The Kube cooler is an Austin-made ice chest/sound system that is expected to be available by summer for $1,099. Credit: Contributed by Kube
An maker of an Austin-made ice chest is hoping to crank up the sound and make some noise at the Consumer Electronics Show, the world's largest trade show, which officially starts Tuesday.
Kube may stand out in a crowded tech show that this year is expected to feature lots of wearable technology, home automation products, next-generation HDTVs and the usual tablets, smart phones and computing devices that attract the most attention at CES.
Kube is not a computer or even Internet-connected. It’s a large, waterproof ice chest that also functions as a powerful wireless sound system. Created by Austinite Russell Williamson and a team of about 20 in Austin and the San Francisco area, the 17″-by-23″ eye-catching system will be featured in the Polk Audio booth at the trade show. Kube uses Polk speakers in its aluminum-and-plastic design and is expected to be available at retail by summer for $1,099 with a smaller model in the works for sometime after that. It functions as a 33-quart cooler and is expected to run 20 hours on a charge with the ability to stream music from Bluetooth devices such as cell phones and tablets.
Williamson, an engineer and son of an IBM veteran, says he’s been working on Kube with private funding for nearly four years, inspired by tinkerers who’ve been combining ice chests with makeshift audio gear in their garages.
“This is engineered from the ground up to put the focus on audio, not just as an afterthought,” Williamson said. “It’s made to sound amazing and be very efficient. There’s really nothing like this in the mass market.”
Prototypes of the device were basically Igloo ice chests with Polk speakers wired into them, but they were a hit at parties, putting out enough sound to function as DJs in a box or as PA systems for public speaking, Williamson said. He says it can put out 100 decibels of sound without distortion.
“People would hear this music coming out of it and still be able to grab food and drinks out of it. People couldn’t believe their ears,” he said.
The sound components are similar to marine-quality components used in boats and the Kube is being tested in rough conditions such as constant sunlight, getting banged up and thrown into water without its lid popping open. Williamson says the device is meant to be durable enough to throw on the back of a truck or take on a river floating trip.
For CES, the first one Williamson has attended, his startup will have three audio prototypes and three design prototypes, and is currently working to marry the two into the final device with plans to make other versions of it using the technology.
The company just launched its site, Kubesound.com, on Monday and is taking $99 deposits or fully paid reservations for the product.
Another view of the Kube:
Credit: contributed by Kube.
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