X-mini Max II and Happy to launch mid-September

Five months after the Xmini Max II and MP3-playing Xmini Happy were announced here at Crave Asia, they're finally ready to ship globally come mid next month. According to Singapore company XM-I, both speakers have had their drivers fine-tuned for better sound playback. Certainly, when we got a demo of the tweaked Max II, it was a blast.

Generation two of the X-mini Max will retail for US$59, with the Singapore pricing awaiting confirmation. From the white prototype that we saw back in April, there will now be two additional color choices: Black and red. The volume dial now sits on the cable.
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X-mini Max II gets a design makeover

If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? Well, the guys behind the red dot-winning X-mini capsule speakers are taking a design leap of faith with the X-mini Max II. Instead of the grenade appearance of the Max, the next-gen stereo speakers have taken on a Star Wars drone look with cone heads. While we're told the material and colors may be different come the May global launch, the Max II's exposed and angled tops are intended to "open out" the speakers for more focused sounds.

The pumped-up girth also ensures more space for a bigger driver. If we thought the Max was already bombastic enough to wake up a few banshees, CEO Ryan Lee says the Max II will "nearly double" the sonic prowess of the original. That doesn't yet factor in the buddy-jack system where the user can daisy-chain as many X-mini units as he likes to crank up the decibels.
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Hands-on: Get ready for bigger sounds from the X-mini II

Update, April 24: The X-mini II is now out at a retail price of US$35.

It's a mark of achievement when competitors start making clones of your product. Apple's one such trendsetter. XM-I may be another. Though definitely not in the big boys league, the Singapore-based company has blown us away over the years with its "little speakers, mighty sounds" innovative spunk. Having scored a red dot winner with its first X-mini outing, and following this up with the X-mini Max stereo and its clever magnetic hamburger halves, it's now continuing the momentum with the X-mini II.
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X-mini Max to launch end April

You've got to give it to the XM-I guys. Barely three weeks after we reviewed the prototype, the Singapore-based team went back to the drawing board, made a few crucial tweaks, and will now roll out an improved version. The commercial launch may have been pushed forward from March to end April (we're told April 28 for Singapore, tentatively the UK, Australia and Ireland after, but no firm dates for the rest of Asia yet). But that's a good thing since we like the fine-tuned version much better.

Improvements now include a thicker, higher-quality tweeter in place to address the issue of the strident top range and muffled mids that we encountered in the prototype. As a result, the sound reproduction is fuller and comes much closer to the original X-mini Capsule Speaker's warm tones. The stereo cord is now also retractable, a relief from the original eyesore, and allows for a longer connection as well.

Unfortunately, the only item that won't be realized with the initial rollout is the speaker stand, which was previously intended to be integrated into the packaging. Instead, XM-I has opted to go with a simple casing for the first 20,000 units to avoid further delays, and may introduce the speaker stand box packaging after. The X-mini Max will be available in matte black, white and red, at US$48 (S$68) when it launches.

Photo credit: Damian Koh/CNET Asia

X-mini Capsule Speaker to go wireless next

The folks at Singapore-based XM-I Company are one very busy team. Besides readying a stereo edition of their current bestselling (mono) X-mini Capsule Speaker, they've disclosed to Crave Asia that they are working on a next-gen iteration that will go wireless.

Whether this will run on Bluetooth or radio frequency is still on the cards. But it's at least something for X-mini fans to look forward to, particularly those who'd like nothing better than to toss away the existing cables. Not to mention that X-mini owners can now boast of their excellent taste in products, since the X-mini and its stereo sibling both recently picked up the prestigious Red Dot Distinction Award for product design excellence for 2008. Not bad at all for a tiny outfit.

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