The iPod connects to a series of tubes

While the iPod is the preeminent music component of today, the past's audio icon would have to be the vacuum tube. Even though these analog amplification components have long been replaced by transistors in most gear, the highest end of the audiophile market still relishes the warm, natural sound that can only be produced by tubes.

So what would you get if you mixed that iPod chocolate with vacuum tube peanut butter? Well, according to the New York Times, you get the MC4 Music Cocoon: a glowy, sexy beast from UK manufacturer Roth Audio, featuring an iPod dock and line-in for MP3 players. Unlike these other twodock sets, in this case the tubes are actually doing the amplification. The Cocoon is intended for use with lossless or high-bitrate files, and it's got a price tag to match: $649.