Recently I posted about the Soundbender, which is a lo-fi way of redirecting an iPad's audio output towards you rather than out into the air. For anyone looking for a more robust solution, I'd recommend the Zooka Bluetooth Speaker. It hooks onto any edge of the iPad and connects via Bluetooth, no dock connector or cables necessary. A little metal stand is…
There are a ton of AirPlay speakers out on the market, but the Bowers & Wilkins A7 Wireless Music Speaker System stands alone. According to Lex Friedman at Macworld, it sounds incredible. And it should, for $800. So, what does all that green get you? Besides a great-looking (albeit large) case, the A7 packs a pair of 1-inch, Nautilus-tube aluminum tweeters, a…
While there are several "DJ apps" out there for the iPad, Traktor DJ is unique. Instead of presenting turntables on your tablet's screen, this $20 app shows the waveforms of your selected tracks, allowing you you to touch your music as you mix, scratch and drop the beats. (Does "drop the beats" sound cool? It does in my head.) The app can…
Now here is an interesting take on a Bluetooth speaker design. The Bem Wireless Speaker Trio is a set of three 6-inch-cubed speakers plus docking station. Once the speakers have been paired with your Bluetooth device, they can then be carried around or placed anywhere within 125ft of the dock without any interruption in audio. Each speaker emits a little LED glow…
We've all done it. You know, cupped our hand over an iPad's speaker so we can hear the audio better. But that makes for an awkward holding experience, which is why the SoundBender is so nifty. It attaches via a magnet to the end of the device where the speaker lives, redirects more audio toward your ear, and frees up your hand…
Hot on the heels of Chris' post yesterday, Tools & Toys reader John sent me a link to the Samsung HW-E450 Wireless AirTrack Sound Bar. The Samsung Soundbar boasts a slim design with a separate subwoofer. It's designed to mimic Surround and 3D-Depth sound. At 35 inches long, it is built to fit under a 40-inch TV nice and snuggly. Ranked first…
Sonos is well-renowned for their awesome wireless speakers that are almost effortless to set up and use, and now they're releasing a three-feet-wide soundbar called the Playbar. This thing packs six midrange speakers and three tweeters inside, as well as an accelerometer that detects the orientation of the Playbar and adjusts the sound output accordingly. How cool is that? Just like their…
You know what can ruin a nice date or a business meeting? When you get a call and your phone starts blaring "Call Me Maybe" as you quickly fumble around to silence it even though the damage is already done. Embarrassing. Rather than do that to yourself, check out Cleartones, which are a set of beautiful, minimal ringtones and alert tones created…
These lovely speakers have recently been dubbed The Wirecutter's favorite bookshelf speakers, and they're not alone in this opinion. The speakers are currently rated 4.7/5 stars on Amazon (out of 43 reviews) and everyone seems to agree that the sound is fantastic. A few of these reviews have mentioned that the bass is so good it pretty much obviates the need to…
In the flourishing world of iOS hardware accessories, the $229 DigiTech iStomp might be the coolest. The iStomp is a guitar effects pedal lets you download new pedals right from your iPhone. The app comes with ten pedals out of the box, and additional pedals are available as in-app purchases, with a demo period so you can test the tunes before you…
The Apogee ONE is a new outboard device for the iPad and Mac that allows capturing audio over USB easier than ever. The ONE works with GarageBand, MultiTrack, Spotify or any Core Audio-compatible app on iOS or OS X. It packs two analog inputs (XLR microphone and 1/4” instrument connector on breakout cable) with a built-in omnidirectional condenser microphone. The $349 made-in-America…
Moog is the name when it comes to awesome synthesizers, and the company has a new, smaller offering coming out in March. The Sub Phatty includes 31 knobs and 25 keys, less than you'll find in more expensive models; however, it also includes a new feature called "Multidrive," which distorts the audio for a more vivid sound. To get a feel of…
We've already featured one speaker from this year's CES, but couldn't resist pointing out another upcoming item: the OD-11 Cloud Speaker. Astute audio enthusiasts may notice that both its name and design are an homage to the original Carlsson OD-11 hi-fi speaker released in 1974. The new design is absolutely gorgeous — combining a minimalist retro aesthetic with a powerful modern sound…
With CES underway, my RSS reader is full of stories about Android tablets I don't care about and ultrabooks that look like the MacBook Air, but one product — the Samsung Vacuum Tube Soundbar — jumped out at me. Dubbed the "HW-750," this soundbar is the first (according to the company) to incorporate a vacuum tube amplifier. This gives the sound a warm,…
We've covered no shortage of smartphone and computer speakers, but the Spherical Ballo Smartphone Speaker really jumps out at me. Designed by Swiss designer Bernard Burkhard, this speaker is mono, but promises 360-degree sound. If attached with a stereo splitter, however, you'll be rocking both left and right. Designed to be used on a hard surface, the Ballo is small and portable.…
With a minimalistic design, high-definition custom made titanium transducers, the Aedle VK-1 Classic Edition headphones deliver high-quality audio in a handsome package. The lambskin pads should be comfortable for hours of use on end, and with an additional cable and a 6.5mm adaptor in the box, the VK-1s come ready to rock, no matter what your setup. The VK-1 Classics ship in…
The Transparent Speaker is pretty much what it sounds like. A 6.5-inch subwoofer provides the bass, while two 3-inch full range drivers provide crisp highs and mid-tones. The speakers, digital sound processor, controls and wiring are all exposed within the speaker's glass chassis. It packs to AUX-in jacks, a powered USB port (with additional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi dongles) and a slot to…
Instacast 3 is a re-working of my favorite podcatcher for iOS. The new interface is cleaner than before (especially on the iPad), and everything is faster. If you liked Instacast 2, you'll love Instacast 3. While I am not currently using an iOS device for podcasts, this app makes me want to try using my iPad mini in my car again. Check…
Audyssey's Lower East Side Media Speaker are a solid set of speakers, with several options. The set packs both 3.5 mm line and digital optical audio inputs, and the Audyssey Smart Speaker technology works to reduce distortion and produce more bass than most speakers this size can muster.
This Wega Studio 3207 Hi-Fi was built in West Germany in the 1970s. The Hi-Fi includes the original built-in dual 1215 record player with a new system that plays at 33, 45 and 78 rpm. The unit has an adaptor included to hook up an iPod or iPhone, but doesn't include speakers. The seller claims it requires 220 Volt and 50 Hz…