Category: Home audio
SHINY VIDEO REVIEW: the i2i Stream
I was quite enamoured by the idea of the i2i Stream when I had a quick look at it at CES but then what’s a concept until you’ve actually tried the bugger? So, it fell to the wonderful Susi from Shiny Shiny to take them for a spin and work out whether wireless music streaming is actually something that we need.
Eclipse shows off TD712zMK2 high-end speakers
Eclipse has shown off a second version of its TD712z speakers, conveniently titled TD712zMK2. There are a heap of specifications that will boggle the mind, but the highlights are that these steel, zinc, aluminium and composite constructed speakers feature a highly advanced single 12cm Time Domain drive unit, a redesigned damping system, more powerful motor system and ultra-efficient high-power magnet structure.
The aim is a pure, powerful sound — and at £5,000 a pair and with each speaker weighing in at 25kg you’d expect some serious audio goodness.
Homeless man designs revolutionary speakers
A homeless bloke called Kevin Nelson who lives in California has managed to find a way of getting two distinct stereo sound channels out of a single cabinet. He’s calling it “Crossover Imaging”, because it involves wiring the crossover in a very special way. Each speaker delivers both a left and a right channel.
He’s been working on it since 1989, but despite winning out in comparisons with Polk, KEF, and Klipsch, and a low low price of less than $1,000, he’s only sold 35 pairs. That might be why he’s homeless, I suppose. His company – Zealth Audio Loudspeakers – is currently looking for investors to start full-scale production.
Cnet (via Crunchgear)
Related posts: iMu Vibrating Speaker – less rude than it sounds | Boston Audio gets serious with its Horizon i-DS3 iPod speaker system & wireless sub
iMu Vibrating Speaker – less rude than it sounds
Although the name conjures up memories of the Ohmibod, the iMu is totally safe for work. So long as people don’t get annoyed by you turning the big conference room table into a huge speaker anyway. That’s right – the iMu claims to turn any hard, flat surface into a speaker.
How does it work? Well, it turns music signal into vibrations via a compound called Terfenol-D – developed by the US Navy. Place the Terfenol in an aluminium case, wrap a coil round it and pass a current through, and it’ll vibrate with the current – playing your songs.
The frequency response isn’t great – 70Hz to 30Hkz – but you’ll get 30W out of this thing. I’ve asked if we can get one in to see what it sounds like in person, and how loud you can get it without shattering whatever you’re vibrating. That could be fun. If you’re already convinced, then it’s £50 and available now.
Gadget Shop
Related posts: GEAR4 vibrating your tunes with the BlackBox Micro speaker | NSFW! Video shows Vavoom knickers, which contain front pockets for storing a vibrating phone!
Boston audio get serious with their Horizon i-DS3 iPod speaker system & wireless sub
I don’t much like iPod docks but I can’t resist high end audio, so I’m going to do the good thing and entirely smother that small voice of hatred inside me by referring to the Boston Horizon i-DS3 as an iPod speaker system. See, no mention of that other four letter word even though it has one on the top and the “i” at the beginning of the product name to indicate that that’s what its sole purpose is.
Fortunately, it becomes less and less dock-like (despite completely being one) the more you find out about it. Now, as nice as the image above is, it’s not the whole picture. I only chose it because it’s red. The real story lies after the jump where you can witness the additional subwoofer…
Bob Turek's Body Stereo – speakers to steam up your specs
Detroit designer Bob Turek’s been focusing his work on “transforming the way we view the objects we make music with”. He also happens to have made a stereo from naked people and that’s what the Body Stereo is all about.
It’s easy to take his latest piece as titillation but actually I’d quite fancy having this 36″ x 18″ x 12″ audio art creation sitting on my shelf. I don’t suppose sound quality was the first thing…
Insane Bandai 'Diorama' speaker
File this one under ‘crazy’ and ‘Japanese’. It’s a pair of speakers, 2x1W, with a mounted diorama of a Tokyo street scene slapped on top of it. It’s so wonderfully tacky that I’m actually rather fond of it.
Want one? No? Okay. Well, if you know anyone who does, then tell them that it’s limited edition – just 2000 are being made – so get moving sharpish. It’ll cost them ¥198,000 (£1,640). That’s what’s known in the trade as ‘too much’.
Bandai (via Akihabaranews)
Related posts: Lightbulb/speaker mashups suddenly all over the web | Teufel shows off Motiv 5 surround speakers: just plug in and play
NOISE GATE: How to create an awesome office jukebox in five easy steps
If you work in an office, then how does the music work? Is it a tinny radio in the corner blaring out Radio 1? If so, I feel sorry for you, and I suggest you take control.
We moved offices over Christmas, and switched from a benevolent musical dictatorship run by Stuart from My Chemical Toilet to a much more democratic approach using communal playlists in Spotify. It’s very simple, and all you’ll need is some speakers, as well as someone volunteering to take charge. Click through to the post to find out how.
Teufel shows off Motiv 5 surround speakers: just plug in and play
European loudspeaker manufacturer Teufel has just unveiled its latest creation — the Motiv 5 5.1-channel surround sound system that’s designed for simplicity.
With no need for external amplification, it’s possible to directly connect an iPod dock, MP3 player, TV, PC, CD or DVD player and get great audio straight away. Of course you could also connect them to a full AV system…
AmpliVox SW915 – an all-in-one, very loud, portable amp
I’m not sure how many all-night-rave organizers read Tech Digest, but you can never tell with the internet. The SW915 Digital Audio Travel Partner is a whopping great big box on wheels that contains, variously, a speaker, an amplifier, a CD player, SD card slot, and wireless microphone.
Basically, you roll up in an abandoned warehouse, pop Rave Anthems 2 into the cd drive, and then go nuts, occasionally shouting “Bo! Bo! Bo!” over the wireless microphone. 250 watts over up to a 30,000 sq. ft. area should ensure that the complaints start rolling in and the police show up sooner, rather than later.
Still, when they do, you’ll be able to flick it off, grab the handle and leg it before the fuzz can catch you. Then start up all over again the following weekend. I wouldn’t try dragging it through the Glastonbury mud, though – those wheels don’t look like they can take that kind of punishment.
Amplivox (via Born Rich)
Related posts: Pair it up with a light show | Run from police tasers
