Almost from our first date, I knew Jack was an audiophile, but for the most part over the years that we’ve been married I rarely shared this interest. Things changed when I retired last year and we started The Audio Beatnik as a way to spend more time together. For the most part, we’re having a lot of fun and I’m learning a lot about audio, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve reached audiophile status yet. So, when we go to a show, I tend to gravitate to products that Jack would never look at. I found four products at AXPONA 2018 that I would have liked to have taken home with me.
Technics New “All-in-One” System
Bill Voss, Business Development Director for Technics, showed us this sweet little OTTAVA Premium All-In-One Music System when we were visiting with him in the Technics room. It’s brand new, and I don’t even know if there is a product brochure, but I did find it on the Technics website if you want to check out the technical details. Bill plans to send us one for Jack to review. We did listen to it for a few minutes, and it sounds really good and would fill our need for a digital source.
The compact size of this unit, as you can see from the picture, bluetooth connectivity and real speakers make this unit something that will fit into lots of places. Also, due to its size, it’s a piece I can easily see taking out on the deck to enjoy (note, it is not waterproof). Again, more details are coming in a real review, but , Bill, I’m still seriously wanting one of these at my house.
PlanterSpeakers
Another option for outdoor listening caught my eye as I was wandering through the Expo Hall because they are just so good looking and come in so many styles. We don’t have a pool, but either the planter boxes like the one shown above or the smaller terra cotta planters on stands pictured below would look good on the new deck we added to our house last year. And, believe it or not, they are high-quality speakers designed to be left out of doors. They can connect via bluetooth or be hardwired to a source, and they come in various sizes ranging from terra cotta planter pots to planter boxes.
Art Powers, Jr., founder of PlanterSpeakers, grew up in his dad’s audio store hearing some of the finest speakers available, so it was a natural extension for him when a customer from his A/V installation business asked if he could install an outdoor speaker. Now, almost 20 years later, PlanterSpeakers continues to add new styles and sizes to their product line, and they are made in the US.
I didn’t get to hear these speakers, but I did inquire about reviewing them, so that would be a consideration before purchasing. I did find, however, reviews from reputable press sources and product brochures full of technical specifications on their website. Jack was a little taken aback by the prices and commented that our deck didn’t cost at much as two of the planter boxes, but I think they are quite reasonable when you consider the price for a pair of high-quality loudspeakers.
Nomadic Audio’s The Speakase
On the first day of AXPONA, we went to the press breakfast and sat at a table with other writers from various publications. The conversation turned to sharing recommendations for what we just “had to see” at the show. One of the writers suggested Nomadic Audio, so I decided to cheek it out. For me, looking at this product turned it from a “must see” to a “must have.”
First of all, I have to tell you that when Jack and I travel by car, we normally take a small bookcase speaker system with us. There’s nothing better than sitting on the deck or by the fire at our favorite little inn in Mendocino, CA, and listening to some good music while watching the sun set in the Pacific. But, the speakers take up room, and that can be an inconvenience depending on the size of the car, and we can’t easily take a stereo system on a plane trip.
Doubling as a carry on, wheeled piece of luggage, The Speakase is the first practical way I’ve seen to take a hi-fi quality music system with you when travel. The heart of the system is a portable light-weight Bluetooth stereo system that is removable and two subwoofers that are built into the case. The case itself is made of fiberglass strengthened nylon, a polycarbonate shell, aluminum frame, and ABS material parts, comparable to a quality 20″ rolling suitcase.
Most importantly, The Speakase sounds really good! In fact, this unit earned a CES 2018 Innovation Award and has been called “one of the hottest products for 2018” by Forbes. Currently, the company is running a Kickstarter campaign, and you can get it for $399. So, this product is maybe a must have!
Acoustic Panels
These acoustic panels got my attention because unlike a lot of panels I’ve seen at shows and even had in my house, these look good. As you have probably noticed, there are a lot of companies out there that are putting photographs on canvas. Well, Acoustics can print your photographs on high-quality ArtPanels, acoustic fabric that is then wrapped around acoustic panels. Panels are available in various sizes from 12″x24″ to 24″x48″ and start at $129 each. They can do even larger sizes if needed.
The company’s printing process provides lasting results that don’t peel or fade over time, and they can work with you to take a high resolution digital image and divide it into several panels for a truly large-scale acoustic solution. I’m thinking about this for some photos from an anniversary trip to Europe we took a couple of years ago.
While the customized art panels are a great idea, that’s not the only product from this company that caused me to take another look at their booth in the Expo Hall. They have very good looking acoustic tiles and acoustic panels like those shown here. Now admit it, don’t these look a whole lot better than some things you’ve probably put on your walls to improve your sound?
Now, we won’t talk about what Jack saw at the show that he would have liked to have brought home. I’m thinking my list is a lot shorter.
