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Sleek Audio Customizable Earphones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

I've seen a lot of fancy earbuds but the new ones from Sleek Audio are the first I have seen that can be customized to this extent. The new earphones from Sleek Audio can be personalized with interchangeable bass and treble ports, interchangeable multi-sized dual flange tips and interchangeable cables. The headphones can create your custom "audio fingerprint." The earphones can be work with the cord up or down. The headphones are available for pre-order for $229.99 and will be out in October.

Tags: audio, earbuds, earphones, sound

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

A Beautiful, Low-Fi Way to Listen to High-Tech Gadgets: The Phonofone II

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

It's all about technology today, and everything needs a power cord or a battery pack -- except this beauty. It's the Phonofone II from Science + Sons, and it's designed to give you full and resonating modern sound but with a touch of nostalgic beauty. The Phonofone II works using only passive amplification techniques, which means no power source needed. All you have to do is connect the earbuds from your iPod or other mP3 player and you'll instantly get all the rich room-filling sound you could want. Handmade of white ceramic, $840.

Via Style.com

Tags: ceramic, gramophone, iphone, ipod, mp3, music, science, science sons, science and sons, Science Sons, ScienceAndSons, sons, sound

$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

Demo Theater Based On Lucas Design

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

Electronic House has shown off some pretty spectacular theaters before but this one is appealing not just because of the design but because of the inspiration. The theater, created by Johann Peters of Charisma Productions, is a demo theater that is based on "The Stag" the theater at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch. The 16-seat demo theater features THX home components and speakers, a pro-grade JVC digital projector, JBL subs and Crown amps and a Mackie mixing console. It's not exactly like the original, which seats 300 and it is also a different color, but it has the same clean Art Deco lines. Peters got the idea after he attended a THX-certification session at Skywalker Ranch in 2000. The theater cost $100,000 to put together.

Tags: charisma productions, demo theater, design, george lucas, GeorgeLucas, home theater, skywalker ranch, sound, theater

Muon Aluminum Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

The blogosphere has been all abuzz over these gleaming beauties, the Muon speakers. The over six-foot-tall aluminum speakers were created in a collaboration between KEF, the loudspeaker manufacturer and Apple's industrial designer, Ross Lovegrove,known for his work on the iMac. The result are these sinous speakers which are created from super-formed aluminum. They are four way speakers that use the KEF proprietary Uni-Q drive unit array to create a seamless sonic picture. There are also two additional bass drivers mounted in the back of Muon. There are just 100 pairs being made and they sell for an astounding $140,000 per pair. Check out video of the launch in Milan via MoCo Loco.

Tags: aluminum, audio, decor, muon, sound, speakers

Rockridge Sound VTS-384

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Rockridge Sound is the place to look for a luxury speak dock for your iPod. The Japanese manufacturer's VTS-384 has "full analog" sound from a pair of 2x2W (8ohm) speakers, sound which Rockridge says is the best type for amplifying compressed audio files of the kind iPods play. On top of performance, the good-looking system comes with a remote and both RCA and USB jacks, should you want to use a non-iPod music source. The VTS-384 is being rolled out in Japan this month at around $780.

Tags: ipod, Rockridge Sound, RockridgeSound, sound, speakers

DNA Sonic Decor Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

Your television has gotten flatter and flatter so why not your speakers? Donald North Audio has debuted their Sonic Décor line of on-wall speakers. The speakers are 4.25 inches (10.8 cm) deep and mount on the wall. The speakers can be set up in two different configurations, horizontal or vertical, and are available with a wide variety of color options for the cabinets, grilles, and trim panels. The speakers weigh 13 pounds each and have a frequency range from 70 Hz to 20 kHz. They sell for $1495 per pair.

Tags: audio, decor, sound, speakers

Cabesse La Sphere Speakers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

The massive eye-like speaker shown here is La Sphere from Cabesse. It was debuted at CES in January and at $150,000 for a pair is one of the most expensive speakers around. The four-way co-axial point source loudspeaker is designed to create big noise but as Stereophile reported from CES is can also handle softer sound. The spherical enclosure is designed to help eliminates standing waves and create a more rounded sound. Striking but maybe also slightly spooky since they look like alien eyes watching your every move.

Tags: audio, cabesse, la sphere, sound, speakers

Soprano Trunk

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Gadgets

The Soprano Trunk from Pinel & Pinel is the ultimate music lounge accessory, especially if you'd rather have all your equipment in one unit than scattered about. It comes equipped with Beosound 3000 CD/Audio and 2 Beolab 3 speakers(250 watts) by Bang & Olufsen. The unit also has 24 small drawers that can contain up to 480 CDs. A front door swings open to either reveal or conceal the interior of the trunk and the leather-covered wood is available in 51 different colors, so there is definitely one that will look perfect of your home. It measures 71"H x 57"W x 17"D when closed.

[via notcot]

Tags: music, Soprano Trunk, SopranoTrunk, sound, speakers, storage, trunk, unit

SpeakerCraft TIME Five Speaker System

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Looking at the whole unit, the SpeakerCraft TIME Five Speaker System speakers don't look particularly unobtrusive, but almost everything you see is recessed into the wall or ceiling where you choose to mount the unit. The speaker itself sits flush with that surface until you turn it on, at which point you can rotate the speaker outward, using a remote control or selecting from presets, to create the optimal listening experience wherever you choose to set them up. The motorized speakers turn out from 15-45 degrees and can rotate a full 320 degrees around. Price: $750 per speaker.

[via scifi tech]

Tags: audio, sound, sound system, sounds, speakercraft, speakers

Ferrari Audio System

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The Ferrari Audio System was not made by Ferrari, but it is endorsed by them and the design team worked with Ferrari to nail down the aesthetics. It is made by David Weiner Ventures' ART.Engine and is a stand-alone system that is shaped like a single speaker. It measures 47 inches tall, 16 inches wide and just 6 inches deep, with a Ferrari logo at the top and a Ferrari engine start button.. As is typical of anything branded with Ferrari's name, the performance is outstanding. It can receive wireless streaming media from, for example, iTunes via a computer with wireless capabilities and can also be hooked up physically to CD and mp3 players. The most interesting thing about the unit, which is being sold in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces, is that many Ferrari owners are buying them and keeping them in their garages, close to their cars. Price: $20,000.

[via coolest gadgets]

Tags: audio, car, cars, ferrari, ferrari audio, sound, sound system, system

Vibe Headphones

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The latest in earphones to replace the standard ones that came with your iPod or other MP3 player are the Vibe modaphones from V-MODA. The noise-isolating modaphone is metal with soft silicon fittings (in three sizes). They are hi-fideltity earphones that are designed to reduce outside noise and provide a rich base response. The Vibe headphones come in either black or chrome and sell for $101. They come in a gold leather pouch and purchasers also receive access to "V-MODA modcasts," music and other gear. They are attractive and cheaper than the Shure headphones I've been craving.

Tags: audio, earphones, headphones, mp3 player, sound, vibe

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