Speakers and headphones with integrated smart assistants have become all the rage. The House of Marley is jumping into the fray but are doing so with a twist. Some of their new speakers and headphones leverage services like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant and do so using sustainable materials. Smart and socially responsible is a nice way to go!
Josh Poulsen, the House of Marley’s Director of Product Development describes their overall approach saying:
This year we are taking our signature eco-conscious and recyclable materials and incorporating them into a number of brand firsts, from smart speaker technology and true wireless earbuds to our new flagship over-ear performance headphones. As we look ahead, we are going to be offering even more convenient connectivity for the way we listen to music. We are excited to be bringing a new feeling of innovation to the market through our sustainable materials and craftsmanship in a way that continues to redefine the CE audio space.
The new offerings will arrive at a range of different price points, so there is something for everyone.
NO BOUNDS XL
The No Bounds XL Bluetooth speaker has earned attention as a CES 2019 Innovation Awards Honoree. It is designed using naturally sustainable cork. The result is a speaker that is lightweight, durable, naturally antimicrobial and impermeable to water. In the real world that translates to a speaker that can stand up to wear and tear, offers vibration dampening, and, since it is made from cork, can even float. The No Bounds XL was released in October 2018 and has an MSRP of $149.99. It now comes in navy.
GET TOGETHER MINI WITH THE GOOGLE ASSISTANT
The Get Together Mini is an upgrade to The House of Marley’s Get Together speaker line. It adds Google Assistant, taking a time-tested design and adding smart technology to it. The result is a speaker that is “more convenient and more eco-conscious.’ The Get Together Mini is largely made from sustainable materials like natural bamboo and recyclable aluminum. It also makes use of Marley’s REWIND fabric, a material made from organic cotton, organic hemp, and recycled plastics rPET. This smart speaker includes hands-free voice control thanks to Google Assistant and has Google Cast built in so you also have access to multi-room playback when used with other speakers that support Chromecast. Of course, it also has Bluetooth and WiFi as well as a USB port so you can use the speaker as an external power bank. It will have an MSRP when it arrives next August.
The House of Marley’s new headphones includes the upcoming Liberate Air, Exodus, Exodus ANC and Redemption.
LIBERATE AIR
The Liberate Air is, “the brand-first eco-conscious true wireless Bluetooth earbuds.” They are designed using bamboo, natural wood fiber composite and the company’s REWIND fabric made from 100% recycled PET. With a battery life of 7 hours per charge, the Liberate Air is IPX4 rated for rain and sweat resistance and will include a compact case that is designed with an auto on/off feature. Bluetooth 5.0 and on-surface tap controls on each earbud means the Liberate Air is easy to connect and control on the go. They will have an MSRP of $149.99 when they go on sale this July.
EXODUS
The Exodus over-the-ear headphones will have an MSRP of $199.99 when they arrive in March. They feature 30-hours of playback per charge, have 50mm hi-definition drivers, are tuned to deliver “the acoustic performance you expect with the natural style you know to love.” The House of Marley notes that the Exodus, their new flagship headphones, are crafted from sustainable wood, stainless steel, recyclable aluminum, and natural leather. In other words, they are good for your ears and good for the environment. The headphones also include memory foam ear cushions for comfort, a foldable hinge design for easy transport and an onboard mic and remote so you can control your music without losing a beat.
EXODUS ANC
The Exodus 0ver-the-ear headphones look great but, for $50 more, you’ll be able to get the same great audio experience with the added benefit of ANC. As the company notes:
Expanding the flagship wireless headphone line, the true over-ear style of Exodus ANC focuses on superior active noise cancellation, acoustic performance and premium comfort.
The Exodus ANC are made from the same materials as their non-ANC cousins and will deliver 24+ hour battery life with ANC and BT on and an impressive 40-hours when only using Bluetooth. The protective carrying case and their ability to fold into a smaller package make them a great option for travelers who love their music. They will have an MSRP of $249.99 when they arrive next fall.
REDEMPTION
Finally, for those who love their music but are on a budget, there is the Redemption. At just $99.99 when they arrive this July, the Redemption is tuned to deliver the House of Marley’s signature sound and will get 24-hour battery life. The Redemption has a foldable design, so they are easy to take on your next journey, have Memory Foam ear cushions for comfort and employ 50 hi-definition drivers for big sound on the go. The Redemption is constructed from certified wood, stainless steel, REWIND Fabric, and recyclable aluminum.
The House of Marley is making a big move into sustainable headphones and speakers and are pretty proud of what they have accomplished. As they explain:
The House of Marley is continuing to bring awareness to their Project Marley platform, a charitable initiative contributing to the planting of trees through non-profit organization One Tree Planted to support global reforestation. The House of Marley recognizes the responsibility to reduce their corporate footprint by contributing to positive environmental, social and economic impact through carbon offsets, cleaner air, water filtration and greater biodiversity within the world’s forests. Since 2017, The House of Marley has contributed to the planting of 146,000 trees in areas including Indonesia, the Amazon rainforest, British Columbia, Florida and California.
We are excited to check out the new offerings from The House of Marley. In the meantime, you can learn more about all of their products here.
