Stereo speaker technology is rapidly advancing to become more portable and unique in design. Whether it’s a speaker that can stick to a forehead or a pair that can be rolled around the pool, there are some interesting new concepts hitting the market.
Junior Carl Boehm said he has been fascinated by technology for most of his life, though he admits it can be difficult to stay up-to-date.
“It’s hard to keep up with accelerating technology because newer versions are always being outdated,” he said.
And although music quality is very important to him, Boehm admits he doesn’t have a very “flashy” stereo speaker system at home.
“I don’t have a big budget for speakers right now,” he said.
But Boehm said he still stays current on new technology in electronics. A few months ago, he heard about the Olympia Soundbug, a single silver speaker the size of a small computer mouse. The speaker attaches to most surfaces through a suction cup and creates a sounding-board out of the surface. Compatible with standard headphone sockets, the speaker gadget works best on glass surfaces and is great for sharing music from a portable device with other people. Amazon.com currently offers the speaker for $20. Boehm said he would have to try the Soundbug before buying it.
Another technological leap — and one thing Boehm said he never expected to see invented in his lifetime — are inflatable speakers.
“That just sounds cool,” he said.
An international company called Ellula has created the HotAir inflatable speakers, which come in blue, green, yellow and Budweiser patterns.
The speakers generate sound with a component called an exciter, which drives high-frequency sound into the inflatable portion through a rigid panel base. The inflatable part generates bass and produces multidirectional sound from the whole surface. Because they are also deflatable, the speakers are great for traveling, holidays and residence hall rooms. The speakers cost about $40 online, according to the Ellula Web site.
Thinking back to his freshman year, Boehm said he could have used either of the new gadgets in his residence hall room, depending on the quality of sound.
“It’s kind of a ‘gee whiz’ thing,” he said. “It sounds pretty cool and the price seems reasonable but if it doesn’t have bass, it’s not for me.”
However, for some, the novelty of new technology takes precedence over product quality.
“I am all for the fetish,” visiting multimedia and design professor Joey Bargsten said. “A lot of our current music electronics come from the spirit of toying with technology.”
Although he hasn’t ever “toyed” with the portable Soundbug or inflatable speakers, he has worked with wearable speakers, which can be attached to various parts of the body like the shoulders. Bargsten said he uses the speakers and other devices to compose musical pieces and direct musicians by using musical notes, pitches and time relationships.
“It’s interesting to work with smaller or more subversive devices because it’s activating space through a new technology,” he said.
Wayne Leeds, manager of the Fabulous Tweeter Brothers stereo store, said he always encounters people with special requests for new speaker technology.
“We’ve had requests for boat speakers and for underwater speakers, which are just beyond me,” he said.
Although the Soundbug and inflatable speakers have yet to hit the shelves at the 385 W. 2nd Ave. location, Leeds said students like Boehm can always find simple, inexpensive speakers at Tweeters year-round.
Satisfied with his “slightly above budget” speakers for now, Boehm said he can’t wait for the price of the new speakers to go down.
“I am excited for technology to get cheaper, especially in stereo speakers,” he said.