laptop speakers
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UCube speakers run off USB, are coming to an Amtrak quiet car near you
You can use these USB-powered UltraLink UCube speakers on a bus, on the beach, or on the table at your favorite McDonald's, but please -- for the love of god -- don't. Remember: with great convenience comes great responsibility, and if these speakers are as impressive as the dramatic marketing video below implies, disruption of the peace is about to know no bounds. At $150 per pair, these sleek sound machines aren't cheap, but each speaker is able to pump out 15 watts of peak power -- you won't be filling a large room with crisp, distortion-free sound, but they're probably loud enough to play your tunes or flicks for a group of friends, or to annoy strangers in a park. UltraLink claims that the speakers use DSP-controlled power supplies to "store energy during quiet passages," allowing the 3.25 inch cubes to reach their 15 watt peak output with 170-degree listening angles. We haven't had a chance to go hands on, but if these speakers sound half as good as they look, we may have a better solution for playing music in the CES trailer next year.
Logitech takes its wireless Z515 and tethered Z305 speakers on the road
Sure, that laptop you're staring out might have been purchased by your company's IT department, but who hasn't snuck on a film or game to fill the desperate void between PowerPoint presentations and time sheets? Problem is, those teeny tiny tinny laptop speakers aren't exactly immersive. That's where Logitech comes in with its new Laptop Speaker Z305 ($99.99, pictured above). A compact USB speaker that hangs off the open display to deliver 360-degree audio that will "fill the room," according to Logitech -- no additional software required. Otherwise, why not untether with Logitech's Wireless Speaker Z515 (pictured after the break) when it arrives for $59.99. The Z515 offers a range of about 50 feet (15 meters) over a 2.4GHz USB dongle with up to 10 hours of life from its rechargeable battery. Both will be available for purchase in the US and Europe beginning this month. See the pitch in the video after the break.
Twelve South's BassJump subwoofer improves your MacBook experience via USB, not parachute
The speakers on the MacBook line are generally quite good -- for a laptop. Rock your world they won't, but Twelve South's BassJump might just add that low-frequency kick your unibody workhorse has been missing. The solitary speaker connects via USB and, through an analog-styled tuning app, augments the built-in speakers of the laptop with much-needed bass. If the styling didn't clue you in this is only for MacBooks and, at $80, seems to come at quite a premium over your average set of portable speakers. It's certainly nicer looking.
ASUS uBooms its way into portable speaker market
The world of mobile speakers is a quirky one, to say the least. That ASUS would want a taste of that funny water may be surprising, but not altogether crazy. What is crazy here is the size of these "portable" audio appendages. The 24-Watt uBoom (pictured) is a 3kg behemoth measuring nearly 60cm (23.6 inches) across and positively swallowing up whatever notebook you care to plop into it. That's not to say it's inconvenient, maybe you like exercise. On the other hand, the uBoom Q is about half the size and sips power from the USB connection, but then it only pumps out 2.4 Watts. Check out both after the break. [Via Electronista]
Buffalo's USB powered laptop speakers
If you just gotta have the thump only a, uh, 2 x 0.5 watt pair of USB-powered speakers can deliver then by all means, have at these from Buffalo. Dubbed the BSPL-MU09N/SV in a fit of alphabetical vomit, these bezel-attached speakers bring a 4-ohm impedance, 200Hz~12kHz frequency zone, and 3.5-mm stereo-in for excreting that laptop sound. Yours for ¥4,179 or about $36 starting late September, you know, if you're just feeling silly.[Via Impress]
