The Kube is literally the coolest speaker we've seen, and it's finally coming out

By Kris Wouk Published June 27, 2016

CES always has its share of unique gadgets mixed in among the new TVs, phones, processors, and other technology. During CES 2015, we got a look at the Kube, a combination Bluetooth speaker and cooler that could offer up hot tunes while keeping your favorite beverages cool.

The Kube might have been early to the party when it comes to combining a Bluetooth speaker with a cooler, but the company wanted to take its time to make sure it got everything right. In the meantime, numerous Kickstarter-funded projects popped up with various takes on the idea, but none of them seemed to take the ultra-premium approach of the Kube.

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The speaker may not be out yet, but at CE Week in new York, we got a chance to spend some hands-on time with it, as shown in the video above. Whether or not this is an essential purchase likely depends a lot on the type of person you are, but if money is no object and you want the best cooler / speaker combo possible, this is probably your best bet.

Bluetooth isn’t the only name of the game when it comes to connectivity here, with AirPlay and built-in streaming from Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and more. This speaker also gets seriously loud, with the company claiming up to 125 decibels. Battery life always depends on volume and other factors, but Kube Sound claims up to 20 hours of playback time.

The on-board controls are backlit for more effective nighttime partying. Meanwhile, on the cooler front, the Kube offers 35 quarts of insulated storage, complete with a smooth-opening eject mechanism. The entire unit is waterproof, so there’s no need to worry about the elements or a spilled beverage. On the back, you’ll find an auxiliary input, charging ports, and a power jack for charging the Kube’s internal battery.

No exact release date has been specified so far, but the Kube will begin shipping in September. The final retail price will be $3,000 — up from the original price of $1,100 — and if you want to secure a unit for yourself, you can do so by laying down $300 at the company’s website, with the balance due when the Kube ships.

Former Contributor

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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