Baby’s are cute! - Sand, software and sound

I have got to get me one of these for my Yamaha Reface YC. Cost (12,000Yen / $108USD) is no object. 🙂

Quoting Suzuki:

The Baby Leslie Bluetooth speaker inherits the look of the original Leslie 122 speaker, developed exclusively for Hammond Organs.

Although the “Baby Leslie” does not provide the Rotary Effect of traditional Leslie Speaker Cabinets, its omnidirectional sound system, including a passive radiator, brings brilliant highs and rich lows, reflecting the heritage that the Leslie Brand is famous for.

An added fun feature uses illuminated LEDs to simulate the look of the spinning horn rotor atop all classic Leslies. The badge and name plate have been recreated from the original Leslie Logo, and the look of real wood offers a touch of vintage style.

See the quasi-demo video and the Baby Leslie leaflet (PDF).

A Google search turns up Suzuki’s application to the FCC. Soon, soon!

Unfortunately, the Baby Leslie does not have an analog audio input — it’s only Bluetooth. Here’s a snap of the BT-122 control panel (click to enlarge).

I’ll add a Bluetooth transmitter to the Reface YC (with the lousy Bluetooth audio latency) or I’ll hack the speaker itself to add an audio input. Another manufacturer who doesn’t “get” their own product and will lose sales because they cheaped out on a connector…

[Update: Upon further thought, with its SBC codec, latency will be around 100 to 150 msec — too much for live play. Either Suzuki add a LINE IN, or it’s time to break out the soldering iron and mod.]