Filed under: Accessories, iPod Family
thodio iBox
It looks like today is going to be all about unique iPod speaker systems. First I showed you how to make the packaging your iPod came with into a speaker, and now I shall turn your attention to the thodio iBox. The iBox is handmade out of a variety of woods (you can choose from teak, beech, oak, or zebrano) and is battery powered so you can tote these unique speakers with you no matter where you go. The iBox starts at 359€, so they aren't for everyone but they certainly are conversation starters.
[via Retro Thing]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tehpyro said 9:35AM on 1-23-2008
Damn... Pop an LED in there and you have a musical jack-o-lantern!
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Sean Karns said 9:36AM on 1-23-2008
that seems like an extremely precious setup to be taking with you wherever you go.
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Ashley said 11:22AM on 1-23-2008
damn that looks just like that annoying head from Lexx, that really bad sci-fi show I was forced to watch, against my will.
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adam said 12:07PM on 1-23-2008
Car audio speakers? (and mediocre at best): http://www.woofersetc.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.display/product_id/3105/index.cfm
I'll definitely pass this one up.
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sjaak said 12:34PM on 1-23-2008
@ adam, I dont think that you will find speakers with a retail price of 229.99$ in any other iPod speaker system.
adam said 1:25PM on 1-23-2008
What does price have to do with the quality and design of the speakers?
First of all, they are car audio speakers - not exactly designed for a small ported enclosure like this. Second, with just 25 watts RMS powering an inefficient speaker like these, you're not exactly putting the battery powered amp to its best use.
For half the cost of the Focal pair, you can pick up a pair of Infinity Kappa 42.7i's. They boast a better sensitivity (93 dB vs 90 dB) and better frequency response (75 - 25,000 hz vs 90 - 20,000 hz).
Looks like nice craftsmanship, but poorly executed design.
adam said 1:40PM on 1-23-2008
And let's not forget, this is 359€, or around $505 US. For that kind of money, you could buy a Bose Wave Radio AND the iPod to plug into it.
artifex said 3:01PM on 1-23-2008
Adam, I thought you knew what you were talking about -- but then you had to drag Bose into this!
Just kidding. For me, however, the eyeball stat isn't freq response, since I'm in my 30s and can probably only hear 150-16k. Nor is it dB sensitivity, since the noise floor where I usually listen affects my sense of relative loudness. It's THD I really care about. You must have efficient drivers to get really clear sound. There's no way around it.
adam said 3:28PM on 1-23-2008
Trust me, I'm no fan of Bose products, I just used the Wave Radio as an expensive example.
Simon Arch said 1:37PM on 1-23-2008
I'm surprised they didn't call it the lemur.
http://www.cs.rice.edu/~dschwarz/lemur3.jpg
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sjaak said 5:33PM on 1-23-2008
@ adam,
If you have a look at their spec sheet there is a custom iBox with different speakers, I'm shure they can put those Infinity Kappa's in a Box for you Adam.
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adam said 6:51PM on 1-23-2008
You must be a fan of poor music and getting ripped off.
sjaak said 7:20PM on 1-23-2008
well I own one, but before I bought it I went to listen to it with a friend of mine who owns a successful company that measures and modifies audiophile setups, this experienced guy was at first very sceptic about the small dimsensions but after the listening session very enthusiastic. so that was enough reason for me to get one. And keep in mind that the price also includes the incredible handcrafted wooden cabinet, not just the sound...