Skip to Content

Engadget for the iPhone: download the app now

Click here to visit the new home of Luxist!

sound

Ultrasone Edition 10 Headphones

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Ultrasone Headphones

Ultrasone's Edition 10 Headphones are more stylized than previous models and look slightly retro in appearance thanks to a combination of rich brown Ethiopian sheepskin leather, matte-finished ruthenium, and a touch of luxe Zebrano wood. The Edition 10 is also Ultrasone's first open-back pair of headphones, with the appearance of the openings inspired by the wings of a butterfly. And of course they aim to provide a superior experience not only in terms of style and comfort but also functionality, so the headphones feature the finest interior materials and sound technologies including ULE and S-Logic Plus. $2,750

Tags: headphones, sound, ultrasone

The Sound Egg Chair, Surround Sound For One

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

Surround sound gets personal with the Sound Egg chair, a chair from Accousticom that will be on display at the upcoming CES show in Las Vegas. The chair takes the classic 1970s egg chair style and creates a new sound experience. It can be used for gaming, music or movies. A 10" sub woofer under the seat makes sure you feel the sound and it can be configured to stero receivers. The interior is lined with acoustic foam and both the exterior and the foam are available in a variety of colors. The Sound Egg chair starts at $1.450.

Tags: acoustics, audiophile, egg chair, EggChair, sound

Sonos Zone Player S5 Plays Nice With Your iPhone

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

sonos zone player s5

Need a new buddy for your iPhone that takes advantage of your music library? The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 is an all-in-one wireless music system designed to work with the iPhone to bring all the music the internet has to offer to every corner of the home. Unlike traditional docks, you don't have to leave your iPhone connected and unavailable for use to enjoy music. With the S5, you can queue up whatever you'd like to hear from your own iTunes library collection or any of the major online music sources and slip your phone back in your pocket.

The S5 has a five-driver speaker system-- two tweeters, two mid-range drivers and a built-in single subwoofer – each individually powered by a dedicated digital amplifier and optimized to deliver room-filling sound with smooth tonal balance and deep bass. The free Sonos Controller for iPhone app lets you choose the music and control the volume. The S5 also includes free Sonos Controller software for your Mac or PC. It sells for $399 and will be available starting at the end of this month. Check out a video of the S5 in action after the jump.

Tags: audio, gadget, internet, iphone, itunes, music, sonos, sound

Continue reading “Sonos Zone Player S5 Plays Nice With Your iPhone”

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

Beats by Dre Headphones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

These sexy headphones are the result of a new collaboration between rap producer Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, the Chairman of Interscope Geffen A & M Records and audio company Monster. The Beats by Dre headphones were in development for two years and are designed to offer clean sound with powerful deep bass. The headphones have a wide headband and hinged ear cups. They come in a carrying case with antimicrobial cleaning cloths a Monster headphone cable and Monster's iSonitalk, and a microphone/headphone adapter for an iPhone. They will be available this spring for $399.95.

[via Uncrate]

Tags: audio, dr dre, headphones, jimmy iovine, music, sound

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

Featured Galleries

Aperion SLIMstage30 Speaker System

Fortis Spaceleader Volkswagen Design White Watch

Gustafsson & Sjogren Stockholm watches

Sensai Summer Skin Care and Makeup Must-Haves

Four Season Provence

Casa Noble Tequila

Turks & Caicos Style

Ulysse Nardin Lady Diver Watch New Colors

Vacheron Constantin Historiques Aronde 1954 Watch