Since the beginning of 2011, Yantouch has released numerous iterations on its original Black Diamond 3D Dock. Each time, the company has made tweaks and changes, transforming the product from a colorful iPhone-holding lamp to a standalone lamp controlled by touch to a Bluetooth-enabled speaker system with improved lighting. The latest version is Ice Diamond ($149), an update to the Black Diamond 3 speaker system. While the external changes are few, Yantouch has toyed with what’s inside. The model we received for evaluation isn’t quite complete, so rather than reviewing it in its current state, we wanted to offer this extended preview.
From the outside, Ice Diamond’s body looks exactly like that of Black Diamond 3, with one big exception: the color scheme has been switched from black to white. The solid-colored underside is now white, and the previously smoke-colored translucent faceted top has become clear. This is the first time the company has branched out from its typical dark design for a Diamond series lamp, coming closer to the look of its Jellywake series products.
The size and shape are exactly the same as before, though, including a 1” speaker driver on each side, a set of two small holes on the top, and a single Mini-USB port on the back. Ice Diamond is about an ounce heavier than Black Diamond 3.
Yantouch has added and updated several features with this edition of the speaker. One of the most important is the inclusion of an internal battery with a promised four to five hours of portable listening, accounting for the weight gain. The Mini-USB cable and wall charger are still included for charging and can be used for stationary music playback or lighting. In terms of audio performance, the company claims the bass has been boosted by 50%—while the change doesn’t radically improve the audio quality, there is a small difference. Audio connectivity is still achieved via a Bluetooth wireless connection to your iOS device and relatively painless pairing.
The lighting itself has also been updated, both in terms of brightness and color variations. Ice Diamond will be able to light up an entire wall, something Black Diamond 3 couldn’t do, thanks to dedicated white LEDs that will enhance white light by 300%.
That feature isn’t present in the model we received for evaluation, but Yantouch says that it will be specifically helpful for using the lamp for reading.
Like Black Diamond 3, Ice Diamond requires a remote control and has no physical controls on its body. The included remote has been updated with the goal of a more intuitive button layout. Although it looks pretty similar to the previous version, many functions now only require one button press instead of two, including toggling between multiple music-synchronized lighting modes. The remote is also available digitally in the company’s new BedTimeSocial app, with the same layout. Either way, you’re provided with music playback and volume controls, and multiple ways to adjust the light. We do wish that Yantouch had taken advantage of the app to break away from the fixed-button paradigm of the remote; it could’ve potentially done some really cool and intuitive things.
Still in early stages, Yantouch’s BedTimeSocial app includes three other features, each indicated by a tab along the bottom of the app.
