Friday, June 12th 2015

Creative Announces Sound Blaster FRee Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Creative Technology Ltd today announced the Sound Blaster FRee, its latest multifunction portable Bluetooth speaker with two custom-tuned Neodymium drivers and twin passive radiators that deliver massive full-range audio with powerful bass. Featuring dual-orientation playback, the Sound Blaster FRee can be placed either horizontally for wide stereo imaging or vertically for 360-degree sound. This powerful yet lightweight speaker boasts a compact cylindrical form factor small enough to fit comfortably in the user's hand and carried in a bag, giving users the freedom to play music out loud everywhere they go. Everyone can experience awesome music now at home, at work, at play, and even by the pool - the Sound Blaster FRee is splash-proof.

The Sound Blaster FRee has extensive connectivity options. This includes wireless Bluetooth for smartphones or tablets, USB for PCs or Macs, as well as Aux-in for analog sources. It even comes with a built-in MP3 player for standalone playback from a microSD card up to 32 GB. Users can customise different microSD cards with music for different moments and easily swap them. Users can also arrange all their music into different folders on a microSD card and easily skip a folder with one touch. The Sound Blaster FRee also doubles up as a hands-free Bluetooth speakerphone when paired with a smartphone, allowing users to enjoy music and movies while effortlessly taking calls in between.
"In today's world, it is the norm for everyone to experience all their music from their smart devices and to share moments with family and friends everywhere they go. The Sound Blaster FRee has been designed to fit perfectly into that lifestyle," said Long Chye Low, General Manager of Sound Blaster Audio at Creative. "We've taken great pains to include everything you would want in a portable speaker - to enjoy music anywhere, to share music, to take calls and more - and we're offering it at an amazing price. It's powerful, lightweight, portable, versatile, has up to 10 hours of battery life, and even splash-resistant. So if you're looking for an amazing speaker companion to take with you through all occasions, look no further - Sound Blaster FRee is made for every moment."

Creative Sound Blaster FRee - Compact Yet Feature-Packed
  • Designed to let users blast their favourite tunes however they like it, wherever they are, the Sound Blaster FRee is loaded with a whole list of features:
  • IPX4 splash resistance keeps the Sound Blaster FRee protected and the user's music going at poolside parties, while biking, or even while singing in the shower.
  • Lightweight yet powerful speaker at about 0.4 kg makes the Sound Blaster FRee highly portable.
  • Wide stereo in horizontal position gives the user a well-balanced sound with a full range of details.
  • 360-degree sound in vertical position lets the user blast amazing audio in every direction. Have a party without taking up space.
  • LOUD mode instantly boosts volume and spaciousness of the user's audio with just a push of a button, filling the environment with massive vibrant music.
  • Powerful bass pumped through dual passive radiators produce dynamic booms for that extra punch.
  • Integrated MP3 player with playback controls on the Sound Blaster FRee lets the user conveniently play up to 10,000 MP3 songs on a single 32 GB microSD card without having to commit the user's phone or connect to any music source. Simply swap microSD cards containing the custom playlist of music for different occasions. Store music in different folders on a microSD card and easily skip a folder with one touch.
  • Hands-free speakerphone with HD Voice provides clear phone conversations for personal or business calls when paired to the user's phone via Bluetooth. Switch effortlessly between calls and music - the user's music automatically fades out when there's a call and then continues when the call ends.
  • Bluetooth 4.0 technology with SBC and FastStream codecs support frees the user from restricting cables yet delivers awesome high quality stereo music wirelessly.
  • USB connectivity for lossless high-fidelity digital audio streaming from PC or Mac and intelligent Sound Blaster audio processing via the SBX Pro Studio suite of technologies.
  • SBX Pro Studio audio enhancement when connected to PC or Mac via USB allows selection of audio profiles, plus, full audio customisation to suit the user's personal listening preferences.
  • Up to 10 hours* playtime promises extended fun on the go. The rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery can be quickly charged via USB.
  • Available in stylish black or bold white colour.
Pricing and Availability
The Creative Sound Blaster FRee portable Bluetooth speaker, priced at GBP79.99, will be available in July 2015.
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12 Comments on Creative Announces Sound Blaster FRee Portable Bluetooth Speaker

#2
FreedomEclipse
~Technological Technocrat~
ZeDestructorMore bandwagoning crap...

RIP EAX :(
what has EAX got to do with a bluetooth speaker?
Posted on Reply
#3
theJesus
Naming a product "FRee" and then charging money for it should be considered false advertisement.
Posted on Reply
#4
m4gicfour
Creative seems like a pretty good contradiction in terms for a company releasing yet another "me too" product of at best questionable value.
Posted on Reply
#5
THE_EGG
theJesusNaming a product "FRee" and then charging money for it should be considered false advertisement.
Agreed. I have to admit after seeing the product's name, I was disappointed to see a price associated with it.
Posted on Reply
#6
Arjai
Hmmm, like I don't hear enough of someone else music. Now I have to hear it on the bike path?

Great. (Sarcasm, included in this post. FRee of charge)
Posted on Reply
#7
PLAfiller
I woundn't mind a portable sound bar like this, but 80 pounds is a bit steep for my pocket... I like it though, doesn't matter for it resemble Logitech's UE Boom speaker.
Posted on Reply
#8
alwayssts
m4gicfourCreative seems like a pretty good contradiction in terms for a company releasing yet another "me too" product of at best questionable value.
Word...but it'll probably be really cheap before long. Creative stuff has a tendency to depreciate quickly and/or be on sale a lot...perhaps they just have a ridiculous MSRP so the street prices look great; I don't know. Stuff like the ROAR/2 are and have been cheap compared to their competitors (like misc soundlink/jambox models), while garnering decent reviews. I imagine this will take a similar trajectory compared to the likes of the the Charge/2 and UE Boom tubes; most of the way there, as well as having some decent gimmicks, for a decent amount less.

Can't argue it's not a 'me-too' nor that the msrp isn't great, but most of their products eventually find a place where they aren't a terrible value...especially if you find some of their 'features' useful.

Personally, I'm hoping we get another iteration of the UE Boom (or something similar in girth) using the CSR8675 (because why not) and/or some combo of dsp-driven larger/smaller drivers (even if opposite-facing to save room) rather than the current accepted notion of dual forward-facing drivers and passive radiators. I understand at some point things become overkill, and only so much can be done within a small space (especially if you want to keep that 12-15hr 6000mah battery, which of course you do)...but I still don't think we've quite peaked yet with what's possible for a "water bottle"/pill-like speaker.
Posted on Reply
#9
ZeDestructor
FreedomEclipsewhat has EAX got to do with a bluetooth speaker?
Nothing at all, but it was very much what Creative used to be famous for.
Posted on Reply
#10
RejZoR
I wish they'd find a way to bypass stupid Windows audio stack and make their own fulyl hardware accelerated one. With Windows Vista and later we've thrown 2 decades of progress and went back to MIDI samples so to speak... Software engines in games are absolutely pathetic.
Posted on Reply
#11
ZeDestructor
RejZoRI wish they'd find a way to bypass stupid Windows audio stack and make their own fulyl hardware accelerated one. With Windows Vista and later we've thrown 2 decades of progress and went back to MIDI samples so to speak... Software engines in games are absolutely pathetic.
They had full HW-accelerated OpenAL support.. then they dropped the ball and utterly failed at marketing it to both devs and consumers.
Posted on Reply
#12
BumbleBee
I heard a Denon bluetooth speaker recently that surprised me but cost $250!!! even the Logitech Mini Boom is too expensive.

I don't own a bluetooth speaker because I know they will never satisfy me and I don't go camping like ever lol
Posted on Reply
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