Riva Audio Looks to Fit Into Premium Segment in Portable Bluetooth Speaker Category

Riva Audio’s Turbo X premium Bluetooth speaker is now selling through Brooks Berdan Ltd., Car Concepts, Crutchfield, Huppins, Listen Up, OneCall, Shelley's Stereo Hi-Fi Center Inc., WiredForLess and World Wide Stereo, the company told us in a post-CES update. The Riva Turbo X ($349) is one of several high-end Bluetooth speakers coming to market from manufacturers including B&W, Bang & Olufsen, Bose and Harman Kardon, which are hoping to ride the popularity wave of Bluetooth speakers with products that stand above the pack in audio quality. Gibson Brands said Wednesday it plans to launch high-fidelity Bluetooth speakers under the Onkyo brand as part of a collaboration with Woox Innovations (see 1501280042). The Turbo X packs three 60mm full-range custom drivers designed by parent company Audio Design Experts and is rated at 45 watts RMS power. Its rechargeable battery is said to deliver 26 hours’ battery life on a single charge, and the speaker can function as a speakerphone. The Turbo X can also charge other portable devices, the company said. At a suite in the Westgate Hotel in Las Vegas during CES, Riva demonstrated a smaller Turbo Bluetooth speaker set for delivery later this year along with prototypes of home theater speakers. The company is also planning a wireless multiroom audio product, according to ADX Chief Creative Officer Rikki Farr.