Audio Video News

Kicker, the brand founded in 1973 by Steve Irby in Stillwater, Oklahoma (and still run by him today), best known for its car aftermarket subwoofers and other products, is after a decidedly different target with its new Bullfrog Jump wireless portable speaker.

As part of its focus on lifestyle audio products that address specific entertainment needs in today's evolving world, the Jump is geared very directly at tailgaters, those folks who open their tailgates, trunks, and hatchbacks in the parking lots at sporting events, put up a canopy, and party, party, party—at least until the first ball gets kicked or the green flag gets waved.

Tipping the scale at 8.6 pounds—about the same weight as a gallon of milk—the Jump isn't something you'll be hauling around for great distances in your backpack. But it's perfect for your trunk or hatch, and in return for its heft, it provides a powerful amp driving a system with pair of 4-inch full-range drivers and another pair of 3x4-inch passive radiators, one of each mounted on the front and back for an omindirectional radiation pattern that spreads sound in a big way, even in the outdoors and in high ambient noise. The speaker is finished in a rugged, rubberized cabinet that's IP66 rated, which means it's been certified to resist dust, sand, and other particles, as well as being waterproof (though not submersible)—at a recent press event in New York this week, company execs operated one under a running shower spray to prove the point.

The Jump is a wireless Bluetooth speaker with what is said to be a 100-foot range that will play whatever you stream to it with your phone. It also features a 3.5mm analog AUX input and, unusually, an integrated FM tuner so users can tune into the live coverage of what are often unstreamable, blacked-out events. There's also a thoughtful AUX output to allow you to daisy-chain another powered speaker to play the same content, or you can pair two Jumps via Bluetooth to play the same music, or mate them up as a stereo pair. A USB port hidden in the jack-pack beneath a protective flap on the side is available to charge a phone or provide firmware updating as neeeded, but won't accept music files. The built-in battery is said to provide 20 hours of play at average volume (50 to 60 percent of full output) or eight to 10 hours at something closer to full volume. It charges fully in three to five hours. The speaker also has a standard 1/4-20 screw hole mount recessed in its bottom, making it compatible with standard tripods and a host of available clamp mounts.

A pair of rubberized keypads on top provide volume control, power toggling, input selection and pairing, and track-change functions. Along with the manual controls, a new Kicker Connect smartphone app is set to provide volume, bass and treble adjustments, access to five preset EQ curves, and FM radio tuning. You can also establish FM station presets in the app that can be skipped through with the speaker's top-mounted track-change buttons.

The Bullfrog Jump, one in a series of three portable products planned by kicker along with the as yet an unreleased Hop and Skip (get it?), will carry a list price of $399 when it's available in early or mid September. It'll be available in two-tone gray/white or green/charcoal. The Hop is expected to be a somewhat smaller version of the Jump, while the Skip will be a smaller portable speaker. The Skip is expected to go to be available early 2017, while the Hop will arrive around mid-year 2017.