Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

SoundCast VG7 omnidirectional speaker sounds as good outdoors as it does indoors

After an extended period of relative inactivity, SoundCast released its VG1 Bluetooth speaker late last year, combining quality sound with a relatively low price. Now that speaker is getting a more high-end companion in the VG7 omnidirectional Bluetooth speaker, which the company announced Thursday at CES.

“We designed the VG1 and VG7 as a direct response to the market’s demand for high-definition Bluetooth speakers designed for optimal sound quality no matter the performance setting,” SoundCast President and CEO Oscar Ciornei said in a statement. “We studied the market extensively and have moved forward with our partner’s and consumer’s desire to continue to produce products that offer studio-type sound in the outdoors. The VGX Series embodies the notion that there shouldn’t be a need to sacrifice really rich audio for a rugged, weather-resistant enclosure.”

Like the VG1, the VG7 is built to be weather-resistant and tough, with a shock-absorbing exterior that should keep it safe during the occasional accidental drop. Where this speaker differs from the VG1 is that inside, it has much more going on in the way of sound quality and technology.

The VG7 packs a downward-firing 7-inch subwoofer for substantial bass, which is complemented by a total of four 4-inch drivers for the midrange and high end. These speakers, combined with the 360-degree audio provided by the speaker’s shape, should make filling a room with sound an easy task, but the speaker is also capable of providing the soundtrack for a backyard party. If you’re looking for even bigger sound, SoundCast’s Auto Bluetooth feature makes pairing two VG7 units a simple process.

The SoundCast VG7 sells for $700, and is expected to become available in the spring of 2017. If you’re looking for something more affordable, its cousin in the VGX series, the VG1, is available for $150, and is currently available from Amazon.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Everything announced at Amazon’s fall 2023 devices event
The Amazon Echo Show 8 at the Devices Event 2023.

The leaves are starting to turn color, and you know what that means: Amazon's annual fall Devices and Services event is upon us, bringing with it a veritable smorgasbord of product announcements, from new Fire TV streaming gadgets and Echo devices to Amazon smart home gear like Blink and Ring cameras, as well as Eero Wi-Fi routers and Alexa galore.

Taking place Wednesday, September 20, from Amazon's shiny new HQ2 second headquarters in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, the invite-only event was heavy on themes of generative AI and its use in the home, specifically how it relates to its own products. Dave Limp, Amazon's outgoing senior vice president of devices and services, delivered his last keynote, spilling the details on Alexa's most significant AI upgrade yet. Limp revealed its all-new advanced large language model (LLM), which will make the smart assistant more intuitive, conversational, and able to understand more complex nomenclature and nuances. And it's all integrated with Amazon's Alexa devices throughout your smart home.

Read more
Amazon debuts its first Fire TV soundbar and faster Fire TV sticks
Amazon Fire TV Soundbar.

At Amazon's fall event, it announced a new Fire TV soundbar, a new Fire TV Stick 4K, and a Fire TV Stick 4K Max with support for Wi-Fi 6E.

The Fire TV Soundbar is available starting today for $120 in the U.S. and Canada, and available for preorder in Mexico. It's expected to ship within a week. It's been designed as an easy-to-set-up companion speaker for all Fire TV devices and Fire TVs with Bluetooth, immersive sound, crisper dialog, and improved bass, according to the company, and has three selectable EQ modes: movies, music, and dialogue.

Read more
Wearing Alexa is weird, but Amazon’s new Echo Frames are shockingly comfy
Amazon Echo Frames.

I'd wear these Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

“The thing is, they all look like regular glasses.”

Read more