LG floating speaker adds fun to sound

By Lee Min-hyung

Innovation is the only way for a company to survive the competition, especially in an industry reaching saturation.

The audio and speaker industry is one of the markets faced with growing competition, and for this reason companies will not stay in business by simply developing high-end sound systems. They need something else their counterparts have never tried.

In this regard, LG Electronics’ PJ9 floating speaker shows how the company successfully blended its tech expertise with one differentiating “fun factor.” By taking advantage of magnetism, the company launched the innovative product which consists of two devices - the bottom woofer speaker and another one levitating over the former.

Honestly, the device is not a reasonably priced option to meet the appetite of people from all walks of life. The PJ9 sells at 369,000 won ($338.53) here. But those who put priority on design and innovation combined with quality sound output would be able to confidently say the device is worth it.

When operating the 480-gram woofer bass station, it generates powerful and well-adjusted low-pitched sound. The bass sound is heavy enough for a user to feel the vibrations through the floor around the device.

Tuning the device with the upper floating and circling speaker, the two devices offer balanced audio experiences for users to enjoy low- to high-pitched sounds clearly. The self-circling upper speaker is satisfactory not just as a visual effect, but the 360-degree balanced sound output.

To meet the “floating” hype, the Seoul-based appliance manufacturer enabled magnetic levitation by placing the electromagnet at the upper center of the woofer station. When the floating speaker runs out of batteries, it automatically drops down to the woofer station and charges itself. The device boasts 10 hours of battery life.

The fun element is in line with the global electronics industry trends for “lifestyle” products. This reflects the fact technological specifications do not matter much more in any home appliances - encompassing TVs and audio - than before.

The PJ9 can, in this respect, be a great option, as its sleek white design and slowly circling floating speaker look to be able to mingle well with other home appliances in most people’s houses.

The levitating speaker is also rated to an IPX7 water-resistant standard, allowing users to enjoy the device in outdoor spaces without concerns about possible water damage in areas such as bathtubs or campsites.