Mobile and SRS Surround Sound technologies. This unconventional handset will be exclusive with AT&T in the US and Telus in Canada. Pricing in the US will be $199.99 on contract.
Designed to let you enjoy music during a hike or camping so you can still hear what’s going on around you and make sure your fellow adventurers haven’t been abducted by a grizzly, the Music Strap attaches to the shoulder straps of any backpack and pumps out your tunes through a set of 1W speakers powered by a pair of AAA batteries. It includes 20 inches of audio cable for connecting your music player of choice, 27.5 inches of speaker cable and even a pair of velcro straps to keep everything looking neat and tidy. $29.99 available directly from Lucky Bums.
Pale wood? Check. Slick, minimalist lines? Check. Fashionable compatibility with your iPhone/iPod? Check. This new iPod speaker dock is perfect for the Conran Shop, which is handy because it’s actually designed by Studio Conran itself.
It’s not entirely clear how much of a hand Sir Terence Conran has had in the design of the Conran Audio Speaker Dock, but it certainly looks the part. As well as a niche on top for your iPhone or iPod touch, it has Bluetooth built in for wireless streaming from compatible PMPs and handsets.
There’s also a remote control that can be stowed in a nook at the side, and apt-X compatibility for Bluetooth devices that support the higher-quality codec. The dock assembly itself can rotate for portrait or landscape use. It’s available now, priced at £250 ($395).
Press Release:
NEW BRAND – GREAT HERITAGE ’CONRAN AUDIO’ DEBUTS WITH iPOD SPEAKER DOCK
Armour Home is proud to introduce a completely new brand, ‘Conran Audio’, together with its first product, the Conran ‘Speaker Dock’ for iPods and iPhones.
Great design is difficult to define, but when you see it, you instinctively know something is just right. A creation of Studio Conran, this new speaker dock is just such a product, combining an elegant design aesthetic with a stunning audio performance engineered by Q Acoustics. Its appearance achieves the seemingly conflicting goals of both harmonising with any décor whilst simultaneously projecting just the right amount of individual design flair to make you smile every time you look at it.
Describing the new model, Sir Terence Conran, a leading figure in British design for more than fifty years, stated: “It is a dedicated 100% pure music player, that works with docked iPhones and iPods or wirelessly with Bluetooth enabled devices such as the iPad, allowing you to select songs from the comfort of an armchair or, if it’s your thing, while dancing around the room.”
Sir Terence concluded: “We hope we have created a contemporary design classic.”
Glenn McClelland, Armour Home’s Managing Director added: “We’ve had a very successful partnership with Studio Conran for a number of years. They design beautiful models for our Alphason furniture range and we have been so impressed by their work, ‘Conran Audio’ seemed an obvious and logical progression. I must say everyone at Armour is absolutely delighted by the result. We are all very confident about the success of this product.”
Ready for ‘apt-X’ quality Bluetooth Stereo
In addition to its ability to play “wired audio” from physically docked iPods and iPhones, the Conran Audio speaker dock can also play ‘wireless audio’ streamed remotely from Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP) enabled portable media players, tablet computers, smartphones and laptops. Furthermore, the Conran dock’s in-built Bluetooth receiver chip is compatible with ‘apt-X’, the high-performance audio coding technology from CSR which transmits CD-quality full-bandwidth stereo over Bluetooth connections. ‘apt-X’ is fast becoming the next ‘must have’ technology feature in high-end consumer audio devices with pre-installed or dongle-enabled Bluetooth Stereo capability.
To enable users to view menus as they wish, the dock assembly rotates, allowing iPhones and iPod Touches to be docked in either vertical or horizontal mode. Additionally, the dock boasts six preset audio equalisation settings to optimise its performance for different musical genres. These are user selectable via the elegant remote control.
Price, availability and finish
The new Speaker Dock, which will be available in both white and black finishes, is expected to go on sale late January 2010, priced at £250 including vat at 20%.
Specifications
Frequency response: 75Hz – 20KHz
Loudspeaker Drivers: 2 x 75mm bass/mid
2 x 30mm tweeters
Power output: 2 x 15 Watts
Bluetooth Stereo (A2DP) + apt-X
Standby power consumption: < 1 Watt
Dimensions (WxDxH): 283mm x 120mm x 233mm
I think more busts have been made of Beethoven than any other figure in history, and I’m sure it has something to do with his hair. At about 6 inches tall this one’s on the small side but manages to be far more useful than just a decorative element for a music studio. The holes bored into his chest facilitate a 2 watt speaker inside with volume, bass and treble controls located just below. He’s powered by 4xAAA batteries or your PC’s USB port, and includes a double-ended audio cable for connecting it to any device with a headphone or line out jack. ~$38 (£25.00) from Urban Outfitters.
A company like iHome is probably supposed to showcase something that Apple shows off only days before. The company makes a killing off creating some of the best accessories for Apple’s line-up of mobile media devices, so why shouldn’t they showcase a brand new portable speaker, featuring Apple’s just-announced AirPlay feature?
This is the first speaker to feature the wireless media feature. The new feature will be made ready by the release of iOS 4.2, which is set to hit the iPad, and other iDevices, in November this year. As you can tell from the picture, it’s not a complicated piece of equipment. A single-piece design, the speaker is specifically manufactured to accept audio input over a WiFi connection. What you’ll also notice is that the iHome speaker doesn’t have a dock of any kind. It’s meant to proactively promote the WiFi streaming, from your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone.
It also has a built-in battery, so that means that at particular points in the day, like when you’re not charging it some how, it will be completely wireless. That’s probably where that “portable” aspect comes from. Unfortunately, iHome isn’t saying when the speaker will be released, or how much it will cost. They do say that it will be ready to buy by the holidays, though, so that’s good. It probably won’t be the cheapest speaker out there, but if you’re looking for that wireless home, this is one step towards that goal.
