Skip to main content

Go green, save green: Affordable House of Marley Bluetooth speaker made from hemp

House of Marley has made a name for itself as a purveyor of great-sounding and sustainably manufactured audio gear, and such is the case with the three new products announced at this year’s CES conference.

The flagship of the company’s new line is the No Bounds Sport speaker, a waterproof portable Bluetooth device that offers 12 hours of battery life and 360 degrees of sound from its cylindrical profile. The relatively simple design of the speaker does feature a couple of unique cues, including upcycled hemp fabric and a sustainably harvested cork base with optional storage — you know, for when you need to take something small with you on the go.

Recommended Videos

The company also announced the smaller No Bounds speaker, a puck-shaped device that features a built-in carabiner for easy attachment to backpacks and other outdoor gear. Designed to be lightweight and rugged, the dustproof and waterproof speaker offers a 10-hour battery life in addition to a quick-charging feature, giving those on the go plenty of juice to jam out all day.

Those looking for a more private listening experience during their active time may be interested in the company’s new Uprise Sport headphones. Designed to be sweat- and weather-resistant, the banded wireless in-ears use recycled silicone and wood fiber composite resin for a more sustainable impact, and offer various hanger and fin options for a secure fit.

In addition to being sold in 100 percent recyclable packaging, every product sold by the House of Marley will contribute to reforestation, as part of an ongoing partnership between the company and One Tree Planted, a nonprofit dedicated to planting trees around the globe. House of Marley hopes to raise enough funds to plant 75,000 trees in 2018.

Even if you’re not in it for the ecofriendly angle, House of Marley has made some excellent products in the past, including the Stir It Up Turntable. It’s also worth noting that despite their many sustainable and recycled components, each of the company’s three new products carries a remarkably affordable price tag. The No Bounds Sport and No Bounds speakers will retail for $120 and $70, respectively, and the Uprise headphones will debut at $100.

The company plans to launch the No Bounds speaker in April, the No Bounds Sport in May, and the Uprise Headphones in June.

Parker Hall
Former Senior Writer, Home Theater/Music
Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…
Nothing Headphone 1 Review: A surprisingly good first-gen product
The ears and unique design on the Nothing Headphone 1 in white.

If you like unique technology, there’s a strong chance you’ve seen products from London-based Nothing. The company, co-founded by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, has built a cult-like following with striking designs that were designed to stand out from the crowd. 

Nothing has made earbuds before, but the Headphone 1 is the company’s first foray into the world of over-ear headphones that Apple, Sony, and Bose normally dominate. In typical Nothing fashion, the Headphone 1 aims to provide ample sound in a strikingly different design at a price that still offers value for money.

Read more
You Asked: Large OLED vs. Huge QLED? Biggest QD-OLED TVs?
Chris answers your questions on OLED, LG G5 vs G2, and whether 77 inches is enough
You Asked Ep 98

On today’s episode of You Asked: Is there ever a reason to not get the best OLED panel available? How much of an upgrade is the LG G5 over the G2? And is a 77-inch OLED enough, or do you need to go even bigger?

Always buy the best OLED panel tech?

Read more
The best Prime Day audio deal I found comes from an unexpected brand
It doesn't get better than this in the audio segment, and certainly not at this discounted price.
Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C and MagSafe review

I test all kinds of audio gear around the year, and every time someone asks me about AirPods, I religiously suggest a few alternatives. It’s not because the AirPods are bad. Far from it, actually. It’s just that they are a little too pricey for what they offer, especially when it comes to the Pro model.

While they excel at noise cancellation and transparency, they can’t quite deliver the kind of rich audio when pitted against the likes of Sony’s WF-1000 and Sennheiser’s Momentum series earbuds. The margin, I'll add, is very small. Plus, terms like "price cut," "discounts," and "deals" don't often play well with Apple's premium reputation, so you rarely see them at a bargain point.

Read more