In the tube: Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker
Sony’s new speaker looks like a lamp but throws sound in every direction.
Do you hanker for crystal-clear sound from a speaker? What about glass-clear sound? Then you might like the Sony LSPX-S2 Glass Sound Speaker, where the glass tube forms part of the sound system. It looks like an old 19th-century lamp but looks deceive. Who says a speaker must be a boring old cube box anyway?
Despite its old-fashioned looks, the Glass Sound Speaker offers modern digital sound with Bluetooth connectivity and can produce hi-res audio.
It includes an LED light that you can switch on or off, or change to candle mode if you’d prefer it to flicker.
Three actuators underneath the tube generate sound vibrations that transfer to the glass body, which acts as a tweeter. The wide surface of the glass tube generates sound 360 degrees. You can spin it around any direction and the sound is the same. Sony has already brought its acoustic glass technology to televisions. Now it’s the turn for speakers.
The enclosed lower section contains a 35mm driver for mid-range sound and below it there is a passive radiator for bass.
The speaker is designed to look good on a table or mantelpiece. You can place it on a food tray and serve breakfast in bed to your partner with the speaker light flickering and the device playing romantic piano music by Chopin, Beethoven or Mozart, or something more modern.
The Glass Sound Speaker runs on battery, with Sony claiming up to eight hours of battery life. A power cord doesn’t get in the way of its aesthetic appeal. You can connect your phone to the Glass Sound Speaker by Bluetooth or use one-touch NFC (Near Field Communication) to link them wirelessly.
You can then stream music to it over Bluetooth. The speaker has a dedicated button that lets you stream songs to it over Spotify Connect without accessing music via your phone.
The Glass Sound Speaker can be linked to other compatible Sony audio devices over wi-fi to form a home network of up to 10 speakers.
This is the third generation of Sony’s glass speaker. Two larger versions have been sold overseas; the first about 1.8m tall, costing around $US10,000. This is the first model under $1000.
Which empire introduced coffee to Europe?
What fish is used in Worcestershire sauce? Which two film sequels have starred Robert Carlyle? Test yourself.
Mahabharata’s tales as old as time at Perth Festival
A single theatrical show attempts to give voice to a sprawling ancient Hindu text about what it means to be human.