STACK #201 Jul 2021

FEATURE LIFE TECH

There’s always a good reason to throw a party, and at the heart of every raging get-together is music. Whether it’s a pool, birthday, or beach party, if you’ve got a crowd ready to rock, you’ll need a speaker to match that spirit. Let’s talk party speakers. JBL Partybox 310 This is one meaty unit! The reason it comes on wheels with a retractable handle (much like a suitcase) is so you can easily manoeuvre the speaker into position; it can be kept upright or laid horizontally. For the price, you’re getting a lot here. 240 watts of booming power will provide the perfect accompaniment to any occasion, with a button on the top to boost the bass. Connected via Bluetooth (you can also use a USB drive), the overall soundstage is outstanding; the bass boost makes a noticeable difference if that’s your penchant. Controls are on the top (including some nifty sound effects buttons like a horn and crowd noise), so you can customise your sound, and positioned around the back of the speaker are dual mic and guitar inputs. Backlighting is built into the front of the speaker grill – this looks superb at night, adding to the party atmosphere. And if one speaker isn’t loud enough, you can even add another Partybox 310, and wake up the dead! PARTY SPEAKERS

WHAT WE LOVE: You get a lot in the one package, including great sound for the price! AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 Battery life: 18 hours IPX Rating: 4 Charging: AC adaptor

Soundboks SB3-1BB Wireless Speaker The Danish company behind the Soundboks claim this is the loudest wireless speaker on the market, and after spending a week with it, it’s hard to disagree. If you’re looking for a big indoor wireless speaker, this probably isn’t for you – unless you live in a warehouse. However, for an outside wedding, rave or a birthday party, this fits the bill with aplomb. Cranked right up, you’re looking at 126 dB of quality sound; distortion-free thunderous sound in fact. You can even daisy chain multiple speakers together and kickstart your own Big Day Out – they’re certainly loud enough. The speaker is a professional build with four silicone balls affixed to each corner to dampen and absorb knocks and vibrations, and the cabinet has carry handles for transportation. A removable battery (you can have a second on charge as back-up) will green light 40 hours of play at mid-range and five at full bore. Or alternatively, plug it directly into the mains if a power source is close. Two ¼” XLR inputs can be used to connect a DJ mixer, mic or even a guitar. The Soundboks Gen 3 is the ideal outdoor entertaining partner and its cacophonous sound will keep every party raging. WHAT WE LOVE: The incredible power on offer and volume dial that goes up to 11! That’s rock and roll. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Battery life: 40 hours IP Rating: IP65 electronics coating

JBL Xtreme 3 Big enough to star at a party but small enough to carry around with ease, the barrel-shaped JBL Xtreme 3 comes in at a shade under two kilos and features two clips on the top so that a shoulder strap can be affixed for easy transport. Its tough exterior has clearly been designed for maximum portability and it can be submerged in water, too, so it will stand up to whatever the weather can throw at it. A handy addition is a full-sized, built-in USB port for phone charging. On the audio end, we’re talking deep bass here, making this speaker ideally suited for an electronic music blowout on the beach or in the bush. There’s even a Party Boost mode to link up two Xtreme 3s should the need arise. WHAT WE LOVE: All round performance and durability. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Battery life: 15 hours IP Rating: IP67 – waterproof and dustproof Charging: USB-C

Ultimate Ears Hyperboom

Standing at 364mm and weighing close to 6kgs, the Hyperboom is a pumping party speaker from wireless speaker specialists, Ultimate Ears. It's at home both in the centre of a wild celebration or soundtracking your favourite film; it even carries an optical output. Out of the box, the Hyperboom delivers a balanced 360-degree soundstage with a punching bass. It also has multiple Bluetooth inputs, so different DJs can trade songs on different playlists. There’s also a 3.5mm auxiliary input plus a USB-A output for charging phones during playback. If you take the speaker away from a power source, the 24 hours of battery life should satiate even the most ardent ravers. WHAT WE LOVE: This is the perfect party piece that won’t take up too much room in the car. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Battery life: 24 hours IPX Rating: 4 Charging: AC Adaptor

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