STACK #189 Jul 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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ON THE MOVE! There is nothing quite like taking your music mobile, whether that extends to soundtracking your BBQ catch-up, a beach party or providing beats for a picnic in the country. Wireless speakers have come a long way since the advent of the smart device, matching excellent sound quality with the convenience of portability. Easy to use and connect, the portable speaker has become an essential device for the modern household.

How do they work? The portable speaker contains an internal battery that can hold anywhere between 10 to 24 hours of play time when fully charged. They connect in one of two ways; Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Once connected, you’re ready to stream your tunes. Bluetooth - Connecting a portable speaker to Bluetooth is a simple exercise. Select Bluetooth on your smart device, press the pairing button on your speaker (on many units, this isn’t even required – it does so automatically) and wait for the reassuring “Bluetooth connected” message. Fire up your music streaming channel of choice, and away you go. Wi-Fi - With portable speakers that offer Wi-Fi connectivity, it’s possible to connect multiple speakers across the home network. These speakers can also be isolated to play different music in opposing rooms around the

house. Obviously, the portability is dictated by the range of your home Wi-Fi network but you can get a wireless speaker such as the Sonos Move (see below) that connects via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, offering complete versatility. Protection - An important consideration when buying a portable speaker is where it’s likely to be used. If it’s just kicking around the back garden then you probably won’t need to consider protecting it. However, if the speaker is being used to drive a bush rave or a fishing trip, it’s definitely worth searching for a model that is dust- and splash-proof, so look out for an IPX rating. The higher the rating, the more protected the device. The Smarts - For ultimate control, you might want to consider a speaker that has voice assistant compatibility so you’ll never need to get out of your chair or leave your hammock again. With various models offering support for Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri, it’s never been easier to cue up a song.

There’s a plethora of portable speakers available on the market. Here’s four of our favourites you can grab in-store.

OUR PICKS

MARSHALL KILBURN II Designed to replicate the company’s famous guitar amps, the speaker delivers everything you would expect from the Marshall name. A rugged build, a pairing button, volume, bass and treble dials sit on the top of the unit, while a cool black and velvet carry handle – reminiscent of a guitar strap – adds an extra dash rock and roll. It’s possible to link multiple users to the speaker, too, so you and a friend can trade track for track. You’ll get up to 20 hours of rocking power from a single charge and at 2.5kg, you can lug it everywhere. But what about the all-important sound quality? For its size, the Kilburn II kicks out a huge sound that can be customised with the bass and treble dials. This is one of the best Bluetooth speakers we’ve tested – just make sure Ace of Spades is the first track you play on it.

Did You Know? When the Sharp VZ-2000 Boombox hit the street in 1982, it really turned heads. Not only could it play cassettes, it included a record player that could play both sides without having to take the record out and turn it over.

22 JULY 2020

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