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See-through speaker system is a real looker

I recently put together a new sound system for my living room. With a couple of chunky bookshelf speakers on tall stands, it hardly blends into the vintage expedition decor of the space. I should have held out for a Transparent Speaker.

The Transparent Speaker is a Kickstarter project that looks a bit like a cross between a sound system and a fish tank. It puts all the audio components you need in a glass case. This helps it blend into its surroundings, like an audio system version of a chameleon. … Read more

Edifier Prisma: 2.1 Bluetooth speaker system touts power

Edifier, which has made a few funky-looking media speaker systems over the years, has now added another aesthetically interesting unit to its lineup: the Prisma, a 2.1 Bluetooth speaker system that just hit the market for $129.99.

Aside from the design, Edifier is highlighting the fact that the Prisma has a 48-watt power rating and its wired remote control is equipped with two auxiliary input ports, plus a headphone jack.

Continue reading about the Edifier Prisma

Crave giveaway: Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System

First off, congrats to Craig S. of Yuba City, Calif., for winning a Zero1.tv VooMote One in last week's giveaway. Looking to turn the volume up to 11? Then you'll want to tune in to this week's giveaway.

We're giving away an Aperion Audio Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System, which consists of two powered speakers and a wireless transmitter for broadcasting audiophile-quality sound throughout your home.

It's a versatile little system. You can use the Zona speakers to blast audio from your computer or mobile music player. Or you can use them as wireless surrounds for your home theater or as a stand-alone stereo system for your office, bedroom, den, or secret hideout. … Read more

How to DJ your own wedding

The DJ plays a critical and often misunderstood role in any wedding ceremony. If you can afford a professional, by no means should you use the following tutorial to skimp out. You'll save yourself loads of hassle and be able to enjoy your day with one less concern floating around in your head.

Also be aware that the term "professional" does not apply to your estranged pothead cousin who owns a bunch of DJ gear and could really use some extra cash. In fact, that scenario is potentially more stressful and prone to failure than doing things yourself. Really, if you can afford an experienced wedding DJ, it is worth every penny.

That said, not everyone can afford a DJ for their wedding. I sure wasn't able to when I got married years ago. My wife and I sunk our budget into the venue and catering. For the rest, we either tried to do it ourselves, or got it on the cheap. We figured that with enough good food and wine in a beautiful setting, the wedding would be a success, even if the place settings weren't up to Martha Stewart standards.

One thing I did have was access to a great PA system and enough time on my hands to assemble a handful of useful iTunes playlists. The results, while not fairytale-perfect, worked well enough to steer a beautiful ceremony into a fun party with a full dance floor.… Read more

Lanchiya's iPhone/iPod speakers are crazy cool

LAS VEGAS--These are not your typical iPhone/iPod speakers, and that's the way Lanchiya, a Chinese digital audio company, likes it.

We're guessing you've probably never heard of Lanchiya, but you might already be familiar with one of its products, the iPig stereo dock. The cute pig-shaped iPod speaker is just one of those novelty products that make for fun gifts.

Lanchiya's whole goal is to make high-quality, great-sounding speakers at a fraction of the prices set by some of the other high-end home audio companies, such as Bose. And it's doing it with flair. … Read more

The Audiophiliac's Top 10 speakers from $40 to $400

Update, September 10, 2012: This Top 10 list was originally published on August 31, 2011.

I cover a lot of high-end, audiophile-oriented gear in this blog, but I also love finding great-sounding affordable products. Match any of the stereo speakers on this list with any amp from my post on "Top 10 great-sounding amplifiers from $40 to $450," and you'll get amazing sound value. Unless noted otherwise, the prices listed are for pairs of speakers.

Dayton B652 ($40) The price is no typo; the Dayton Audio B652 is a midsize, black vinyl-covered monitor speaker, 11.7 inches high, 7.1 inches wide, and 6.5 inches deep. Fit and finish are decent, but the rear panel's spring-clip wire connectors won't provide a tight grip on the wires, so they may fall out when you move the speakers.

I've seen clips on $100 speakers, so I can't really complain about spring clips on $40 speakers. Bass definition is fine, but deep bass is lacking. The B652's bass is reasonably flat to 70Hz, so you may not need to add a sub. The speaker earned its reputation by delivering surprisingly accurate tonal balance, exceptional detail, and transparency. The B652 speakers are available for $40 a pair from Parts Express.… Read more

Altec refreshes digital boom box with new iMT810

Back in 2009, we reviewed Altec Lansing's $300 Mix iMT800, a modern iPod/iPhone dock with the look and feel of an old-school, crank-it-till-your-ears-bleed boom box. Now Altec's updated that portable speaker system with some small tweaks and is shipping the new Mix iMT810.

In our review of the previous model, we said the design of Altec Lansing's Mix iMT800 "may not appeal to everyone, but its winning combination of good performance, lots of oomph, and portability makes it one of the best iPod speaker options out there."

While we haven't tested the new … Read more

Aperion's Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System cuts the cord (almost)

The popularity of surround-sound audio has always been hampered by the amount of wiring you need to set it up, even if you're using so-called wireless rear speakers. Today at CEDIA 2010, Aperion announced its new solution to the problem, the Zona Wireless Surround Speaker System, which consists of two powered speakers and a wireless transmitter and is expected to ship on October 25 for $500.

Most wireless surround-speaker solutions use a wireless receiver placed in the back of the room, and speaker wire still needs to be connected to both of the surround speakers from the wireless receiver. … Read more

Creative's D200 plays big for a small Bluetooth speaker

Creative is hitching its wagon to Bluetooth in its bid to differentiate itself in this crowded speaker accessory category and is in the process of releasing several Bluetooth-enabled iPod speaker options, including the D200 ($130).

There really isn't a whole lot to this speaker. It's rather compact, measuring 3.9 inches high by 15.9 inches wide by 3.7 inches deep, and has a nice heft to it, weighing in at 3.6 pounds. Unlike the wraparound speaker grille of its step-up sibling, the $300 ZiiSound D5, this model only has cloth on the front of the … Read more