Skip to main content

Be the backyard bbq champion with this $1,100 boombox cooler

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is the most posh cooler on the planet?” No? Well, either way, we think we might’ve found the answer. Say hello to the Kube, an $1,100 block (that’s right, this thing costs over a grand) of technology-on-ice designed to blast sound, keep your drinks in the nether regions of the temperature scale, and look damned good doing it.

Designed as if plucked from the Scandinavian visionaries over at Bang and Olufsen, the Kube definitely makes a statement right away. In fact, the leather handles above slotted screens on the side look strikingly similar to B&O’s A2 Bluetooth speaker. The cooler’s chic exterior boasts more curves than Betty Davis behind a silhouette shade, and its silver-on-white color scheme draws the eye with stylish minimalism.

Kube’s creators are mum on specs when it comes to the audio components packed inside this glitterati ice box, but the company does claim the marine-certified Polk speakers inside will push out distortion-free sound that’s audible for up to 500 feet, allowing you to play tunes for a “party of 200 or 2,” as Kube puts it. We got a taste of the concept device at CES 2015, and it was somewhat of a hit, but we weren’t able to go ears-on in any satisfactory fashion thanks to a Vegas convention center’s crowded halls.

The Kube boasts a push-button control panel up top, and offers Bluetooth wireless connection as well as a 3.5mm line-in option. Impressively, battery-run time is estimated at up to 20 hours.

A press of the push panel on top of the cooler activates the “self-opening lid,” to reveal a 33 quart interior (48 12-oz. cans). Lighted controls, and an LED-lined interior is activated when the lights go out, preserving energy in the day, and assuring you get the beverage of your choice at night.

At the back of the Kube are a trio of guarded ports, including a power port for plugging the device in, a USB port for charging your device, and the aforementioned 3.5mm input.

While a cooler of this caliber is certainly a luxury item, those who want one need only put down $100 at the Kube website to reserve one now, or you can get $100 off the $1,100 retail price by paying in full.

Ryan Waniata
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
What is spatial audio? Apple’s 3D sound feature fully explained
Person listening to spatial audio using Apple AirPods Max headphones.

At WWDC 2021 (Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference), Apple officially added support for spatial audio with Dolby Atmos Music for Apple Music. It quickly became a popular format among consumers, too: Apple estimates that by February 2022, playback of spatial audio tracks had quadrupled from just a few months prior as people experimented with the format. But what exactly is spatial audio? How is it different from (or the same as) Dolby Atmos? And what kind of audio equipment do you need to listen to it?

There's a lot of ground to cover, and some of it is a bit technical, but we're going to break it all down in easy-to-understand terms. You'll be a spatial audio expert in minutes, and you'll know exactly how to access this growing trend in movie and music streaming.
What exactly is spatial audio?

Read more
The best podcasts of 2022
best podcasts

Whether you've already stored all your favorite podcasts in your app of choice, ready for listening, or are new to the world of podcasts, there's no denying their popularity. Podcasts are everywhere these days and have become some of the most beloved entertainment and education mediums worldwide. Whatever you're into, from tech and video game chat to world news and politics or true crime, there are plenty of specialized interest shows to choose from.

With so many podcasts available, there’s no way that you can listen to all of them. To help you out, no matter your interests, we've gathered a variety of shows to turn you on to your next great listen.

Read more
How to convert your vinyl to a digital format
Rebirth of cool: Is vinyl ready for a second wind, or just a fad?

It doesn't matter one bit if your vinyl collection consists of just a single milk crate or if it fills several Ikea Kallax shelves and is slowly taking over your home — we can all agree that there's just something about vinyl.

Maybe it's the warm, uncompressed sound spinning off a solid turntable, or the feel of holding a physical piece of art in your hands while the record spins — it's a special experience that has regained much of its glory in a world dominated by digital streaming. The problem is, records are fragile, and crates full of them don't fit in your back pocket.

Read more