CES 2014: ClearView Audio Shows Off 'Clio' Clear Glass Wireless Speaker

Tuesday January 7, 2014 1:45 AM PST by Richard Padilla
ClearView Audio showed off its Clio Bluetooth wireless speaker at CES 2014, which boasts a unique "invisible" design consisting of an ultra-thin, curved acrylic glass transducer. The speaker's design allows for it to output sound in multiple directions, with volume up/down, mute, and Bluetooth buttons on its side.

clio_speaker
ClearView Audio is also touting its patented "Edge Motion" audio system in the speaker, which pushes sound through the side of the device instead of the rear like traditional cone speakers:
ClearView Audio’s patented Edge Motion audio systems use a differentiating mechanical principal to generate sound. Instead of pushing from behind, like a traditional cone speaker does, Edge Motion-driven speakers actuate a thin membrane along the side in a manner that creates an extremely efficient, piston-like motion in front. The resultant speaker system is thin and lightweight with the ability to produce a rich, full sound across the audio range.
clio_speaker2
The Clio is available for pre-order at $349 from Clearview Audio's website, and is expected to ship in late March.
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appleguy123
62 months ago
All that work into making the "invisible" design and the base still looks bad. I really hope it gets a touch up before it ships.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Ventilatedbrain
62 months ago

Wut? How does this work?


I'm not electronics expert, but this is clearly witchcraft :P
Rating: 4 Votes
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2457282
62 months ago
with all that glass just sitting there, I am surprised that they did not put some LEDs to create a light show to go with the sound :D

This is interesting and you could see how this could eventually end up on a screen -- using the screen itself as a very large speaker -- TV, Phone, Tablet, or computer screen. My guess is that this is just a start and the technology can be developed further and in positive ways.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Technarchy
62 months ago

I wonder what the low end would be like.


Don't expect much, unless that base unit has a cone driver for the low end
Rating: 1 Votes
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attila
62 months ago
Another wireless speaker without AirPlay... sigh...
Rating: 1 Votes
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SoldOnApple
62 months ago
I wonder what the low end would be like.
Rating: 1 Votes
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powerstrokin
62 months ago

They're claiming "full range" but with flat panel speakers like these the bass is usually subdued. Apparently, the speaker produces 2.1 stereo sound from a single unit. That itself is impressive. And the sound is supposedly "room filling". I'd want to hear one before I'd consider buying it.


The kids these days think that the iPhone speaker is adequate and YouTube is the best way to listen to music. (Bandwidth management be damned, but I digress.)

I'm sure it has a place but if I'm going to spend a bunch of money for a small radio, I'm going to buy a Tripath amp and a decent set of small speakers. Much less money and better sound I'm sure.

To each his/her own, I suppose.
Rating: 1 Votes
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jayducharme
62 months ago

I wonder if the same technology can be used to make the glass on an iPhone the speaker?


It's possible. But every time you touched the screen, it would alter the vibrations and muffle the sound.

EDIT: Evidently, it's already been tried. From Clio's site: "2006 -- Emo Labs creates an LCD display with an invisible speaker system."


I can see this being used in monitors or TVs, though. The current speakers on those are usually pathetic.
Rating: 1 Votes
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jayducharme
62 months ago

I wonder what the low end would be like.


They're claiming "full range" but with flat panel speakers like these the bass is usually subdued. Apparently, the speaker produces 2.1 stereo sound from a single unit. That itself is impressive. And the sound is supposedly "room filling". I'd want to hear one before I'd consider buying it.
Rating: 1 Votes
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