You can't really have fun in the sun without a good soundtrack. Headphones are fine, but a little antisocial. A boombox is a nice option, but one that requires a ton of bulky batteries or a super-long extension cord. For about 25 years now, Eton has been shining a light (literally) on portable sound solutions, using the power of the sun for, well... power. The company's latest is the new Soulra XL Solar Powered Sound System for iPod and iPhone.
The Soulra XL promises even more efficiency in this solar-powered option. It has a large foldout 72 square-inch enhanced monocrystal solar panel, which can charge and power up an iPod or iPhone and provide powered sound for your outdoor enjoyment. Using a 2000mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery, Eton says that the Soulra XL can deliver up to eight hours of continuous play on a single charge, which comes from the sun's rays.
Note that the eight-hour rating assumes that you start with a full charge and are using the Soulra outside on a bright sunny day, where the unit can continue to harness the sun's rays to squeeze out some extra play time. If you use the dock indoors or at night, then you'll get more like five hours of use out of a full charge -- still pretty impressive for an off-the-grid solution.
Now, you're going to get quite a tan charging up this thing. It takes about five hours to fully charge the unit using the solar panel, depending on the rays of the day, or you can charge it via the included AC adapter. If you do opt to plug it in, you'll be able to start using it immediately while it charges the internal battery and any connected iPod or iPhone.
The Soulra XL comes packing eight speaker drivers: two tweeters, two woofers, and four passive radiators for rich full sound indoors or out. Internal amplifiers provide up to 22 watts of power with an integrated bass boost to bring the boom.
Besides the AC adapter, the Soulra XL has an integrated slot for remote control storage and comes with a removable gel-cushioned carrying strap, which makes this 7-pound package a little easier to tote around.
Eton's Soulra XL Solar Powered Sound System is currently ready for fun in the sun, with an MSRP of $299.99.
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