Soundcast brought its latest series of speakers to CES 2018, namely the VG10 touted as the world’s first outdoor Bluetooth speaker integrating DTS Play-Fi technology, the VG5, and the lower-priced VG3 boasting a touch interface. Additionally, the OEM showcased its new accessory called the VGtx, designed to bring Bluetooth capabilities to Soundcast legacy products including the Outcast lineup. As a reminder, all of these devices have been previously officially announced in September when prospective buyers were looking forward to a January release, and they now seem to have been showcased at CES 2018 ahead of what should be an imminent market launch.
The Soundcast VG10 promises both waterproofing capabilities and long-lasting battery life while taking advantage of DTS Play-Fi technology, allowing it to be paired with more than 30 different interoperable sound devices including receivers, speakers, and sound bars featuring the same technology. The device is marketed as the world’s first outdoor Bluetooth speaker to adopt this particular standard, but this exclusivity comes at a price of $999.99. The next outdoor solution showcased by Soundcast was the VG5 which retains some of the design characteristics of previous models, including a fuel-gauge LED array as well as a capacitive touch interface. It’s powered by a long-throw 6-inch woofer firing downwards and two 3-inch full-range drivers, and like the more expensive model, the VG5 is also wrapped in a water-resistant body. Lastly, there is the Soundcast VG3 which adopts a similar design complete with a fuel-gauge LED and a touch interface and uses a 3-inch down-firing woofer along with two 1.5-inch full-range drivers wrapped in a package weighing 1.58 kilos. The Soundcast VG5 will launch for the price of $499.99, whereas the smaller VG3 will be available for $299.99.
Finally, the OEM demonstrated the $99.99 Soundcast VGtx which is a long-range transmitter that allows audio from optical or digital sources to be streamed to any Bluetooth device at a range of up to 50 meters. Though exact availability details remain unknown for all four products, the latest Soundcast solutions demoed at CES 2018 should hit the market in the coming weeks, and every one of them will be distributed through partner retail and online distribution channels like Amazon.
