STACK #219 January 2023

TECH FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

HOT SUMMER, COOL TECH!

It’s summer holidays time – woohoo! That part of the year when we get to enjoy the outdoors more than ever and spend time with friends and family. And there’s no reason why some top tech can’t join in all the fun, at home or on the run. Words Bec Summer

Taking charge Worried about charging your devices while out having fun? Don’t forget to pack a USB power bank, or even make use of those rays with the nifty Cygnett ChargeUp Explorer 8K Portable Power Bank , which features solar panels to top up its juice. It even acts as a handy LED torch!

Sonos Move

Sonos Roam

I t doesn’t get more Aussie than making a pilgrimage to one of our golden beaches come summertime. But what to take? Beyond the essentials like sunscreen, towels, hats, your bathing togs, and perhaps even an umbrella, have you considered entertainment? The big must-have device is a smart speaker. Sure, your smartphone emits sound, but it’s not designed to spread the sonic joy beyond a tiny radius. Pop a smart speaker in your bag and you can hook your tunes into it wirelessly, and really get the party started with even the smallest smart speakers offering super-impressive sound, along with such necessities as water and weather resistance, protection from dust, and even drop survivability. Our favourite battery-powered winners include the smart-enabled Sonos Move and JUST BEACHY

Bluetooth Portable Party Speaker , or JBL PartyBox 310 Bluetooth Portable Speaker , each of which can also act as a karaoke machine or guitar amp.

Smart music! Your portable speaker is much more than just a simple music player. Many of them are now smart enabled, meaning that with a simple voice command you can get specific, asking them to play favourite songs, albums, playlists, or streaming services. Plus, if a dud track pops up, you can simply ask them to skip to the next banger. HOWZAT?! Got some mates over for a barbie or swim but want to keep up with the cricket scores? Have your smart portable speaker tune into the broadcast, or if you just wish to check in every

Ultimate EarsWonderboom 3

Sony SRS-XP500

so often, try simply asking “Hey Google (or Alexa), what’s the cricket score?” for a rundown of where current matches are at.

Sonos Roam , as well as the Bose SoundLink Flex , which includes a handy built-in carry handle. If you just want the sounds without the smarts, the Ultimate EarsWonderboom 3 is a top allrounder, even offering 360° audio. For something bigger, you can opt for either the Sony SRS-XP500 X-Series

Top tip: Buckets of sound! Want to get a bit more of that booming bass and flesh out the sound of a smaller portable speaker? Grab an empty plastic bucket, put the speaker in it – facing outwards – and point it towards the

Bose SoundLink Flex

JBL PartyBox 310

party. You can easily chock the bucket to stay still with a piece

Do you remember rock ‘n’ roll radio? If you’re into old school, JB still stocks a vast range of traditional portable radios of the AM/FM variety, as well as more newfangled digital DAB and DAB+ digital radios offering up a wide world of music stations to enjoy.

of wood or stray barbecue utensil.

38 JANUARY 2023

jbhifi.com.au