You may recall that we first met the Escape P9 at this year's Bristol Hi-Fi Show.

The P9 has been designed for those wanting high-quality audio from a portable speaker that can be used in the garden, on the patio or even, thanks to the P9’s weather-resistant casing, near the swimming pool or hot tub.

The portable speaker features four full-range drivers and 24-bit DSP technology. Furthermore, there are a whole host of facilities including app control, Bluetooth connectivity and USB input.

In the Bristol demonstration, I saw just how easy it was to use the P9. The speaker can be connected wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 (aptXHD, ACC, SBC audio codecs and A2DP 1.3.1) or by using its two physical inputs - a USB socket ideal for flash drives and a 3.5mm stereo input.

Packing no less than four individual 3-inch full-range drive units, combined with the integral 8-inch subwoofer, the audio output is potent and clear. The polypropyle (PP) cones with aluminium dust caps, linear flat spider, vented voice coil and a powerful optimised magnet structure deliver a detailed and accurate presentation with a 360° omnidirectional sound field.  The subwoofer, which also features the same design as the other drivers with the addition of a custom-designed composite fibreglass reinforced basket and oversized magnet resulting in both powerful and deep bass reinforcement.

The entire system is driven by an extremely efficient 100-watt “audiophile” digital amplifier. Its sound is both tailored and user adjustable via the dedicated app, thanks to the onboard dual 24-bit DSP processors.

Rugged, portable and durable

Naturally, being designed to work outdoors, the unit has to be both rugged yet sophisticated.

Thanks to a stylish grill made of multi-filament polyester yarn you get a great natural material effect.  The integral powder-coated die-cast aluminium carry handle makes it easy to move its relative lightweight 12.3 Kg around a terrace.

Taking into consideration the UK's weather, as well as the potential of being used pool-side in warmer climes, the P9 is IPX4 rated for weather resistance.  Full portability is provided by the P9’s integral rechargeable Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo4) battery. Thanks to this cell, you get up to 8-hours of wireless listening from a single charge at normal sound levels.

Price and availability

The Escape P9 and accessories are available in the UK now from selected retailers. The P9 comes in a choice of black, white or tan and costs £999. The Travel Case costs £99. There is also a 16Gb Flash Drive available for £20.00, as is the AUX 2 Kit.