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Posts Tagged ‘Speaker’

Surface RT gets improved speaker volume with latest firmware updates

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Microsoft is continuing its regular monthly updates this month, with a number of changes to both of its Surface tablets. The “Patch Tuesday” updates are rolling out immediately and for Surface Pro users they’ll include some improvement in Wi-Fi connectivity and stability. There’s also a video driver update to improve Skype and a specific OpenGL bug in Adobe Photoshop. Finally, there’s an update to enable the PXE boot feature, an option that administrators typically use to install a copy of Windows across a network. There’s no sign of the updated Wacom driver for improved sensitivity in desktop apps.

Surface RT owners will get a driver pack with the latest update that includes a specific improvement in the speaker volume. Owners have…

Sony outs Lightning-friendly speaker dock in Japan, alarm clock and radio features in tow

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Author: Jamie Colby

Sony may have unveiled a slew of new audio products back at CES 2013, but the company has been relatively quiet when it comes to launching ones that are compatible with Apple’s novel Lightning connector. That being said, it looks as if folks in the Land of the Rising Sun will soon be able to pair their current-gen iOS device with a dock from the PlayStation maker, thanks to the recently announced SRS-GC11IP. Pictured above, this little 0.8W speaker isn’t loaded with fancy features like Bluetooth 4.0 or WiFi, but it does offer convenient functions such as an alarm clock and AM / FM radio — these, of course, go along with the ability to also play tunes straight from a Lighting-ready iDevice or, with the proper RDP-NWC11 model, a new-era Walkman and many different smartphones. Whether we’ll ever see the as-yet-unpriced tubular peripheral hit other markets, well, that still remains to be seen, with Sony only going so far as to listing it as “coming soon” on its Japanese website.

Gallery: Sony RDP-NWC11 speaker dock

Filed under: Misc, Peripherals, Sony

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Source: Sony Japan (1), (2)

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The Tivoli PAL BT May Be The Best-Looking, Best-Sounding Bluetooth Speaker

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Author: Gabe Hall

Long before the advent of the Jawbone Jambox, there was a portable speaker that was decently rugged, had tremendous battery life and amazing sound, and that was the Tivoli PAL. The PAL boasted an audiophile pedigree and an auxiliary input that made it a good partner for early iPods, but the introduction of decent stereo Bluetooth streaming made it fall behind somewhat in convenience when the Jawbone and its ilk came around.

Recently, however, Tivoli has updated the PAL with the PAL BT, a model that does offer A2DP Bluetooth stereo streaming, alongside the built-in AM/FM radio and auxiliary inputs found on the original. And if you’re in the market for a portable, powerful speaker with great sound, there’s nothing quite like it out there.

Rated for 16 hours max battery life
Built-in AM/FM tuner
Bluetooth/Auxiliary connections
Weights 1.92 lbs
MSRP: $ 299.99
Product info page

The PAL BT is frankly the best looking portable speaker available. My review unit was in glossy white, so the faceplate matches the rear casing, but those looking for a splash of color can opt to get it in a gloss black, blue or red finish up front, too. The styling is somewhat retro without feeling kitschy, and the ports and antenna are all easily accessible on the back, and protected by water and dust-resistant flaps.

The face of the speaker is dominated by the speaker grill itself, and also the large tuner dial for the built-in AM/FM radio. These are visually appealing, but more than that, the knobs and dials are actually very pleasantly textured and turn with a very satisfying amount of resistance. It sounds silly to complement a speaker based on the design and build of its controls and knobs, but when you use the PAL, you’ll notice immediately that attention was paid to their design.

The rectangular form factor isn’t the most portable among portable speakers, but it’s still a small, light device that is easily thrown into a carry-on or larger luggage.

Tivoli has a great reputation for delivering high-quality sound in a relatively affordable package. I’ve seen other reviewers knock the PAL BT for its sound quality-to-price value ratio, but to my ear, after extensive use and comparison with the Jambox and other Bluetooth speakers, the PAL still defends the reputation of its non-Bluetooth predecessor very well.

The Tivoli PAL BT is a mono speaker which might cause some potential buyers to hesitate, but that shouldn’t be a factor in anyone’s decision-making process. Sound separation in most portable Bluetooth speakers is dismal as it is, so they’re hardly “stereo” anyways. And the high-quality mono audio from the PAL BT even holds up pretty well when you crank up the volume (and it goes a lot higher than most of its competition, too, which is why it’s well-suited to backyard BBQs and other outdoor activities).

Battery life is another place where the previous PAL excelled, and the PAL BT is great there, too. Rated for 16 hours, you’ll get less depending on volume and whether you’re actively connected over Bluetooth, but no one would be disappointed by the duration of its battery no matter how you’re using it. I’ve been using it as my workday soundtrack next to the computer, and I often forget it’s a wireless speaker because of how long-lived it is. Plus, Tivoli equips the PAL BT with a user-replaceable internal rechargeable battery, so you could theoretically carry a back-up.

The Tivoli PAL BT is pricier than its non-BT version, and for bass-heads who actually like the exaggerated lows of companies like Beats and Bose, the sound might disappoint. But for audiophiles looking for a speaker that’s relatively affordable, long-lasting and still a category leader in terms of sound quality, this is a perfect device, especially as we head into beach, park and picnic season.

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Add Bluetooth To Any Speaker With The Vamp, A Mobile Receiver With High-Quality Sound

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Author: Dave Adams

The Jambox (or its numerous equivalents) is great, but I much prefer the experience of checking out second-hand shops around the city in hopes of finding a tower speaker relic that smells moldy however still has an exuberance of sound and classic appeal. Now a new Kickstarter project wishes to assist make sure correct speakers (the kind with removable cloth covers built stringently for noise first and design second) can quickly take advantage of Bluetooth.

The Vamp is a little cube that has traditional positive and unfavorable speaker cable connectors, together with 3.5 mm audio input in case your gadget doesn ’ t have Bluetooth, a micro USB port for power and an on-off switch. It offers an internal rechargeable battery great for over 10 hours of use, and can be plugged in for constant power too. Among its most excellent techniques is an inbuilt magnet that pairs with a provided metallic disc to connected to any upright surface for hassle-free positioning.

The issues the Vamp addresses that various other Bluetooth stereo receivers wear ’ t include design, cost and sound. It provides high-grade mono audio, which is meant to be utilized with speakers created high-quality sound output. It ’ s expected to retail for ₤ 45 (and is offered via Kickstarter pre-order for ₤ 35), and possibly most importantly, it doesn ’ t need a consistent exterior power source, unlike a whole lot of comparable options. You could actually take it with you to a friend ’ s house and wire their existing setup for Bluetooth noise, without an electrical engineering degree or access to the back of their house sound receiver.

The Vamp is developed by UK-based item designer Paul Cocksedge, who has worked on items for BMW, Swarovski, Sony and Hermes. A few of his previous work is displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in London. Cocksedge and his studio have actually dealt with sound amplification tasks in the past, include devices that normally improve noise from mobile devices like iPhones. The Vamp looks to be their first proper digital device, but working prototypes have currently discovered favor with very early customers.

The Vamp declares to have sound quality that ’ s “ richer and more textured ” than the standard Bluetooth transportable speaker offered, and it wants to go quite a bit louder also. Quality issues aside, it ’ s a good, fairly low-cost method to upcycle speakers that in lots of cases have actually only improved with age, and are being rudely projected by more youthful models.

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Bowers & Wilkins accepts Lightning: refreshes Zeppelin Air, intros Z2 AirPlay speaker

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Author: JohnnyBells

Roughly two years ago AirPlay WiFi streaming was becoming a major force, specifically thanks to business like Bowers & Wilkins updating their speakers systems to feature the standard. 2 years later, B&W’s bodacious Zeppelin Air is getting upgraded yet once again, however this time it’s all about the dock. Those of you who can’t bare to go dock-free with AirPlay speakers the like the A5 and A7 will be pleased know the third generation of Zeppelin features a Lightning port. Aside from Lightning and an updated LED selection, it’s basically the same speaker we were polarized by back in May 2011, readied to ship this Might for the exact same $ 600 rate. Past that, the business is introducing exactly what’s efficiently the wireless followup to its defunct Zeppelin Mini, the $ 400 Z2. Positioned as a little speaker with big noise, the ovular device includes a top-mounted Lightning dock for iPhones and iPod Touches. It’ll be available in black this April, with a white version following in June– consider it the company’s take on bedside or kitchen area speaker that you ‘d usually see from Sony or Harman.

Gallery: B&W Zeppelin Air and Z2 AirPlay speakers with Lightning docks (press images)

Meeting B&W we had the ability to provide both a fast listen; the Zeppelin still sounds like we kept in mind, while the Z2 pumped a huge quantity of volume for it’s size (albeit a great offer muddy at its loudest setups). Suffice it to say, both preserve the thick and hassle-free voicing that this editor has actually pertained to appreciate from its P5 earphones. If you desire even more information in the meantime, you’ll discover a press launch after the break.

Filed under: Home Home entertainment, Portable Audio/VideoComments

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WowWee CHATTERBOT Dog / Cat Computer Interactive Robot Joke Toy PC USB Speaker

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Author: Jamie Colby

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Crafter converts Atari 2600 systems into two-of-a-kind iOS speaker docks

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Author: Markus Smith

There’s few things more heartbreaking to gamers than an Atari 2600 whose original components have given up the ghost. UK craftsman Peter Morris must not want all that faux wood to go to waste, as he recently converted two broken 2600 systems into speaker docks for the iPad and iPhone. Both include digital amps to improve the tunes, a line-in jack and both on-device as well as remote controls. We’d love to have either of them providing the soundtrack to our Pong sessions, although pure logistics may work against us: the iPad and iPhone docks are unique examples that ship from Morris’ UK homeland at respective prices of £180 ($ 269) and £150 ($ 224). As such, there will likely be just a few Brits who’ll get to mix modern sound with their childhood Combat memories.

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets

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Via: TUAW, Waylou

Source: Etsy (1), (2)

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Bowers & Wilkins AM-1 speaker can weather the rain, weather the snow, weather the storm

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Author: Buck Howard

We appreciate any product that lets us not just freely reference Lamb, however likewise blast that band’s tracks in our yard. Which is what Bowers & Wilkins weatherproof AM-1 (Architectural Display) was constructed to do: blare out the tunes no matter the weather condition while preserving a subdued, stylish look. The rustproof speaker, which comes in black or white, is made for simple mounting, could spin 110-degrees from either landscape or portrait positioning and, according to the company’s cases, must provide better noise when placed high up (thanks to an inverted drive unit). Naturally, you don’t have to attach this fella to your outside veranda– it’ll also be right in your home from inside your … house, bar or even that diligently preserved secret storage. Seek the AM-1 to hit retail for $ 300 at some point next month, but buyer beware, you’ll have to provide the trip hop tuneage yourself.

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BlackBerry Bluetooth Mini Stereo Speaker Gives You A Speakerphone That Goes Anywhere For $79.99

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Author: Tyler Evans

BlackBerry’s accessories are almost as interesting as its first BB10 shipping hardware, and in addition to an external battery charger, they’ve also got a Bluetooth Mini Stereo Speaker/speakerphone that’s extremely portable, delivers decent sound and won’t cost you an arm and a leg at $ 79.99. Plus, the unique design means it clips onto your sun visor in the car for hands-free communication.

The sound quality from the speaker is decent, much better than a lot of more expensive devices (though I’d still prefer a Jambox for audio fidelity), and it can actually go quite loud. Not room-filling or anything, but plenty loud for private listening. But the main advantages are the fact that it acts as a very good Bluetooth speakerphone, charges via micro USB (and can be charged with your external Z10 charger), can go weeks without a charge and has a 3.5mm headset jack, which essentially makes it a Bluetooth receiver for use with a stereo or headphones.

The hardware accessory market is a place where it’s hard to compete with platforms like iOS and Android, and that’s likely why BlackBerry is taking an early interest in doing things itself. And they’re off to a good start in that regard, if my experience with this speaker is any indication.

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JBL’s CES Speaker Schedule Consists of Mobile Bluetooth, Beat-Pounding Boombox And Compact Lightning Varieties

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Author: Dave Adams

JBL will go to CES this year, which is no surprise, and it ’ ll be flaunting at least a trio of new speakers, which also isn ’ t that unexpected. The speakers themselves have some interesting features and quirks, nonetheless, and look like strong options for mobile device owners of all stripes. Likewise concerning the show are 2 new Harman Kardon receivers, each of which boast compatibility with Apple ’ s AirPlay audio streaming.

First, there ’ s a brand-new addition to JBL ’ s line of Lightning-enabled speaker docks called the OnBeat Mini, which will work with the iPhone 5, iPad mini, new iPods and iPad Fourth generation devices, offering charging for those Apple devices when plugged into the wall via AC port. The OnBeat Mini follows the OnBeat Location LT and Micro, both of which were presented late last year and also sport Lightning connections. This one is created to strike a balance in between mobility and support for bigger gadgets, and flaunts 5 hours of battery life, the capacity to charge Lightning gadgets when plugged into the wall and a USB sound port for connecting non-Apple devices.

Another new mobile speaker from JBL on display at CES this year will be the JBL Fee, which is a cylindrical design that follows the examples of the Jawbone Jambox and Philips Shoqbox, with a 12-hour battery life, Bluetooth connection and a ruggedized outside design. As its name indicates, it also functions as a backup battery for mobile devices, allowing them to sip juice via USB from its 6000mAh onboard battery. The JBL Fee will additionally run for $ 149, and begins shipping at some point in the first quarter of 2013. The battery backup is a good feature, and the cost undercuts numerous of its rivals, but we ’ ll have to wait to go ears-on to see how it bundles up.

The last new speaker is the JBL Rumble, another Lighting speaker dock, however one that additionally supplies Bluetooth capabilities, 50 watts of output power and a 4.5 inch downfiring subwoofer for sufficient bass. It ’ s plainly designed to rock the party, and JBL states it ’ s suitable with DJ apps on iOS devices when gotten in touch with Bluetooth (as are pretty much all Bluetooth speakers, naturally, but this one is aimed at the market which might be most curious about actually using those apps). It will be readily available at some point in the spring with a cost tag of $ 399.

Finally, JBL additionally has 2 new Harman Kardon home theater receivers at the show, the AVR 2700 and AVR 3700. These are 7.1 and 7.2 border sound receivers, priced at $ 799 and $ 999 respectively, and both feature AirPlay streaming built-in. The more costly AVR 3700 also offers 4K pass-through, which most likely won ’ t have the ability to take benefit of for a little while yet, and both additionally offer iOS direct play through USB connections, avoiding the requirement for a standalone dock, as well as vTuner Internet and terrestrial radio. They ’ ll be available to customers sometime during the first quarter of 2013.

All of these will be on show at JBL ’ s HARMAN booth during CES following week, so we ’ ll try to obtain up close and individual with the gadgets above to see how they pan out in the real world.

Posts Tagged ‘Speaker’

Surface RT gets improved speaker volume with latest firmware updates

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The Tivoli PAL BT May Be The Best-Looking, Best-Sounding Bluetooth Speaker

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Add Bluetooth To Any Speaker With The Vamp, A Mobile Receiver With High-Quality Sound

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BlackBerry Bluetooth Mini Stereo Speaker Gives You A Speakerphone That Goes Anywhere For $79.99

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JBL’s CES Speaker Schedule Consists of Mobile Bluetooth, Beat-Pounding Boombox And Compact Lightning Varieties

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