Escape by sonoro – Designed for indoor and outdoor use, developed by Escape BV
sonoro audio GmbH advertises the solutions from the Belgian company Escape BV as solutions that are uncompromising in terms of sound, quality and design. They are now being added to the range as Escape by sonoro, a new product line that offers portable Bluetooth speakers for both indoor and outdoor use.
- sonoro audio GmbH is expanding its product range to include products from the Belgian company Escape BV in order to be able to offer a range of indoor and outdoor speakers.
sonoro audio GmbH has announced that it is now expanding its product range to include portable speaker systems for outdoor use, which can of course also be used flexibly indoors, especially in damp rooms, as they are portable Bluetooth speakers. The German company refers to this new product range as Escpae by sonoro.
In fact, these are solutions that are already available on the market, namely from the Belgian specialist Escape BV, which also offers them itself. The Escape BV range includes the Escape P6 AIR Multi Room Speaker and Escape P6 BT Portable Speaker solutions and the Escape P9 High Quality Portable Loudspeaker System, as well as the Escape M1 AIR as a universal module for Hi-res audio streaming.
Expansion of the product range
sonoro audio GmbH sees itself as a leading provider of high-quality audio products, focussing primarily on compact audio systems that are capable of meeting high demands in terms of functionality and sound quality.
What the company has not yet been able to offer, however, are solutions that are portable, i.e. that can be used flexibly in the home, sometimes here, sometimes there, or even outdoors, on the balcony, terrace or in the garden.
The solutions from the Belgian specialist Escape BV are intended to close precisely this existing gap, whereby, as already mentioned, the name Escape by sonoro is used.
Escape P6 BT – Portable Bluetooth speaker
The Escape P6 BT, a portable Bluetooth speaker that uses Bluetooth 5.0 and is intended to strike the perfect balance between design and performance, as the manufacturer itself describes it. The IPX4 weatherproof device measures 550 x 200 x 200 mm and weighs 7.5 kg. A carrying handle on the top ensures that it can still be carried comfortably.
The Escape P6 BT uses DSP-based signal processing to ensure a rich sound, with a powerful 24-bit DSP processor that uses algorithms for sound field optimisation and tone control to provide the basis for a consistently rich sound.
Amplification is provided by a Class D module, which delivers 60 watts RMS and drives a total of three speaker chassis. One of these is a particularly powerful subwoofer, which has a diameter of 17 cm and therefore guarantees a particularly superior reproduction of low frequencies. Incidentally, the frequency range of the new Escape P6 AIR is specified as 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Incidentally, two speakers can be combined to form a stereo pair if desired – this is known as the twin mode function.
The integrated lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePo4) is said to offer a playing time of up to 16 hours, charging takes place via an integrated mains adapter and thus via a conventional mains cable.
Escape P6 AIR – Portable multiroom speaker with Bluetooth and WiFi
The Escape P6 AIR is exactly the same as the Escape P6 BT just described, but not only does it have Bluetooth 5.0 for integrating source devices, this solution also has an integrated WiFi module and can therefore be integrated into the network.
This makes it an extremely versatile streaming solution, as it supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast as well as Spotify Connect; this solution is even labelled as Roon Ready.
The Belgian manufacturer also offers a suitable app for this portable speaker, the Escape Remote app for Apple iOS and Google Android. This app also makes other services available, such as Qobuz and TIDAL, as well as Internet radio and podcasts.
Escape P9 – Portable, wireless Bluetooth speaker
The flagship is clearly the Escape P9, a portable, wireless Bluetooth speaker with particularly powerful playback. This solution measures a not at all modest 73.1 cm in height, with a depth and width of 22 cm. It is therefore a slim yet tall column that weighs 12.3 kg and is IPX4-certified, making it ideally equipped for any weather conditions.
Of course, the main focus here is on Bluetooth, specifically Bluetooth 4.2 from Qualcomm, so that smartphones and tablets can be used as the primary source. The signal is transmitted using the AAC or aptX audio codecs in order to achieve a quality comparable to that of an audio CD. If necessary, the lossy SBC is also supported.
Two Escape P9 High Quality Portable Loudspeaker Systems can also be combined into a pair via Bluetooth to realise a stereo configuration in twin mode.
The app for this is provided by the Belgian company Escape BV in the form of the Escape P9 app for Apple iOS and Google Android. This also allows you to customise key parameters of the speaker system, for example to adapt the playback to your own preferences.
Outdoor use, of course, requires particularly powerful playback. The Escape P9 High Quality Portable Loudspeaker System relies on DSP-based signal processing based on two powerful 24-bit DSPs, which provide room correction and bass management. As just mentioned, this is done with the help of the app.
The amplifier is designed as a Class D amplifier and delivers an output of no less than 100 watts.
It powers four 3-inch full-range drivers with a polypropylene cone, aluminium dust caps, ventilated voice coils optimised for linear reproduction and particularly powerful magnets as the drive.
An additional 8-inch woofer is responsible for the bass range, with a glass-fibre reinforced basket, an oversized magnet as the driver, a linear, flat spider and a ventilated voice coil as well as a polypropylene cone.
Incidentally, the woofer is supported by a bass reflex system located on the underside. The manufacturer promises 360° dispersion.
The integrated lithium iron phosphate rechargeable battery promises up to eight hours of playtime, whereby charging is carried out as normal via a conventional mains cable at the socket.
Escape M1 AIR – High-res multi-room streaming for every room
As a universal module for Hi-res audio streaming, the Belgian company Escape BV now presents the new Escape M1 AIR, which can add streaming to any audio system. It supports Apple AirPlay 2 as well as Google Chromecast, is equipped for Spotify connect, is classified as Roon Ready and does not do without Bluetooth.
Prices and availability
The solutions in the new Escape by sonoro product line will be available immediately from sonoro audio GmbH. The Escape P6 BT is available in black, tan and white at a recommended retail price of € 699,-. The Escape P6 AIR is also available in the three colours mentioned at a price of € 799,-. If you are interested in the Escape P9, you will have to budget € 1.199,- for it, which is available in Black, Tan and White. The Escape M1 AIR is offered by sonoro audio GmbH at a price of € 199,-.
Getting to the point
From sonoro audio GmbH’s point of view, it is of course important to close the existing gap in the range of portable speakers, and this is being done with the new Escape by sonoro product line. However, as these are solutions that are already available on the market anyway, namely from the Belgian specialist Escape BV itself, the question arises from the consumer’s point of view as to why they should be purchased via sonoro audio GmbH and not directly from the manufacturer…
| PRODUCT | ESCAPE BY SONORO |
|---|---|
| Price | ESCAPE P6 BT Portable Speaker € 699,- ESCAPE P6 AIR Multiroom Speaker € 799,- Escape P9 High Quality Portable Loudspeaker System € 1.199,- ESCAPE M1 AIR € 199,- |
| Brand | SONORO AUDIO GMBH |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | sonoro audio GmbH |
| Distribution Austria | sonoro audio GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG |
