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sound, speakers

Harmon Karmon Cut Glass Speakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Most speakers, no matter how expensive, are usually pretty ugly in my opinion and although these glass ones from Harman Kardon aren't exactly beautiful (I think they look like something out of an alien spacecraft) they certainly score points for being different and having a design that sets them apart from the herd. It's also fun to note that the cut glass exterior not only serves an aesthetic purpose but it also helps improve sound quality by reducing movement and vibration.

Sold in pairs in a limited edition of 3,000 units, the GLA-55 cut glass speakers will be available starting next month for about £500.

Tags: glass, harman kardon, HarmanKardon, mp3 player, mp3 players, Mp3Player, Mp3Players, music, sound, speaker, speakers, tunes

Sony Soutina Speaker

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

Sony has been coming out with some interesting speakers lately. Rigel recently mentioned the tiny Bravia Theater Micro System which put big sound in a package the size of a strawberry. Now check out the Sony Sountina. We're not talking small here, the six-foot tower is made of glass and has a 13 cm woofer and 7 cm mid range speaker. The speakers spread sound out in a circle giving listeners equal sound no matter where they are in the room. Even cooler, in dim light, the glass turns colors, displaying blue, amber, and purple. It sells for $11,800 from Dynamism.

[via Uncrate]

Tags: gadgets, sony, sound, speakers

$800 Speakers = Smaller than a Strawberry

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Smaller has always meant better (and more expensive) in the world of technology, and it would seem that it's no different for the world of surround sound speaker systems. Sony's new Bravia Theater Micro System has speakers so small they make me giggle -- they look like something that was experimented on in that old movie Honey I Shrunk the Kids! With side, surround, and a center speaker that each barely measure up to a good sized strawberry, the system claims to sacrifice nothing in the way of sound and everything in the way of cumbersome space-gobbling size. The catch is that the collection's subwoofer is monstrous, but working to hide just the one piece seems like a small (pun intended) price to pay for such an "out of sight, out of mind" sound system. $799.99

Via Dvice

Gallery: Sony's BRAVIA Theater Micro System

Tags: bravia, bravia theater micro sound system, BraviaTheaterMicroSoundSystem, gadget, gadgets, micro, small, sony, sound, speaker, speakers, surround sound, SurroundSound, technology

Morel Fat Lady Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Usually the term Fat lady isn't one of endearment but the Morel company has given this moniker to their new floorstanding loudspeakers. The speakers are made of an outer layer of carbon-fiber composite with an inside fiberglass enhanced layer. The Fat Lady's zaftig shape is the result of over two years of research and development to create extraordinary sound dispersion through the driver membranes without deflection and sound distortion. The speaker uses two 9" woofers, a single 6" midrange and a 1.1" hand-coated soft dome tweeter. They are expected to cost around $20,000 a pair.

Tags: audio, morel, sound, speakers, stereo

Klipsch Palladium P-39F Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Another entry into the blockbuster speaker category, the Klipsch Palladium™ P-39F floorstanding speaker just looks loud. The P-39F uses a proprietary horn-loaded tweeter assembly made of unique acoustically-damped materials and three high-output woofers to offer high sensitivity and extremely low distortion. The P-39F's three low-frequency drivers have nine-inch hybrid cone woofers (made of aluminum, Rohacell and Kevlar), powered by a three-part neodymium magnet structure. The boat-tail-shaped cabinets are up to 30mm thick with multiple laminations of medium density fiberboard. Each set is a left and right speaker pair that are acoustically matched. The pair sells for $15,000.

[via Uncrate]

Tags: audio, klipsch, sound, speakers, stereo

NACSound for Sonance Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Care for a little sculpture with your speaker? The latest entry into the increasingly crowded field of speakers that are meant to be noticed rather than hidden are the NACSound for Sonance line. These loudspeakers are made out of ceramic, aluminum, wood, and carbon-fiber materials and are designed to be either suspended from the ceiling or be placed on a flat surface (it's the rather birdfeeder-like looking object in the picture above). The speakers range in price from $1,000 to $4,500. More pictures and styles in the gallery below.

Gallery: NACSound for Sonance

Tags: audio, nacsound, sonance, sound, speakers

Podium 1 Speakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Move out of the way ginormous flat screen TVs and make room for this pair of enormously flat pair of speakers. Big enough to be mistaken for room dividers but measuring only 1" thick (noisiest room dividers ever) these Podium 1 speakers are intended to appeal to people who want awesome big sound in a reasonably portable package. Sound emits from both the front and back and is said to sound much more like live music than other systems.

They're big and they're flat, but I think they're also really boring and ugly to look at. For $8,000 a pair shouldn't they be shiny or something?

Via Gizmodo

Tags: podium, podium 1, Podium1, sound, sound system, SoundSystem, speakers

The Planets Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

These days the rules of speakers are simple, they have to sound great and have really cool looks. The Duevel Planets are omni-directional speakers topped by a pair of chrome "planets," one over the woofer, the other over the tweeter. The company that sells them, Urban Fidelity, is on a mission to get people not to buy plastic speakers. The speakers can also be used as part of a home theater system. They have received a variety of good reviews including a rave from Sonic Flare. They come in silver, red or black for $1295 or blue, green, or gunmetal for $1395.

Tags: audio, dueval planets, home theater, sound, speakers, the planets, ThePlanets, urban fidelity

Penaudio Chronos Speakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

In the world of high-end loudspeakers these Penaudio Chronos speakers aren't striking me as particularly impressive to look at, although they are very tall and stately looking. Cased in wood (there are several different colors and options available) they don't have the same high-tech modern appearance as many other expensive speakers, but that doesn't mean they can't punch out sound with the best of them. Read this review and decide for yourself if they're worth the $8,550/pair price tag they come with -- I have to say I'm not convinced.

Tags: audio, chronos, music, penaudio, sound, speaker, speakers

Ferguson Hill Horn Loudspeakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

If I walked into someone's home and saw these babies hanging out in the corner I really don't know what I'd think, other than making a mental note not to stand too close in case somebody would accidentally hit the power switch on the stereo system. They're Ferguson Hill Horn Loudspeakers, and although their enormous horn shape and clear acrylic construction are definitely impressive from a visual standpoint, sound quality leaves something to be desired for some. I'd take the sites suggestion of getting a demonstration before you buy, especially considering the price tag is a whopping $19,916.

Tags: bass, electronic, electronics, ferguson, ferguson hill, FergusonHill, gadget, gadgets, horn, loud speaker, loud speakers, LoudSpeaker, LoudSpeakers, music, sound, speaker, speakers

Niro 620 Home Theater System

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

I'm really into having great surround sound for my home movies, but I just don't have the time to get all technical and read up on what's the best, what's a rip-off, etc. But in reading this post over at Spungle I'm thinking I want me a Niro 620 Home Theater System -- if it's only half as good as they say I'd be more than happy. If you're like me (the type that really gets into movies with awesome sound effects and music tracks) then you know that the entire viewing experience can be made or broken by the quality of your sound system. The Niro 620 sounds like it's one of the best, of not the best, and it's priced reasonably at $995.

Tags: home theater, home theatre, HomeTheater, HomeTheatre, niro, niro 620, Niro620, sound, speaker, speakers, sub, subwoofer, surround, surround sound, SurroundSound

Dynaudio Sapphire Speakers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

We all want great sound, but all too often that sound comes from ugly and strictly functional looking speakers. And when spending as much as many people do on a set of speakers it's hardly fun to hide or camouflage them. The new Dynaudio Sapphire gives the best of both worlds with beautiful design and high-quality sound in one package. Shaped to resemble cut jewels when viewed from different angles, plus created in dark jewel-toned color (although it's not sapphire blue), these speakers will definitely fill your home with both great sound and awesome style. $16,500

Tags: dynaudio, music, sapphire, sound, speaker, speakers

Zeppelin iPod Speaker System

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Those mad audiophile genius at Bowers & Wilkins are at it again, this time with a rather striking iPod speaker system. The Zeppelin is barely two feet wide and has a central docking station for your iPod. The tapered ends house the midrange and tweeter drivers, low frequencies are handled by a single five-inch "subwoofer" located in the center and the bass performance enhanced by the twin rear-firing ports. The stainless steel floating arm that holds the iPod allows for ease of use. It also comes with a mini remote and when docked, the iPod can accesses a special Zeppelin "Speaker" menu, with five-position bass EQ to tune response for system placement or individual preference. The Zeppelin will be available starting in September and sells for $599.

Tags: bowers, gadget, ipod, sound, speakers, stereo, wilkins

$1 Million Grand Enigma Speakers Top the List of Most Expensive

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Now we're just getting ridiculous. Joining the "$1 million" club is these Grand Enigma speakers by Karma, and there's apparently only 1 pair in existence in a basement somewhere in Belgium. Seeing as how there's only the one set, it really doesn't matter what the features are (it's not like you could get your own), but I'm still really curious! Just what does a set of speakers have to do to be worth that much? They look huge, but other than that I'm skeptical (I don't see any diamond accents...) and it seems feature specifics are hard to come by.

And be sure to check out the rest of HigherFi.com's list of the world's most expensive speakers, with 2nd place going to Wisdom Audio's Infinite Grande at $600,000.

Tags: 1 million, 1Million, belgium, electronic, electronics, enigma, grand enigma, grand enigma speakers, GrandEnigma, GrandEnigmaSpeakers, karma, million, most expensive, MostExpensive, music, one million, OneMillion, sound, speaker, speakers

SoundTile Speakers for the Shower

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

You could go with one of those little waterproof clock radios with a handy hanging hook in your shower and have that wonderful "slightly staticky and not-even-in-stereo" sound to get you pumped up during your morning routine, or you could choose these, SoundTile loudspeakers for the shower.

From Kohler in conjunction with Polk Audio, in addition to being designed to match Kohler's WaterTile bodysprays and showerheads, the SoundTile speakers are coaxial models, marine certified, with stainless steel front grills that let sound through while keeping water out. Pretty nifty.

They are available in pairs, and depending on the finish you choose start at $295.

Thanks Rachel!

Tags: audio, kohler, music, polk, polk audio, PolkAudio, shower, sound, speaker, speakers, waterproof

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