Forget about everything you have ever known about home audio entertainment, the Squeezebox Duet Network Music System is here. If you are a true fan of music you are probably sick of downloading mp3’s at a buck a pop and regular old commercial filled FM radio… especially if you know about all Internet radio has to offer. With quality Internet streams from the the likes of Sirius and Slacker the Logitech Squeezebox is all you will ever need for home audio entertainment.
With it’s sleek interface and stylish looks Logitech’s Squeezebox Duet will allow you to access millions of songs from Internet radio or even your own play lists. All of the music is CD quality, and controlled through the easy to operate handheld device. The best part of it all? With one system, Logitech gives every member of the house the flexibility to listen to their own music.
Configuring this personal DJ could not be more simple. All you have to do is grab one little firmware download, setup your network information, and optionally enter your login information for your favorite user service. It should be noted that Logitech has relationships with the Internets top music providers such as; Radio IO, Radio Time, Live 365, SHOUTcast, Sirius, Pandora, Rhapsody, Slacker, MP3tunes Music Locker, Live Music Archive, and LAST FM.
At $399 this product may seem a bit pricey but, with all of that money you would have otherwise spent on CD’s or .mp3’s this gadget will more than pay for itself.
[ Via SiriusBuzz ]
Heads up, Apple — there’s a new cowboy in town, and its name is Ripserver. Taking an Apple-ish design nod for all things sleek and shiny, this new unit (set to officially release on March 1 but available for pre-order now) lets you store, rip and serve in one tight little package. With an aim to make the process of ripping all of your CDs as simple as possible, Ripserver is a true standalone piece of conversion storage — no monitor, no keyboard, just plug the unit into your network connection and your files are at your fingertips, quickly converted by inserting your CDs into the slot loading drive for a full disc rip in minutes (you can even adjust the MP3 options to set your own bit rate).
The embedded operating platform runs on Linux with an integrated UPnP server and USB access for direct access from computer to peripheral and back again. Ripserver is available in two different storage sizes — both 500GB and 1TB — and is compatible with any media player or device that can network share. Reserve yours now for £599 - £699 directly from the manufacturer’s website.
…or at least for hapless mid-level musicians that can’t manage to fine-tune by ear. In fact, many new musicians abandon their attempt at playing simply because they can’t properly tune their guitar/bass/violin and nothing seems to sound right. When my friend gave me a guitar years ago I quickly learned that the trick was to first get the low E string on pitch and then tune each remaining string relative to that tone — then I found out that my low E was as in-tune as a wailing cat. So what’s a starter to do?
Pick up the eNote Clip-On Digital Chromatic Tuner to take all of the guesswork out of your notes. The eNote works in one of two ways: first is the Mic mode that monitors the sound of your instrument and lets you know if you’re in tune or not. If you’re on point, the display shows the note in bright green display; if you’re off, the display turns red. Simple, right? But if you need even more perfect guidance, the Clip mode — attaching directly to the neck — monitors the vibration of your instrument directly, and features a 360 degree rotating display so you can keep monitoring as you play without constantly stopping to check that you’re in tune. Because the display is backlit the monitor is bright enough to read anywhere, even on the darkest stage. The eNote normally retails for $39.95, but you can pick one up over at Elevation Music for the low low price of $19.75.
Sure, iPod toys are a dime a dozen these days, but sometimes they’re so obviously practical that it just makes sense to ante up and get another accessory. Like the iPAL, a lovely white and chrome complement to your iPod that’s able to expand your audio on the go without any need for a power converter or annoying headphones. The standard aux input connects to your iPod (or any other music device with an earphone jack) and provides ultra-precise 5.1 ratio sound with easy tuning, plus it comes with an AM/FM tuner and internal AM antenna with Automatic Frequency Control to lock on to the center of the station for the best reception. iPAL is also compatible with the iTrip Transmitter if you’re already flush with iPod goodies. The kit includes an environmentally-friendly NIMH battery, AC adapter, and stereo mini-cable and is available from Zinc Details for $199.99.
And the award for cutest little MP3 player goes to the USB Chocolate MP3 Player! Honestly, this is one of those gadgets that you love right out of its custom tin box — tiny-as-can-be at 30 x 43 x 10mm, it’s the size of two Hershey Bar blocks and packs 2 GB of audio storage for tunes on the go. Even the display is something of a toy: the controls are labeled with little icons (men running forward and back for directional controls, a little dog to turn the volume down and what I can only guess is a hybrid of a deer and a rooster works as a volume up button), and 4 flashing LED lights in the blank corner boxes indicate battery status and flash quickly as the unit charges/music plays (so if you’re wearing it outside at night, maybe it doubles as a safety device).
No programs or drivers are needed on your Windows/Mac/Linux computer, simply plug Chocolate into your computer with the provided USB cable and it’ll charge the battery and mount to your computer as a flash drive for easy drag-and-drop song management. Straight out of Hong Kong, the instructions aren’t written in perfect english (though indeed, always “check if USB connection is proper”), but use isn’t exactly rocket science — there’s an on/off switch on the side, a pause/play button, and all of the fun icons on the glossy white panel to skim through your songs. The kit also comes with iPod earbuds and a white lanyard, so you’re ready to take this mini-player with you anywhere — lighter and cheaper than the Nano, it’s a great gift for anyone on your Christmas list (unless they still haven’t figured out how USB ports work, then we suggest sticking with the fruitcake). Available for $39 from Brando.com.
Show of hands — who’s been screwed by a cord attached to your computer or mobile device getting snared in something and having the whole heap come tumbling down to the floor? Much to my annoyance, I bought my PowerBook just weeks before they introduced the Magsafe power adapter, the magnetically attached power cord that casually releases itself from the laptop with any tension on the line, so anytime the-dog-with-the-curled-tail comes tromping by the table there’s a high risk that my computer is going to follow, which after a few dozen falls means my power cord and jack are, well, jacked. But it’s not just the power cords that can bring your laptop to its knees — it’s the headphones or stereo line attached to the same panel that can be just as much of a problem.
Which is exactly where Replug comes in. Er, will come in as soon as it’s released. Using Magsafe-similar design, the Replug can transform any 3.5mm audio jack into a breakaway connection so that when too much force is applied to the line Replug quickly detaches itself and you’re saved a quick dive and scramble to save your expensive wares. It’s genius in its simplicity and design and, until we’re living in a full-on wireless world, may be the best solution to audio cord problems. Designed by William Tan, David Goetz and Luis Chao of LA based Amalgam, be on the lookout for this little wonder soon (much like every other project out there, we expect to see it ride in on the wave of just-in-time holiday gift releases).
Remember CDs? Sure you do, they’re stacked in all of those storage flip-books you bought when you realized it’d take up less room than all of the jewel cases, but then mp3s and digital media devices came along — ever since then you’ve just been downloading music instead of hassling with the trouble of sorting through CDs. And to all of that I say “the shame!”. Honestly, you put a lot of hard work into assembling that beautiful CD collection, and now the poor catalogue sits around untouched until you realize the limited press 7″ from your favorite band isn’t available online, along with a lot of other great music you love.
Ok, so let’s try to take some of the trouble out of it. What if — instead of jamming each CD into your computer and individually converting all of the files — you could slide your CDs into a digital player that will perfectly copy your music into its 400GB storage bank and leave all of your old music available at the touch of a button without crowding up your laptop’s hard drive? Perfect, right? Right! So now you’re ready for OPUS Nº5, the world’s first digital player that delivers exceptionally accurate sound using a high-end TI DIR9001 Digital Audio Receiver and a separate temperature-compensated crystal oscillator. With its wide soundstage and excellent separation of instruments, the OPUS conveys the exact acoustical characteristics of the original recording, and the placement of the performers within it. The OPUS also features a wide range of high quality outputs to your stereo system which means it’s ready plug in to your existing surround sound without a lot of complicated connections. Its balanced outputs, XLR and AES/EBU made by Neutrik, ensure the best possible integrity of the signal beyond the OPUS’ outputs. Additionally, the OPUS feature 24kt gold-plated RCA outputs (analog & digital) and S/PDIF optical.
The price? It starts at $2,999 (you can upgrade for even more storage space, plus there’s an option available to have the company pre-load your favorite CDs for you so you’re ready to rock right out of the box) — but come on, with all of that money you already sank into building your CD collection for years and for perfectly lossless quality, this one’s absolutely worth it. Rediscover your music!
Some gadgets are more perfect than others, but this one? This one’s a godsend for anyone (not naming names) who loves to get their DJ on anywhere, anytime… but especially at 4am after the bars have closed and all of your friends just absolutely “have to hear this one song”… and then another, and another… A decade ago this meant powering up the Numark mixer and riffling through stacks of vinyl, but we’ve all gone digital now and, for better or worse, most personal music collections are now neatly filed away in computer folders and iTunes playlists, making mixing and music listening a less hands-on experience. Unless, of course, you’ve got a mixer that lets you wirelessly control all of your tunes.
So meet Hercules’ new Mobile DJ MP3 mixer, the first wireless DJ mixing mini-controller for your PC (Microsoft Windows required, sorry Mac-ers). Now you can mix, fade, loop, distort, scratch and synchronize your MP3 and WMA audio files (software included) from an ultra-compact controller with an integrated double LCD screen that displays the tracks you’re queuing up –it even includes the beats per minute. The unit also lets you record your sessions for later playback/download, but for immediate gratification the tunes are beamed back for listening via a USB radio receiver. Got an audiophile on your list? The DJ MP3 Mixer is a surefire winner at $76.95 from Computers4SURE.
They’re cute, they’re little, they’re different — and they conduct sound better than plastic. No really, they do, it’s the wonder of wood. If you’ve ever played around with a music box, you may have noticed that the sounds become more clear and full as soon as you set the piece down on a wooden table; the Mini Wooden Power Speakers work the same way. New on the market at a steal for $15, Microbon Science has hit the market with these mini wooden speakers ready to hook into any of your portable devices through a 3.5mm mini jack. The only hitch — you’ll need a power jack since these wooden blocks don’t run off of USB power; but still, for $15 these could make a great addition to your desk space without taking up a ton of room.
Let’s face it, big earphones aren’t for everyone, even if they are all the rage on public transit these days. Sometimes you want clear sound without having to wrap your head in plastic. Etymotic Research, the first company to develop commercial products utilizing in-ear technology, are on the job.
Providing the highest response accuracy and noise isolation of any earphones in the world, the 6i Isolator Earphones are designed specifically for portable players to provide greater sound output and enhance bass, so toss out those ache-y factory-white earbuds and get with the new sound revolution. These aren’t your ordinary earbuds, oh no: the Isolator earphones have special filters that smooth the frequency response and prevent earwax from entering the earphones (ew). The filters, located at the tip of the earphone, can be removed and replaced when they become clogged and/or dirty, usually indicated by a decrease in volume and decline of sound quality.
The 6i Isolator Earphones kit comes with the earphones, a 5 foot cord with 3.5mm stereo plug, flanged and foam eartips, shirt clip, pouch, 2 replacement filters and a filter changing tool. If you’ve already invested hundreds of dollars in portable audio devices, do yourself a favor and drop another $149 to hear your music in all its glory.