Published on January 7th, 2020 | by Andrew Bistak
Belkin unveils first-of-its-kind Hi-Fi smart speaker with wireless charging
Belkin, the connected things division within the Belkin International and Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) (HK:6088) entity, today unveils a revolutionary audio product at CES 2020, the first-of-its-kind SOUNDFORM ELITE™ Hi-Fi Smart Speaker + Wireless Charger. Belkin International will be exhibiting at CES 2020 – LVCC, South Hall 3, Booth #30512.
The SOUNDFORM™ ELITE speaker, developed in a partnership between Belkin and high-end audio brand Devialet, is sure to excite the technophile, and is just the beginning of a larger audio portfolio for Belkin, while still maintaining the brand’s global leadership in fast wireless charging. Devialet brings best-in-class technologies and industry-leading expertise across acoustic architecture, loudspeakers and signal processing, over 160 patents, and a premium consumer brand.
“Belkin is excited about the potential that both the SOUNDFORM ELITE™ Hi-Fi Smart Speaker + Wireless Charger and the partnership with Devialet unlock for us as a brand,” said Steve Malony, SVP, Belkin International. “Our heritage in audio, leadership in fast wireless charging, and Devialet’s acoustic expertise allow us to make products for consumers that are both exceptional and convenient.”
The SOUNDFORM™ ELITE speaker combines premium, high-fidelity sound (up to 90dB SPL of max volume), fast wireless charging and integration with the Google Voice Assistant. Users can charge their phone, play music, get answers and connect multiple Google Assistant-enabled speakers for an immersive multi-room experience. They can also control their smart home with exceptionally powerful and clear sound quality.
“We are excited to be partnering with Belkin for our first global partnership,” said Franck Lebouchard, CEO, Devialet. “At Devialet, we want to share the incredible audio experiences that our technology can deliver with as many people as possible. Partnering with Belkin on SOUNDFORM™ ELITE has given us the opportunity to bring our acoustic expertise and best-in-class sound architecture to an innovative new product type and reach a whole new audience of music lovers around the world.”
Devialet worked on the acoustic architecture bringing its patented SAM® (Speaker Active Matching), technology that perfectly renders the original intent of the content creator with high-fidelity sound reproduction, and ‘Push-Push’ Woofers architecture. Devialet’s signature woofer configuration cancels any vibrations while ensuring a deep, impactful sound with implosive bass considering the size of the speaker. This allows for a steady wireless charging experience for Qi-enabled devices up to 10W without sacrificing impactful bass levels.