It's 2016: We've landed rovers on Mars, developed self-driving cars and even made hoverboards (kind of). So, we shouldn't still have to choose between performance and portability when it comes to Bluetooth speakers.
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 sustainab...
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer's guide to the best technology. Read their continuously updated list of deals at TheWirecutter.com.
You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutte...
If you like your Bluetooth speakers nearly pocketable and can live without wall-shaking volume, the Jambox's diminutive offspring is now available for $180 at Jawbone.com. The aptly named Mini is available in nine colors and five textures and debuts alongside iOS and Android streaming apps that are compatible with iTunes, Spotify and Rdio. The speakers will be available at US retailers "shortly," according to the company. Hit the source below to get your Mini jams on.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Jawbone
Jawbone's original Jambox made Bluetooth portable speakers a mass-market hit. Since then, though, Jawbone has started to lag behind as other companies have come out with better units that cost either the same price or less. Now, the $180 Mini Jambox is here with an even more portable design to help Jawbone keep its edge. Now that we've gotten the chance to live with it for a few weeks, it's time to answer the big questions you might have before placing a pre-order. Does the Mini Jambox offer marked improvements over the original? Is it enough to compete with all the other options in this space? And, most importantly, is the price right? Read on for the Engadget take. %Gallery-slideshow84424%
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Business professionals who've dreamt of having a portable conference system and Bluetooth speaker combo have just had their wish granted. Harman Kardon's aluminum and leather-clad Esquire portable speaker features two drivers, a bass port and noise-cancelling conference microphones. Placing the unit upright adjusts its mics for one person, while laying it flat works best for multiple people. The design is relatively clean, but you'll find physical buttons at its side for power, playback, mute, volume and Bluetooth pairing (NFC-pairing is also an option). An internal battery keeps it juiced for up to ten hours and its wall charger has three USB ports to handle your smartphone and extra gizmos. The Esquire will be available for your business travels later this year in white, black and "camel."
Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Harman Kardon
With the launch of its new flagship phone, the Xperia Z1 (and a slew of other products), Sony has had its hands full at IFA. But the day is still young, and there are accessories yet to be launched, like a new Bluetooth wireless speaker and a set of premium noise-canceling headphones. The "splash-proof" speaker comes with five color choices and One-Touch listening, allowing users to pair it with NFC-capable devices. Additionally, three models of the MDR-10R headphones will be available this fall: standard, noise-canceling and Bluetooth. Interested parties can grab the speaker for $130 when it launches tomorrow, but you'll have to wait until October to get your paws on the headphones, which will retail for $200 for the basic version and $270 for the noise-canceling variety. The Bluetooth, NFC-ready headset will hit shelves in November with a sticker price of $250. To learn more, you can check out the product pages (linked below) or the press releases after the break.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video, Sony
Source: Sony (SRS-BTS50), Sony (MDR-10R)
SMS Audio, the brainchild of Curtis "50 cent" Jackson, may be known for its pricey headphones, but the company is broadening its horizons with its first portable speaker, which you can now purchase for the not-so-humble price of $200. The SYNC by 50 wireless speaker boasts Bluetooth functionality, NFC capability and omni-directional sound due to its rounded design. Additionally, the SYNC comes equipped with 50mm tuned drivers, a 3.5mm headphone jack and five EQ settings to fiddle with. If you've always had your heart set on a Fiddy-branded speaker, you can find it in "shadow black" (as opposed to plain ol' black) on SMS Audio's website, linked below. For more info, check out the full press release after the break.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: SMS Audio
Remember that SOL Republic Bluetooth speaker that made a sneak appearance at Verizon's Droid event? Well, it's actually official now and the company wants to ensure its first foray into audio outside headphones is a success. Dubbed the Deck, the speaker is the result of a team-up between SOL and Motorola, with SOL providing its audio know-how and Motorola handling the wireless connectivity bit. The $200 speaker features a flat design that might fit into a pants pocket. Vertically positioned drivers and a side-facing port provide 360-degree sound, and an outdoor mode boosts the highs and cuts the lows if you need to fill open areas with sound.
Additionally, deck boasts a usable range of 300 feet, a sprawling distance compared to the the usual 30-foot line-of-sight limit you'll encounter on devices like the Beats Pill and Jawbone Jambox. Its Heist setting lets up to five devices connect without needing to enable a pairing mode and, like the name suggests, any user can steal the speaker by hitting play on their device. Rounding things out, you can expect roughly 10 hours of battery life, water-resistance (via a sonically-transparent bag), speakerphone functionality and a 3.5mm input / output. Interested? It costs $200 and is up for pre-order today in yellow, blue, red and "gunmetal." Shipments are expected to begin before August is over. In the meantime, you can join us after the break for our initial impressions.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: SOL Republic, Motorola
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.
We called Beacon Audio's Phoenix "our new favorite portable speaker" just over a year ago. Today, the company's taking to Kickstarter to fund the production of its followup: the Blazar. The speaker features a grown-up design wrapped in aluminum (the Phoenix was plastic), with a softball-sized, cube-esque design. The slightly bulky shape allows for 12 hours of battery life, aside from promising big and clean multi-directional sound thanks to two 50mm drivers and a 65mm bass radiator. Beacon's also loaded the speaker with a microphone, NFC and a dual pairing mode for completely wire-free stereo sound between two units -- like Nokia's Play 360.
On top you'll find rubber playback controls, while one side of the unit houses a microUSB input, 3.5mm input and output jacks, power switch and a pairing / mode button. Early-bird pledges of $99 dollars will be available for the first 198 units (split between silver and graphite), followed by an additional 600 priced at $124. Beacon's counting on its artist collaboration editions, however, offering three more colors (500 pieces each) at $134 with Neon Trees, AWOLNATION and Halestorm. If you're up for the risk, Beacon plans to ship all orders by December 1st. Join us past the break for some impressions with pre-release units.
Filed under: Portable Audio/Video
Source: Beacon Audio, Kickstarter
