CES 2014

Eton has made a name for itself with its extreme audio products. If you need a portable radio, an emergency radio, a solar-powered speaker, or even a crank-powered radio, Eton probably has just what you're looking for. Now they have something new in their outdoorsy lineup.

When I reviewed the Rugged Rukus I immediately liked its all-terrain playback ability. The Rukus Xtreme is a new, upscaled version of the Rugged, and has received a 2014 Innovations award for its design. The photo shows the Xtreme in the foreground and the Rugged behind it.

The Rukus Xtreme's triangular wedge houses solar cells on top for recharging its internal battery; it also runs on AC power. In turn, it can be used to charge phones or whatever via a USB port. It is water resistant (IPX4 rating) but it is not waterproof and should not be submerged. It can be dropped from a height of 1 meter.

I could not evaluate sound quality in the booth, and representatives could not tell me battery playing time. I'll deal with those issues in a more complete review at a later date. The Xtreme features Bluetooth and NFC pairing, speakerphone, some internal DSP, two speakers, and passive bass radiators. It measures 6.9 x 8.7 x 2.6 inches. MSRP is $229 and it will be available in the second quarter of 2104.