Axel Pfaender | GIZMODO.cz

cardboard boombox Berlin Boombox is Made of Cardboard
Cardboard electronics are not new (in fact we reviewed a Cardboard Radio a while back) but we really like the design of this Berlin Boombox. The bold black and white graphics harken back to the days of carrying a giant boombox on your shoulder while your buddy hauled in a rolled up sheet of linoleum. Except it’s a lot lighter than an old-school boombox since it’s cardboard (and only requires 3 AA batteries instead of a boatload of D’s). And since nobody breakdances anymore, you can skip the linoleum. But it doesn’t ship like that- it ships flat:
cardboard boombox flat Berlin Boombox is Made of Cardboard
The boombox is essentially just a powered smartphone/iPod speaker dock; you slip your phone into the slot, hook up the stereo jack and control the volume and power through the single knob. The die-cut cardboard structure and minimal electronic parts all assemble quickly and easily without tools. Here’s what the back looks like:
berlin boombox back Berlin Boombox is Made of Cardboard
Berlin based designer Axel Pfaender created the Berlin Boombox (hmmm, I wonder how he came up with the name). It even has a handy carrying handle. Another neat aspect is that since it’s made of cardboard, you can paint, doodle, or marker it up any way you want.

Berlin Boombox is Made of Cardboard

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.

It's been years since we've spotted a proper handle-sporting boombox on this side of the equator (in public, at least), but we're decidedly impressed with this unique Kickstarter creation, dubbed the Berlin Boombox. Constructed nearly entirely of cardboard, save for some metal- and plastic-based essentials, the speaker rig ships disassembled in a flat cardboard box. Getting the Boombox up and running shouldn't require much effort, however -- the designer states that you won't need any tools during the quick assembly process. After you're done, you can connect the setup to any source with a 3.5mm headphone jack, then control volume with the large aluminum power/volume knob. The Berlin Boombox also ships with four AA batteries, though it's not clear how many hours of music you'll be able to pipe through the speakers with that initial set of cells. We also can't speak to sound quality, though there is a free custom sound profile available for iOS devices -- audio "will be remastered in real-time to use the full potential of the Berlin Boombox."

You can pre-order your own with a $50 pledge, saving you 9 bucks off the estimated retail price. There's also a "limited edition" two-tone box, available with a $100 pledge, while $250 will net you a custom-designed model, which can also be paired with a dinner and tour of Berlin with the inventor if you're willing to fork over $500 or more. There's just shy of two weeks left during the funding period -- you'll need to provide that financial support before noon on April 25th. The project is on track to meet its $14,000 funding goal, however, so it's fairly safe to say that you'll be able to snag one of these cardboard contraptions even if you aren't ready to take the plunge just yet. Jump past the break to see the Berlin Boombox in action, and to catch up with our last Insert Coin project: The PowerPot.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Berlin Boombox recyclable cardboard stereo (video)

Insert Coin: Berlin Boombox recyclable cardboard stereo (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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