iHome starts shipping what it describes as its toughest Bluetooth speakers yet-- with 4 Weather Tough models being the first from the company to have an IP67 rating.
The rating means the speakers' chassis is dust-proof and can withstand up to 1m of water for 30 minutes. To further add toughness the speakers also feature military-spec rubberised shock-proof casings. On the internal side, all models feature rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth connectivity and a built-in microphone complete with echo cancellation and answer/end controls.
The first model in the lineup is the iBT37, a triangular mono speaker featuring an 8-hour battery and a quarter-inch tripod mount on the bottom. Following it is the small iBT82, a circular number with a 12-hour lithium-ion battery.
The further addition of a pair of external Loewe speakers allow the Subwoofer 300 to create a 3.1 array, with the TV acting as centre speaker. Add an extra Subwoofer 300 and one can create a full 5.2 surround system, with the two subwoofers powering the front and rear speakers while the TV acts as centre channel, all without need for extra amplification or audio decoding.
Further similarities between the 3 speakers include pairing with the free Libratone companion app, linking with Libratone's Zipp or Zipp Mini speakers, a touch-based interface identical to that found in the Zipp speakers, a metal mesh chassis and IPx4-rated splash proofing.
The high performance preamplifier section incorporates a 32-bit 768KHz AKM digital-to-analog converter and analog stages. The DAC and surrounding circuitry supports source inputs include DSD capable PC-USB (24bit/192k), 3 coaxial, 3 optical, integrated aptX Bluetooth and a front-mounted USB iPod input.
Pro-Ject Audio Systems celebrates its 25th anniversary with The Classic-- a turntable with a design inspired by famous models from the 50s, 60s and 70s featuring adjustable feet and a new tonearm.
“Keeping [iTunes music downloads] running forever isn’t really on the table anymore,” an anonymous source insists. Also in discussion is a plan to “ride the [iTunes music download offering] out for the next 3-4 years, maybe longer" once music downloads become an afterthought in a streaming-dominated industry. Another source bluntly states “if he were alive, Jobs would have killed it.”
Co-created with Dirac and Japanese designer Kosho Tsuboi, the Gravity sits on top of a transparent acrylic block. The block is positioned off-centre, but the speaker has enough weight on one side to ensure it will not lose balance and fall. The result? The speaker appears as if it is floating, at least when viewed from certain angles. Another interesting feature is an acrylic prism creating the illusion of a floating display.
