Why You Can Trust CNET Get a wood-paneled Bluetooth speaker for $19.99, shipped
It's the wood that makes it good, or at least better-sounding than plastic or metal housings, according to audiophiles.
If I may recycle my own lame joke, Bluetooth speakers rock. (I mean that both literally and figuratively.) There's just something totally cool about a compact speaker that can blast tunes from your smartphone or tablet, no wires required.
This week only, and while supplies last, AccessoryGenie has the GoGroove BlueSync MC Bluetooth speaker for $19.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code MCSAVE at checkout. Regular price: $34.99 plus shipping.
(That's for the black model. If you'd prefer it in white, which I actually think is little nicer-looking, the same coupon code applies. Here's the link.)
The Bluetooth MC is notable not only for its dual drivers (some speakers have only one), built-in controls, and three-year warranty, but also for its wooden housing. Conventional wisdom holds that wood delivers a "warmer" sound than plastic or metal, though obviously this is a fairly subjective point. If nothing else, it usually means a higher price tag -- but not in this case.
If you're looking to "pair" the speaker with a non-Bluetooth device, like an iPod or MP3 player, there's an easy old-school solution: Just plug in the included 3.5mm aux cable.
Downsides? Because this model has no battery, it's intended more as a bookshelf speaker than a portable one. You can easily move it from room to room, of course, but you'll need to find an outlet. And you can't take it with you to, say, the beach. Also, it lacks a microphone, so you can't use it as a speakerphone.
CNET hasn't reviewed the Bluetooth MC, but over at Amazon, you'll find close to 140 user reviews with an average rating of 4.3 stars (out of 5). And those were based on the regular price. At $19.99 out the door, this is just a crazy-good deal, and a great Father's Day gift item.
Bonus deal: Game time! GameFly is offering some pretty hefty discounts right now, including one of the most celebrated PC titles of 2012: Dishonored, which is just $4.24 when you apply coupon code JUN15OFF at checkout. (You'll need a Steam account to redeem the offer and install the game.) Find out why GameSpot rated it a 9 and called it "a game you'll want to play more than once."