Hasta La Gadget!

JBL has been on a wireless speaker kick lately — it might as well throw some truly portable models into the equation. Accordingly, two of the three speakers it’s shipping today, the Flip and Micro Wireless, sport Bluetooth audio and a 5-hour battery to cut the cord. The Flip (seen above) is the multi-talented athlete of the bunch: its design can work either upright or on its side to stuff into small spaces, and a built-in mic provides speakerphone duties. The Micro Wireless’ puck shape isn’t as clever, but it fits a standard 3.5mm input jack and space to clip to a carabiner or lanyard. Both these and the Micro Wireless’ strictly wired counterpart, the Micro II, have a bass port to improve the low-end frequencies that are so often missing in this class of speaker. Prices may be the real incentives here: the Flip is the most expensive of the trio at $99, while the Micro Wireless and Micro II are even lighter on the wallet at respective $59 and $39 price points.

Continue reading JBL freshens its portable speakers with Micro II, Bluetooth-toting Flip and Micro Wireless

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video

JBL freshens its portable speakers with Micro II, Bluetooth-toting Flip and Micro Wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  JBL (Flip), (Micro Wireless), (Micro II)  | Email this | Comments

Bang & Olufsen has been slowly but surely adapting to a wireless world. Its new Playmaker (shown at center) brings that evolution to audio: with the receiver linked up, any AirPlay- or DLNA-friendly audio device can beam its sound to a set of the Danish firm’s designer speakers. Wireless audio bridging isn’t anything new by itself — we know at least one rival that might say it’s old hat — but the company is promising clean and powerful sound through a built-in DAC that can drive even the beefiest of BeoLabs, like the 2,500-watt BeoLab 5. We can look forward to the Playmaker reaching stores before the end of the month, but we’ll pay a premium for all that theoretical power. The bridge by itself costs $425, while a special bundle with BeoLab 3 speakers will set listeners back an eyewatering (if ear-melting) $4,310.

Continue reading Bang & Olufsen unveils Playmaker wireless audio bridge, makes sure AirPlay and DLNA speak Danish

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Bang & Olufsen unveils Playmaker wireless audio bridge, makes sure AirPlay and DLNA speak Danish originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Bang & Olufsen  | Email this | Comments