OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker • Hacker News Board

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#121

Post by jascii » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:01 PM UTC

I would be in the market for a powered/bluetooth speaker that doesn't sound like shit. For the price I'd expect (near) audiophile sound, however little in the marketing even seems to mention sound quality, it just seems very gimmicky.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a semi portable powered/bluetooth speaker that focuses on accurate sound reproduction (within the limits physics puts on a smaller enclosure)?

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#122

Post by dang » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:02 PM UTC

crumbshot wrote: post #62

Is HN being subjected to some astroturf marketing techniques here? Seems rather suspicious to see so many commenters enthusiastically salivating over an advert for a very expensive radio. And also for said advert to hit the #1 spot on this site, despite not fitting into the usual categories for a compelling post.

"Please don't post insinuations about astroturfing, shilling, brigading, foreign agents and the like. It degrades discussion and is usually mistaken. If you're worried about abuse, email hn@ycombinator.com and we'll look at the data."

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

https://hn.algolia.com/?sort=byDate&dateRange=all&type=comme...

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#123

Post by gosub » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:03 PM UTC

andor wrote: post #50

"ambient mode - zone out to a drone generated by snippets of a radio broadcast" This sounds really cool. Is there anything like it available in software?

The example on the webpage sounds like a radio station passed through a granulator with a lot of reverb, something like Clouds from Mutable Instruments. It's an open-source granular effect eurorack module, there is a software port in VCV-Rack. This is another famous granulator: https://www.ableton.com/en/packs/granulator-ii/

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#124

Post by perilousacts » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:08 PM UTC

Or just buy a soundboks for $200 more and have portability

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#125

Post by theon144 » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:10 PM UTC

Honest question: So, I get the radio rewind feature, and I really dig the interface, but it kind of feels like it's a feature from some two decades ago? Are there really still that many people regularly listening to FM radio for whom this is a killer feature?

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#126

Post by Guest19023892 » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:12 PM UTC

jascii wrote: post #121

I would be in the market for a powered/bluetooth speaker that doesn't sound like shit. For the price I'd expect (near) audiophile sound, however little in the marketing even seems to mention sound quality, it just seems very gimmicky. Does anyone have any recommendations for a semi portable powered/bluetooth speaker that focuses on accurate sound reproduction (within the limits physics puts on a smaller enclosure)?

What about KEF LSX or LS50? Or Devialet Reactors?

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#127

Post by nitrogen » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:13 PM UTC

jascii wrote: post #121

I would be in the market for a powered/bluetooth speaker that doesn't sound like shit. For the price I'd expect (near) audiophile sound, however little in the marketing even seems to mention sound quality, it just seems very gimmicky. Does anyone have any recommendations for a semi portable powered/bluetooth speaker that focuses on accurate sound reproduction (within the limits physics puts on a smaller enclosure)?

I've never used them, but a friend used to run engineering at Braven. He's no longer there, so I don't know what that company's current status is, but he was a serious audio guy who made sure that every product he designed or sourced was high quality once all of the marketing-mandated boost features were turned off.

Do let us know if you give them a listen, and whether they are as good as I expect.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#128

Post by shams93 » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:15 PM UTC

acomjean wrote: post #111

kemonocode wrote: post #100

Teenage Engineering makes cute, fun things, but more often than not they feel like they're very overpriced cute fun things for their functionality, and this is honestly no exception. In a sense they're like the Apple of nerdy products. Their Pocket Operators are the closest thing to a "cheap" product they have and even then, last time I checked, they don't even come with a protective case, which I personally find pre…

I have a couple pocket operators from about 6 years ago. You are right, they're just a circuit board with surface mounted buttons. But after years of use including letting me nieces play with them, they still work and are pretty well made (And about $40.. now actually 50-90). For me they're a good learning tool, (PO-12 rhythm being one of the cheapest hardware drum machines.) though functionality is eclipsed by the s…

Yeah my usb mini port broke on my old op1 but my pocket operators work fine with nothing but a rubber shield they do sell rubber shields for them for ~$30.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#129

Post by acomjean » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:16 PM UTC

I like the handle, reminds me of 80s portable radios. Though from 80s and 90s experience 2 speakers that close aren't great for stereo separation.

"disk mode" seems interesting, though this is a little overkill for metronome.. Of the other two modes "ambient" seems like a sound machine.

The remote I don't care for, excepting repurposing as a tempest controller used with MAMe.

Can you turn of the recording feature to save battery?

I have a Beoplay A2 speaker (Bang and Ofson) which it flat and slides into a backpack. I love that thing, but the battery is starting to go, and being discontinued I wonder how long I'll be able to keep it going. I always worry about these new things, and wish there was a standard battery packs for these things.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#130

Post by jakear » Wed, Sep 30, 2020, 4:21 PM UTC

jascii wrote: post #121

I would be in the market for a powered/bluetooth speaker that doesn't sound like shit. For the price I'd expect (near) audiophile sound, however little in the marketing even seems to mention sound quality, it just seems very gimmicky. Does anyone have any recommendations for a semi portable powered/bluetooth speaker that focuses on accurate sound reproduction (within the limits physics puts on a smaller enclosure)?

I've had good experience with the JBL lineup... I'm on the largest (boombox), and I find the quality acceptable (I don't find the quality of most audio products acceptable). The convenience OTOH is phenomenal -- it comes with me biking, kayaking, (it's submergible) and camping to charge devices and play music, and the charge can last >week. I can only remember it dying on me 2 times in the months I've owned it, and I rarely charge it. One consideration is that it's much too large for backpacking or hiking.

I wouldn't necessarily classify myself as an audiophile, though I do care more about accuracy of reproduction than most I meet.