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The really bad(ass?) Sound Heroes Bluetooth speaker

The really bad(ass?) Sound Heroes Bluetooth speaker
Dubbed "the speaker of the future," this is AD'OM
Dubbed "the speaker of the future," this is AD'OM
View 8 Images
Start your robot rave off slowly with some light smoke machine action
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Start your robot rave off slowly with some light smoke machine action
The multicolor LED base means you will never get bored
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The multicolor LED base means you will never get bored 
Bang! Crank the smoke machine up and your party is in full swing
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Bang! Crank the smoke machine up and your party is in full swing
The Sound Heroes speaker pairs with anything that has Bluetooth capability
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The Sound Heroes speaker pairs with anything that has Bluetooth capability
Also works as a wireless charging station for your phone
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Also works as a wireless charging station for your phone
The largest size is 75 cm (17 in)
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The largest size is 75 cm (17 in)
If the company raises US$1 million it will create this life-sized version
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If the company raises US$1 million it will create this life-sized version
Dubbed "the speaker of the future," this is AD'OM
8/8
Dubbed "the speaker of the future," this is AD'OM
View gallery - 8 images

In the latest edition of "crowdfunding campaign: cool or crap?" comes Sound Heroes, a Bluetooth speaker in the shape of a humanoid robot. Apparently there are plenty who would place this one in the "cool" camp as the campaign reached its goal in only four minutes.

The Sound Heroes speaker from Kalium Labs is more than just a run-of-the-mill Bluetooth speaker. Aside from its futuristic form factor, it also features a wireless charging dock, a Wi-Fi range extender and a multi-color LED lamp. Oh, did we mention it also has an in-built smoke machine. Yes … a smoke machine.

Don't ask why, ask why not?

Bang! Crank the smoke machine up and your party is in full swing
Bang! Crank the smoke machine up and your party is in full swing

The Bluetooth speaker market is a crowded one, so it takes something different to stand out. We've seen tennis ball speakers, levitating speakers, even LED light bulbs that double as speakers, and while the Sound Heroes robot isn't the weirdest, it is certainly one of the nerdiest.

In a supreme case of making the merchandise before the media, the company behind the product is planning on turning the robot character, named AD'OM, into a fully fledged multimedia creation with associated comic books and video games.

But don't hold your breath on that video game coming anytime soon. The creation of the game is one of the crowdfunding campaign's insane stretch goals that will only be unlocked if it reaches the $US5 million mark.

If the company raises US$1 million it will create this life-sized version
If the company raises US$1 million it will create this life-sized version

The other stretch goal, unlocked at $1 million, is a human-sized version of the robot. It might be a slightly more realistic stretch goal, but we're not entirely sure how big the market is for life-sized robot speakers with built-in smoke machines. Of course, we're living in a world where fidget spinners are the biggest selling toy around so stranger things have happened.

Available in eleven different colors, the speaker comes in two sizes: the Prime weighing in at 6.6 lb (3 kg) and rising to a height of 17.7 in (45 cm) that has a maximum output of 20 W, and the Premium that weighs 12.1 lb (5.5 kg), stands 28.3 in (72 cm) tall and pumps out up to 60 W. The Premium is the only model with the wireless charger and Wi-Fi range extender and it also has a built in subwoofer.

The Sound Hero is also portable, with a lithium-ion battery providing up to six hours of use in the Prime or eight hours in the Premium with sound, smoke and lights all activated. Both sizes also offer two USB ports and one MicroUSB for recharging devices via a cable, as well as an SD card slot and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity.

Both models also have the ability to function as surround sound speakers, so if you're so inclined you can buy up to 12 of them to create a full robot army sound system.

As with most crowdfunding campaigns like this, it is definitely a case of buyer beware, but if you think the Sound Hero would perfectly match your decor, you can snag a small one for $100 or a large one for $240. Shipping is slated for October (if all goes to plan), so you can start planning the robot raves now.

Take a look at AD'OM in the video below. Warning: This video contains a serious dubstep soundtrack and over-enthusiastic voice-over narration.

Source: Kalium Labs, Indiegogo

Sound Heroes- futuristic bluetooth speaker presentation [official video]

View gallery - 8 images
2 comments
2 comments
Bob Flint
It's a speaker folks, masquerading as a juvenile toy complete with smoke and mirrors....why no female version?
chase
It looks cool but I thought you couldn't crowd fund without a working fully functional prototype? So... where's the video of that?