Outdoors

Hercules WAE Outdoor Rush "oceanproof" speaker shreds waves and snow

Hercules WAE Outdoor Rush "oceanproof" speaker shreds waves and snow
In addition to seawater, the Rush is designed to hold up to sand, dust, snow and shock
In addition to seawater, the Rush is designed to hold up to sand, dust, snow and shock
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The Rush is built to the IP67 standard
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The Rush is built to the IP67 standard
The WAE Outdoor Rush is buoyant so it won't sink if you bring it in the water
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The WAE Outdoor Rush is buoyant so it won't sink if you bring it in the water
In addition to seawater, the Rush is designed to hold up to sand, dust, snow and shock
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In addition to seawater, the Rush is designed to hold up to sand, dust, snow and shock
The watertight hatch over the connections is opened with the key on the wrist strap
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The watertight hatch over the connections is opened with the key on the wrist strap
Hercules is aiming the new speaker at action sports enthusiasts who love music
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Hercules is aiming the new speaker at action sports enthusiasts who love music
While most of Hercules' advertising focuses on water sports, it also sees the speaker finding use in the snow and mountains
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While most of Hercules' advertising focuses on water sports, it also sees the speaker finding use in the snow and mountains
The WAE Outdoor Rush will launch in April for $130
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The WAE Outdoor Rush will launch in April for $130
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Plenty of Bluetooth speakers can get outside and play music at the beach, campground or poolside. Not as many are purpose-built for paddling into the waves and catching the big one, though. Designed to stand up against rolling saltwater, shock and other hazards of the great outdoors, the Hercules WAE Outdoor Rush speaker can mount to your surfboard or snowboard and bring the tunes along for the ride.

The latest addition to Hercules' wireless speaker line, the WAE Outdoor Rush is built for the demands of action sports like surfing, kiteboarding and skiing. Not only can you dunk it a meter (3.3 ft) in the drink for up to 30 minutes thanks to its IP67-certified construction, but you can do it in salty seawater without thinking twice. Hercules protects the portable from corrosion with a nickel electroplating treatment around the metal grilles.

So not only does the Rush keep the tunes flowing while you tease your toes at water's edge, it dives right in the water and keeps playing. The integrated 1/4-in screw thread allows for easy mounting, and the speaker is buoyant so you don't have to worry about it getting loose and dropping like a stone.

The WAE Outdoor Rush is buoyant so it won't sink if you bring it in the water
The WAE Outdoor Rush is buoyant so it won't sink if you bring it in the water

For those times you don't want to risk taking your Bluetooth-paired mobile device into the water, the Rush comes equipped with FM radio. Powered by an internal antenna, FM delivers a nice alternative for getting your music fix.

Playing a surfboard-mounted speaker sounds pretty cool, and it certainly looks cool enough in Hercules' video, but the actual experience might leave something to be desired. Even if you can actually hear the speaker over the sound of crashing waves, you still have to worry about it throwing off your balance or concentration, falling off and getting dragged out to sea and breaking in a crash.

Whether or not using it while actually riding water, snow or wind proves enjoyable, the Rush looks like a solid outdoor speaker. It includes Bluetooth 3.0, a line input, an eight-button physical control interface, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery driving around 12 hours of playtime, and a "boost charger" mode that lets you charge a USB-connected mobile device from that 1,800 mAh battery. The speaker measures 6.5 x 2.2 x 2.6 in (165 x 57 x 65 mm) and weighs 11 oz (320 g).

The WAE Outdoor Rush is a CES 2016 Innovation Award Honoree. It will hit the market in April for US$129.99.

Watch the speaker play in sand and surf in Hercules' video below.

Source: Hercules

Hercules WAE Outdoor Rush - Hawaii proving ground

View gallery - 7 images
4 comments
4 comments
Island Architect
Well then,
Play it for The Dolphins and Wales and Mermaids.
They might have better taste than we do.
b
D[]
UGGG no real surfer would paddle out with one of these. The water resistance wouldn't work in the middle of a wipe-out where wave pressure far exceeds the totally awesome 1-meter rating.
I suppose that means SUP riders paddling around the outside might have them. Not a whole lot better. I don't know anyone who would welcome someone else's music in the line-up. There are a few places we surf where you can hear a beachside bar band, and that is fun on a Friday night, but keep this out of the ocean.
PaulWatkins
Great. Now I have to listen to YOUR music blaring out all over the water. Nice. Surfing. To be with nature. Yeah, right.
Dziks
really people want to listen poor quality music from this gadget instead of the ocean?