The Photon and Spectra turntables are likely more novelty than hi-fi, but they do look pretty damned cool. The Photon ($100) has a halo of colorful lights set beneath the platter, which respond to the beat of the music as you play, for a splashy way to rock your favorite vinyl. The Spectra ($130) takes things even further, looking more like a dance floor straight out of Saturday Night Fever then a turntable. The lighted base actually comes with a remote control so you can change the vibe by applying an array of colors.
And for those a bit more discerning when it comes to sound quality, the company also offers the new BT 500, a $400 turntable with MDF base, aluminum platter, and a motor loaded with dampening tech to keep unwanted resonance away from your tunes.
In addition, Ion showed off its new Block Rocker Splash, a water-resistant Bluetooth speaker packing a claimed 100 watts of power, and even a collapsible handle and wheels for rolling it around. Originally based around a keyboard amplifier, the newly water-resistant speaker packs some cool features, including FM radio, and even a mic input, essentially making it an all-in-one PA/Bluetooth speaker.
And finally, we couldn’t help but get a few shots of Ion’s Bluetooth speaker with levitating lighted party ball, dubbed the Party Float. The $100 speaker is just a prototype at present, but it’s always cool to see flashing lights spinning in space — this is CES after all.
All of Ion’s new gear is expected to be available starting in the first or second quarter of the year.
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