Speakers

Nexi Tech shows us how to make some truly unique speakers using value-priced parts. The electronics are set into organic looking enclosures designed by Ondra Chotovinsky. The 3D printer he used is the $500 Creality3D CR 10S, which makes great big prints cheap.

Devialet’s one-of-a-kind Phantom speakers are as huge as they are pricey. But the entry-level Phantom Reactor is at least within a mortal’s reach. The speaker packs the same room-filling, distortion-free sound as its bigger brothers, but in a smaller and less costly package.

There are lots of really cheap speakers out there, and most of them sound like garbage. YouTuber Jisaku kōbō shows us how a pair of $3 speakers can sound much, much better when placed into a pair of proper wooden enclosures. Of course, skilled labor is the real cost here.

Marshall’s Kilburn II portable Bluetooth speaker has a multi-directional sound design, allowing it to output audio from both its front and back sids. Inside the water-resistant case is a 20W woofer and a pair of 8W tweeters. It lasts up to 20h per charge.

JBL revisits one of its most famous and bestselling speakers, updating its cabinet and drivers. The L100 Classic looks strikingly like the L100 bookshelf speakers from the ’70s, but it has an improved tweeter and dome. Available with an orange, black or blue grille.

Soundwave toy inferior, DIY Soundwave boombox superior. I Like to Make Stuff made a boombox-sized Bluetooth speaker that looks like his favorite Transformer, the Decepticon’s Soundwave. As he said, you can choose to tackle the project in a simpler way than he did.

Vizio’s 8-channel home theater sound system supports Dolby Atmos at a competitive price. Its 36″ sound bar has upward-firing drivers for immersive sound. It also has Chromecast built-in and works with Google Assistant. A 46″, 10-channel version is coming soon for $999.

Bang & Olufsen’s typically stylish Besound Edge is a disc-shaped dual sided speaker that has a 10″ woofer as well as a 4″ driver and a 0.75″ tweeter on either side. Its volume can be adjusted by a remote control or by rocking the speaker. Drops 11/2018 for $3500.

This compact Bluetooth speaker screws onto the top of an empty plastic soda bottle, turning it into an acoustic enclosure, and increasing its bass response and volume up to three times. Permafrost’s speaker recently had a successful run on Kickstarter and should be available soon.

Part of Bose’s new line of smart speakers, the Bose Home Speaker 500 supports Amazon’s Alexa, so you can fire up your favorite music or podcasts using your voice. It can stream music over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and it also has a 3.5mm aux input.

DIY Perks shows us how to make a beautiful, vintage-looking Bluetooth speaker and LED lamp using cheap parts and electronics. There is a bit of 3D printing and soldering involved though. If you’re up to the task, check out the video’s description for the relevant links.

Master Replicas Group is making an officially licensed 1:1 scale prop replica of the face of 2001: A Space Odyssey‘s HAL 9000. The replica also doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. If you’re willing to pay extra, there’s a variant that comes with a voice-interactive wall-mounted console.

Boss‘ new Katana-Air is a compact wireless guitar amplifier. Its transmitter lasts for up to 12h per charge and has a power saving mode. The amp itself can also be powered with AA batteries for portable playing. It can also be used as a Bluetooth speaker.

Seal makes Bluetooth speakers with the electronics housed inside used or scrapped B-class tires. Each one is handmade in Japan and no two speakers will look the same. It comes with an A-frame stand for display. It also has a 3.5mm input.

If you’re looking for a feature-packed soundbar that won’t break the bank, check out the new Yamaha YAS-108. It has Dolby Virtual:X virtual surround sound, a mode that boosts voices for clear dialogue and two built-in subwoofers. Has analog, optical, HDMI and Bluetooth inputs.

Sonos‘ new Sound Beam is a smart sound bar that supports Alexa’s voice command system. It connects to your TV via HDMI ARC or optical audio. It provides great audio separation and clear bass. It can also be controlled via its app, AirPlay and Spotify.

Coleman’s new lantern is a great backyard accessory or camping centerpiece. Aside from providing 360º of dimmable light, the lantern also serves as a Bluetooth speaker. It lasts up to 20h while playing music, 40h while providing light, and up to 5h with both functions on.

Symbol Audio’s slick turntable has a built-in amplifier and speakers, which you can also use with wired and wireless sources. It also has an audio out and a concealed compartment for wireless adapters such as Sonos Connect. The optional base makes it an elegant centerpiece.

Native Union worked with audio specialist La Boite to create a speaker that’s timeless and futureproof. The PR/01 hides a patent-pending multi-amplified setup as well as audio inputs and charging ports inside its elegant cabinet. It has Bluetooth, optical, and two auxiliary inputs.

Now you don’t have to pay through the nose for beautiful and versatile Bluetooth speakers. Available in two sizes, the Eneby can be displayed freestanding, mounted on a wall or elevated with the optional stand. The small version also has a built-in handle.

Lotsen is the newest, smallest and most affordable member of Urbanears’ connected speakers. It has an output of 20W, a 4″ woofer and a 1″ tweeter. Like its bigger siblings, it supports all popular wireless streaming solutions and also has a 3.5mm input.

iXOOST specializes in speakers inspired by car exhausts, but the Radial6 was designed to look like an airplane engine. It has two 28mm tweeters, four 57mm mid cones, a 165mm extended range cone and a 200mm subwoofer. It has a Lightning dock and 3.5mm input.

Logitech’s G560 is a 2.1 sound system with Lightsync technology. Its two satellite speakers have RGB LEDs that can provide ambient lighting based on what’s on screen when the G560 is connected to your PC via USB. It also has 3.5mm and Bluetooth inputs.

The world’s loudest portable Bluetooth speakers are now 40% louder. The Soundboks 2 is powered by three 72W amplifiers, and pushes out up to 122dB of volume. It also has a new all-black durable case. Its battery is still removable and lasts up to 40h per charge.

Teenage Engineering – the folks behind the awesome Pocket Operator synths are collaborating with Chinese tech giant Baidu to create a robotic speaker reminiscent of Pixar’s Luxo, Jr. The R moves and grooves to music, while displaying patterns on its LED head.