Skip to main content

New Klipsch wireless speaker Rocks the outdoors

Getting good-sounding music outdoors can be a hassle. Quality outdoor speakers are spendy, and can be an eyesore. Most outdoor  speakers that are designed to blend in rarely sound good, and usually require speaker wire to be run underground. Speaker docks for iPods and iPhones aren’t a good option in high-heat situations, and you don’t won’t those things anywhere near your pool or spa.

Klipsch may have just the solution. Today, the company announced a wireless outdoor speaker that will integrate with its LightSpeaker wireless audio system to deliver high quality sound from a heat-resistant, waterproof enclosure that’s been stealthily designed to look like a garden rock.

Recommended Videos

Fortunately, this isn’t just another “rock” speaker. The AudioRock from Klipsch uses a powerful Lithium-Ion battery pack that will deliver up to eight hours of continuous music and recharges in about four hours on a separate charging stand. The AudioRock packs a beefy 5.25-inch mid-bass speaker and a pair of 0.75-inch tweeters that are aimed up at an angle to provide solid sound from the ground.  The AudioRock get’s its signal from the 2.4Ghz band, so it may be slightly limited by “line of sight” issues, but if your cordless phone works outdoors, so should the AudioRock.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since the AudioRock is part of the LightSpeaker system, it is capable of playing from a second source. So, if you want the ability to dig some smooth jazz indoors and hip-hop outdoors, the AudioRock may be a good solution.

The AudioRock is available now for $199.00 MSRP from many popular retailers.


Caleb Denison
Digital Trends Editor at Large Caleb Denison is a sought-after writer, speaker, and television correspondent with unmatched…
Altec Lansing keeps the party going with trio of new speakers
The Altec Lansing Sonic Boom 180.

Altec Lansing today added to its already impressive portable party speaker lineup with a trio of new offerings.

"Our mission is to create exceptional experiences for music lovers and keep every event vibrant by continuously introducing new features without compromising on top-tier sound," Ike Franco, founder and CEO of Infinity Brands, the parent company of Altec Lansing, said in a press release. "Building on the success of its predecessors, the new party speakers offer refined features tailored for unforgettable events and uninterrupted listening experiences."

Read more
Focal’s first wireless speakers are a tech tour de force with a price to match
Focal Diva Utopia.

Calling Focal's Diva Utopia a set of "wireless speakers" may be like calling a Ferrari Enzo Ferrari "a sports car," and yet that's fundamentally what these $39,999, 47-inch-tall, floor-standing monoliths are. Linking the left and right sides is an ultra wideband (UWB) wireless connection, which Focal says can transmit up to 24-bit/96kHz lossless hi-res audio "with imperceptible latency." Should you have the available funds, they can be ordered starting October 2 from Focal Powered By Naim boutiques.

UWB technology is known for its extremely fast data rates, which can exceed 1Gbps, but it typically only works over very short distances. However, Focal says the Focal Utopia's UWB connection is stable up to a distance of 10 meters (about 32 feet), which should be more than enough to achieve good stereo separation. Focal recommends a minimum of 5 meters between the speakers. The UWB connection may work at longer distances, but you'll need to make sure there are no obstructions to the signal.

Read more
Sony builds on LinkBuds brand with Fit, Open, Speaker — and Olivia Rodrigo
Sony LinkBuds Open, regular and Olivia Rodrigo editions.

Sony today announced a trio of new products in its LinkBuds line. (One of which really isn't what you'd consider when you hear "buds," but we'll get to that in a minute.) Building on the 2022's LinkBuds and LinkBuds S, the new LinkBuds Fit and LinkBuds Open are still of the earbud variety, matching fit and style with design and function. Sony's adding the LinkBuds Speaker, too, which features some special pairing with the new buds, as well as a couple other Sony headphones.

And, yes, after a successful collaboration with the LinkBuds S in 2023, Olivia Rodrigo (who must always be referred to by both names, my teenage daughters tell me) is back for more.

Read more