There's nothing like sitting on the couch listening to some nice music, a drink in hand and that special someone by your side, watching the flames dance in the fire. Now you can make those flames literally dance to the beat with the Fireside Audiobox, a Bluetooth speaker that pulses fire to the rhythm of your music.
Most Bluetooth speakers aren't meant to be showy in themselves, but the Fireside Audiobox is designed to be the centerpiece of a room or a party. If staring at a fire is the captivating bait, then the rhythmic pulsing is the hook. And it doesn't hurt that the minimal, wood/glass/aluminum design of the box itself is easy on the eyes – much more so than other similar designs, like the Sound Torch.
"When designing the Fireside Audiobox, I wanted to take the mood-setting power of music and add the visually captivating element of fire for the ultimate music-listening experience," says designer, Tyrone Hazen. "The FiresideAudiobox is the resultof overtwo years of researchand development. The final version has become the perfect balance of function, user-experience andbeauty that will provide a fun, unexpected ambiance and conversation-starter to your next cocktail party, cozy gathering with friends, or dinner for two."
At 19.5 x 14 x 4.5 in (49.5 x 35.5 x 11.4 cm), the speaker connects to an audio source via Bluetooth, and the rechargeable battery provides over eight hours of continuous play. But fire is the star of the show, of course, and that's born from a 16.4 ounce propane cylinder, which feeds into a row of 15 flames atop an aluminum cylinder.
Once you fire it up with a lighter (or the Fireside-branded Zippo available on Kickstarter), the flames will flicker and leap to the music thanks to the sound waves passing through the cylinder. Hazen explains that he mapped the waves and identified where along the tube would be best to put the flames, to make them as responsive and dramatic as possible. A dial on the control panel on the back allows for adjustment of the flame intensity, too.
If all that fire rings alarm bells in your mind, the creators are quick to snuff out the doubt, saying it should be treated with about the level of care you'd afford a lit candle. The tube and the tempered glass are designed to minimize heat, but still, it's probably a good idea to keep it away from the kids and dangling drapes. With an integrated shut-off valve in case the device is knocked over, the Audiobox has reportedly met the safety requirements of the UL, TUVR, CPSC and FCC in the US.
The Fireside Audiobox is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign, where it's hit over US$25,000 of its $35,000 goal, with over two weeks remaining. Early Bird pledges start at US$349, before jumping to $399 once those are gone. If all goes to plan, the flaming speakers should be at your door by April or May next year.
The creator demonstrates the device in the video below.
Source: Fireside Audiobox