DFS are looking to kill two (love)birds with one stone with the Trophy Cuddler Audio Sofa , giving your gluteus maximus a well-earned rest while also soothing your ears with a built in set of speakers, subwoofer and an iPod dock.

Picture the scene; snuggling up with your loved one, a bottle of red wine or two finished, and then this starts coming out of the bloody chair:

That, my friends, is slick.

If iPods aren't your sort of thing, the sofa also supports playback through a USB port, auxiliary port, SD card slot and wirelessly over Bluetooth.

If you're thinking of grabbing one of the sofas, now's probably the best time to do so. DFS have slashed the price in half from £1398 to £699 from now until 2nd July 2012.

For more info, click here.

Sonos are expanding their wireless speaker range by introducing the SUB wireless subwoofer, hitting stores in June.

Connecting to other Sonos wireless speakers through a push of a button and a simple set-up process, the subwoofer makes use of two force-cancelling speakers positioned face-to-face allowing all the sound produced to ring clear, avoiding annoying cabinet rattling.

It also means that the subwoofer sounds great no matter where it is placed in a room. According to Sonos, "SUB's unique design and smart wireless signal allows you to place it anywhere you want in the room - even lying flat under a sofa or bed - without any loss in sound or performance."

Compatible with all of Sonos's mobile applications, you can pair the subwoofer with any of Sonos's amplified kit including the CONNECT:AMP/ZonePlayer 120/ZonePlayer 100, PLAY:5 and PLAY:3.

The new Sonos Sub will be available in a high-gloss black lacquer finish for £599 from the 19th of June in the UK. A cheaper black matte finish version will also be available from October 2012 for £499.

For more info, click here.

ViewQuest have updated their range of retro-styled radios. The Retro Radio Wi-Fi adds, you guessed it, wireless connectivity to the range, while a special edition Union Jack Retro Radio (without the Wi-Fi connectivity) has also been put together in time for this summer's patriotic festivities.

Looking firstly at the Retro Radio Wi-Fi, you get wireless connectivity for accessing web radio stations and local weather and stock news through the backlit LCD display, an iPhone/iPod dock, Aux-in, DAB/FM radio and 10 channel presets. Packing 2x10 watt speakers, it's available in two styles: 'Black with Grey' front and 'Black with Cream' front. It's a penny shy of £149.99.

Next, the Union Jack Retro Radio offers similar connectivity, barring the wireless option. For £129.99 you're getting an iPhone/iPod dock, DAB/FM radio, 10 presets, Aux-in, auto scan tuning, a backlit LCD screen and 15 hours of juice from four C size batteries, all wrapped up in leather Union Jack casing. It two uses 2x10 watt speakers.

We had the pleasure of a brief hands-on play with the Wi-Fi Retro Radio this week, and came away pleasantly surprised by the quality of its build and solid sound. We particularly liked the nifty pop-out iPod dock, keeping connections safely tucked away when not in use.

We'll be getting the Wi-Fi equipped radio in for a review shortly, so keep your eyes peeled for that when it touches down on Tech Digest in the coming weeks.

For more infor, visit the ViewQuest website.

Bose have today announced updated versions of two of their most popular home audio products, the Bose Wave Radio and Bose Wave Music System.

Each now includes an integrated DAB, DAB+, and T-DMB broadcast signals and also an improved FM/AM tuner which should help listeners get a clearer sound in areas where radio signals are hampered by interference.

The two Bose units also now offer a touch pad on their top sides for power and alarm/snooze control, while two different alarms set to two different sources can now be configured.

The Wave Music System also houses a front-loading CD player, while each also has an auxiliary input for other audio sources such as MP3 players. Both units offer a Bose Link input for hooking up sold-separately accessories like the Wave Bluetooth adaptor for wireless music streaming, Wave Connect Kit for easy iPod/iPhone docking and a Wave Multi-CD Changer.

"The Bose Wave Radio and Wave Music System changed the way people listen to music," said Santiago Carvajal, business director for Bose Wave products.

"They've delighted and excited owners for years, and have become two of the most enduring consumer electronics products in history. We've updated them with new features and accessories, making each even better for enjoying the radio and digital music."

The Bose Wave Radio III and Wave Music System III will be available only from Bose as of the 2nd May, 2012, at £449.95 and £599.95, respectively. Each comes in either Platinum White or Graphite Gray colours, while the Wave Music System will also be available in Titanium Silver.

While we wait with baited breath to see if RIM can pull a showstopper out of the bag at their BlackBerry World 2012 conference this week (BlackBerry 10 to save the day!), the ailing smartphone manufacturer have revealed a tasty little accessory to get the juices flowing.

The BlackBerry Music Gateway is a small Bluetooth box that hooks up to a home or car stereo over RCA cables, letting you stream music from any Bluetooth enabled smartphone or tablet, and not just BlackBerry branded ones.

Throwing in Near-Field Communications technology too, a user with an NFC-enabled handset or slate need only tap the two devices together to start off the Bluetooth pairing process. One paired, playback is controlled by the handset itself.

A tiny little unit, the BlackBerry Music Gateway measures only 60 x 40 x 12.5 mm, weighing 28g and housing just a microUSB port for power and a standard stereo output for connecting speakers.

Sensibly priced at $49.99 and up for pre-order now, these could so a fair trade when they hit stores in June.

Name: Logitech Z623 2.1 THX-certified PC Speakers

Type: 2.1 Desktop Speaker

Specifications: Click here for full specs

Price: RRP £149.99

Logitech are looking to add a bit of oomph to your sonic desktop escapades with the Z623 2.1 speaker system. Complete with THX-certification and a whopping 200 watts RMS output, it packs a mighty punch. But can it deliver quality and clarity too? Read on to find out.

If your PC is the centre of your media-consuming life, buying a decent set of speakers is a must. With so many sets offered by Logitech at so many different price points, they're likely the first port of call for those on the market for a new set of speakers. While their low end speakers have a bit of a patchy track record, Logitech offer great bang-for-the-buck as you open your wallet that little bit wider. The Z623 2.1 speaker set is no exception, offering masses of output power, a robust design and sound quality that's not half bad for little more than £100 from some retailers.

Being a 2.1 set, the Z623 comprises a pair of satellite speakers and a subwoofer. The satellites (each rated at 35W RMS power) are magnetically shielded to protect your screen from discolouring, with fixed cables at their bases and a single single mid-bass 3-inch driver in each, hidden behind a fixed grille. The right speaker also holds the power switch (handily meaning you don't have to fiddle around the back of the sub to switch the set off), bass and volume control knobs, and 3.5mm stereo jacks for aux-in and popping in a pair of headphones. Finished in black and with a good bit of weight behind them, they feel solid and tough, despite being primarily made of plastic.

By PC speaker standards, the Z623's subwoofer is a beast, measuring 302x282x264mm, something to take into consideration if you're strapped for space by your desk. A wooden enclosure, it houses an 8-inch front-facing driver with a side bass port, again protected by a metal grille. On the rear you'll find a 3.5mm stereo jack, alongside RCA inputs for connecting two separate audio sources. Along with the ports on the side of the right satellite, it's very convenient to have the option of hooking up so many audio sources at once. The left and right satellites are connected to a RCA port and a D-sub port respectively on the sub. Again, the subwoofer feels weighty (about 8 kilograms) and solid, which will help when throwing out rumbling bass frequencies.

And boy does it deliver some earth-shaking sounds! Max out the bass dial and your neighbours a few doors down will feel the floor shaking too, delivering a deep response that you feel just as much as hear, with no noticeable rattle from the enclosure. It makes for a great companion to explosive movies and games, making the system actually worth consideration if you're looking for a simple upgrade for your TV in the living room too.

Mids and highs are also good, if not quite of the impressive stature of the sub's bass response. The THX-certification is well earned; you get a very distinct separation across the stereo set-up, making for a wide and enveloping sound when in close proximity on your desk. The satellites lack a little in clarity and detail at the top and mid ranges, meaning they're perhaps not best suited for delicate classical music or jazz though, but instead dance or hip-hop's thudding beats.

Verdict:

They're fairly pricey, but gamers and movie fans will get a lot out of the Logitech Z623 speakers. Superb bass response and an excellent stab at immersive THX audio make them easy to recommend, even if the satellites lack a little in detail.

Having got both the entry and high-end levels of the AV receiver market sorted, Onkyo are now turning their attentions to does with medium-sized wallets and an eye on a new home cinema upgrade. From the looks of things, their TX-NR818 and TX-NR717 receivers will fit the bill nicely.

Kicking off with the slightly pricier Onkyo TX-NR818 (£999), it's a network-capable bit of kit with Spotify and Simfy apps built in.

The TX-NR818 offers Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room acoustic correction, using the shape of your room and a mic to tailor the set-up process to its surroundings for best possible audio-quality.

With 7.2 channel support, Audyssey DSX, Dolby Pro Logic IIz and DTS Neo:X decoding, a HQV Vida VHD 1900 video processor for 1080p upscaling and Marvell's 4K video processor (upconverting HD images making it future-proofed for the coming wave of 4K2K TVs) and ISF video calibration controls, it's feature-rich enough to challenge much more expensive receivers.
£200 cheaper but still packing 7.2 channel support is the TX-NR717, again offering Audyssey DSX and Dolby Pro Logic IIz decoding and THX Select 2 Plus certification.

Eight HDMI ports (one being on the front) are found on both receivers, as well as two output sockets for hooking up multiple displays or perhaps a projector.

Available in silver or black, both Onkyo receivers hit stores in May.

Name: Sennheiser RS 220

Type: Wireless Headphones

Specs: Click here for full specs

Price as reviewed: £349.99

Wireless headphones can be a hit-or-miss affair, but Sennheiser's RS 220 cans are among the best we've ever seen. From a neat design to superb sound quality, you'll want these things living over your ears permanently. Read on to find out just what makes them so good.


We've been burnt many times before by the promise of wireless headphones. Expensive, eating through batteries like Pac-Man gobbling little yellow pellets and generally sounding considerably worse than their wired cousins, there's often been little reason to recommend them over a premium, reliable pair of wired headphones with an extra long lead.

Sennheiser's RS 220 wireless headphones however are among the most compelling sets we've ever seen. In terms of both design and sound quality, they're head and shoulders above much of the wireless competition, and above many wired offerings too.
The RS 220 kit is comprised of the headphones themselves and a lectern-shaped docking cradle. Finished in black they look great and complement each other well.

The dock has a black gloss-plastic front with a matte black finish on the rear, with two touch-sensitive buttons on the front for power and input selection. LED lights on the front indicate input selection (Analog, Optical and Coaxial) as well as power and battery status. Stereo phono, optical and coaxial connections each are given both input and output sockets, meaning the dock can be used as a pass-through when also hooked up to a separate speaker and amp. On the rear you will also find a dial to set the base's volume level, and a button for pairing the dock to the wireless headphones.

The versatility of the connectivity options (as well as the sharp looks) would be reason enough to praise the docking unit, but they really come into their own when paired with the headphones themselves. Tucked inside a recess at the top of each headphone cup is a spot for a rechargeable 800mAh AAA battery, as well as a small metal contact strip. When the headphones are placed on top of the dock this contact strip can be used not only to secure the headphones in place, but also to recharge the batteries sitting inside.There's a lengthy initial overnight charging session to get the most from the batteries, and they'll only be good for 7 or so hours per charge, but having them recharge when docked means only those who sit for marathon listening sessions will notice. It's a superb idea, and the use of standard AAA batteries not only means replacements are readily available, but that the whole headset stays light at around the 330g mark.

The headphones themselves look a treat too. A padded black leather headband leads on to the almost-crescent shaped cans, which feature a small outer grille and chrome trim. Offering a good deal of pivot and flex, an open-back design with velour pads make for a very comfortable set, keeping your ears cool.

Thin winding buttons for input and power sit on the left underside cup, and volume and balance on the right cup. Here perhaps, along with the open-back design, are where the Sennheiser headphones show their only minor flaws; the buttons are a little bit fiddly, while the open-back cans lead to plenty of sound leakage. You won't be able to pop these on for a late night heavy metal session without waking up your nearby other half.
These small issues aside, the RS 220s continue to shine through with superb wireless performance. Using the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi wavelength rather than the Bluetooth streaming standard that many other manufacturers opt for, we never once experienced a drop out in signal. Sennheiser claim the RS 220s will serve you well up to ranges of 100 metres, and while that may be a slight exaggeration (particularly if you take interior walls into account), we had a few happy afternoons sitting at the back of the garden a good distance away with the docking unit tucked in our office upstairs.

Sonically, the RS 220s again impress. They're not quite of the audiophile nature that Sennheiser's HD 800s may be, but definitely fare favourably against their mid-range HD 650 offerings.

Sound is wide and rich thanks to the open design and the use of uncompressed wireless transmission, giving an expansive soundstage that lends itself well to dynamic classical music and the challenging range of action movies too. Smooth and warm, they sit perhaps a little too comfortably in the mid-range, but offer a solid bass response and detailed top end too.

You'll get more crunch and attack from closed-back headphones, but it's only a minimal drop in punch. Nonetheless, the headphones, as previously stated, serve classical music best of all, and likewise do well when faced with the tight beats of electronic music. Rock music is perhaps a little less well served; the chiming guitars of The Smiths' Queen is Dead album danced across the cans with much more dynamism than At The Drive-In's Relationship of Command for instance. But let us stress; whatever you're listening to with the RS 220s, it'll sound fantastic.

Verdict

Everything about the Sennheiser RS 220 wireless headphones oozes quality. From the smart design to the comfortable weight and fit, they're a product very much worthy of their premium pricing. Sounding just as great as they look, with clever features like the charging station built into the base, they're a joy to use. It's not a particularly cluttered market when it comes to wireless headphones, but the RS 220s would shine even if it were. If you're after both convenience and superb sound quality, Sennheiser's latest effort should be at the top of your wish list.

Wireless headphones can be a hit-or-miss affair, thanks to patchy wireless signals and not enough care taken with the actual sonic quality coming out of the cans. Sennheiser believe they've got wireless headphones well and truly sussed out though, and invited us to test their new RS 220 wireless set.

And where better to test them than at Abbey Road Studios, home of hallowed recordings by The Beatles, Pink Floyd and even John William's Star Wars score? Read on for our ears-on first thoughts, straight from musical Valhalla.

Despite their size, the RS 220 headphones are surprisingly light and comfortable. Made of a mix of plastics, a metal headband with leatherette padding, they sit snuggly on your head and offer reasonably good isolation from external noise. They don't look too bad either, with the metallic trim, black plastics and blue-connectivity LED (placed towards the underside of the left can) having a tastefully understated look.

Powered by a rechargeable AAA battery tucked away discretely in each ear-cup, the RS 220s also ship with the TR 220 transmitter, a lectern-shaped black stand that delivers the audio signal to the headphone and also charges the batteries and allows for switching between the analog, coaxial and optical digital inputs on the back. Together, the two pieces look great; you'll be happy to have these sitting on a shelf in a living room or office.
Seeing as we were at Abbey Road Studios, it seemed only fitting to try out a handful of tracks from the studio's most revered luminaries, The Beatles. The results we're universally impressive.

Nicely balanced and not leaning too harshly towards high frequencies or muddied lows, the RS 220's managed a clear and detailed sound during our short test. Bass levels were rich, and the fairly challenging low bass slide of "Come Together" was handled superbly. Likewise, when things get a bit mad and synthy at the end of "Here Comes The Sun", the RS 220s held their own, managing a balanced sound that didn't become overly sharp when faced with either the acoustic guitar riffs or keyboard whirls.
Though mid-ranges took perhaps too much of a back seat, the reasonably neutral tones offer plenty of room for equaliser tweaking if you're that way inclined.

Sadly, we didn't get to test the headphone's performance with any lossless audio rips, nor varying genres, but on the back of the quality of The Beatles songs, we'd imagine audiophiles will be pleasantly surprised with how great Sennheiser's wireless headphones sound. The same goes for wireless range, which we also couldn't adequately test, but we're going to try to grab a pair for a full review and will give a more complete verdict when we've played with the headphones a little longer.

For a full look at the specification sheet of the Sennheiser RS 220 headphones click here. Expect to pay around £349.

Multi-room audio specialists Sonos have revamped their Mac and PC controller apps, offering an updated interface for users looking to control the company's speakers dotted around their homes.

New features such as instant volume control, a new Party Mode that lets you control volume levels in grouped rooms with one touch, a faster and improved search tool and a "better-than-ever" drag-and-drop interface will "make it easier than ever to find, control and play music in any room - right from your favourite desktop or laptop", according to Sonos.

There's also a new Mini Controller widget too, which Sonos describe as "a slick, pop-out of album art that lets you control your music while you're working in other apps, so now it's even easier to control any music you want - any way you want".

The Sonos 3.7 update will best work with Mac OS X 10.6 or higher, or Windows 7 SP3. Rolling out next week, check out the refreshed software in action in the video below:

They've pretty much got the Internet all sewn up, and are making very strong inroads into the mobile phone market with their Android operating system. Now Google are looking to expand once more, this time into the home audio market according to the Wall Street Journal.

Looking at both Home Cinema systems and Hi-Fi stereos, the report suggests Google will produce both the hardware and software for the devices, unlike the struggling Google TV systems which saw the search giants team up with a string of AV manufacturers.

Using software akin to Apple's AirPlay, the speakers would be able to wirelessly connect to Android smartphones and tablets for over-the-air audio streaming, using the Google Music app as well as other third-party music offerings.

Google are aiming at competitive price points too, looking to undercut rivals like Sonos considerably.

Expected to be launched later this year, it's likely that Google will use the manufacturing expertise of their pending acquisition Motorola Mobility in order to deliver the speaker systems.

Name: Otone Audio Stilo

Type: 2.1 Desktop Speaker

Specifications: Click here for full specs

Price: £69.99 from Otone Audio

Otone Audio are the latest UK-based company to throw their hats into the home audio ring. As well as a range of 5.1 systems, they're also launching a range of desktop PC speaker set ups. Today we're taking a look at their Stilo 2.1 PC speakers. Read on for our thoughts.

Comprising two satellite speakers, a subwoofer and wired remote, the Stilo speakers are a bit of a missed opportunity when it comes to design. While the cube-shaped subwoofer is simple enough to be easy on the eye (measuring 220 x 211 x 230mm and making up a substantial portion of the package's overall  3.65kg weight), the satellite speakers, measuring  253 x 65 x 106mm , look needlessly cheap. They're a desktop friendly size, and we quite like the the cut-oval shape. However, the decision to make them from a mix of gloss black plastic and a matte silver/grey is a bit of a mess. Perhaps they'll suit the tastes of others, but we'd have preferred just the gloss black, thank you very much.

The pebble-shaped wired remote, which plugs into the back of the powered subwoofer, is a little tidier, with the mix of blacks, silvers and a green LED (indicating the speakers are on) reminiscent of the Android smartphone colour scheme. A dial controls the volume levels, clicking from a low volume setting to off at the counter-clockwise extreme. There's a little bit of a sharp spike in volume level when dialling past the halfway mark though. On the back is a handy pair of ports for auxiliary line in (letting you plug an MP3 player directly into the speakers and bypassing a PC) and a headphone port too, with a standard 3.5mm jack.

There are few other audio connectivity options on the subwoofer though beyond the 3.5mm line-in jack, so if you're looking for a more complicated set up with a high-end sound card, these probably aren't the speakers for you.

For everyone else though, they'll perform very nicely. Using a space-age sounding patented Vortex Drive system, they'll pump out 40W (2 x 10 + 20W) of power, easily reaching room-filling levels. 2 x 2" high-sensitivity twin drivers sit in the satellite speakers, and while a little lacking at the treble end, were otherwise warm and clear. We did experience a little rattling in the subwoofer cabinet at maximum volume levels and with the subwoofer itself turned to its maximum bass setting, but we're fairly sure that was down to a slightly loose fixture in our individual sample, and nothing that should worry any prospective buyers.


Verdict:

The Otone Audio Stilo 2.1 desktop speakers sound, for the most part, great, especially for the £69.99 asking price. You may need to scale the mid-levels back a little in your EQ settings, but our love of the odd spiky guitar shred and rattle of gunfire from Call of Duty wont likely line up with everyone's tastes. They're solid sonic performers either way. It's a shame then that the satellite speakers themselves looks so underwhelming. Sat on a retailer's shelf next to the sci-fi stylings of Harman Kardon's Soundsticks, it's unlikely the Otone Audio Stilo set will get a second look, which does the audio quality they're capable of something of a disservice.

Did you annoyingly pick up an iPod/iPhone dock recently, only later to realise it didn't have Apple's AirPlay wireless streaming technology onboard? Not to worry; Griffin have just unveiled their new Twenty add-on, which adds AirPlay functionality to practically any old speaker system.

The Griffin Twenty makes use of an Apple Airport Express to decode and deliver the wireless AirPlay streaming code, pushing out lossless, amplified sound through whichever speakers you connect to it.

Suitable for use with 2.1 channel sound systems, capable of 20W output per channel and hooking up an active subwoofer with automatic active crossover of 80Hz, the Twenty packs a port on which to mount the AirPort Express too.

Connecting your speakers via the AirPort Express, you can use either S/PIDF optical output with the included fiber optic cable, or spring-loaded right and left channel connectors. Subwoofers can be hooked up over an RCA connection.

No pricing news available yet, but Griffin say the Twenty will hit the UK very soon.

For more news from CES 2012, click here.

Here's a fairly unexpected join announcement from home audio specialists Onkyo and guitar-manufacturing gods Gibson. The two companies are to enter into a "strategic partnership", which will see Gibson acquire a majority share in Onkyo USA.

Onkyo will also make an investment back into Gibson, with both company's CEO's taking a seat on each other's board.

"This partnership has significant positive implications for Onkyo as we are always seeking ways of creating new value," said Onkyo CEO and president Munenori Otsuki.

"Gibson is a leading global company with a massive fan base, best-in-class products and superior marketing skills. Coming together in this way opens the door for amazing opportunities for both companies and, more importantly, fans of Onkyo and Gibson."

"While people may be listening to more music, they are listening to it primarily in a severely compressed format" added Gibson chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz.

"The aural disparity between a real system and compressed sound is vast, and as a result, they are simply not hearing tremendously rich sounds. With Onkyo, our goal is to bring the same exceptional experience artists demand in the studio to a larger consumer base."

Though details concerning any joint hardware projects are slim on the ground, the press release does make reference to "inexpensive ear bud headsets", stating that the newly formed team will be able to deliver deliver "a far superior audio experience to the consumer who has become more and more used to hearing only inferior compressed music".

Anyone for high-end, Gibson-branded, Onkyo-built earphones?

Coming slightly out of left-field here compared to the company's usual offerings, Samsung are to be showcasing a new range of high-end speaker docks at next week's CES show in Las Vegas.

A pair of high-end systems are on the way, with Samsung claiming that they've "raised the bar in sound quality for mainstream audio products."

First up is the DA-E670 Audio Dock. It's capable of outputting 40 watts of power, as well as packing in its own subwoofer. More unusually though is its ability to support both iOS devices (iPod, iPhone and iPad), as well as Samsung's own Galaxy S line of mobiles and PMP devices. We're not sure yet whether this means the device will also be compatible with other Android mobiles, but it'll be music to the ears of the legions that bought the Samsung Galaxy S II, looking to beef up its audio output potential.

Even more exciting is the audiophile-grade DA-E750. It uses Samsung's vacuum tube amplifier technology, and looks to combine the best of digital amps with the warmth you'd find with traditional vacuum tube audio systems. As with the DA-E670, it'll support Samsung's AllShare technology and Apple's Airplay.

Looking very intriguing indeed. No word on pricing or availability on this pair yet, but we'll hopefully get some ears-on time with the kit come next week's big tech show in Vegas.

LG are already expected to wow home cinema fanatics at CES 2012 by revealing the world's biggest OLED display, and now they're ready to tout a speaker system to bring the audio/visual thrills onto an even footing.

LG's BH9420PW 9.1 surround sound system is the kit in question, equipped with LG's latest 3D sound technology.

It uses LG's 3D Sound Zooming Technology to synchronise audio output with the action on screen, with the aim being to ensure viewers always feel as thoguh they are at the heart of the scenes being displayed.

Designed to be paired with LG's Cinema 3D sets, it uses "a complex algorithm that analyses the varying depth of numerous on-screen objects displayed on the 3D TV".

As well as the unique 3D effect DSP algorithm, LG also make use of Sound Field Expansion technology in the BH9420PW, which should boost the horizontal sound field pumped out of the package's four upright 3D speakers, alongside the more traditional 5.1 set up.

"Whether it's TVs or audio systems, LG continues to offer the most immersive 3D home entertainment experience possible," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company.

"Our CINEMA 3D Smart TVs will now be accompanied by a wider variety of CINEMA 3D SOUND HOME THEATER products that offer consumers a complete 3D experience and further strengthen LG's leadership in 3D."

The BH9420PW will be shown at next week's CES in Las Vegas, before hitting stores in March 2012. No word on pricing as of yet.

8 foot wide, 4 foot tall and with no number of words enough to describe it, feast your eyes on the Behringer iNuke Boom.

The world's largest iPhone, iPod and iPad dock (not counting the iPad-only, 11ft AeroDream from electronic music legend Jean Michel Jarre) this speaker giant blasts out 10,000 watts of power, weighs 700 pounds, and will make your wallet $30,000 lighter.

Making its debut at CES in Las Vegas next January, the iNuke Boom will lead the charge of Behringer's new Eurosound home audio brand, into which the company will be launching 50 new products.

The new range will be split into four departments; "Live" for amplification devices, "Portable" for on-to-go speakers, docks and the like, "Creation" for kit to help you make tunes and "Home" for, well, home audio stuff (duh!) like large fixed speakers of the iNuke Boom variety.

It also reminds me of the £2750 Brother's Wall of Sound, which we saw way back in 2009, giving our eardrums just enough time to recover for the onslaught the Behringer boombox promises.

We'll be headed over the pond to Las Vegas in January, ear-plugs in hand ready to give the iNuke Boom a listen, so check back after Christmas for our hands-on thoughts.

Christmas, for me, means just one thing: A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector. The wall of sound maestro, for all his horrific lady-killing failings, sure knew how to craft a tight little seasonal ditty.

Scroll down to see Tech Digest's top tips for which speakers, docks and Hi-Fi systems to pop on your Christmas list this festive season.

When you're done here, be sure to check out the rest of Tech Digest's 2011 Christmas wishlists too.

Owners of Sonos wireless home audio kits who also have a Honeycomb Android tablet lying around are in for a treat today. Sonos have updated their controller app for Android to make it fully compatible with Google's latest tablet-orientated OS, making far greater use of the extra screen real-estate allowed by slates.

More detailed, larger album artwork is met with a more roomy playlist UI to make browsing the reams of music content available through the Sonos gear much easier on the eye.

The update comes alongside the Sonos System Software update 3.6, which includes among its many tweaks better Spotify integration (letting you browse the streaming service's inbox and new releases), as well as adding AAC+ codec suport and Danish and Norwegian languages.

Sonos are also introducing a new Sonos Labs programme, opening up their API and letting any music service that wants to become part of their wireless audio platform submit themselves for inclusion. Sonos users will be able to access these additional services in a Beta form.

"Today's feature update reaffirms our commitment to persistently innovate so that Sonos users continue to have the ultimate music experience in every room of the home," said John MacFarlane, founder and CEO, Sonos, Inc.

"Effortless control, endless music and constant innovation are what will keep us as the gold standard for listening out loud in the home."

Both the Android app update and the system software update are free and are available from today.

Arcam are giving UK customers added seasonal spice with £400 off the AVR400 price tag when they trade in any old AV amp.

Usually costing £1800, the Arcam AVR400 is available for £1400 with the trade in deal. Just bring any old AV receiver and pick up the stunning new AVR400 leaving extra cash ready for the Christmas shopping!

The AVR400 offers over 90 Watts per channel with enough power for even the most demanding speakers. It's 3D ready for all those great Christmas movies and comes with clever auto setup routine.

It even has an onboard network music player, which can be controlled from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch using the Songbook Arcam app available from the iTunes store.

The trade in offer runs until December 31st.

http://www.arcam.co.uk/retailers/AVR400TradeInDeal