We’ve been chomping at the bit to get our hands on Klipsch’s new Gallery G-17 Air since we saw it earlier this year at CEDIA 2011. Our review sample hasn’t shipped just yet, so we’ll have to remain patient for a little while, but the good news here is that you don’t have to.
The G-17 Air Airplay speaker is now available for sale at Klipsch’s website for $550, and if ordered by December 20th, will arrive in time for Christmas.
The G-17 Air allows iOS device users to stream music from their device wirelessly over a Wi-Fi network. Unlike streaming music via Bluetooth, which has less-than-ideal sound quality and a limited range that forces you to keep your device within 20 or 30 feet of the speaker, Airplay allows you to carry your device with you wherever you go without interrupting music playback and sounds much, much better.
The G-17’s price is a bit lofty but, then again, so is the Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin Air. From our perspective, the main advantage the G-17 holds over the Zeppelin Air is that it doesn’t look like a blimp (unless you happen to dig dirigibles). In fact, the G-17 is slim and light enough to be hung on the wall, if you like.
Though it wasn’t under ideal conditions, what we heard from the G-17 at CEDIA sounded very good. It may be a small speaker, but it sure doesn’t sound like one. We look forward to getting our review sample in and will give it a thorough evaluation once it’s here.
