Tom DeVesto has had quite a run in consumer electronics. With over 40 years experience, working in high level positions at companies such as Kloss and Advent, Mr. DeVesto identified under-served market niches in the consumer audio market, developed affordable high-quality products to serve those markets, and launched a company to sell those products. And he didn't just do that once, but three times. Former projects include Cambridge Soundworks, which he co-founded with audio legend Henry Kloss, and Tivoli Audio, which Devesto founded in 1988 and sold to a private equity firm in 2013.
Last year, Tom did it again with the launch of Como Audio. And like his previous companies, Como Audio's focus is on high quality sound for an affordable price in an attractive package. The company's first products were the Solo ($299-$349, depending on finish) and the Duetto ($399-$449). These are tabletop "clock radios," though they are much more than that. The Solo and Duetto do include a clock, dual alarms and an FM tuner, and they can sit on a shelf, counter or tabletop, but they also include internet access and networking functions to stream music from local digital music files, Spotify or Internet Radio, as well as Bluetooth connectivity. They connect to your home network via WiFi or wired ethernet and from there out to the internet. The players also include a digital audio input and good old-fashioned line level inputs in case you want to hook up your phone or tablet - or even a turntable - via hard-wired connection.
With the massive popularity of SONOS and its competitors in the whole home audio market, DeVesto decided to include that too. If you want to play the same (or different) music throughout your home, the Como Control app (available for iOS and Android) provides options for that. For those who want bigger sound, the company launched the "Ambiente," ($119-$149) a simple but elegant add-on speaker that can be mated to a Solo in order to create a true stereo soundstage. But now Como Audio is ready for the next step: a portable battery-powered speaker with the performance and fit and finish of its bigger brothers, but with the ability to "take it outside."
This week, Como Audio launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund development of the Amico ($399 MSRP). The Amico is a battery-powered speaker that allows you to carry your music around with you, to the deck, the bathroom, or the pool, while staying connected to your whole home audio system. With the Amico, you will be able to stream your own local music files (even high-res audio files), from your home network or a connected USB stick, access FM or Internet Radio, or stream music from Spotify Connect. And while it can be controlled via the Como Connect app on your phone or tablet, you can also navigate through common functions or favorites via the on-screen interface on the unit's TFT LCD screen or via the included remote control.
One thing that DeVesto feels strongly about is the ability to provide a music solution in your guest room. With a SONOS Play:1, which can only be controlled by the SONOS app, your guest would need to connect to your home network and download and install the app just to play some tunes. But with all Como Audio speakers, guests can select music sources from the screen on the speaker, access favorite stations and sources from the remote control or connect their own phone via Bluetooth or audio cable. As far as portability goes, the Amico's rear bass port doubles as a handle to carry the speaker from place to place. And its built-in battery pack is said to last up to 8 hours, running at a moderately loud 60% of volume.
We got to hear a prototype of the Amico at a press event earlier this week, and it was pretty punchy and full-sounding for its reasonably small form factor. Want to do stereo? The company says that you'll be able to link a pair of Amicos in the app for true stereo separation. The Amico's elegant wood finish may give the impression that it wouldn't hold up well to the elements, but apparently looks can be deceiving. The Amico features a weather-resistant genuine teak veneer over 1/2" marine grade plywood and it's held together with heavy-duty marine glue, so you don't have to worry about getting it wet. The Amico will sell for $399 (MSRP) when it starts shipping this fall, but you can get it for a lot less if you back the company's Kickstarter campaign. You might want to do that sooner rather than later: the company hits its initial funding goal in the first 24 hours and those early bird backer deals are already running low.
At the press event, Como Audio also unveiled the upcoming Musica compact music system. In addition to streaming functionality from your local network, Spotify, Tidal, Napster and Deezer, FM radio and Internet radio access, the Musica also includes a CD player. And since it's compatible with all other Como Audio speakers, you can use the CD player in the Musica as a music source for any other speaker in the house, even the portable Amico. The Musica is expected to begin shipping in October, 2017 for a list price of $599 to $649 depending on finish. It will be available in Walnut, Hickory, Piano Black or Piano White finishes.
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