A Boombox Disguised as an Ice Chest Is Summer’s ‘Flex and Chill’ Move
A Boombox Disguised as an Ice Chest Is Summer’s ‘Flex and Chill’ Move
(Bloomberg Businessweek) -- What started as a trade show stunt—“the world’s loudest cooler”—is now a reality. The $900 Shivr-55 cooler from marine audio specialist Wet Sounds Inc. in Houston combines two of the best things about a summer party: ear-splitting music and ice-cold drinks. The 55-liter roto-molded cooler is big enough for 48 cans, give or take, and has a splash-proof, bash-proof, 200-watt Bluetooth soundbar embedded in it.
THE COMPETITION
• Seismic Audio’s $400 SC48WS has two 4.5-inch, built-in Bluetooth speakers that can play as long as four hours on a single charge. The ice in the 48-quart container will last a lot longer—as many as 10 days.
• At 17.75 quarts, the $150 Coolbox is comparatively compact. Built into the front is a pair of 20-watt marine-grade speakers and a water-resistant compartment to stash a phone or another streaming device.
• Since 2007, Ice Chest Radios near New Orleans has operated on the premise that with a little ingenuity, any cooler can be wired for sound. Options include a 600-watt, 125-quart Yeti with four 8-inch speakers for $2,000.
THE CASE
The Shivr-55 showcases a modified version of Wet Sounds’ Stealth-6 Ultra HD soundbar, which was designed to be used on boats and ATVs. With four full-range, 3-inch drivers and a pair of 1-inch titanium tweeters on the front, this boombox disguised as an ice chest produces a sound meant to carry clearly outdoors. But consider yourself warned: The device clocks in at 40 pounds empty, but presumably, if you’ve got a cooler full of drinks and a bangin’ sound system, you’ll have enough new friends to help move the thing. Its 10 amp-hour battery can keep the music pumping for more than eight hours. How long the drinks last is up to you. $900; wetsounds.com
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