This ’80 throwback
offers 21st century sound and features
A than two decades, the boombox is-Iike all things '80s in origin-
slowly making a comeback. It's only natural, then, that someone should come
along and harness its iconic design with modern technology in the form of a
portable Bluetooth speaker system. In this case, that someone is prolific audio
purveyor iHome, and the something is the IBT44 Boombox.
iHome iBT44 Boombox Speaker
This $199.99 system boasts twin 4-inch woofers and 1 inch tweeters
enclosed In what can best be called a 2014 reinterpretation of the classic boombox
design. In addition to the requisite speaker drivers, the device sports a large
LCD display, FM radio tuner, hefty volume and tuning knobs, an Infrared remote,
and a five-band equalizer with physical buttons. It's that last feature that is
one of our favorites, but the IBT44 sounds good even before you start fiddling
with its mids, highs, and lows.
The sizeable drivers put out considerable volume-practicaIIy a
must for something claiming to be a boombox- but bucking the “volume over fidelity"
trend of Its predecessors, this box sounds remarkably hi-fi, too.
Excellent sound quality. Physical equalizer
makes it easy to customize the sound to your liking. Retro throwback design
makes it easy to carry.
In tackling a variety of musical genres and podcasts during our testing,
the IBT44 proved itself to be a multitalented sound system, replicating voice
and Instruments with exceptional fidelity and range.
It was also impressive to hear such a wide soundstage being
produced by such a compact device, especially one in which the highest highs
and lowest lows kept from being muddled.
Like we said earlier, the EQ is a great feature that gives you
physical control over five frequency bands, so you can tailor its sound to your
liking and the style of music you're Iistening to. We'd just Iike to have seen
EQ adjustment buttons make their way to the included remote (just as we'd have
Iiked more playback controls on the speaker itself).
Actual speaker lacks track-skip forward and
back buttons. Grip that holds device presses the power button if fully engaged.
The ability for the IBT44 to run off AC power or six D-cell
batterles is nice; in the latter case, we used it fairly intensively for four
days without depleting its juice. It should be noted that while the device has
a USB port for charging your devices, It only works when running off AC-too bad
for those hoping for an emergency charging system when the power goes out.
The bottom Iines. Overall, the IBT44 Is a great-Iooking,
great-sounding, and highly portable offering we had a few slight quibbles with.
Whether you're Iooking to blast tunes while strutting down the street, or just
want something with awesome sound you can take everywhere, this is the box
you’re after.
|
Specifications
•
Amplifier:
Built-In, Class D, Digital
•
Speaker
Configuration: Two-Way, Stereo
•
Woofer
Speaker Type: Dynamic Driver (x2)
•
Woofer
Size: 4" (10.2 cm) Woofers (x2)
•
Tweeter
Size: 1" (2.5 cm) tweeters (x2)
•
Audio
Inputs: Bluetooth, 3.5 mm Audio Mini-Jack (1/8" Aux)
•
Charging
Input: USB Charge Port
•
Power
Source: AC Power, Batteries (Sold Separately)
•
Battery
Requirements: Size "D" (x6)
•
Finish:
Rugged Scratch Resistant Rubberized Material
•
Approximate
Dimensions in Inches (H x W x D): 17.81" x 9.06" x 4.96" (or
45.2 x 23.0 x 12.6 cm)
•
Approximate
Weight: 7-1/2 Pounds
|
