Audio Take Out – Portable Speaker Showcase

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Audio Take Out – Portable Speaker Showcase

Giving Your Audio Legs

Without a doubt, today's technology landscape is becoming more and more mobile. Then, it was just cellphones and MP3 players. Now, tablets and, the most recent wave of ultraportable laptops, have entered the scene. While these devices are primarily intended for productivity and communication, they are increasingly becoming more prolific mobile entertainment centers. Over the years, they have gotten more powerful and have begun to feature advanced display technologies, making for a greater entertainment experience. Audio, however, partly lagged behind mainly due to the lack of space for built-in speakers on the said devices, which get thinner and lighter every year, one reason portable multimedia speakers remain to be a good solution for enhancing the mobile entertainment experience. In this special feature, we take a quick look (and listen) at a handful of new models from newcomers CLiPtec and Euroo.

CLiPtec

CLiPtec specializes in computer accessories, peripherals, and, of course, speakers. Introducing us to the brand are the Magic-Mate and the Magic-Buddy. Both models feature 3-watt RMS Super Neodymium Magnet drivers. Similar to the X-Mini capsule speakers, CLiPtec's offerings feature an accordion-like "Vacuum-Bass System" which translates big sound in a compact form factor. They also have the ability to form a daisy chain with other CLiPtec portable speakers for bigger sound via a "Buddy Plug" and are charged via USB. They can last for six hours on a full charge, which takes two and a half hours.

Euroo

Another new player in the portable speaker scene is Euroo, which offers a similar line of computer accessories and peripherals as CLiPtec, but with a more traditional and minimalist design philosophy. First up are the EMS-3000 and EMS-2000. These multimedia speakers come in two-channel configurations with two-inch drivers and weigh about half a kilogram. Both models are USB-powered and must be plugged in in order to work. The EMS-2000 has a total power output of 3W RMS while the EMS-3000 has a slightly higher 4W RMS output.

Rounding out the trio of Euroo speakers that landed in the HardwareZone labs is the EMS-4000, which is a sleek and slim speaker bar measuring eight inches long and one inch wide. It features two drivers with a combined power output of 2W RMS. It is also USB powered, but the connection also doubles as audio, thereby reducing wire clutter considerably. However, this means that your device must have a USB port such as a notebook.