Customers wanting to build a custom audio system might soon have the means to do so with Sonic Blocks, a wireless speaker featuring a modular design reminiscent of the Google Ara smartphone.
The concept behind Sonic Blocks is simple enough-- one first gets a cube-shaped starter kit featuring the "brain" (a computer base handling all connectivity duties), tweeter driver, full range driver and a bass driver. Each panel of the cube is removable and replaceable with other components, such as a supertweeter, lights, Digital Dolby decoder or even modules adding smart home functionality.
The cube carries a battery promising to run for 15 hours on a single charge. Of course it can also be connected to AC power, which should come useful should one decide to build a massive system consisting of multiple modules.
The system ships with Bluetooth and Play-Fi wireless support, with AirPlay and Google Cast support to follow as a firmware update. Physical connectivity is also included through USB, ethernet, TosLink, RCA and S/P DIF. A companion app takes care of control and updates.
Sonic Blocks is currently an Indiegogo project with hopes to raise $50000 in preorders by the end of August 2016. Should it be successful the modular speaker should ship on June 2017.
