14 DAY TRIAL // What do you use to amplify the sound from your iPhone? There are quite a few good solutions out there and the first that comes to mind is a 30-pin connector or lightning port dock with speakers. They are cheap and will help you get some volume.
In the past 3 years, another category has been on the rise. Bluetooth speakers have conquered the tech industry. A device like the Jawbone is the best, the Beats Pills are colorful and have cool-looking cases and the shower and water resistant ones are very useful. The problem with these speakers is that, no matter how good looking they are, the manufacturers just created a square or rounded block that needs to be plugged-in every 10 hours or so. Wireless connectivity is great, but if you need to remember to plug it in every day, it is not that fun anymore.
The third and last category we're going to tackle today is the acoustic Amplifiers and we think we found the best-looking one out there.
This is called "The Eight Acoustic Amplifier" and it doesn't need any power, cables, Bluetooth connectivity, nor will it encounter interferences. Because Eight is just made out of wood.
The device – if you like to call it that – has been dubbed as functional art for your home. All it does is naturally amplify the sound from your iPhone's speaker, guide it through wooden channels into two larger chambers and then the music comes out towards the listener. Eight works with an iPhone 5 or iPhone 5s and it has been designed for music, but it works just as good with Skype or FaceTime or you could listen to your favorite podcast.
The speakerphone is a blend of Walnut (the darker part) and Birdseye Maple, a rare-looking wood that comes from just a fraction of the Sugar Maple population.
Eight is about three times the size of your iPhone and you can place it anywhere. After that you just put your iPhone on top of it and press Play. Eight is handcrafted, so when you order, it you will need to wait about three weeks until it ships. The maker also managed to dig a hole for the lightning cable so you can insert your own cable and charge the phone while it's playing music or sync it with your computer.
The stand is a stainless steel band that just helps the speakerphone be more stable.
The Eight has been created by a Slovak-based designer. Attention to detail extends to the packaging. The box is also hand made using iTalian paper. If you like to have it on your desk, make sure to check out the developer's website. The cost of the Eight is $288 (€216.82) and it includes free international shipping.
