Morel is a company known for creating hi-fi speakers for cars and your home, but the company has a new project on Kickstarter that’s an interesting solution for travelers — a Bluetooth speaker that can be used alone or inside a specially-designed suitcase.

The product is comprised of two separate items that can work in tandem: a speaker called Nomadic and the suitcase companion called Speakase. The stereo speaker features two 6-inch by 4-inch woofers, two 22mm tweeters, and an open baffle (box-less) dipole design. It’s compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless playback, and it supports aptX HD, which allows for transmitting music at a “CD-like” quality of 16-bit/44.1kHz with minimal latency. It’s also quite sleek-looking with an ultra-thin profile and black and gold color scheme.

The portable speaker was designed to operate on its own, but also in tandem with the suitcase. It slides into the front of the suitcase by folding the speaker’s legs in, which also turns off all digital sound manipulation. The speaker then works as a driver, using the internal volume of the Speakase as a cabinet, or boxed enclosure. When used this way, the company says the result will be a more powerful bass and “big, lifelike sound.”

As for that Speakase suitcase, it’s comparable to what you would expect from most higher-end hard top suitcases on the market. It’s made of a durable polycarbonate shell with an aluminum-sealed reinforced frame, and the company says it’s shock absorbent to protect the speaker. Size-wise, it clocks in at 21.7 inches by 14.6 inches by 9.8 inches, which is technically just over what’s allowed for carry-on with many major airlines. The speaker component has a built-in power charger that’s accessible from the front of the suitcase, and since it’s easily removable, there shouldn’t be issues with TSA compliance. There are steel grills where the speaker sits to allow for sound to come out, and when the speaker is placed inside the suitcase, it only takes up 4 percent of the interior space.

As a frequent traveler, I have one design question. It’s hard to see what the grates look like in the suitcase. It doesn’t look like there’s an option to fully seal it off, which is worrisome. What if you’re traveling with it in a downpour? How much would the speaker and your belongings inside be affected?

Concern aside, the Nomadic speaker / suitcase combo is a novel idea, but as with all Kickstarter projects, be aware that delivery can be unreliable. But, if you really care about having high-quality sound when you travel, and you’re the type of person who unpacks your entire suitcase, then perhaps this is worth a peek.

The Nomadic Bluetooth speaker is available for preorder at an early bird price of $179, while the speaker / suitcase combo has an early bird price of $379. The speaker will eventually retail for $299, the combo for $699, and both products have a promised delivery date of August 2018.

https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2018/3/15/17126606/morel-travel-suitcase-bluetooth-speaker-cabinet