The Danish audio brand has collaborated with the cult-classic director, screenwriter, actor, artist, and musician David Lynch. Together this team has produced a special edition speaker collection with artwork by the iconic artist. The designs feature selected images and details from the “War Between the Shapes” series, works on paper created in the 1970s. Additionally, there are others from the “Paris Suite” lithographs created in 2007 at the renowned Idem studio.

This marks the continued collaboration between Bang & Olufsen and David Lynch, a self-proclaimed long-time patron of the company.

Lynch told GadgetyNews:

I’m honoured to be part of this special collaboration. Bang & Olufsen has always been known for great sound and great design.

B&O x David Lynch

The special edition speaker collection includes a very limited number of the iconic Beoplay A9 and wall-mounted Beosound Shape.

The Beoplay A9 features artwork from the “Paris Suite” lithographs and it will be available in only five pieces. Naturally, each of them is hand-signed by David Lynch.

The Beosound Shape features artwork from the “War Between the Shapes” series. Unfortunately, it will only be available in one copy. If you want to see the Beosound it will be on view at MoMA Design Store’s Soho location from October 10 to November 11. The speaker appears as part of an immersive and interactive pop-up experience inspired by imagery from David Lynch’s films.

Additionally, the exclusive collection also includes Beoplay M5 and Beoplay P2.

Both Beoplay M5 and Beoplay P2 feature artwork from the “War Between the Shapes” series. David Lynch’s signature is laser engraved on the top of the Beoplay M5 speaker and printed on the bottom of the Beoplay P2.

The collection will debut in conjunction with a Bang & Olufsen pop-up at MoMA Design Store, Soho in New York City.

Emmanuel Plat, MoMA Design Store Director of Merchandising, told us:

MoMA has a long history of working with David Lynch, and a number of Bang & Olufsen objects are in The Museum’s permanent collection. Because of these connections, it was a natural fit for MoMA Design Store to premier this unique collaboration.

Pricing and availability

Beoplay M5 and Beoplay P2 featuring artwork by David Lynch will be available, in very limited quantities, at www.bang-olufsen.com/davidlynch and store.moma.org starting October 9. Also, at MoMA Design Stores in New York and Tokyo starting October 10; at David Lynch’s Festival of Disruption in Los Angeles, October 13 and 14; and in select Bang & Olufsen stores. The speakers will also be available at select retailers, such as Harrods in London, starting November 8.

Finally, Beoplay A9 and Beosound Shape featuring artwork by David Lynch will be available exclusively at the Bang & Olufsen x David Lynch pop-up at MoMA Design Store, Soho from October 10 to November 11.

Prices

• Beoplay M5 featuring artwork by David Lynch retails for £700.
• Beoplay P2 featuring artwork by David Lynch retails for £175.

The post Bang & Olufsen and David Lynch collaborate appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Festival of Sound opens its doors for the first time under this banner on September 28th at Novotel London West, Hammersmith International Centre.  This eclectic three-day event combines exhibitors of luxury audio, live music and not-to-be-missed seminars. Amongst these awesome audio events will be the Sound System by Bowers & Wilkins.

Bowers & Wilkins Sound System

Sound System gives artists the opportunity to perform on a speaker system like no other. This year, the likes of Chris Difford, Beth Nielsen Chapman, UNKLE co-founder Lavelle and Philip Sheppard, as well as JJ Jeczalik and Gary Langan, co-founders of Art of Noise, take to the stage to perform on Sound System.

This promises to be one of those experiences that no lover of live music should miss.

What is Bowers and Wilkins’ Sound System?

Bowers & Wilkins Sound System draws upon over 50 years of acoustic excellence to produce this coveted PA system. Moreover, this system boasts both the range and clarity of a top-end hi-fi speaker with the raw power required to deliver sound to thousands of music lovers.

It is one of a kind and has never been commercially produced. This also makes it quite legendary in the music space and festival scene. Furthermore, Festival of Sound will most likely be the most intimate setting you’ll get to experience it in.

Sound System made its debut at Primavera Sound in 2014. Since then, it has gone on to tour multiple summer festivals including WOMAD, Oya, and Festival No. 6. 

Sound System spec sheet

Structurally, Sound System is made up of a four-way active loudspeaker design. This is comprised of four stacks which act as its foundation. Each stack stands over 3.2 metres tall. Moreover, this incredible power means it is capable of an extraordinary 120dB and delivers bass that is not only amazingly powerful but also totally controlled.

Additionally, the same sound engineers responsible for crafting Bowers & Wilkins most famed audio products also worked on this impressive rig.

This year, Festival of Sound (formerly The Indulgence Show) is even more music focused than before, making Sound System the perfect sounding accompaniment.

Vernon Hamblin, producer of the Festival of Sound, told us

Our concert series is set to feature Chris Difford, UNKLE co-founder James Lavelle & Philip Sheppard, Art of Noise co-founders JJ Jeczalik and Gary Langan, Unsung Singers, Antonio Forcione, Beth Nielsen Chapman and many more, so we wanted to make a statement when it came to the PA system the music will be heard through – after all this is an audio show. To do this, we have the honour of using Bowers & Wilkins’ Sound System, which will provide the concert goers with the high quality hi-fi sound the brand is known for in an intimate live music environment.”

We are really excited about this and look forward to attending Festival of Sound in just a few weeks!

The post Bowers & Wilkins Sound System unleashed at Festival of Sound appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Running for two years as The Indulgence Show, Festival of Sound, The Music and Audio Show will be landing in London in September. As well as showcasing the best in hi-fi the show will present the ‘Unsung Singers’ super-group.

Festival of Sound promises to bring the best of hi-fi, portable audio and music to the Capital. Furthermore, it is building up a roster of respected musicians to perform at this year’s event, which takes place between 28th-30th September at Novotel London West, Hammersmith.

Many audio companies state that they aim to bring the experience of live music in to your listening room. With this in mind, the show will present a cross section of musical genres in the 1,000 capacity Chablis Suite. In this suite, you can expect full staging, lighting and a very special PA system.

Unsung Singers

Appearing on the Friday afternoon are the hugely talented ‘Unsung Singers’. This super-group of the UK’s leading backing singers is the brainchild of Gina Foster and Tessa Niles. Don’t worry if you their names aren’t familiar though. They have sung backing vocals for an array of stars that are more familiar; David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Eric Clapton, to name but a few. However, at Festival of Sound, it is their time to take centre stage.

Furthermore, joining them on this musical journey is their musical director, Mike Moran. Moran is the renowned producer who has worked with the likes of Queen, Ozzy Osbourne and George Harrison.

The show is the ultimate backstage pass into the world of rock and pop, blending the history of British backing vocalists with revealing storytelling, featuring the songs the Unsung Singers have helped make hits.

You will also get a peak behind the curtain at what went on during the recording sessions and tours of some of the biggest artists in the world.

Words

Festival of Sound musical producer, Chris Kimsey, who has worked on over 15 Rolling Stones releases, plus Led Zeppelin, Tom Jones, Deacon Blue and many others, spoke of the Unsung Singers quite enthusiastically:

It’s a great honour to be able to bring the Unsung Singers to Festival of Sound. The artists they have worked with and the stories they have to tell will make this concert one that music enthusiasts are not going to want to miss.”

Vernon Hamblin, Festival of Sound organiser added:

If you’ve ever listened to an album or seen a concert from the likes of Bowie or Clapton, you’ve heard members of the Unsung Singers at work. They’ve toured the world and worked on the biggest songs ever recorded, it is a delight therefore to be able to present them at Festival of Sound. We know the show visitors and music fans who come just for our live concerts are going to love them.”

More information

Tickets for the Unsung Singers concert will be on sale soon. Full details will be published on Festival of Sound website and social media channels.

To exhibit or perform at the Festival of Sound, the Music and Audio Show, please contact:

• Vernon Hamblin on vernon@festivalofsound.co.uk
• Phil Wannell on phil@festivalofsound.co.uk
• Lynda Heath on lynda@ashcommunicatons.com
• Jodie Holloway on jodie@ashcommunications.com

The post Festival of Sound spotlighting Unsung Singers appeared first on GadgetyNews.

We are no strangers to Bluetooth speakers here at GadgetyNews. But, ones that offer a wide soundstage thanks to a stereo pair of loudspeakers? Not so much. It was with much joy then that we were offered a look at the AOSM 68 speakers.

Look at any Hi-Fi system and, where price and components may differ, one thing remains. They will all feature at least two loudspeakers. This is not only to produce stereo sound, but also to create a more realistic soundstage. Many will tell you that the positioning of a stereo pair of speakers can make or break their performance. So, where most Bluetooth speakers are great on portability, few allow you to alter their position in a stereo field.

However, this is not true for the AOSM 68. The reason for this is that you actually get a pair of speakers that can act in concert.

AOSM 68 speakers design

The AOSM 68 speakers have a ruggedised appearance thanks to their reinforced corners. These protect the “high quality diaphragm” found at either end. Also, this is perhaps a nod to their IPX5 rating. That means they are able to survive splashed water and protection from dust.

The speakers are covered in wire mesh and have the brand ensconced on the front.

The back of the speakers hold most of their features. On the left, there’s a water-resistant panel that conceals the Micro USB and 3.5mm headphone ports.

Over on the right side you get four buttons: power, play/pause, volume down and volume up.

Additionally, there’s also a leatherette carry strap. Handy.

Each speaker measures 6.2 x 2.2 x 2.2-inches and weighs 12.5oz. Compact but not really feather light. You will notice two in your bag. 

They are not the most striking speakers we’ve ever seen. However, they are also not ugly. To be honest, I quite like their utilitarian vibe.

AOSM 68 speakers performance

The speakers are rated at 2 x 6 Watts. According to the literature, the battery life should be around 8 hours but I have eeked out more. This will probably change as with most batteries though. Recharging takes in the region of 3 hours.

As I alluded to earlier, Bluetooth speakers are generally single units. This aids portability as well as convenience.

What you will discover with the AOSM 68 is that you will have to double up. Two speakers means two cables. Two cables could then mean a pair of plug adapters and wall sockets, unless you have a USB hub handy.

Those reinforced corners do allow the speakers to shrug off rough use though. Furthermore, that water and dust resistance should allow for some non-lethal encounters with environmental hazards. These are all bonuses for anyone planning to take the speakers out and about.

The speakers can be set horizontally or vertically. As the strap is situated on the same face as the controls, this does not get in the way of having them in either orientation.

Set up

To pair a single speaker with your mobile device, it is the standard routine. Turn on the speaker, find it on your phone or tablet, pair. Sorted.

To get the ASOM 68 running in stereo pair mode you will need to turn them both on at the same time. Wait for the signal stating that they they’re powered up. Now, just tap the power key again to get them to pair with each other.

Once that’s done, you’ll see that one speaker has a solid blue LED light and the other has a flashing blue LED. It’s then just a matter of grabbing your phone and connecting up.

Now you have stereo sound and can place the speakers wide apart to get the full stereo experience.

Sound quality

So, are two speakers better than one? Yes. Stereo was developed for a reason — having two speakers gives a much better sense of presence, and allows music makers to be more creative in their recordings.

The AOSM 68 packs Bluetooth TWS. Thanks to True Wireless Stereo technology, you can pair two speakers via bluetooth to form a wireless left and right channel system.

Did I notice a huge difference in musical enjoyment from carrying two speakers and all they need around? Well, the sound quality certainly rivals that of a single speaker at their price point.

As I sat in my office setting these speakers up I had them stacked upon each other. This provided the usual Bluetooth speaker dynamic. However, placing one on each of the chair arms opposite me, this did make an incredible difference to their presentation.

The panned instruments in Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Chain’ were given more space. The vocals were also better placed.

A quick blast of some Yello did show the speakers’ weak spot though. The low-end is a little lacking. It’s there, when the volume is pushed but then you are sacrificing some of the mid-range’s clarity as that starts to get a bit overdriven.

Orchestral pieces and singer/songwriter compositions are clear and balanced. If you do prefer the less pastorial classics, again, you may notice the slightly light-handling of the lower ranges. But then, look at the size of the woofers. Can we really expect earth-shattering sub from these, especially at this price?

Whether paired or used as a single unit, the AOSM 68 boasts a decent, balanced sound with reasonable mid and high-end performance. There is even some good bass presence once you crank the volume up a bit. As I’ve said, however, higher volumes can make the treble a tad harsh and muddy the mids.

AOSM 68 speakers review conclusion

[amazon_link asins=’B073PZF77Q’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’gadgnews-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=”]Twice the speakers, twice the fun? Well, you do also get twice the weight to carry and twice the cables needed. But with 8hrs play time, you won’t need the cables everywhere you use these.
 
The upside is that you do get proper stereo. The output is decent and the speakers will take the odd knock and splash. This lends them to being handy for festivals and the like.
 
I also like the fact that two of you can use a speaker each independently and then, when you want, you can join forces again using the AOSM 68s as a stereo pair.
 
However, I think their prime use would be out in the garden together. I can see these pumping out tunes during a BBQ, and the like.
 

Price and availability

You can buy the AOSM 68 speakers for £49.99 as a pair from Amazon right now.

In each box you get a speaker, aux cable and USB charging cable.

The post AOSM 68 Bluetooth True Wireless Stereo speakers review – two’s up appeared first on GadgetyNews.

It will soon be festival time again! Ah, the beauty and chaos of UK festivals. You might not be able to predict the weather but at least you can sort your schedules out.

Some of you might remember a time when going to a festival meant possibly never seeing your mates again until the next morning. Back in those days, mobile phones were pure sci-fi. If you wanted to know the running order it was either pinned on a board or via a screwed-up program.

Today, the modern summer festival not only has charging stations and lockers, hot showers, Wi-Fi and 4G towers, they have their own apps.

As well as the official festival apps, there are a number of other handy apps that might prove useful while you’re stuck in the middle of a field.

Festival apps

Isle of Wight Festival: June 8-11

Festival app – iOS / Android

The Isle of Wight Festival is the first major festival in the UK summer calendar.  But the Festival’s heritage reaches back over an extraordinary 45 years.

Most will be familiar with the famous line-up in 1970. If you’re not, can you imagine Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Joni Mitchell, Supertramp, Leonard Cohen, Joan Baez, Chicago, Procol Harum, amongst others on the same bill? Not to mention that you’d have been with over 600,000 like-minded people.

This year David Guetta, and Run DMC will co-headline the Friday night. The Saturday headliner is Arcade Fire, and Sunday’s bill topper is Rod Stewart, with Kaiser Chiefs, Texas, George Ezra, Bastille, Jack Savoretti, Rag n Bone Man and many more.

Kelvedon Bash: June 30 – July 2

Festival app – iOS / Android version on the way

This one might not be on your radar yet as 2017 is its debut.

The Kelvedon Bash is not just a music festival, it celebrates a whole range of arts. Think of it more like a mini-Glastonbury in Essex.

The venue is Kelvedon Hall, which is a mere 19 miles from London.

The organisers decided to call it a ‘bash’ rather than a festival as it gives it a more intimate and casual feel. Saying that though, the music line-up is none-too-shabby.

Lee “Scratch” Perry, Massive Attack’s Daddy G, Faithless’ Sister Bliss, 808 State’s A Guy Called Gerald, Norman Jay MBE, Brandon Block and David Rodigan are all confirmed. Word is that there’s still a special headliner to be announced.

Love Supreme: July 1-2

Festival app – iOS / Android

The Love Supreme Festival is a jazz-infused weekend in the beautiful ground of Glynde Place in East Sussex.

It proudly boasts to be the only jazz festival in the UK with camping. I think it is under-selling itself though. You see, it’s not just limited to jazz, the festival also covers soul and funk too.

This year’s headliners include The Jacksons, Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Robert Glasper Experiment. Furthermore, you can expect Corinne Bailey Ray, Mica Paris, BadBadNotGood, George Benson and many more.

Livewire Festival: Aug 25-27

Festival app – iOS / Android

Blackpool is host to a number of festivals, including the punk-tastic Rebellion. Livewire is somewhat different to Rebellion, however.

For a start, Livewire is set to be headlined by Will Smith and his buddy DJ Jazzy Jeff. Other acts confirmed for the festival include The Jacksons, Go West, Sinitta and Jason Donovan.

Seems a good one for a nostalgia hit.

Must have apps

Fest prep

Festival Ready: iOS – free

Festival Ready is a one-stop-shop for simply everything you need for camping at a festival site.

The app also comes with a live weather forecast, a packing checklist and, not to mention, a 3D navigation system that drops pins along your routes to help lost friends track you down.

It’s built by Victorinox, them behind the Swiss Army Knife, so there’s plenty of good stuff here.

Car sharing

BlaBlaCar: iOS / Android – free

Carpooling makes sense.Why try to squish onto a coach or bus with a hundred other backpack toting music fans when you could a little more comfortably?

It’s going to be cheaper than the train and you might even make new friends.

The thing is, answering an ad in a forum or magazine might leaving you feeling a bit sketchy.

BlaBlaCar is kind of like Air B&B but for cars. You get to see drivers’ profiles and see what others say about travelling with them before you commit.

Through the app you can book and pay for your seat. If your driver cancels, you’ll be refunded. You also get to leave ratings.

Tent finders

Android: Festival Buddy – free

iOS: BC Tent Finder – free

In all the excitement and breakfast booze haze, pitching your tent is usually a giggle (if it’s not raining). We’ve all been there. It’s the start of the camaraderie that shall continue for the next few days.

Once all the tents are staying up by themselves, it’s time to head to the arena. This is where such familiar phrases as “We’re opposite the tent with the flag” and “I’ll recognise that tree” are all well-meaningfully spouted. You know better though.

Download one of these apps and they’ll use actual GPS to get you back to your temporary home.

Friend finders

Find my friends: iOS / Android – free

This is not a dodgy hook-up app, don’t worry.

Again, by the power of GPS, this app will find your mates by tapping in to their phone’s GPS.

Likewise, through the very same app, they can see where you are. You can also chat with each other and get directions.

Music sharing

Audibly: iOS – free

You didn’t want to drag a Bluetooth speaker to the festival, I get that. But, when chilling back at base, your tinny phone speakers are just not going to cut it.

If only you could harness the power of your friends’ phones too.

Well, Audibly can play your music in sync across nearby iOS devices.

Just choose the songs you want, link up some devices, and you’re ready to go.

First Aid

Red Cross app: iOS / Android – free

Accidents do happen. Not only that, every group has that friend that seems to attract mishaps.

Be prepared and get the British Red Cross First Aid app.

The app provides tips on how to prepare for common emergency first aid situations, as well as step-by-step guides on what to do if you find yourself in said situations.

All the information is contained within the app, meaning you don’t even need an internet connection to access it.

It’s a handy thing whether festing or not.

Need an app building?

If you are organising a festival or large music event, check out Second Screen.

The company has created tie-ups with pop sensation Anastacia as well as several prominent UK festivals, including the Isle of Wight Festival, Liverpool Sound City and Fusion Festival – with further apps set to roll out throughout the year.

The post Top 10 UK summer festival apps appeared first on GadgetyNews.

There is plenty to chose from if you want a Bluetooth speaker these days. Naturally, size and sound are two of the most important factors for many. Allocacoc have recently announced their audioCube and sent me one to review.

Dutch manufacturer, Allocacoc, have an interesting proposition to getting the most out of a portable Bluetooth speaker. They obviously like working with cubes, and have therefore added a speaker to almost every face of one.

It looks pretty good but, more importantly, how does it sound?

audioCube design

It looks great and sounds potent. Add around 10 hours of play time, this is a fab choice for a portable speaker.

audioCube price and availability

You can buy the audioCube now direct from Allocacoc for Eur 99.95

The post Allocacoc audioCube review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Skullcandy Grind Wireless on-ear headphones is a continuation of the brand’s mission to snip the cables from their range.

I was invited to go and visit Skullcandy at their UK launch of the Grind Wireless cans and chill out on a rather warm evening in the centre of Soho.

You may recall that I recently reviewed the Skullcandy Hesh 2 wireless headphones not so long back and, where they were impressive for the price, the seemed a bit unbalanced sonically.

Have Skullcandy managed to resolve that in these, the smaller and lighter Grind Wireless?

Grind Wireless design

One thing that Skullcandy continues to do is offering their products in a wide, and sometimes baffling, array of finishes and styles. The Grind Wireless is no different.

You can chose from a total of six different colourways ranging from a camouflage/tartan mash-up to a sleek and minimalist black and chrome number.

The ones I have here are, to my mind, a more classic and classy finish in black and brown faux napped leather.

Beneath the leather covering is soft black foam, stitched into place with a breathable mesh layer. The nicely cushioned foam and soft ear pads work together to form one of the most comfortable and well-fitting on-ear headsets I’ve tested.

The Grind Wireless has three no-nonsense control buttons around the rear of the right earcup: volume up, volume down and the central function button.

Each volume button, when held down for three seconds, skips to the next or previous track depending on whether you were holding the + or – control.

The main function button is responsible for controlling Bluetooth and answering incoming calls as well as powering the headset on and off.

Also on the same side is where you’ll find the micro USB charging and audio jack ports.

The Grind Wireless comes with a built-in microphone, as well as an optional 3.5mm audio jack for the times you need to be tethered to a device – or the rechargeable battery runs out.

Grind Wireless performance

Grind sound quality

As the Skullcandy Grind are a tenner cheaper than the Hesh 2 I tested I thought that they might be on a par with each other with, perhaps, the Grind being a little light in the bass.

My first test was at If Music with some choice vinyl being sent to the headset via a Bluetooth transmitter and venerable Technics SL-1210.

First up was Hendrix live at the Altanta Pop Festival. I should not have doubted the Grind Wireless’s ability for bass as I sat through this almost mythical gig from 1970.

I had them sling on some Trip Hop as I was now worried about the higher register and this proved to be needless also, with the Grind performing surprisingly well in the demo area.

Now, it’s not that I’m not trusting, but the thing is… well… I’m not. The EQ would obviously be set to get the best from these cans so I scurried home to get my test set unpacked.

They have now lived with me on my commute for a week-or-so and, I have to say, are surprisingly good.

The Grind Wireless do actually have a nice deep, well-rounded sound with remarkably clear mids and highs.
[youtube id=”E8q3NoIrZo8″]
I have slung pretty much everything at these headphones from Nile to Nils Lofgren, and EST to AC/DC and the light Grinds have managed to cope really really well.

Granted, they’re not a real match for my benchmark set of Oppo PM-3 planar magnetic cans but those are five times more expensive than the Grind Wireless – and they’re not even wireless!

Grind stamina

All the information points to the Grind Wireless having around 12 hours of battery time, which I found to be fairly accurate with them needing a charge after 5 days of commuting and blocking out my workmates during lunch break.

Saying that, I have had been forgetful and left them switched on when I’ve stopped the music playback and just taken them off. Now, some Bluetooth headsets, when they’ve been left dormant, will switch off automatically in order to save charge. The Grind don’t – they sit there like an expectant puppy ready to play again.

Other than that, pairing the headset and everything else is painless and battery life is reasonable. Also, should your cans die when you’re away from power, you’ve always the option of jacking the cable in.

Grind Wireless review conclusion

It’s hard not to compare audio quality between different headphones whilst ignoring the price. The thing is, price isn’t always the mark of quality.

The Skullcandy Grind Wireless delivers in every area you would want. They are not only lightweight and comfortable but sound great and are well put together.

Add the fact that they only cost 70 notes, then you’re on to a sure fire winner.

The Grind Wireless have set the bar for Skullcandy as far as I am concerned.

Grind Wireless price and availability

The Grind Wireless are available now directly from Skullcandy and other retailers for £70

The post Skullcandy Grind Wireless headphones review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

The Fugoo speaker has the ability to dress for any occasion thanks to a range of natty looking jackets. I have been sent the Fugoo Tough along with a Style jacket.

I get emails almost daily asking me to review the latest Bluetooth speaker and, as you can imagine, it has got to the point where something has to jump out at me.

One such device stood out and it was called Fugoo.

The Fugoo (named after Fugu, the rather risky Japanese puffer fish delicacy) is waterproof, mud-proof, drop-proof and shock-proof in its naked ‘Core-X’ format. So a tough Bluetooth speaker, that’s been done before right? Well, it’s not only tough but also adaptable thanks to its three jacket options – Style, Sport and Tough.

Fugoo design

Like the puffer fish, the Fugoo looks a bit odd in its naked Core-X self.

Unbolting the Tough jacket to get to the nitty gritty core just takes an Allen key and the removal of four hex screws.

The thing is, the Fugoo Core-X is built to take knocks already. Its construction includes a reinforced case with co-moulded seals and shock absorbers to protect the internal drivers and tech.

The end caps, for example, are able to absorb impact on all eight corners while the seals protect the speakers from the elements such as water (to a depth of up to 3ft), snow, dust, and sand.

Wrap that all up in the Tough jacket and you get an ultra-rugged portable speaker. This protective layer is made up of a fibre-reinforced resin and aluminium frame.

The Fugoo has top-mounted controls shown here on the Tough and then Style jackets.

As well as the + and – volume controls you might have noticed the mic which is more obvious in the Tough pic above. This makes it good for hands-free speakerphone action.

In total there are six drivers – two tweeters, two mid/woofers, and two passive radiators – that are strategically placed around all four sides of the product to deliver sound in all directions.

At one end you’ll find the on/off button and the one for pairing Bluetooth.

Flip it around and there’s the Aux in and the USB charging ports.

The Fugoo comes bundled with a USB and Aux cables in their trademark colour, which is a nice touch. You also get a neat carry bag too!

Fugoo performance

Sound quality

The Fugoo promises a 360-degree sound experience.

This is handy as this means you can take it the park or a festival, shove it in the middle of your group and you will all be able to enjoy the omni-directional tunes.

I am glad to report that it does work and sounds pretty good. Thanks to those drivers, the Fugoo does go louder than you’d expect something of this size should with the output apparently able to hit 95 decibels.

Those bass radiators enable the Fugoo to handle a frequency range from 60Hz-20KHz, the lower figure means that you do get a decent bass punch from this little speaker.

Regardless of which jacket the Fugoo is wearing it kicks out respectable bass and clear highs with a really focused midrange.

Going from New Young Pony Club’s ‘Jerk me up’ to ‘Torch’ by Soft Cell, the lows are defined and high-hat hits sparkle just as you’d want your pop songs to come across.

It’s not just pop that the Fugoo enjoys though.

‘Cowboys from Hell’ by Pantera crunches and grooves through its awesome 4:03 minutes, whereas the bass rumbles nicely on the opening bars of ‘Celebrate your Mother’ by Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

I was really impressed by the separation on more complex tracks such as ‘Inertiatic Esp’ by The Mars Volta with all the interweaving lines clearly discernible.

For those who want to use the speaker as a speakerphone rather than just for playing tunes, the Fugoo is full-duplex capable.

Sound is clear and the omni-directional microphone with echo cancellation and background noise reduction means those on the other end can hear you loud and clear.

Jackets

The Style jacket is really lightweight and hardly adds any bulk to the Core-X speaker. It also looks great in the silver mesh finish and the Fugoo label is nice fashionable touch. It really works sat on a shelf in the kitchen or living-room.

The Tough, on the other hand, does add weight as well as girth but there is no denying its purposeful appearance. As it boast all kinds of superpowers (withstanding 3 foot drops, etc) I had to test some of these out.

I am happy to report  that being dropped on to flagstones from my eye-level (6 foot) didn’t bother it at all. Neither did a dunking in the bath with Bluetooth still connected and playing ‘Here Comes Your Man’ by the Pixies without missing a beat.

Stamina

Having all this portable power and punch requires a decent battery. Thankfully this particular speaker has the legs to last for 40 hours of playback from a single charge.

From empty to fully loaded, the speakers are fully charged again in 3.5 hours via the fast charging Micro-USB charger, which is included in the box.

A really neat addition is that your other devices can sip juice from the Fugoo by simply plugging them into the speaker which will then double-up as a kind of battery pack.

Fugoo review conclusion

For me, the speaker that the Fugoo had to beat is the Damson Vulcan and looking at the size of this little speaker I very much doubted that it could come anywhere close.

What surprised me is that where the Vulcan does look and feel more powerful, the Fugoo has a more flat and true response than the Vulcan. Where the Damson speaker leans a little more to the low mids and bass, the Fugoo achieves a clearer presentation thanks having a tighter mid-range and a clearer treble.

Add in to the mix its waterproofing and ultra-tough build as well as being about half the size of the Damson then the Fugoo is definitely one to consider, although the latter is at least £50 more expensive.

I also like the fact that you can change how the Fugoo looks thanks to the jackets . I can testify that the Style really looks good with its silvery mesh and the Tough looks and feels bomb-proof.

If you want decent sound, in a small package, wrapped up in a good quality build then trying this Fugoo is probably a better decision that trying the other variety.

Fugoo price and availability

You are able to choose which jacket comes in your Fugoo box:

• Style – £185
• Sport – £212
• Tough – £190

You can then purchase the remaining two jacket options individually should you wish. There are also a variety of straps, mounts and remote controls available too. Check out the Fugoo website for more details.

The post Fugoo Tough and Style Bluetooth speaker review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

The Intempo Retro Blaster continues the company’s fascination with past decades. Not so long ago I reviewed their 50s-style jukebox and today I take a look at their modern take on a 70s/80s classic – the ghetto blaster.

For those of you too young to remember when portable audio meant a small, mono, transistor radio the arrival of the Walkman and the mighty ghetto blaster was the dawning of a new age. No longer were you at the mercy of radio DJs when you wanted music on the move. Now you could pack a few C90 cassettes (ask your parents) with your favourite tunes on and then annoy anyone within earshot in the park, on the bus, or on the train.

Ghetto blasters became synonymous with the Hip-hop movement and breakdancers. The Intempo Retro Blaster has a definite nod to the shape of those battery guzzling tape decks from back when tracksuits, leg warmers and big hair were de rigueur but with the advantages that modern technology brings to the table.

Intempo Retro Blaster design

I have been sent the Retro Blaster in a very 80s colourway of black and red and I reckon it certainly suits it.

The first thing I noticed, apart from its colour, was that it is a great deal smaller than the blasters of yesteryear at 34.5cm long x 9.7cm wide x 17 tall.

This is no doubt helped by the fact that cassette players are no longer a requirement thanks to Bluetooth connectivity. Instead of the front of the blaster being taken over by equalisers and tape decks, the front of the Intempo Retro Blaster is handed over to a pair of 10cm speakers dishing out 10watts.

Along the top is where you’ll find the controls with a big bass dial at one end of the panel and the volume dial at the other. In between these sits the play and mode buttons. Below those are the indicator lights showing Bluetooth status and whether you are using the line-in option.

At the rear of the panel are the on/off switch, auxiliary port and microUSB charging port. USB and aux cable are handily bundled in with the Retro Blaster.

Around the back of the Intempo Retro Blaster is a bass port.

The finish of the main box is a slightly gloss leather-look but it feels almost wooden. The red plastic parts of the handle, control panel and speaker surrounds are matte.

Intempo Retro Blaster performance

Syncing your smart device with the Retro Blaster is simplicity itself. Once that’s done then you are good to go.

I was expected a little hollowness to the sound from the Retro Blaster but dialling in a little more bass from the big red dial and the sound quality isn’t really that bad.

I have had it on the chair next to me in the office and have found it really listenable. I currently have Jack White’s Lazeretto blasting through the Blaster. The volume dial is at the 10 o’clock position and, at this distance, it is loud enough.

Cranked up to 12 o’clock it’s pumping. Wound up to 5 o’clock is its full range and whilst it is loud there isn’t any terrible distortion, the only thing I had to do is turn up the bass a bit more as the treble was getting a bit splashy and harsh for me.

If it was warmer out I would like to hear how it it handles the parks but I am sure that the Intempo Retro Blaster has the power and presence to accompany any picnic or festival environment.

The USB-rechargable battery lasts about 3 hours on a single charge so plenty to accompany your afternoon in the park.

Intempo Retro Blaster review conclusion

The Retro Blaster is small enough to pack away when heading off for a picnic or festival but has the power to share your playlists with plenty of people – whether they want to or not.

The Intempo Retro Blaster is available in black, black and silver or black and red, so choosing one to suit should be simple.

I would recommend this neat Bluetooth speaker to anyone looking for a present for their kids especially.

Intempo Retro Blaster price and availability

The Intempo Retro Blaster is available now for £39.99 direct from the website.

The post Intempo Retro Blaster review appeared first on GadgetyNews.

Becoming Michael Eavis… Have you ever been to a music festival and thought ‘I could do better?’ Maybe you have already picked your ideal line-up, chosen the perfect food stalls or decided to have some lavish lavatories instead of some poo-filled portaloos that would have Trainspotting’s Renton thinking twice about using. Well you’re in luck because On The Metal and Sony Xdevs have released their headline act BigFest on the PS Vita with very little announcement, kind of like a secret gig. So grab your tent, wellies and raincoat because we’re heading to some soon-to-be muddy fields. Get ready to rock and roll all night and party every day.

BigFest is a management game similar in parts to the mid 1990’s games Theme Hospital and Theme Park. In BigFest, however, you are running your very own festival with the help of mentor and Chief Roadie BigDave. From your humble beginnings it’s up to you to create your own festival however you see fit. Fancy playing rock music and only serving hot chocolate? Or how about selling vampire merchandise and energy drinks at an Easy Listening festival? The choice is yours.

Of course to run a festival you need loads of moolah and BigFest is no different. BigNotes are the game’s currency and to earn them you must look at the needs of the crowd and build stalls accordingly. At the same time if you want to attract larger audiences and bigger bands you’ll need to think about upgrading your stage, security, sewerage system and generators as well as providing enough tents and utilities. Then you have to make sure you are providing a decent level of housekeeping and make sure everything is in working order. Who knew running a festival needed so much attention! Lucky for us BigDave is always on hand to show you a few tricks of the trade like turning the amps up to 11 or walking around the site fixing things. Thank god none of that involves him bending over and showing his arse!

A key part of BigFest is keeping the bands happy. Sometimes the bands have strange requests or they need a roadie to help with the unloading of their equipment (either the band is lazy or the singer has a glass back). If you help them out and cater to their needs you will keep them sweet but may run the risk of them going onstage late, angering the crowds. Likewise if you deny their requests you might annoy the band so much that they quit the festival.

Unfortunately not everybody goes to your festival for the music. Some are just there to cause trouble. Whether it’s streakers, hooligans, moochers, thieves or even the odd vampire and werewolf it’s your job to get rid of them. Ejecting these unscrupulous types from your festival will reward you with extra BigNotes or Party Tokens as well as keeping other festival goers happy. You get to use any Party Tokens you earn when you go online to visit other peoples’ festivals; there you can cause a little bit of mayhem by unleashing your own troublemakers.

Going one louder

Although BigFest lets you pretty much play your own way it does also have an objective system that needs to be met if you want to earn wads of BigNotes and Promoter XP. These are played out as posters with three objectives per poster and are a mixture of things such as earning a certain amount of Vibe, upgrading equipment, placing certain stalls and ejecting people. If you want to get all the objectives you will probably have to revisit these posters when you’ve got a mega festival built.

As you would expect from a management game the controls have to be super slick and tight otherwise you would struggle with placing your items. Thankfully BigFest controls hit the mark with its mixture of using the left stick to navigate, the touch screen to select and view, and circle to confirm. You can even fly without wings and get a bird’s eye view of your festival with a press of the Left Bumper.

Trying to cram hundreds of people on screen must have been a nightmare for the devs but they deserve a lot of credit as the visual aspect of BigFest works really well. Even when you switch to top down bird’s eye view you can clearly see the crowds moving about like ants, tramping well-trodden paths – usually to the toilets. Must be all that hot chocolate. Using this view you can also move around the area and listen to the music to make sure that all the speakers are in working order.

The music in the game was always going to be one of the standout features as it is all about the bands, and the use of Jamendo for the unsigned bands is integrated well. The genres of different bands you have available to browse are extremely varied. When you are in the Discover section of the game you tap on the group to listen to some of their music. If you discover a band that you like the sound of, as well as getting them to perform at your BigFest you can usually read more info on them and see their website, Twitter or Facebook page.

Platinum Record

BigFest is aiming for the Number One spot with a trophy list that awards your management prowess with a platinum trophy. Thankfully it is a fairly straightforward list with trophies obtained for such things as upgrading different parts of your festival to a certain level, headlining different bands and visiting other festivals. The list itself has many music references like the gold trophy “A big yellow taxi” which you get by paving paradise so you can build a parking lot – well removing trees at least.

Conclusion

BigFest is a brilliant gem of a PS Vita game. I played the hell out of Theme Hospital and Theme Park back in the day and now I’m playing the hell out of BigFest. I’ll also be trying to beat my friends and top the global leaderboard long after getting the platinum. Utilising real life unsigned bands is a touch of genius – it almost makes you feel like you are part of the music industry. Excellent.

NelMaNo Rating 8.5/10

The post BigFest – Review (PS Vita) appeared first on GadgetyNews.