Klipsch has announced the launch of its ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers, apparently created for consumers "who want superior, full-range multimedia sound quality but do not want to give up the space or run the cables required for a subwoofer".

Klipsch informs us this speaker system works with iPods, other MP3 players, portable audio/video devices such as televisions, CD and DVD players, as well as laptop and desktop computers.

The ProMedia 2.0 offers the ability to simultaneously feed an audio signal (via 3.5mm jacks) from a laptop or PC and an MP3 player to the speakers for mixed sound playback.

Made up of two magnetically-shielded satellite speakers, each equipped with a 15W power amplifier while the control speaker hosts a bass level control along with the main volume, a headphone jack and auxiliary input jack for convenience.

Priced at ?119 a pair, the ProMedia Ultra 2.0 is available now from www.klipsch.co.uk, www.amazon.co.uk and other retailers.

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Klipsch iPod speakers

Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:01:36 +0000

Logic3 has announced the launch of the ScreenBeat USB speaker that's design specifically for use with laptops and netbooks.

A cylinder-shaped speaker, the ScreenBeat is made of "tough but lightweight" aluminium hooking up to a portable PC via USB, with compatibility with all Mac, PC and Linux-based computers.

The 8-inch tube offers 3 Watts of what's said to be "remarkably clear stereo sound and comes complete with a compact, protective case.

The ScreenBeat (SB332K) is on sale now from Amazon and www.logic3.com for ?19.99.

Tags: Audio Speakers Logic3 PC speakers

Logic3 ScreenBeat speaker launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:57:20 +0000

Cygnett has announced the launch of a new Micro mini speaker for phones and MP3 players.

Promising "hours of ear bud-free music" (3 to be exact, with its USB rechargeable battery) the diminutive device offers portable stereo sound.

Measuring 47mm high and 105mm wide with a depth of 23mm, the Micro is available in black and red, black and pink or black and silver colour schemes.

The new Cygnett Micro is available for around ?19.99 from Amazon and iWorld.

Tags: Audio Speakers Cygnett Cygnett Micro

Cygnett Micro mini speaker launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Announced in early November, we've managed to score a photo gallery and ears on with the new?Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 PC speakers?that according to the company will "revolutionise the experience" of music, video and games.

The speakers, which as you can see from the pictures look like two large towers, are stylishly designed, bringing with them some of the styling found on the B&W Zeppelin and the?Zeppelin Mini.

It's to be expected. After all the product has been built by the same team behind the company's?Zeppelin iPod speaker, and each channel contains a full range, active, near field monitor with two drive units that include an aluminium dome tweeter for snazzier treble.

Bass output shouldn't be too much of a problem either, says the company, thanks to various proprietary DSP techs that have been crammed in.

There's a headphone jack in there so you can switch over to quiet mode while at your desk and the whole system connects to your PC or Mac via a USB socket, so it can do the audio encoding and processing itself rather than letting your computer do it.

Sound wise, we heard a very early pre-production model (we actually saw them a day after the announcement, but they were empty shells) and are happy to report that they produce a very mellow sound that would happily fill your desk with sweet music. We were subjected to Seal, Razorback, and Pink, not a great choice admittedly, but the speakers coped well even though B&W were keen to point out a lot of work was still to be done. It would be interesting to see how they perform with some Dylan for vocals and Crystal Method or The Prodigy when turned up loud.?

We will wait for the final thing before giving a verdict, but from what we've heard so far, if you're looking for PC speakers with good sound and great style, this might just be the thing.

We will keep you posted.

?

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Bowers and Wilkins Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 Photos

PHOTOS: Bowers and Wilkins MM-1 ears on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:01:19 +0000

Sometimes rather than ask why, it's best just to ask why not. Case in point is the iDuck.

The iDuck is a wireless two part transmitter/speaker that beams the tunes from your MP3 player to the waterproof duck-styled speaker for some bath-time crooning.

Simply hook up your MP3 player to the "egg shaped" transmitter via the included cable, says retailer CuteBitz.com, select your favourite song and hit the play button. The music will then be wirelessly streamed out of the built-in speaker in the duck.

With a range of around 10 metres, the aquatic gadget requires a total of seven AAA batteries and costs ?27.95.

Related links:

• Shop - CuteBitz

Tags: Audio Speakers iPod speakers Wireless Bathroom gadgets Gadgets CuteBitz

iDuck wireless, waterproof speaker launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:54:52 +0000

There are few things over which geeks and gadget lovers unite, but one stonewall certainty is that we all love big TVs. Give us some content and an enormous panel to watch it on and you'll have us transfixed. In fact, there's probably a directly proportional relationship between the size of the screen and the amount of time spent arrested by its charms. So, with the recession hitting just before CES 2009 and the subsequent absence of a new claim to the world's biggest TV at the annual Las Vegas tech binge, it didn't look like a good year for home cinema. Fortunately, we were wrong.

Below you'll find a Pacific Ocean of contenders for this year's most coveted of crowns - the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Best Home Cinema Device - but which little devil has stolen your heart? Let us know.

TVs

There's simply no other place to start the bidding than with the panels themselves and, while neither size nor width was particular a factor over 2009, there's been some excellent ground covered in both quality and design. If the economic climate has done one thing for the positive, it's to make technology manufacturers more conscious of green issues. When many consumers see that a TV can save them money on energy, then suddenly the double win of the situation means that the environment can benefit as well.

Sony has been the most overt at capitalising on the situation with the Bravia WE5, which goes so far as to switch itself off when it knows it's not being watched. Others though, like LG with the LH2000 and the Sharp DH77 and LC-32DH57E TVs simply use a blend of light-sensing and component efficiency to get the job done and, in LG's case, manage to get the wattage to almost record lows. Even Loweve is in on the act this year, adding a certain level of style to the proceedings with the Art SL eco range. At least you can counter-balance the initial outlay with some cheaper running costs.

Of course, for many of us, it's all about performance rather than environmental or economic credentials and, where picture quality is paramount these days, people are heading to LED backlight LCD technology. Philips brought out the third in its premium line with the Aurea 3, complete with an Ambilight as well as the pin-point LED dimming. Three more manufacturers joined the fray with the LG LH9000 borderless design, the Toshiba REGZA SV and the Sharp Aquos LX series, while Samsung continued to extended its presence in the field with the Samsung 6000, 7000 and the high-end, high-priced but very highly acclaimed 8000 model too.

Fortunately, the expansion at the top end has meant we can get a better quality picture at more affordable prices with a straight LCD panel. 200Hz frame rates are more or less the standard now, internet connected widget TVs have been all the rage since CES and we've also seen a huge pick up in built-in Freesat support, with LG and Sony Bravia seeing a great deal of value in the no cost satellite platform. Philips has been looking strong with the high end Philips 9000 range, which has included the 20mm 9664, and if slim is the choice for you in straight LCDs then the Sony Bravia ZX1 may only have 100Hz technology but manages to squeeze it all into a 9mm frame - otherwise it's probably the Bravia Z5500 that you'll be after from the Japanese giant.

As always, though, the most exciting area of TVs is in the very new - the cutting edge and the sets of years to come. Sadly, for much of the innovation we see, it either never exists or it's years before we can get our hands on it. Fortunately, 2009 has brought some excellent developments straight to the shelves. The two standouts have got to be the Philips 21:9 Cinema super wide TV - the ultimate set for movie buffs - and right at the other end of the scale, the incredible Sony XEL-1 11-inch OLED TV. Curiously, they're both around the same price but both will blow you away - if for very different reasons.

Projectors

Of course, it's not all about panels. If it's size you're really after then DLP is the more cost effective way to go. While there's plenty of cinema quality light-throwers at cinema industry prices, there's still been a steady trickle of models more suited to the average consumer's budget this year. LG has continued its onslaught on just about every area of tech with a flurry of monitors and projectors at very reasonable prices, Optoma brought in the HD20 1080p unit and BenQ has hedged their bets and covered all your bases with the W600, W100 and W6000 depending on just how flush you're feeling.

If money's no option then another choice for 2009 would have to be the Panasonic PT-AE4000, but the prize for the most interesting take on it all has to go to the Epson EH-DM3 which takes the gaming projector one stage forward to bring you the karaoke version. It needs to be seen to be believed.

AVRs and speakers

Naturally, a quality picture is nothing without quality sound to back it up and 2009 has given us even more choices when it comes to home cinema systems. For the best of Britain, KEF has turned up with both a 5.1 set up and a sound bar of note, whilst further afield there's the likes of Creative, the Klipsch HD Theatre systems and Tefuel Theatre 80, all with some high quality, good value offers. For the ultimate choice, though, Panasonic has come up with 10 home cinema systems including a 7.1 set up and an internet connected system with DVDs, docks and the odd BD player thrown in too.

On the AVR side, it's Onkyo that's been by far the busiest in 2009 with the rather sexy and nearly affordable TX-SR707 and TX-NR807 as the tempters and the totally obscene TX-SR5007, TX-NR3007 and TX-NR1007, with their 9.2 channels its the stuff that dreams are made of. And last, but certainly not least, there has been a rare moment of innovation in this field with the rather novel Q Acoustics Q-TV2s back mounted speakers. A cracking solution for small TVs at a very small price to match.

Blu-ray players

Once we had our system set up, it was content that we were after and with even Toshiba cracking under the pressure this year, 2009 really has been the first time Blu-ray can feel confident that it's going places. The options have ranged from the subtle to the insane. Samsung showed us the incredible wall mounted slim jim that is the Samsung BD-P4600 at the beginning of the year and, since, the likes of the LG HLB54S has added some sound to the form factor as well as just about anything you could need in a piece of home cinema hardware.

Philips went for mass appeal and mass affordability instead with the BDP3000 and even Denon reached down some of the way to give the public a taste of luxury with the DBP-1610 and the ?600 Denon DBP-2010, for those that simply couldn't resist. Sony hasn't been slow to promote the company's very own format with two networked players featuring DLNA and a few tasty features, with the BDP-S760 the pick of the crop, while Pioneer has added a little more class and sophistication at the expense of the Wi-Fi and quite a bit more money.

What seems to be the hallmark of 2009 in AV though is what LG and most notably Panasonic has offered. They may not look like the prettiest things in the world but when you combine a BD-player with twin TV tuners, Freesat and a big old HDD to record onto, you've got integration at its best. Keep 'em peeled for the LG HR400 and probably the pick of the others would be the Panasonic DMR-BS850 with just about all the trimmings you could possibly want - unless you really need Sony's 400 disc MegaChanger, that is.

Media players

There have been a few eyebrows raised on the subject of optical storage and removable media. With video files, streaming and, let's face it, piracy all doing well, there's plenty of manufacturers looking at cheaper, more convenient AV solutions for computer literate users (is anyone not computer literate these days?).

The Emtec Movie Cube P800 combines a removable, portable HDD with a strong media interface, while the recently released WD TV Live from Western Digital has brought an upgrade to a hugely successful almost pocket-sized device. Naturally, the PS3 has plenty about it as a streamer and with the PS3 Slim launched a few months back, it could well be in for a shout of a gong whether in this category or another. Fresh on the scene at an alarmingly reasonable price tag is the Asus O!Play networked storage device and media player, but for something rather more profound the Compro T1000W VideoMate will do just about anything you like for ?200.

Even the simple set top box has got a little more interesting in 2009. We're seeing a lot more with PVR capabilities such as the Humax PVR-9300T with 500GB of space and the Digital Vision GiGo which ditches it all for three USB ports and whatever kind of memory sticks you wish to supply it with. But perhaps most interesting of all are the teeny-tiny PCTV Pico Stick tuners which'll turn your PC into a TV and the Elgato EyeTV Sat which siphons HD satellite programing straight from your dish to your computer, and you can even edit the footage later.

Remote controls

Last of all come possibly the least likely little fellows to receive a Pocket-lint Awards nomination but, then again, you just never know. There are three to consider that not only throw the rule book out the window but take both barrels of a shotgun to it too. The insane looking The Loop remote control promises impressive ergonomics and pin point accuracy, the Philips uWand adds full gesture control to the buttons and the Glide TV Navigator couch mouse looks like bringing Star Trek just that little bit closer. Definitely worth a look at the future, if not your vote.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Home Cinema Device 2009? What have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

?

Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - gaming hardware
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps

Tags: Home Cinema Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Bravia Samsung LED televisions LCD televisions Projectors BD-Live Blu-ray players Speakers Televisions

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - home cinema device originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:29:23 +0000

AQ Amigo has announced a new portable PC speaker that's designed to fit to the top of laptop screens for a stereo sound boost on the go.

Powered by NXT "Exciter" flat panel, bi-directional speaker technology it boasts USB plug and play functionality.

Compatible with both PCs and Macs, the speaker offers 2 x 1.2 Watt output, measures 260 x 60 x 25mm, weighs 170 grams and is on sale now for ?24.95.

Related links:

• Link - AQ Amigo

Tags: Audio Speakers Hardware PC speakers AQ Amigo

AQ Amigo offers screen-topping PC speaker originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:43:46 +0000

Klipsch's iGroove SXT launched back in 2007 and promised a horn-loaded, high-fidelity iPod dock for audiophiles. Well, it seems someone at Klipsch HQ has decided they aren't quite happy enough with it, so the company is rolling out an updated version.

The new model keeps the dual long-throw 2.5-inch woofers and 19mm horn-loaded tweeters of the original, but adds bi-amplification for the speakers, meaning that each driver is amplified individually. Klipsch reckons that will eliminate distortion and improve sonic performance.

On top of that, the SXT's bass ports, on the sides, have been re-tuned to remove "port noise", and the system has now passed Apple's "Works with iPhone" certification - so you shouldn't get any network noise (beep b-beep, beep b-beep) with this speaker.

It has a 30-pin connector, and other devices can be connected via a rear auxiliary input. There's also a 1000mA rapid charge circuit, so you can juice up your battery lickety-split while you're listening - apparently Klipsch's dock is the only one on the market with this feature at the time of writing.

The iGroove SXT comes in one colour, a black-and-silver combo, and is accompanied by an IR remote. It costs ?130 - a little more than the original's ?100 price point - and is available right now.

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Tags: Audio Speakers iPod docks Klipsch iPhone accessories

Klipsch updates iGroove SXT dock originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:13:32 +0000

Hi-Fi manufacturer Bowers & Wilkins, which showed off its first pair of headphones the other day, has also built a pair of desktop speakers for use with computers. The MM-1 PC speakers claim to "revolutionise the experience" of music, video and games.

The product has been built by the same team behind the company's Zeppelin iPod dock, and each channel contains a full range, active, near field monitor with two drive units that include an aluminium down tweeter for snazzier treble. Bass output shouldn't be too much of a problem either, says the company, thanks to various proprietary DSP techs that have been crammed in.

There's a headphone jack, so you can plug in your own cans for a better listening experience than the jack port on your laptop or desktop. It also has a cable management system, as well as a pebble remote control that works with iTunes and Windows Media Player.

The MM-1 will be available from January. No word on pricing, but when we hear we'll let you know.

Related links:

• Photos - hands on gallery

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Bowers and Wilkins Bowers and Wilkins MM-1

Bowers and Wilkins reveals MM-1 PC speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:59:41 +0000

2009 has been something of a glass ceiling for gamers. Yes, the software has continued to come and in more inventive ways than ever, but it's been pretty much the same kinds of consoles available on the shelves. At the same time, at E3 this summer, we saw some of the most ground-breaking and exciting projects for years with motion sensitivity and augmented reality the stars of the show.

Unfortunately, there are no prizes in the Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Best Gaming Hardware category for anything still caught up in the ether. The fact is what we need is feedback from people and that's exactly what we hope you give us in the comments below. Which do you think are the worthy winners?

The Machines

With the major boxes and handhelds still in their place, 2009 was very much a year of upgrades. The bloated PS3 went slim, the Nintendo DS got itself an "i" and the PSP, controversially, ditched its UMD slot favouring digital downloads with the PSP Go. With rumours already of a PSP-4000, you wonder whether that's a move that Sony regrets. Even the new gaming conundrum that is the iPod touch/iPhone only got a minor perk in power and performance with the new iPhone 3.0 software, and 3rd generation and 3GS releases. But, with apps getting all the more sophisticated, it's no longer a platform we can ignore.

Perhaps more interesting on the hardware side was the advance in PC gaming that's once again on the rise owing to a clutch of hugely popular and painfully addictive titles. Asus came out with two turbocharged super-PCs with the W90 and G60 - both featuring over 1GB of memory on the graphics units alone as well as all the usual trimmings. 2009 was also the year that Dell decided to hand Alienware the complete set of keys to its gaming line and brought out both 17 and 15-inch laptops in the familiar sci-fi-look colour schemes, complete with Alien language and more chip ports than you could shake a stick at. Even budget specialist Medion took the time to get involved with the launch of the Erazer. Naturally, it's a lot cheaper than the others, despite impressive specs, but the catch is that she ain't much of a looker.

Game controllers

With the machine manufacturers taking a breather - relatively speaking - it's given the peripheral gang an excellent chance to both catch up and really push themselves to get inventive. Naturally, those unleashing the limitless potential of the Wii have been having a lot of fun. To add to the already brimming closet of unused plastic you can now bag yourself a Wii Bowling Ball, a slightly disturbing baby doll controller for Baby and Me, a series of machine guns - as well as one that transforms into a sawn-off - and some dumbells. Mercifully, there have been some serious technological developments with the Wii Motion Plus improvement to the original WiiMote, as well as the addition of the Jog for Wii controller for fitness fans everywhere.

Probably the most interesting developments in the field have been in the controllers for the software explosion that is still the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games. You no longer have to put up with having Fisher Price-looking toys in your arms when striking out on a solo. Logitech brought out some enviable wireless instruments plus, of course, Harmonix splashed out on making guitars and even a drum kit that ape those of the Fab Four for the release of The Beatles Rock Band. Just a shame we're still waiting on the availability of the Krator Orpheous WG-07. Beyond that, Activision broke the mould with an entirely new device for DJ Hero, however there are very few opinions on just how well that's worked out as yet.

Of course, for Logitech, there's nothing peripheral about peripherals and it wasn't just music games where the company spent some money. Naturally, there's a load of mice and keyboards with their logo stamped on, but the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel and pedals complete with VR3 racer was quite clearly a drool-fest for petrol-head gamers and the G940 Flight Simulator was equally well-received by the specialists.

Last of all was the highly entertaining Novint Falcon gun controller for the PC, riding on the back of the success of games like Left 4 Dead. Anything with a realistic sense of recoil is always guaranteed to get a smile out of gamers.

Keyboards and Mice

Of course, if it's all about PC gaming for you, then there's no more important tools than your keyboard and mouse and, as ever, 2009 has seen advances here too. Whether or not, they help you get more kills is another thing altogether but at least it might make it a little easier to keep up with the pack. Logtiech has been as busy as ever with the highly inventive G19 keypad as well as the full G110 board and the G500 mouse and headset too. Razor has honed in with the RazorNaga MMO mouse with more buttons and shortcuts than ever right where you need them - all very well if you can remember what they're for - and Sidewinder has stuck with wireless and produced the X8 mouse which the company considers to be the fastest in the world.

Audio

Audio is rarely top of most people's lists for gaming, but add the right piece of kit and it can add a profound finish to your experience. If you need to do things on the quiet Verbatim, Sennheiser and Creative have each come up with excellent value solutions at a respective price increase. Whether you're after a heavy sub, some in-ear isolation or on-ear noise cancelling, they represent something for everyone.

Of course, if you're happy to blast the premises, Creative and Logitech have sculpted and tuned several high quality and good looking options for serious desktop power and Altec Lansing have gone and invented something highly unique for the home in the shape of a stage-monitor type speaker for guitar console games. You can even put your foot on it like you're really there having underwear thrown at you. Hello Cleveland!

Displays

Last of all come the screens on which you get to enjoy your interactive entertainment, and 3D has been the new projector in 2009. Yes, the likes of Epson, Optoma and LG are still supplying some wonderful hardware to make your Street Fights 60 inches tall, but ViewSonic, Nvidia and Vuzix are working on the idea of your avatars actually leaping out and punching you in the face. Admittedly, this works with varying degrees of success, depending upon whether you're going for a goggles or traditional monitor solution but it's certainly a serious edge that can add to the fun.

What do you think?

But these are just some of the fantastic choices our readers have had in 2009. What would you like to see held aloft as the winner of Pocket-lint Best Gaming Hardware 2009? What have we missed out? Which are your unsung heroes and of those we've already mentioned, which would get your vote? Let us know in the comments below and you can help our panel decide which make the shortlist of nominees to be announced here on Pocket-lint on 16 November. We'll have all out coverage of the Vodafone Pocket-lint awards 2009 right here. Don't miss a minute of it.

?

Related links:

• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - games
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - software, services, apps
• Feature - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - laptops

Tags: Gaming Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 Pocket-lint Awards Features Xbox PlayStation Nintendo PC games Mice And Keyboards Keyboards Mice Speakers PC speakers Logitech

Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009 - gaming hardware originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:30:00 +0000

Q-Acoustics has announced its Q-TV2s, a novel speaker system for televisions that improves the sound experience from your flatscreen, while not requiring an external amplifier and saving considerable space. How? Well, it mounts on the back of your display.

It connects up via RCA or headphone jack and provides 2.1 stereo sound which it reckons is considerably better than what the TV will put out by default, offering better treble, more dynamics, and a whole lot more bass. Most impressively, it manages that while still being just 38mm deep.

For the more technical amongst you, the left and right channel sound comes from four?wide-dispersion balanced-mode radiator 25W speakers, with the subwoofer (which actually comprises of four individual subs) packing 50W of juice. The L and R are swivelable (if that's a word) and there's an option that works with wall-mounted TVs too.

It'll suit 30 to 42-inch televisions, and is available right now from Amazon UK for ?300.

Tags: Audio Home Cinema Speakers Q-Acoustics Video

VIDEO: Q-Acoustics Q-ATV2 speakers announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:03:55 +0000

Introducing the Wall of Sound iPod speaker from Brothers - "it looks frightening, and it IS frightening".

What scares us particularly about "the world's most powerful iPod speaker" is the price - from $4495 plus shipping.

We're also a little nervous about the 102 kilo weight, 125 Watt output and 950 x 1250 x 300mm dimensions.

If you're not scared then it's on pre-order now.

Read

Tags: Audio Speakers iPod speakers Brothers

Wall of Sound iPod speaker sold as world's most powerful originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:18:22 +0000

Teufel has unveiled a pair of PC speakers, the Concept B 200. Intriguingly they connect via USB rather than through the typical 3.5mm jack, meaning that they include a sound card and amplifier, allowing the quality to be ramped up above the bog-standard sound devices that are usually found built into motherboards.

It's a 2.0 system, with four 30W power amplifiers in a metal case which supply juice to high and mid-low drivers in each speaker. That USB connection also powers the system, meaning that you won't have to plug them in, either. The amp also includes a USB hub for connecting other devices.

Teufel says that the speakers?"offer incredible sonic performance over a USB connection without a sky-high price tag". We'll let you be the judge of that. The Concept B 200 USB speakers cost ?184, and are available now.

Read

Tags: Audio Speakers PC speakers Teufel Teufel Concept B 200

Teufel unveils Concept B 200 speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:36:59 +0000

Teufel has announced the Omniton 202, an all-weather speaker that can be fitted in places like gyms, swimming pools and pub gardens. "Whatever the situation, the Omniton 202 is up to the task", says the company, perhaps a little smugly.

The 202 has a 130mm woofer and a 25mm cloth dome tweeter which can cope with an output of 102dB without distortion. They're enclosed in bass reflex housing that means that a subwoofer isn't necessary.?

It has a water-resistant housing that can tolerate shock, moisture and "anything else you can throw at it", says Teufel. It has rubber sealing so it can sit on a stand or shelf, or you can mount it - the rear cable connector is designed with that task in mind.

The Teufel Omniton 202 is available now, and costs ?140 per pair.

Related links:

• News - Teufel launches Theatre 80 home cinema system

Tags: Audio Speakers Teufel Teufel Omniton 202 Waterproof

Teufel Omniton 202 speaker appears originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:27:58 +0000

MSI has announced the launch of new PC peripherals in the UK with the Syren Speaker Mini going on sale.

Available in black or white, MSI says they are "specifically designed to be used with laptops, netbooks, PCs and all in one machines".

The 2 Watt speakers have a built in Class D amplifier, LED lighting and hook up to a computer via USB.

Complete with a travel pouch, the MSI Syren Speaker Minis are priced at ?19.99 and are available from ebuyer.com.

Tags: Audio Speakers MSI PC speakers Ebuyer

MSI launches Syren Speaker Mini originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:23:57 +0000

Pure has let us know that its Chronos iDock Series 2, which it launched at IFA, is now available in the UK. The unit combines a number of functions into its shell, as well as support for both iPod and iPhone docking. While your device is docked, you can play music from it and control it via remote control.

Also in the iDock is a DAB, DAB+ and FM clock radio and a powered USB port so that you can connect up a phone charger, reading light, mini fan, cup warmer, or even a chainsaw. There's also a set of front-panel connectors so that you can connect up a pair of headphones or an MP3 player.

There are four on-board alarms that can be set to wake you up with the radio, a docked iPod or iPhone, or just a beep. There's also adjustable sleep and snooze timers and a dimmable display so that your bleary eyes don't get overwhelmed by photons first thing in the morning.

The Chronos iDock Series II is in shops now, and it'll cost you ?100.

Tags: Audio Radios Pure Digital Pure Chronos iDock Series II DAB Radios Siesta Flow Speakers Alarm clocks iPod docks

Pure's Chronos iDock Series II now on sale originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:35:35 +0100

Sony has often pushed the boat out for its advertising campaigns and its new Soundville short film is no exception.

Directed by Juan Cabral, the chap behind the colourful Bravia "Balls" ad, this documents 3 days in the life of the Icelandic town of Seydisfjordur, after it's been transformed into a giant soundspeaker system.

The footage is of ordinary Seydisfjordur villagers, around 400 of which live in the village during winter when this was shot.

Some of the music has been composed especially for the project, while Cabral says the best bit was that, "every morning I had to choose a track to wake people up... not just people but a whole village".

Read

Related links:

• VIDEO - Sony's strange PS3 Slim adverts
• Via - urlesque

Tags: Audio Sony Speakers Advertising Video Soundville

VIDEO: Sony loudspeakers entire Icelandic town for Soundville spot originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:36:35 +0100

Creative has announced a set of wireless speakers for your PC - the Creative Inspire S2 Wireless. The set comprises of a subwoofer and two satellites, as well as a tiny Bluetooth dongle which you plug into a USB port on your computer to bring the noise.

Each satellite measures 7.4 x 7.3 x 10.3cm, which Creative reckons is small enough to make them most useful for laptops. They have a range of about 10 metres, and contain dynamic 2-inch drivers which apparently emit "well-balanced audio". The subwoofer contains a front driver and rear-firing port tube that should mean that more bass reaches you - rather than getting lost in the floor or walls.

If you're finding your neighbours complaining, then there's a control knob on the subwoofer that should allow you to turn it down (or up, if they've been stealing plastic flamingos from your front garden). There's a remote control on the right speaker which has an aux-in input, a headphone-out connection and a LED that displays speaker status.

The Inspire S2s are available now and cost ?130. A wired version is also available, for ?70.

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Tags: Audio Speakers Creative Creative Inspire S2 PC speakers

Creative introduces Inspire S2 speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:48:08 +0100

LG has launched a new Blu-ray home cinema system, the HB954SP, a BD-Live-enabled, Full HD 1080p, 1000 Watt, 5.1 effort.

With five oval satellite Mark-Levinson-tuned speakers, the connected system offers one-click access to YouTube videos, upscaling of standard DVDs, playback from USB and (only) two HDMI inputs.

There's also an iDock for an iPod or iPhone and LG's "Sound Gallery" for easy set-up as well as handy options such as turning off the bass in "night mode".

The system will be available from November 2009, but the really crucial bit for most people - pricing - is yet to be revealed.

LG doesn't offer RRPs, instead suggesting price comparison sites for an idea of cost, not a great strategy for a product that's yet to be released.

Tags: Home Cinema Home Cinema systems Speakers Blu-ray LG iPod speakers

LG HB954SP Blu-ray home cinema system announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 12:13:38 +0100

Pioneer has revealed a pair of iPod docks that'll be launching in the next few weeks. There's the XW NAS3 and XW NAS5. Both are officially licensed by Apple in the "Made for iPod" range.

First up, the XW-NAS3 contains a pair of speakers and a subwoofer that makes up a 2.1 system. It has Bluetooth, too, which means that if you're not an iPod or iPhone owner, but you do have Bluetooth on your player, then you can use that to transmit instead.

The XW-NAS5 contains all the same functionality as the NAS3, but adds a couple of sound enhancement features. Pioneer's "Advanced Sound Receiver" enhances compressed music files, and its "Auto Level Control" will normalise the volume between different tracks.

Pioneer don't have full pricing and availability details just yet, but as soon as they do, they've promised they'll send them to us. When they do, we'll update this post.

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Tags: Audio Pioneer Speakers iPod speakers iPhone Phones Mobile phones Pioneer XW NAS3 Pioneer XW NAS5

Pioneer launches XW NAS3 and XW NAS5 iPod docks originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:48:19 +0100

Revo has just announced a new iPod dock/DAB radio/music system called the Domino D3. It combines a number of audio sources into one unit, including the ability to listen to Last.fm on the device.

It's worth mentioning the design, because the company has won design awards in the past. The D3 has a retro look, with soft edges and has a rubberised coating. On the left is the OLED display, on the right is the speaker, and in the middle are three knobs used to control its functions.

Those functions include DAB, DAB+, internet radio, FM radio, wireless streaming of music files from a connected PC or Mac, and an iPod and iPhone dock. As previously mentioned, it can also access Last.fm, though you'll need a subscription to get access to that service. It comes with 30 days free, and it's ?3 per month thereafter.

The Domino is also available in cheaper versions. There's a D1 edition which has DAB but no Wi-Fi, and a D2 that has Wi-Fi but no DAB. The D1 costs ?130, the D2 is ?150, and the full-on D3 is ?170. All three are on sale from 1 November and come in black or white.

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• News - Revo IKON next-gen iPod dock, DAB and internet radio announced

Tags: Audio Speakers Revo Revo Domino D3 Lastfm DAB Radios

Revo launches Domino D3 dock originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:41:38 +0100

GEAR4 has announced yet another product, this time its latest speaker for iPod and iPhone, the Explorer-SP.

The company is calling it a "Home Portable" speaker, as it can be powered by the mains or the built-in battery.

With "FastCharge" functionality, the speaker juices up in 2 hours for 8 hours of use and has a battery indicator to show how much power is left.

With two full range drivers, GEAR4 says the new speaker offers "3D DSP sound enhancement and discreet, ported bass tuning".

The Explorer-SP comes complete with a metal fold out stand, four dock adapters for iPod/iPhone, a remote control and a padded carry case and it goes on sale in November for ?99.99 or 149.99 euros.

Tags: Audio Speakers GEAR4 iPod speakers iPhone accessories

GEAR4 Explorer-SP announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:34:42 +0100

Hercules - not the greek hero, the hardware company - has announced a pair of speaker sets that the company claims to be the thinnest 2-channel speaker package currently available. There's the Hercules XPS 2.0 40 Slim and the Hercules XPS 2.1 40 Slim.

The XPS 2.0 40 Slim speakers stand 6cm wide and 23.5cm tall, and were designed by Amylee, of Paris. They come with a mini wired remote control that also includes a volume knob, headphone jack and line-in input. The speakers are magnetically shielded.

The XPS 2.1 40 Slim adds a subwoofer into the mix, which is made of wood and "ensures a powerful bass presence", says the company. It also contains the same wired remote control, and can pump out 32W RMS - 8W per speaker and 16W for the subwoofer.

The 2.0 40 Slim costs ?30, and the addition of the subwoofer in the 2.1 40 Slim brings the cost up to ?50. Both will be available from October.

Related links:

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Tags: Audio Speakers Hercules Hercules XPS 40 Slim

Hercules reveals ultra-slim XPS speakers originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:02:42 +0100

LaCie has announced what it says are "high-end speakers", modelled after acoustic engineering company Cabasse's loudspeaker technology - the LaCie Sound2 Speakers, as designed by Neil Poulton.

With Cabasse's loudspeaker driver support, the Sound2 Speakers are angled as ideal for use with computers, while the line-in means audio/video devices such as MP3 players and PMPs can also be plugged in.

Set-up is said to be easy via USB connection or the line-in port with no driver installation necessary. Complete with built-in USB cable and volume control, the Sound2 Speakers can provide 30 Watts total peak power output.

The LaCie Sound2 Speakers will be available through the LaCie Online Store, among others, for ?89.

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Tags: Audio Speakers LaCie Hardware Cabasse Neil Poulton

LaCie Sound2 Speakers launch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:51:47 +0100

KEF has announced the KHT8002 Soundbar, which joins the rest of the company's KHT series of home theatre sound solutions. The company says that it's designed to match the design of modern HDTVs.

The main bit of the package is the bar itself - the HTF2003 - which contains nine speakers - three KEF Uni-Q drivers that contain a 75mm and 15mm mid-range and tweeter, three 75-mm woofers and three 75mm auxiliary bass radiators that pump out bassier frequencies. It's sized to match a 42-inch or greater television, and has a wall mount bracket and table stand, so you can pick either option.

The HTS7001 satellite surround speakers bring up the rear - containing dual 50mm woofers and 19mm high-frequency drivers. They can either be placed on a tabletop or mounted on a wall. Finally, everything is underpinned by a 200W KUBE-2 subwoofer, which contains a side-firing 250mm auxiliary bass radiator.

The whole package will cost you ?1100 and will be available in October.

Related links:

• News - KEF announces KHT2005.3 K1 5.1 home cinema system

Tags: Home Cinema Kef KEF KHT8005 Soundbar Speakers

KEF launches KHT8005 soundbar originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:54:48 +0100