It’s January, which is when you’ll start to see a procession of wacky products elbowing each other for attention at the annual CES consumer tech conference. LG jumped out ahead of the show, which kicks off late Sunday, and today unveiled a concept speaker that combines a vacuum tube audio system with a transparent OLED display.
Why would LG do this? The South Korean consumer electronics giant said it wanted to combine the charm of vacuum tube audio with its cutting-edge OLED panel technology.
Keep in mind the Dukebox is a concept product created by its LG Labs unit, which is tasked with creating concept devices meant to hint at where we may go in the future. LG said that its booth in at the Las Vegas conference will feature a larger zone for LG Labs, which will show off other concept products.
The Dukebox certainly looks intriguing, with a retro look combined with the OLED display and an array of speakers on the bottom and top. You can use the OLED panel to display a fireplace scene, with the flickering flames superimposed over the vacuum tube. The company said it would also show off an upgraded version of a customized living space called Bon Voyage, which this year has been shrunk down to a camping trailer, and comes packed with a bed and appliances like a stove, refrigerator, water purifier, and styler.
Are these wholly unnecessary? Yes. Is this exactly what CES is about? Also yes.
Stay tuned for more from CES as Cord Cutters News heads to Las Vegas and covers all the latest streaming and tech announcements from the conference.
Image credit: LG