360-degree speaker | GIZMODO.cz

We’re all the DJs of our own dance parties in quarantine. Whether we’re at that local jazz bar with Tuesday open mic nights or those rave-filled after-parties following a late Friday night, we’re all pretending we’re on the dancefloor. Until we can get back on the real one, take it from me, a solid speaker setup is crucial for solo Saturday night interpretative dance routines. Thankfully, Japanese design and manufacturing company, Balmuda has the portable speaker with surround sound we’ve been searching for to keep our quarantine dance parties going.

The Balmuda Speaker does a lot more than just play music too. Starting from the top, Balmuda’s 77mm full-range speaker was designed to reproduce realistic vocals and instrumentals the way they were made to be heard in the studio. The speaker’s drive unit was built to deliver a deep, robust cloud of sound with bass heard from below, providing a thick blanket of sound for the vocals to sit on and remain centered, while the treble hangs overhead, making each sound experience fill up every room. The speaker’s sound clarity was achieved through fully-enclosed, vacuum tubing made of organic glass, that traps air to act as a spring, delivering a bouncy and crisp sound with each play.

Then, while your music plays, an LED light show emanates from each speaker’s center to mimic the lights from live musical performances. The speed of lights synchronizes with each song played and can be manually adjusted to fit the mood of any hangout or dance party. The sound of a song is converted to pops of light at a speed of 0.004 seconds, so no matter which song is on queue, Balmuda Speaker automatically adjusts its light show. The Balmuda Speaker can either be connected via BlueTooth or AUX input, and its Live Light mode has three different settings: ‘Beat’ for uptempo songs, ‘Ambient’ for a relaxed mood, and ‘Candle’ for slower songs.

Designer: Balmuda

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Balmuda Speaker features an LED light show that syncs up to your music no matter the song.

For slower tunes, Balmuda Speaker can be adjusted to act like a candle, just like live music in candlelit jazz bars.

A vacuum tube constructed from organic glass helps to deliver crisp audio.

Balmuda can be taken anywhere, even outdoor hangouts at the park.

The sophisticated design and subtle elegance of Balmuda helps in making it fit into any room.

The speaker’s 7mm full-range speaker offers 360-degree sound to fill up the entire room.

Balmuda comes with the option for Bluetooth connectivity, offering wireless capabilities.

Also equipped with an AUX input terminal, Balmuda can play, music from any source.

The rear panel of Balmuda comes with three options for different Livelight shows: Beat, Ambient, and Candle.

Nowadays, speaker designs are getting innovative by the day! However, there’s a certain appeal to modular speakers that I simply cannot deny. One such example is Mindaugas Petrikas’ Hevi speaker. Crafted from a mixture of rough concrete and wood, Hevi is a 360-degree modular speaker, with a warm and rustic aesthetic. With a glossy plastic plate stuck right in the middle of it, a surreal modern contrast is created to the otherwise homely materials, that are wood and concrete.

What makes Hevi even more interesting is that it dissociates into two speakers! The top portion of Hevi consists of a mid-high frequency speaker, whereas the lower portion is a mid-low frequency speaker. The two can be detached, allowing you to carry either of the speakers wherever you wish. The compact upper speaker is, of course, the more portable option, something you could even carry for your outdoor adventures! When combined, both the speakers create a resounding high-quality sound.

Both the speakers face the glossy plastic curved plate, forming an intricate reel, and the plate allows the sound to bounce off it, moving outwards to create a 360-degree audio experience. The sound will reach every part of the room. Amped with Bluetooth, Hevi also comes along with a 3.5mm jack, aiding a wired and wireless experience. Both components of the speaker can be charged simultaneously. Not to mention, Hevi’s pleasing neutral aesthetics allow it to perfectly merge with the interiors of any modern home, making it not only a speaker but an attractive decoration piece.

Designer: Mindaugas Petrikas