|  | Beyond the BuyFiguring out the world, one thing at a time |
|  | By Eric Yang June 15, 2024 • 10 min read |
| | In this issue: A 2,100 year old tree and fond memories of my dad A book recommendation from the co-founder of Huckberry What is a party speaker and why is it a trend?
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| | Happy Father’s Day to all you dads and welcome to Beyond the Buy, a newsletter where I try to make sense of the world, one product at a time. I’m Eric Yang, the founder of Gear Patrol and I’ve been working for 15+ years in product journalism.
Learn more about what this newsletter is in the first issue and catch up on issue two.
I’d love your feedback. Send ideas, tips or thoughts by replying directly to this email. Also, purchasing through our links supports the work we do at Gear Patrol. |
| | Something InterestingA big tree |
|  | | A couple of weeks ago, I was camping in Sequoia National Park where I snapped this iPhone wide-angle photo of the General Sherman. At 275 feet tall, it's the largest living tree in the world and 2,100 years old. The base of the tree is 100 feet wide.
Fun fact: looking up at the General Sherman is the equivalent of a mouse looking up at a 6' person.
National Parks are a Treasure: I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. My dad always told me that one of the greatest things about the United States was America’s national parks. It's one of the many things that made him love this country and fulfill his love of nature. I've been thinking a lot about that this week with Father’s Day around the corner. I hope I can imbue my own kids with the same adoration.
What are some of your favorite camping spots? Reply and let me know. |
| | | Something RecommendedWhat the Co-Founder of Huckberry is Reading |
|  | James, by Pulitzer finalist, Percival Everett
Richard Greiner is the co-founder of Huckberry, the coolest men’s shop in the world. More importantly, Richard is a fellow dad that I’ve come to know over the past decade and greatly admire. He’s always had great advice for me. I asked him earlier this week for a quick reco on what he’s reading this summer. His choice didn’t disappoint.
Richard's Quick Take: "I’m only about half way through TBH, but it's a new take on the adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s POV. Still has the same fun sense of adventure, but a focus on Jim, his point of view, and his internal thought process. I love it so far!"
The jacket description: “A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.” It's an NYT bestseller.
Give it a read. I’m definitely adding it to my list. |
| | Something TestedWhat is a Party Speaker and Why Are So Many People Buying Them? |
|  | Here’s my Bose S1 Pro+ hooked up to our family’s Roland e-drum set. |
| Verdict: The Bose S1 Pro+ ($699, $599)
State of play: You’re probably more aware of what a party speaker than you actually realize. I’ve certainly noticed an increased presence with these big speakers at parties and impromptu get together. Best Buy has an entire aisle dedicated to them now.
Turns out, party speakers have been growing for some time now but saw explosive growth after the pandemic as consumers craved more socializing together in person and impromptu parties.
This unique niche of the product world has posted double-digit % growth rates for several years now with JBL and Sony mainly duking it out for young consumers. I think it’s one of the most interesting parts of the $5+ billion dollar portable bluetooth speaker market and think we’ll see its effect on speakers continue to expand. |
|  | What is a party speaker? A party speaker is portable and has bluetooth, sure, but it shouldn't be mistaken for a “portable bluetooth speaker” like a Sonos Roam, Bose Soundlink, or UE Boom. Those speakers are designed for personal or listening in relative close proximity.
A party speaker has a different and unique mission: The core goal of a great party speaker is to create a vibe. Doing this requires driving large amounts of energy into the air, which is why professional speakers at concert venues are so large. That size allows speakers to broadcast clearly across a big and potentially crowded or noisy space. Think: tailgate, pool party, big indoor or outdoor venue. Sometimes people use these kinds of speakers or personal PA systems as monitors for musical performances like guitars or electronic drums (like I’ve done in the photo above) Party speakers are not about critical audiophile listening, they need to sound immediately "good" and listeners should sense that immediately. This process helps break the ice in group settings. Party speakers often have the ability to instantly hook up a mic or instrument to jam or sing alongside the music.
Who is a party speaker for? Party hosts who want to ensure they're creating a vibe Consumers who need for a personal PA system or instrument speaker Tailgaters and consummate hosts The go-to person to start music at get-togethers A hugely cool gift for a musical on-the-go teenager
The problem is, most party speakers are hideous. Or they’re cumbersome. Often times, they’re both.
Many feature flashing lights and garish designs, which is great when you’re recreating a Step Up to the Streets scene (respect). But for grown-ass adults, who need something more polished but still want tunes and atmosphere, there aren’t many options.
After all, no one wants to slap' da bass on tiny speakers. |
|  | Things I Loved About the Bose S1 Pro+: 🔈 Sound: “Damn, why does this thing sound so good?” is what I hear most from others when I use this speaker. I know this is due to perception of sound, which Bose is very good at. But in a group or party setting that’s what matters – this isn’t critical listening. The sound has some compression when played at full volume, but I doubt you’ll ever ever play it that loud. Instead, you’ll be taken aback by the bass and sheer loudness and clarity of a speaker this size whether you’re indoors or outdoors. 👌 Build Quality: The build quality is rock solid. The unit is lightweight and features a built-in grab handle. There’s an optional cover or case for it. The speaker is designed for hard use and can be used vertically or horizontally. 🎛️ Controls: The controls are simple and comprehensive and the sturdy control knobs are accompanied by nifty OLED displays so you can see what you’re doing in the dark. The speaker can also be fully controlled through a well-designed app. 🛠️ Connectivity: a built-in 3-channel professional-grade mixer and mixing controls/profiles allows you to hook up mics or instruments via wired or optional wireless connections. Bluetooth allows you to mix in streaming or a computer via USB-C. It can even charge your phone. Bose doesn’t call the mixing ability karaoke mode, but that’s exactly what the controls allow. ⚡ Battery: 11 hours of battery life, which can be extended with an optional swappable battery. 💰 Expensive: At $599 (normally $699) this is a very big investment. I could only justify it because I knew it would serve multiple purposes for a long time. The Bose S1 Pro+ is more than a party speaker, it’s a comprehensive sound solution.
Don't take my word for it: Daniel Flitcroft of MusicReview's says its, "excellent, well-made and incredibly easy-to-use system" AudioTechnology says it's a "partystarter" Brent Brown Music's review Pete Thorn's review for a musician's take. Also, Pete can really shred. Verified buyer's reviews on Best Buy, if you're into reading those kinds of things
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| |  | | |  | | Federer: Roger Federer's commencement speech is worth a listen. Excel: David Pierce reports on the Excel World Championships in Las Vegas. Some people think money and fame gives them power. There are others who think Excel keyboard shortcuts do the same. Transcripts: Apple brings free transcripts and recordings to the iPhone. Hallelujah. Japan: A camera store in Japan (above) that will make you want to book a ticket right now. Rolex: The secret to Rolex's success isn't actually the watches. Bad Boys: The fourth movie is out in time for Father’s Day. Here's an interesting Reddit thread calling out Sony's box office discipline with the franchise, which has now grossed nearly a billion. Onions: The best way to cut an onion, according to a computer model. Diamonds: The unruly diamond market may undo the whole notion that, "diamonds are forever"
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| Aren’t products great? Eric
p.s. Why tennis balls are yellow. |
| | | | | | | | Hi, I’m Eric Yang…
What I Write About: The world through the products we create, use and collect. My Background: I’m the founder of Gear Patrol and based in Los Angeles. I’ve been in media for over 20 years, most of them working in lifestyle, news and product journalism. Previously I worked at CBS and Scripps. My Interests: I’m passionate about products and experiences in general. I love technology, cars, hi-fi, photography, parenting, infrastructure, manufacturing, design, watches, camping, grilling, trap shooting, gaming, old Macs, travel, the media industry, and the business of Hollywood. My Perspective: I see the world as a busy parent and a media business operator. That makes me elastic to prices and ideas if they save me time, preserve brain cells, or get me pumped. I believe consumers are smart and have enormous information at their disposal. Yet, they need more help than ever to decipher the information firehose and crave a point of view. Follow Me: At this newsletter or LinkedIn. |
| | Have an idea, tip or feedback? Respond directly to this email to reach me. |
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