Music libraries are moving
into the cloud, and consequently much of our independent listening has been relegated to humble earbuds or (under the best circumstances)
higher-tech headphones. The recent emergence of easy-to-use home audio devices stands to bring tunes of all genres back out into shared, open space, a boon for any latent fans of the occasional impromptu
dance party.
Hanwell Active Loudspeaker: When renowned amp-maker and affirmed “Father of Loud”
Jim Marshall passed away last April, fans honored him with a
multitude of (
fittingly noisy) musical tributes. Marshall’s legacy lives on through the persistent dominance of the
Marshall stack—and also, now, through a Marshall-branded device for those who lack the instrumental talent to amplify. Named for Mr. Marshall’s original London shop,
Hanwell is the brand’s first-ever home speaker. It will be released in a limited run to celebrate Marshall’s 50-year anniversary. The
inner specs of this iPhone-compatible speaker are nothing to sneeze at, meriting fans’ inevitable references to “
taking it to eleven.”
Squeezebox Touch: Radio is already en route to a
revival and may soon see a bigger boost thanks to
Logitech’s
Squeezebox Touch. This portable gadget connects, via Wi-Fi, to the Web’s extensive range of streaming Internet radio, broadcasting favorite stations through any set of speakers. The device’s
hiccup-free transmission makes it a must for airwave enthusiasts discouraged by constant buffering in their browser. Squeezebox Touch can also play directly from music platforms (like Pandora) or personal accounts (like iTunes), providing comprehensive access to a user’s music library, no matter how widely scattered. Plus, users can fill their homes or offices with surround sound by syncing Logitech devices room-to-room.
Big Jambox: Devotees of
Jambox, a block-shaped speaker that syncs wirelessly to most Bluetooth-enabled devices, will delight at the release of
Big Jambox—which is, well, a bigger Jambox. Big Jambox boasts all of the same features as its predecessor, including wireless portability,
LiveAudio technology, and a built-in microphone for on-the-go Skyping. It differentiates itself in the hardware, containing not one but two bass radiators for fuller hi-fi sound, and promising an additional five hours of battery life. Big Jambox might not prove worth the extra $100 for some casual listeners, but either model stands to make a stronger design statement than the
near-invisible speakers currently in vogue.
