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OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

teenage.engineering

41–50 of 221 posts

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#41
post #2

Their line of synths is great, but a radio which doesn't support DAB? How am I going to listen to 6music?

My very basic understanding is that most regular DAB (not DAB+) is inferior in audio quality compared to FM? Also, and I don't know how much it has decided their design decisions, but Teenage Engineering is Swedish based, and here DAB hasn't really become a thing. It's been, more or less, in a "trial" state since 1995, not covering the whole country and steps to upgrade to DAB+ and replacing FM canceled a few years a…

Techmoan did a great video covering why DAB is surprisingly crappy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27w3quNTP84

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#42

Just in case you're like "Why does this look familiar?" https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/frekvens-portable-speaker-black... https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/frekvens-speaker-with-subwoofer... TE designed both this OB4 and the Frekvens, this seems like the Ikea line taken to a very far extreme. Very neat, lots of cash though. I have to say, it kinda reminds me of Ikea's Eneby too, but TE did not design that: https://www.ikea.…

Wow, thanks for revealing that. Didn't know TE has connection with IKEA! The big yellow dial on the top makes me think it's a XXL-sized op-z.

..And

> like the Ikea line taken to a very far extreme

Looking up the specs, 1x2.2W vs. 2x38W.

Wondering how they designed the structure so that the speakers don't blow up the unit into pieces.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#43
post #23
post #2

Their line of synths is great, but a radio which doesn't support DAB? How am I going to listen to 6music?

The US digital radio effort has been complicated and slow to ramp up. Many digital streams are commercial free in an attempt to drive receiver adoption. Many cars still ship with no digital capability. Ordinary FM makes reasonable sense here.

It’s not an american product though.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#45

I love everything Teenage Engineering make. My first impression is always "eh, that's too weird, who would want that... who is their target market?", and over time end up at "OK, I WANT ONE!". I own way too many of their Pocket Operators now. Though, I REALLY think I'm not their target market here: "designed to be played outdoors, in public spaces and at high volume"... that's exactly situations I now try to avoid. H…

> Hmm, unless I have it playing "GET OFF MY LAWN" on a loop?

Guess that's why they're teenage engineering?

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#46
post #2

Their line of synths is great, but a radio which doesn't support DAB? How am I going to listen to 6music?

My very basic understanding is that most regular DAB (not DAB+) is inferior in audio quality compared to FM? Also, and I don't know how much it has decided their design decisions, but Teenage Engineering is Swedish based, and here DAB hasn't really become a thing. It's been, more or less, in a "trial" state since 1995, not covering the whole country and steps to upgrade to DAB+ and replacing FM canceled a few years a…

At least in the Netherlands, DAB sounds a lot better than FM, there is a massive difference in quality and sound stage.

Re: OB–4 – Portable high fidelity loudspeaker

#48

Does this kind of marketing actually work for many people? Without trying to sound too unkind, I genuinely hope there are not that many people out there who want to use this thing by "carry(ing) on one shoulder with speaker elements facing the head". This thing seems like a very expensive toy.

TE's products are mostly "expensive toys". It's not really an insult; lots of people spend lots of money on "toys".
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