STACK #201 Jul 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS

JBL Pulse 4 At the pool or the beach, the JBL Pulse 4 is the perfect party starter. It’s designed for 360-degree sound, with an LED lightshow delivering the same spread like a digital lava lamp. And it comes with an IPX7 waterproof rating, meaning it can be submerged as deep as one meter for up to 30 minutes. PartyBoost feature allows the pairing of two compatible JBL speakers for stereo, or multiple speakers for room shaking sound. WHAT WE LOVE: Set the right mood with the music and lights. The JBL Connect App lets you customise the lightshow and sync another Pulse 4 by holding it close and giving it a shake. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.2 Battery life: 12 hours IPX Rating: 7 Charging: USB-C

Marshall Emberton It all starts with the distorted guitar strums that indicate the speaker is powering up. If you like music, in particular rock music, you’ll appreciate this little nod to the speaker’s rich heritage. Small in stature but big in sound, the Emberton is covered in durable rubber with a metal speaker grill emblazoned with the distinctive logo. A smart brass button on the top controls the volume and skips tracks, and an LED light indicates battery life. The only way to connect to the speaker is via

Bluetooth. The Emberton throws out a big and well-balanced soundstage for its size, tuned with a rock slant in mind. WHAT WE LOVE: A rugged design, it might be pocket-sized, but it packs a powerful punch. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Battery life: 20 hours IPX Rating: 7 Charging: USB-C

Sony SRS-XB33 We all love taking our portable speaker for an outside adventure, but god help the person who knocks it into

the sand, into the flowerbed, on to the concrete, or worst of all, spills their lemonade spritz on it. Welcome the Sony SRS-XB33, which has been vigorously tested in all those scenarios as well as being submerged in one metre of water for 30 minutes, after which it was still kickin' its sonic goals (and was awarded an IP67 rating). It also boasts Live Sound mode, which utilises DSP technology to create super impressive, wide, three-dimensional sound. Lastly, check out Sony's internally-developed X-Balanced Speaker Unit, which achieves truly incredible sound quality with mega-punchy bass. WHAT WE LOVE: This portable speaker has more lives than your kitty, but its durable design doesn't mean Sony have skimped on amazing sound quality. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Bluetooth 5 Battery life: 24 hours IP Rating: IP67 Charging: USB-C and USB

Bose Soundlink Revolve II The Soundlink Revolve II is designed to deliver 360 degrees of consistent sound when you’re out and about. It starts with a down-facing transducer, coupled with an omnidirectional deflector to distribute your music evenly. There are no dead spots with the Revolve II. Passive radiators housed in the upper section of the speakers give low notes that extra bit of support. The result is a form factor that’s small in footprint but still gets the party started. It’s encased in stylish and seamless soft material to absorb shocks and leave no marks. And protection comes via IP55 dust and splash resistance. WHAT WE LOVE: You can take the Revolve II for a stand- alone outdoor adventure, and also have it as part of your home sound ecosystem, with a Bose Home Speaker synced to the Revolve II (via Bose’s SimpleSync). AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Wireless Bluetooth Version 4.1 Battery life: 13 hours IP Rating: IP55 Charging: Micro-B to USB-A

Bose Soundlink Revolve+ II

The Revolve+ II ups the game, delivering louder for longer than the Revolve II. It’s 3cm taller than the Revolve, at 18.4cm, and also 0.24kg heavier, at 0.90kg. For this extra heft, the Revolve+ II comes with a fabric handle for toting to your next picnic. WHAT WE LOVE: No fuss portability with an immersive sound. And it’s easy to pair two Bose speakers for Stereo or Party Mode playback. AT A GLANCE: Connectivity: Wireless Bluetooth Version 4.1 Battery life: 17 hours IP Rating: IP55 Charging: Micro-B to USB-A

64 JULY 2021

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