Get a Pioneer Music Tap AirPlay Music System for $179.99
This slick stereo, which has an MSRP of $400, streams music over Wi-Fi from a variety of sources, including iDevices and Internet radio stations.
This is an update of a deal I wrote about last year.
Yesterday I wrote about a great new app called Songza, which streams music based on your mood or activity. To really make the most of that and similar apps, you need a nice, powerful stereo to which you can beam those tunes.
Something like this: For a limited time, Newegg via CNET Marketplace has the Pioneer X-SMC3-S Music Tap AirPlay Music System for $179.99 shipped when you apply coupon code CNETXSMC3. It sells elsewhere for $199 and up.
The X-SMC3-S is a home stereo system for folks who have moved beyond CDs. It features a dock for iPhones and iPods and supports AirPlay -- Apple's wireless-streaming technology. That means you can listen to music stored not only on your iDevices, but also on your PCs.
Of course, if you do use your iDevice, you don't have to dock it; you can control the player right from the phone or tablet and stream your playlists over Wi-Fi. It's not unlike a Sonos system -- except that it's much cheaper. (It's also cheaper than many Bluetooth speakers, most of which aren't even in the same ballpark, size- and feature-wise.)
Not invested in the Apple ecosystem? The Pioneer player can also stream music from Internet radio stations, Android phones and tablets, and anything else that's DLNA 1.5-certified. An optional Bluetooth adapter expands its capabilities even further.
The system sports a pair of 20-watt speakers and a 2.5-inch color LCD that displays album art, song information, and the like. I haven't seen one up close and personal, but in photos it looks mighty sweet. (If you have any firsthand experience with the X-SMC3-S, tell me about it in the comments.)
At $399, this would be too rich for my cheapskate blood. But $179.99? That's a pretty outstanding deal, especially if you're still shopping for something for dear old dad. This CNET exclusive runs through June 14.
Bonus deal: In the market for a big TV? Through this week, Target has the Element ELDFT501 50-inch LCD HDTV for $499 shipped (plus sales tax). It's a fairly no-frills model except for its built-in JBL sound bar and subwoofer, which should deliver significantly better audio than most HDTVs.
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