Aliph, the San Francisco company that brought style and better sound quality to Bluetooth headsets with its Jawbone series, has reinvented the boombox with the launch of its second major product.
The Jambox is a small, wireless speaker, with a minimalist design and speakerphone functionality added with a built-in microphone.
The concept is that instead of a built-in radio/cassette/CD player as an audio source, the boombox of today should have music and voice delivered to it wirelessly from any Bluetooth-capable product. This also obviates the need for speaker/docking station combinations for devices like an iPhone.
I found the Jambox worked well in a number of situations. Lifting and holding the on/off switch for a second or two puts it in pairing mode and I connected it to the new MacBook Air over Bluetooth to replace this MacBook’s relatively feeble speakers with a fuller sound.
I carried it in the car as a speakerphone and music player, pairing it with my HTC Evo Android phone. I also paired it with an iPod touch to play music and podcasts at my desk.
Portability is key and I found the Jambox very easy to carry around – it is six inches long, weighs just 12 ounces and with its moulded rubber top and bottom, it is easy to grip in the hand.
An emotional attachment can also take hold. The design has a tactile appeal with the rubber – inspired by binoculars – and wraparound metal grille, while the Jambox vibrates with its powerful bass and emits endearing sounds as it is turned on and off.
Aliph has continued its high standard of Apple-style packaging and the Jambox comes with a carrying case, two lengths of USB cables to charge it, an AC charging option and a stereo 3.5mm lead for connecting non-Bluetooth devices.
The device charged quickly and eight hours of playing time is claimed by the company. Bluetooth gives it a range of at least 10 metres from the paired device.
I thought the sound was very good for its size – it has two speakers and a moving-wall passive bass radiator. But some may feel they can get a bigger and better sound from a portable speaker for the Jambox’s $199 price tag.
For those prepared to pay that much for great design, excellent features – upgradeable through the USB connection – and maximum portability, the Jambox is available for pre-order now and goes on sale at Apple and Best Buy stores in the US on November 16.
