When a recognized OEM speaker driver manufacturer such as Morel showcases a finished product at shows, we tend to quickly disregard it as a demonstration or proof-of-concept effort, that frequently doesn't make it to market, outside of a restrict number of units made available to channel partners and industry insiders. Morel has a history of actually designing and creating a small cult around its legendary hifi speakers, sold in its Israel homeland and select countries and regions - depending of the level of commitment and expertise of its local dealers and distributors.
Celebrating 50 years in 2025, Morel's origins evoke the partnership between Meir Mordechai with Ejvind Skaaning and Gerhard Richter (the two founders of Dynaudio, in Denmark) to start manufacturing raw drivers in a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israel. Although these origins always gravitated around the world of hifi and home audio, Morel later built its global presence and recognition in the aftermarket car audio, and recently expanded into the growing custom integration and installation markets with Morel-branded products. Not surprisingly, many of Morel's OEM driver customers are hifi and studio monitor brands.
In 2019, the Högtalare project allowed Morel to create its first wireless speaker solution with what was essentially an experimental product. Högtalare is the Swedish word for speaker and that was a deliberate choice since Sweden is the home-base for IKEA, and the design was intended to fit precisely on IKEAs most popular shelf models. Fully designed and manufactured by Morel, that project was also promoted on Indiegogo, creating an opportunity for the company to test the waters in the then growing phenomenon of crowdfunding.
Four years later - add a global pandemic in between - Morel introduced the BIGGIE, inspired by the larger square Högtalare design but now focused on a portable concept that would maximize powerful acoustics with the latest possibilities in amplification and digital signal processing. As audioXpress reported in May 2023, the BIGGIE concept was unveiled at the Munich High End show, mainly intended to increase brand awareness for Morel, and create further revenue opportunities for its global distribution network.
At the heart of the BIGGIE portable speaker lies precision-crafted drive units, including a 4" custom-made woofer and Morel's renowned 25mm soft dome tweeter, ensuring accurate bass and clear high frequencies. Advanced DSP technology optimizes sound quality, while a Class 1 implementation of Bluetooth 5.3 BLE provides a range of up to 50 meters with TWS pairing enabling the possibilities of stereo configurations with two speakers. A 20-hour battery life and fast charging via USB-C ensures uninterrupted listening, and the BIGGIE is available in modern design, and nine attractive color schemes that highlight the large leather-like handle.
Apart from its unique qualities as single portable speaker, and the greater potential of the BIGGIE as a stereo pair for a living room sound system, Morel is also betting on the potential of its Bluetooth LE Audio implementation, which soon will allow users to configure multiple speakers playing the same stream in Auracast mode. With a range of up to 50 meters (164 ft) and seamless connectivity, this makes the BIGGIE an interesting speaker for both outdoor events and home use.
Following the very successful presentation of the final production model of the BIGGIE in Chicago and Munich, where the speaker's "hifi" qualities were clearly demonstrated, the new wireless portable design is now finally available (it retails for USD $299), and has even been recognized by the Expert Imaging & Sound Association (EISA), which named it the "2024/2025 EISA Best Portable Speaker of the Year."
"This prestigious award highlights Morel’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio technology and delivering unparalleled sound experiences," says Nir Paz, VP of Sales & Business Development at Morel. "The BIGGIE epitomizes our relentless drive for audio excellence, combining state-of-the-art technology with exquisite craftsmanship. This award reflects the dedication and passion of the entire Morel team."
Orders for the BIGGIE can be placed directly on the Morel website, through Amazon and other online e-commerce websites, and through its dealer network for some regions.
www.morelhifi.com
