Outdoor Living ANALYSIS
recreate the feeling of a festival at home and outside of the home.”
The range starts with small portable Bluetooth speakers like the palm-sized XRS-XB12 and bigger SRS-XB31, includes mid-size Bluetooth speakers such as the SRS-XB501G (complete with Google Assistant built-in) to the GTK-PG10… more on that below. All carry Sony’s ‘Extra Bass’ moniker and can be voice controlled via the Fiestable app. “Many of them are certified IP67, which means they can be completely submerged in water for 30 minutes,” says Poux. “A lot of consumers are listening to music on their holidays by a pool or on the beach, so it makes sense.”
Tapping into travel 28 Sony’s MHCV42D
Looking at the outdoors, you soon get into the rugged ‘made for travel’ category that reaches its peak each summer. Such speakers tend to be small, include carry handles, and boast a waterproof chassis. One example is Denon’s Envaya, Envaya Mini and Envaya Pocket, each of which is certified dust- and
water-proof, meaning it can be safely submerged in a metre of water for up to 30 minutes. All have built- in Siri activation as well as a microphone. If Bluetooth speakers are all about portability,
so are headphones, and summer is a great time to stock a range of wireless Bluetooth earphones. “Headphones are still leading the way and making a major contribution to audio hardware’s ascendance,” adds Wetherill. “They’re playing a leading role that will see the total retail value of consumer audio hardware power past the 11 billion mark in Europe this year.” In fact, the headphones market is growing in volume and value, with average selling prices increasing. The smart home is now embedded in consumer
electronics, but the ‘smart garden’ remains a seasonal niche
that’s worth exploring. From Wi-Fi and
Bluetooth to made-for-the-outdoors speakers and travel-friendly products, there’s plenty of reasons for your customers to take technology outdoors this summer.
Hold my beer
They’ve been in vehicles for years, so isn’t it about time the humble cup holder came to an outdoor speaker? Cue Sony’s GTK-PG10 (left), which is now on sale in the UK. “It’s a new proposition,” says Sony’s Claire Poux. “It’s something that will appeal to the BBQ, garden, or outdoor party user and it’s a key product for us this summer.”
What is Bluetooth 5?
What’s named after a tenth-century King of Denmark and Norway, and found in four billion consumer electronics products every year? Everyone knows Bluetooth is a short-wavelength UHF radio wave standard that’s commonly used for small speakers and earphones, but the latest version is set to change outdoor gear. First issued in 2016, but not yet ubiquitous in the market, Bluetooth 5 builds on the previous version, Bluetooth 4.2, essentially by doubling the data rate to 48Mbps. That will be good news for anyone who’s noticed that the convenience of Bluetooth is often confounded by the poor quality of streamed music.
The GTK-PG10 boasts two tweeters and a big subwoofer, as well as a carry handle, a 13-hour battery, Bluetooth and even FM radio. It’s also got a USB slot for recharging a phone/tablet or inserting a USB memory stick loaded with MP3 music files. Splash-resistant in case of accidents, on the top is a flip-out table that has grabs for four drinks. “If you listen to the product while
Crucially, Bluetooth 5 significantly extends the range to 300m/985ft, which is four times further than Bluetooth 4.2. That’s going to be particularly handy for Bluetooth speakers used outdoors. Although it’s yet to spread to all Bluetooth
products, Bluetooth 5 can be found on all flagship Samsung and Apple smartphones, while the latest Apple HomePod smart speaker also includes it. However, it is backwards-compatible so Bluetooth 5 phones work with older Bluetooth-endowed speakers, and vice versa.
Apple Homepod Smart Speaker includes Bluetooth 5
it’s closed you get normal sound, but if you open it up to uncover the cup holders you can get a much wider soundstage,” says Poux about the ‘outdoor party modem’. “It’s designed to sit near the BBQ.” However, are British consumers
ready for a portable karaoke machine? The GTK-PG10 is that too, thanks to a built-in microphone slot. However, perhaps the most interesting design flourish of all is its standard thread that allows it to be connected to any camera tripod. Why did no one think of this before? At 33x38x30cm and weighing 6.7kg, the GTK-PG10 isn’t exactly portable, but for those driving into campsites, or perhaps to beach barbecues, Sony’s latest out-of-the- box thinking might just appeal.
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