Hasta La Gadget!

I’m in love. The Vers 1Q is a smallish, cube speaker. It costs $119 and its simplicity is the biggest draw. With a single speaker and easy connectivity, this little speaker easily fits into anyone’s life. Plus, much to my surprise, it actually sounds pretty damn good.

Features

• 6.5W, 2-inch speaker
• 10-hour battery that charges by mini USB
• Bluetooth
• 3.5mm input/output
• Available in different colors

Info

• MSRP $119
• Shipping in early December
• Product page

The Vers 1Q is fantastic because…

… simply put, a speaker is the sum of its parts. There isn’t a magic ingredient. The formula involves the combination of speaker, amplifier and volume/density of the cabinet. This is where the Vers 1Q wins.

The 1Q employs a quality, single driver inside a wooden casing with a good amount of volume. The 2-inch speaker easily handles the mid-range wonderfully and is a tad bright with the highs. Surprisingly, there’s a touch of bass from the 1Q, likely due to the ported cabinet. This mono setup, while seemingly rudimentary, is far superior than using two smaller speakers. The single speaker in the 1Q more than holds its own, and, in a small space like a bedroom or cubical, the audio is pleasantly loud and mostly accurate.

The Vers 1Q is a Kickstarter…

… success story. Launched on the crowdsourced site in July, the company experienced a huge demand, acquiring $194k in preorders, although they were only looking for $10k. And now, just several months later, the company is preparing to ship the 1Q. It helps that Vers is not new at the hardware game. The company has been building and shipping clever iOS device accessories for some time now. Want something a little more multifunctional than the 1Q? Look at the Vers 1.5R, a fantastic-looking radio and alarm with a top-mounted Dock Connector port.

The Vers 1Q makes a perfect gift…

… for nearly anyone. At $119 it’s rather affordable but more importantly, very unique. The 1Q is not the traditional plastic nonsense sold by big box electronic stores. A fallen rap star is not endorsing the 1Q. The casing is made of wood and available in several different finishes. It sports Bluetooth connectivity but also a 3.5mm jack and comes with a cable. Don’t worry about pairing the speaker with your phone. Just plug-in the cable and rock out. The 1Q even features a 3.5mm out which can be used to string together another 1Q, forcing the two speakers into a stereo mode with each speaker representing a different channel.

A ton of inexpressive portable speakers are available. It’s a crowded market but the 1Q stands above most with a great design and sound.

I’m in absolute love. From the gorgeous wood cabinet to the technical capabilities, the little Vers’ 1Q is simply perfect. The $120 price ($99 for Kickstarters) is just icing on the cake. It’s rather refreshing to see a warm, nearly alive device in our world that’s generally filled with modeled plastic and faux chrome trim.

Simply put, the 1Q is a battery-powered Bluetooth speaker. A 2-inch driver provides the audio while, packed inside the walnut or bamboo casing, a 6.5W amp powers the audio provided from either Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack. The included battery charges via microUSB and should last 10 hours on a charge. What more can you ask for from a small speaker?

As shown by the pictures, the whole package is of a modest size. It fits in the hand, yet the creator brags that it “can easily deliver enough sound to fill some pretty large spaces.” Since it works with Bluetooth or an aux input, it should work with nearly every device.

This isn’t Vers’ first consumer electronic device. The company already sells the Vers 1.5R radio/alarm, Vers 1E ear buds, and iPhone/iPad cases — all out of bamboo and walnut.

The project is already funded on Kickstarter but they are still taking orders for 18 more days. Pledge $95 for a 1Q made out of either bamboo or walnut. Or, pledge an additional $30 for the limited edition red beech edition. Best yet the Vers promises these things will be delivered well before the holidays.