A Case Of Bass. Vintage Suitcases and Train Cases Turned Into One of A Kind Speakers.

In March of this year, the Cimino-Hurt brothers decided to launch A Case Of Bass, combining two greats: vintage electronics and vintage luggage, to make super sweet boomboxes. While not the first to do this (I blogged about a similar company named BoomCases years ago), these are significantly more affordable.


above: The Cimino-Hurt brothers combine 'tude and talent

The Portland-based company, A Case of Bass, creates portable sound systems hand-built to ensure quality and craftsmanship. Each "Case of Bass" is created after scouring the world for the finest unique vintage suitcases (train cases, brief cases and make-up cases, too) and then pairing them with a selection of speakers that guarantee the best combination of sound and aesthetic.

The Burlap Banger:

The Champ:

The Starflight:

Bunny:

Nicky29:


The cases incorporate - to your specifications - the types of accessories that will make your case unique to you. These include input types, amplifier sizes, power supplies and batteries, and finally any personal detailing you might desire.

Cecille:

Sam:

Marcelle:


In partnership with local Portland businesses, artists, and craftsmen they create these one of a kind portable parties.

Up-cycled and Sustainable
Sustainability, for those at A Case of Bass, means taking materials and designs, into which great amounts of energy have already been committed, and re-purposing them to extend that investment. It’s not recycling, where objects are stripped into the basic materials and then smelted back into something else. It’s up-cycling, where things are given new life and expected to be passed on or designed to be completely usable for something else without the need of deteriorating initial energy investment.

Staxx:

Candy:

Scooter:


Because the brothers want to give universal access, they do things like sell their products at an affordable price and make an eighth inch input standard on all of the cases. They use some new electronics, but only when they can’t find a reliable substitute from their rescued electronics. When providing things that have great environmental and economic impact implicit in their construction, like batteries, they strive for low impact, long life, and of course, rechargeable systems. At present they offer lithium ion rechargeable packs that are lightweight, high capacity, and high efficiency.

Midas:

Ruby the Riveter:


Finally, to demonstrate the overall sustainability of each case, they give a percent by mass of up-cycled material for each case. This is a process and they don’t profess to have all the answers but are working to continuously improve the quality of each case as an environmentally and socially responsible piece of electronics.

A Case of Bass
Online store
Local Portland retailers:
Hellion Gallery
Tender Loving Empire
Hollywood Babylon

Speaker Dock AeroSystem One by Lalique. $21000 Limited Edition Crystal Sound and Looks.

This limited edition 3.5 foot tall, 30+ pounds, $21,000 Lalique version of Jarre technologies AeroSystem One sound system accommodates all Apple iPod and iPhone models and features two directional speakers and a 60-watt subwoofer.



A marriage of innovation and craftsmanship, born from a meeting between Silvio Denz, CEO of the prestigious house of Lalique, and Jean Michel Jarre, the genius of electronic music. Two worlds, which on the surface seem to be completely opposite of each other, have come together in their quest for excellence. To further their pursuit for innovation, these two men have combined their values and talents. Together, they have created an object that combines their expertise.



Based on the 2010 Aerosystem One by Jarre Technologies, this special limited version (999 will be made) incorporates Lalique's Masque de Femme, an iconic motif of this prestigious crystal house into the column. The Art-Deco style mask reveals the face of a mysterious woman, with subtle features, surrounded by aquatic wildlife. Like a fingerprint, the face seems perfectly captured in the crystal. To create this piece of work, 13 master glass-blowers blow, cut and polish crystal with their expert hands into a design that is so emblematic of Lalique.





AeroSystem One is the result of four years research and development by Jean Michel Jarre and his team of sound engineers. Conceptualised in France, this powerful sound-system can accept all digital formats, from MP3, AAC, WMA, etc. AeroSystem One is compatible with all iPod and iPhone models and comes with an integrated USB 2.0 port, as well as a mini-jack port offering the possibility to connect the system to a laptop, a CD / DVD player, smartphones, hard-disk files, as well as a vinyl turn-table. AeroSystem One incorporates an electronic signal circuit, tailor-made to reproduce both the bass line and high notes with optimal precision.



The artisans from Lalique have managed to enhance and illuminate the speaker created by Jean Michel Jarre and to raise it to the rank of a true piece of contemporary art.

• Compatible with all iPod generations: iPod Touch®, iPod Nano®, iPod Classic®
• Compatible with all iPhone generations: iPhone®, iPhone 3G(S)®, iPhone 4®
• Multiple input sources with mini-jack 3.5 mm connector:
• MP3 players
• Computers
• CD/DVD players
• Vinyl turntable
• 1 USB host
• 240° Sound dispersion with built in 3D enhancement filters
• 2 x 30w full spectrum high definition tweeters
• 1 x 60w subwoofer
• Power input voltage 110 or 220 depending on your country of residence
• Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 108.5 cm
Apple® and iPod® are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Jarre

A Chip Off The Ol' Giant Skull Speaker. New MinuSkull Speakers by Kuntzel+Deygas.

above: The 2010 Grateful Vanity accoustic sculpture and a 2011 walnut miniskull speaker by Kuntzel+Deygas

above: artists Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Olivie (Kuntzel +Deygas) with their new minuskulls

These cool new 50 watt portable speakers, the miniskulls, designed by Kuntzel+Degas were inspired by their unusual and striking oversized accoustic sculpture, Grateful Vanity.


above: Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Olivie (Kuntzel +Deygas) stand in front of their accoustic sculpture, Grateful Vanity



The new tabletop version, handmade in France, comes in walnut wood or lacquered piano black or lacquered piano white. Not only are they scary looking, but the prices are equally frightening at €1600 for the walnut and €1750 for the black or white- not including shipping.




MinuSkull can be connected to any source of sound (Ipod, mp3, computer,etc). The better the source the more you can enjoy MinuSkull’s high-quality sound.



Technical components inside the skull consist of two broadband Fostex Fe-83 speakers with a membrane made out banana leaf pulp (the eyes). A mini subwoofer for a large and natural restitution. They chose a tailor-made speaker (made in France), which lies underneath the skull. A tailor-made Mosfet amplifier that allows a transparent and dynamic quality of listening without using an additional amplifier.



MinuSkull is expandable : this speaker can be used alone or as a duet in order to improve the stereo effect. Using 5 MinuSkulls creates the basis of a Home Cinema Sound System (a subwoofer should be added in this case).




In the designers' words "MinuSkull is a mini loudspeaker made for a high-quality sound experience at home. Its extraordinary Hi-Fi system creates a perfect sound, and most of all, to our own standards, it has a soul."

specs:
WIDTH 9.25 Inches HEIGHT 10.63 Inches, DEPTH 5.91 Inches
WEIGHT : 11 lb
BANDWIDTH : 60 TO 20,000 HERTZ
AMPLIFIER: 50 WATTS
CABLE POWER : 220 VOLTS
Connection : 2 Cinch RCA stereo entries
all images and information courtesy of Kuntzel+Deygas and Minuskull.

buy them here

BoomCases Will Have You Rocking Retro-Style.

Dominic, aka Mr. SiMo, is a self-proclaimed "audio-nut" who had the interesting idea to turn vintage hard-sided suitcases into self-powered boom boxes, making music portable in a retro fashion. He takes wood and leather vintage suitcases (which he prefers to thin or plastic cases because the acoustic sound quality is better) and adds speakers and more.




Prices Start at $250 for a plug-in only case and at $300 for a battery/plug-in case.

Options include:
•iPod – iPhone/USB Charger: $15
•Double Battery Capacity: $45
•Solar Power Charger: $65
•Wireless Audio Playback: $100 (must have Bluetooth compatible device)




The Self Powered, Portable Suitcase Stereo system works with your iPod/iPhone or any device with a headphone jack. The cases will last several hours on a single charge (the charger is built in). In addition to running on batteries, The BoomCase can also be plugged in when the party goes inside. To save on weight, you can opt for a plug-in only version.

Many of the BoomCases shown in this post have already been sold, but Mr. SiMo has a slew of vintage hard sided luggage in various shapes, sizes and colors, just waiting to be turned into BoomCases for you.









all images and info courtesy of Mr. Simo
special shout out to Erica Mayer for turning me onto these!

Get your own cool BoomCase here.

World's Most Expensive Sound System. $1.84 Million Gold & Gem Bang & Olufsen Beosound

above: the front and back view of the 24ct and diamond Beosound 9000 and Beolab 6000 speakers

Stuart Hughes just can't seem to stop making obscenely expensive versions of high tech items and gadgets, his latest being the world's most expensive custom music system and remote. He has manufactured a Bang & Olufsen Beosound system out of solid 24k gold, and studded it with diamonds and gems.



Designed in Liverpool U.K. by Stuart Hughes, the Bang & Olufsen Beosound 24ct gold & Diamond Edition is the world’s most expensive and Bespoke Music center. Priced at £1.2 million, ($1,842,900.00 USD) the B&O Gold Beosound System took a whole 7 months to manufacture.

The Beosound's whole body including the speakers have been reformed using 32 kilograms of solid 24ct gold. The outer screen guard area has a handmade solid gold veneer which houses 70 brilliant round cut 0.75 flawless diamonds which sit amidst surrounding gemstones of aventurine & topaz. A limited edition of only 5 units will be made.



Of course it wouldn't be complete without his gold and diamond Bang & Olufsen Serenata Mobile phone (I originally listed this as a remote and was embarrassingly corrected by a reader).



The Bang & Olufsen Serenata, exclusively in diamonds and solid gold. The diamonds are mounted on their own solid gold bezel sitting perfectly over the main scroll mechanism.



Diamonds used total 16.25ct in the form of VVS1 quality, F color. The main facia and rear release are reformed to precision using a circa of 140 grams of solid 24ct gold. This handset is of a limited edition only of 10 to be created.

Serenata Priced at £44,995 ($57,184.00 USD)

Both the gold and diamond Bang & Olufsen Beosound System and the Serenata mobile are available exclusively from www.stuarthughes.com