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SanDisk's Sansa Base Station dock with remote for Sansa players
If you're one of the non-conforming, iDon't conformers then you'd best get with the program son. SanDisk just hit us with their Sansa Base Station which, for all the hyperbole about it transforming your Sansa MP3 into a home audio jukebox, is just a run-o-the-mill dock and remote for you Sansa player. As such, it includes a USB 2.0 and RCA jack, remote control, and of course, a "universal connector" which slots into the bottom of your e200 or C200 series players for some hot DAP-on-dock charging action. Thing is, for all their marketing audacity, the only bit we find surprising is the fact that this "must-have" accessory didn't already exist. Yours for $70 bills by October in the both the US and Europe, you choose.
NuVo NV-M3 streams multi-zone PlaysForSure
Maybe we're a little dense, but we're having a bit of a time trying to figure out why someone would plunk down $2,200 for a 160GB PlaysForSure enabled audio streaming device -- even one so sexy as NuVo's (no, not that Nuvo) new NV-M3, above. Granted, NuVo seems pretty proud about implementing PlaysForSure in a multi-zone system, something Sonos users have been waiting a while to get going, but for a substantially smaller price you could go with something a little more versatile, like a Media Center PC or an Xbox 360 or a long list of other devices that wouldn't only limit you to playing music, either. Still, now apparently the onus is no longer on the PlaysForSure team to create a multizone standard for streaming DRMed audio since it can obviously be done without Microsoft's backing, so expect to hear more about this little number when CEDIA rolls around.[Via eHomeUpgrade and Talk About CEDIA]
Bose launches Acoustic Wave Music System II and Companion 5
We know how much peeps love Bose; it remains one of the highest rated brands in consumer tech despite the availability of higher quality audio components at comparable prices, so hey there, check out the new Acoustic Wave Music System II, a CD / AM / FM all-in-one with aux-ins for using whichever other music devices you may have, iPod or not (though they'd be happy to sell you a $129 iPod connection kit or $299 five CD changer), and will set you back $1079. They also announced their new Companion 5 2.1 speaker system, which will hit you for $399 (pictured after the break). Both ship September 7th.[Via GizmoWatch]
Onkyo announces MHP-A1 wireless headphones
Onkyo's certainly be a fan of all things wireless, so it should be no surprise that the company is turning out yet another pair of cordless headphones, the MHP-A1s (not to be confused with the MHP-AV1s). This new set looks to be pretty comparable to those AV1s from last year, with Dolby Digital and DTS support and a range of inputs including optical digital, coaxial digital, RCA, and a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug. Just as importantly, the new phones also up things in the style department, looking more like something you'd actually want to keep in your living room rather than hide in a closet. Also like the AV1s (and plenty of other wireless headphones), the A1s use the crowded 2.4GHz frequency which should give you a range of about 30 meters (just under 100 feet), but could also be cause for or subject to interference depending on where you use them. Look for these to drop in Japan September 22nd for ¥25,200 ($220US), and here, well, eventually (probably).[Via Akihabara News]
Teac's Tannoy ST-100 super tweeter
Oh you know how we're such suckers for anything that's extravagant, Japanese, and that would make a completely superfluous addition to our mounting collection of, um, unnecessary ridiculous and absurdly overpriced Japanese toys. Enter the Tannoy ST-100 super tweeter, the black truffle of high-end high-range speakers. If a 24K gold "evaporation" titanium dome diaphragm (we'll take their word for it) capable of playing back audio frequencies up to 100kHz -- far outside the range of normal human hearing -- gets the ink flowing in your check-writing pen, be warned: Teac expects you to part with yen;252,000 (about $2,200 US) for a pair of these things, so be damned sure your source plays DVD-Audio and SACD.[Via AV Watch]
Slim Devices Transporter unwires high end
Audiophiles, listen up. (Oh, how we do love saying that.) Slim Devices has got something you'll want to check out if you've been on the hunt for a Sonos alternative: meet the Transporter (and we ain't talking about Jason Statham). Slim's new wireless audio distribution system moves your music (in WAV, AIFF, MP3, WMA, and FLAC up to 96KHz sample rates) via 802.11g or Ethernet, and outputs in XLR, with optical, S/PDIF, and coax ins and outs. But thats not all, you've also got RS-232, infrared, even a clock input port to make sure using and controlling the audio chugging through its Super Regulator-driven 120dB SNR AKM-built AK4396 DAC is a pleasurable experience. They're not going to let you off easily though, this piece will set you back two grand when it debuts September 18th. Slim Devices will, however, throw you a bone for your hard earned thousands; pre-order the Transporter before it's released and they'll toss in a free Squeezebox to say thanks for skipping out on rent (yet again).
Sirius announces sleek new Sportster4 radio
To prove that there is still life in the world of consumer electronics outside of videogames and laptops, Sirius broke up today's monotony by announcing an updated version of their Sportster series of Plug and Play satellite radios with 44-minute buffers. The Sportster4, which is small enough to easily transport between home and car, maintains the same recording capacity and features as its predecessors, but adds a new vehicle dock that includes an auxiliary input for your MP3 player. Additional niceties include 30 presets, bundled remote, favorite artist alerts, and game reminders to keep you updated on score changes. Look for the Sportster4 later this month for around $170, with accessories like boombox docks soon to follow.
Sonos ZP100 system reviewed
Looks like HomeTheaterView got themselves a hold of a couple of Sonos ZP100s and a controller and put the spurs to 'em to see how the system works and performs in a real home environment. We have a Sonos we're currently checking out (expect more on that soon), but HomeTheaterView found the devices to work admirably out of box with a clean, labor-free setup, and simple, intuitive interface, which we won't deny. The concept behind the Sonos isn't a terribly complicated one, so outside decent codec support, wireless range, and the aforementioned (setup and interface / use), there's not a lot else to look for in an in-home wireless audio distribution system. Fortunately the Sonos nails the codecs (outside not supporting PlaysForSure), but while the range wasn't mentioned, and they wished there were versions outfitted for in-wall installs and wetter environs like bathrooms, they seemed to find the system an excellent choice that fulfills a need otherwise unmet by the other out of box consumer home audio distribution systems on the market.
B&O's BeoLink Wireless 1
They announced it a full ten days ago with exactly zero fanfare, but we're just today getting word about Bang & Olufsen's BeoLink Wireless 1 system, their take on a wireless distributed home audio solution. You'd think that the receivers themselves might have integrated speakers (just look at that picture), but no, you've got to plug them into the wall, and then into a pair of speakers in the room you're transporting your audio to. They use a proprietary 2.4GHs DSSS wireless transport for the audio, and can support up to 21 rooms with three BeoLink transmitters. No word on price or launch time frame, but it's B&O, so it'll cost ya. [Warning: PDF link!][Via Sybarites, thanks Stevie J]
