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Bose intros SoundLink wireless music system, charges $550 with a straight face
Ah, Bose. While almost any other audio company would be properly lambasted for charging $549.95 for a portable sound system with absolutely no hard specifications (driver material, amplifier type, wattage, etc.) to speak of, somehow or another Bose gets away with the practice. All bitterness aside, the fresh SoundLink Wireless Music System is actually rather attractive, and unlike its other models, this one arrives with a USB dongle that enables computers to stream tunes directly to it. 'Course, we're not told what kind of technology is used here nor how far you can stray without losing signal, but as we alluded to earlier, this is all par for the course for Bose. In brighter news, there's a rechargeable battery that keeps it humming for three hours on a full charge, and the bundled IR remote could probably be programmed to control your media app from afar. Oh, and there's a standard 3.5 millimeter auxiliary jack for linking things up the "old way." Start saving your pennies quarters, folks -- this one ships to those with more dollars than sense on August 27th. [Via HotHardware]
Helms SoundBuddy II K999B iPod sound system has the look (and little else)
In the vast, treacherous world of me-too iPod sound systems, Helms' SoundBuddy II K999B Mini 2.1 Digital Audio System does a commendable job of standing out. What it doesn't do so well, however, is sound good. Unfortunately for it, the music side of things is pretty darn important when it comes to deciding on an audio setup. iLounge recently got ahold of this here unit, and while the styling was definitely unique and highly lauded, some of the design aspects -- including the actual docking apparatus and the speaker location -- were understandably questioned. Furthermore, critics found the sound quality to be borderline laughable given the steep $140 price of entry, leading to a conclusion that the hands-on images in the read link are probably as close as you (or your wallet) should ever get to this one.
Engadget's recession antidote: win a Paradigm Cinema 70 CT surround system!
This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got totally bodacious Paradigm Cinema 70 CT 5.1 surround system to let loose, offering up everything you need (on the audio front, anyway) to convert your den into the party palace. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting!Special thanks to Paradigm for providing the gear!The rules: Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too. You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine. Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad. Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Paradigm Cinema 70 CT surround system. Approximate value is $649. If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Entries can be submitted until Monday, March 23rd, 11:59PM ET. Good luck! Full rules can be found here.
Sony expands Walkman line with NW-S738FK and NW-S736FK
Though not nearly as buzz-worthy as Sony's OLED-equipped NWZ-X1000, these two DAPs are still worth a look if you're both in Japan and really into pastels. The NW-S736FK and NW-S738FK only differ with respect to internal capacity, as the former carries 4GB worth of tunes while the latter hosts 8GB. Both will soon be available in the wonderful nation of Japan in gold, black, pink and red hues, and each will support MP3, WMA, ATRAC, WMV, MPEG-4, JPEG and AAC formats. You'll also find a 2-inch LCD, USB 2.0 connectivity, a 5 band equalizer, FM tuner and a battery good for 40 hours of audio playback (or 10 hours on the video side). The new duo is set to ship on March 14th, and yes, those perfectly matching speaker docks seem to be included for your convenience.[Via Impress]
Kenwood takes a note from Bose with DTS Surround Sensation CD system
If you weren't well versed on logos (and you were illiterate, too), you'd probably assume that the music system pictured above was just another overpriced Bose that could be yours for nine low payments of $49.99. In fact, it's a new Kenwood-branded CD system that will purportedly be able to simulate surround sound from just two speakers. The system will include the DTS Surround Sensation technology, a slot for audio CDs and a rather vanilla display. Beyond that, we're left to simply wonder, as Kenwood is remaining mum on critical details like pricing, release date, RMS, driver size, frequency range and input / output options. Wow, that kind of dodgy secretiveness reeks of some other company we know of... but we're sure it's not intentional. (Right?) [Via Impress]
Sharp does the unthinkable, intros slotMusic-friendly sound systems
Whoa, Sharp -- wait just a minute. Did you really just introduce a pair of music systems that get down with slotMusic players? Though it's practically impossible for us to believe that such an occurrence has just, um, occurred, the 160-watt XL-DH258NH and 64-watt XL-DH228NH micro-audio systems actually do include a USB port for syncing up with SanDisk slotMusic players (along with any other USB-enabled PMP, we presume). Of course, Sharp did hedge its bets by including an iPod dock along with a universal auxiliary input, so we suppose we can't harsh on 'em too much. Both units arrive in any color you like so long as it's glossy black, and there's even an AM / FM radio, six-band equalizer and alarm clock tossed in for good measure. Catch the XL-DH258NH this June for $199.99 or the XL-DH228NH in July for $179.99.[Via iTechNews]
Sony bites the bullet, releases Made for iPod music systems
Sony's using CES to update its iPod / iPhone-compatible stereos -- it's releasing the iPod / iPhone-friendly CMT- LX20i micro shelf system and MHC-EC99i mini boombox (pictured above). Not a whole lot left to say other than they also play CDs and rattle windows, respectively. For pricing and release details -- including a word or two on the new Muteki systems -- hit up the read link.%Gallery-40935%
iLuv reveals iSP200 2.1-channel portable soundbar
No need for a gargantuan home theater-styled soundbar? Then have a gander at iLuv's latest, the iSP200. Hailed as a 2.1-channel speaker system for "laptops and desktops," we view this more as just an easy-to-tote sound system that ought to outperform most of those weak iPod docks. The system packs 32-watts of power, SRS-XT "surround technology," master / bass / treble audio controls, an inbuilt 3-port USB 2.0 hub and 3.5-millimeter auxiliary input. You'll even notice that the speakers are detachable from the main unit, though the biggest knock is the omission of a rechargeable battery for true mobility. Still, not too shabby for a penny under a Benjamin; full release is after the break.
iLuv announces i9500 iPod / CD sound system
iLuv certainly isn't lacking in iPod docks these days, but those looking for something a bit more elaborate than your average desktop model will no doubt be pleased to see the company's new i9500 system, which opts for a vertical design that can accommodate four CDs in addition to the iPod of your choice. If that's not enough for you, the system will also handle SD cards and USB storage devices, and you'll also get all the usual stereo features like an AM/FM radio and alarm clock functionality. With 45W of power and a separate, somewhat sizeable subwoofer, the system should also pump out some decent enough sound, at least compared to iLuv's more modest systems. No word on a price just yet, but iLuv will apparently have more to say about that at CES.
Acoustic Research intros iPod-friendly AR5100 audio docking station
Acoustic Research is on a roll today at CES Unveiled in New York, and if you've somehow managed to avoid the overload of other iPod docking systems up until now, we've got yet another you can have a look at. The AR5100 audio docking system doubles as a tabletop music center or an iPod video source for a display. Of note, AR designed the unit so that it could actually be hung (you know, beneath a flat-panel HDTV), and gussied it up with backlit white graphics, touch-sensitive buttons, horn-loaded tweeters, a ported enclosure, a component-video output and a bundled IR remote. Check it this December for $199.99, and catch the release in its entirety after the break.%Gallery-36397%
Pioneer's LX01BD Blu-ray home cinema system now available in Europe
Remember that ultra-sleek Pioneer LX01BD HTIB system that was introduced back in June? No? Well, for those in Europe, today's a great day to get caught up. The system, which bundles a Profile 1.1 BonusView Blu-ray player with a 5.1-channel amplifier and an equal amount of speakers, is finally available for sale in Europe. The player boasts two-in / one-out HDMI connections, Deep Color support, 1080p playback and internal DTS-HD Master Audio / Dolby TrueHD processing. If only the reported £2,000 ($3,154) price tag was easier to digest, we might actually be excited.[Via ElectricPig]%Gallery-36382%
Yamaha introduces four mini audio systems, all with iPod docks
We sure hope you're an iPod owner if you're looking seriously at any one of Yamaha's latest mini audio systems, 'cause every last one of them packs an inbuilt dock front and center. Kicking things off is the MCS-1330, which features 60-watts of amplification, an integrated CD player, two speakers and a few other inputs for non-Appleites. The MCR-330 and MCR-230 only seem to differ in connection type, with both units packing 40 total watts of power and a USB socket. The CRX-430 finishes things off with 50-watts of RMS juice and a built-in CD player. The whole lot should ship by early December and will range in price from around $300 (CRX-430) to $1,233 (MCS-1330).[Via TechDigest]
Sony debuts hard drive-equipped, network-capable stereos
Sony has been cramming hard drives into its Netjuke stereos for quite a while now, but if you still haven't found one to your liking, you now have three more to consider from the company, two of which also boast the added bonus of networking capability. On the top-end, the NAS-M700HD (available in black only) packs a 160GB hard drive along with a CD player and a MiniDisc player, as well as some beefier speakers and a higher-quality S-Master amplifier that's not found in its lower-end counterparts. The NAS-M500HD, on the other hand, also boasts a 160GB hard drive and network-readiness but drops the MiniDisc player, while the pink CMT-E300HD takes things all the way down to 80GB and drops the networking capability as well. Like Sony's other similar systems, however, these ones are exclusive to Japan, where they'll set you back between ¥45,000 and ¥85,000, or roughly $420 to $790.[Via Electronista]
Sharp debuts all new line of boomboxes at CEDIA
Shortly after Sony pumped out a funky fresh new boombox of its own, along comes Sharp with a stable of its own. The outfit has just unveiled the CD-DK890N and CD-DK891N sound systems, both of which feature iPod compatibility (via an integrated dock), 250-watts of amplification, AM / FM tuners, a five-disc CD changer and X Bass for a little extra bottom end. It's also introducing the 600-watt CD-G14000, the much more minuscule CD-MPX880 and the XL-DK257N / XL-DK227N micro-audio systems. The whole lot is available now with prices ranging from $139.99 o $329.99, and yep, the full release is after the jump.
Sony expands Muteki family with DJ-style LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE music system
Man, we didn't even know the Muteki moniker was still in existence. Nevertheless, Sony has just added a big, bad member to said congregation with the LBT-DJ2i XROSS FADE. This rather beastly music system packs 450 total watts of power, a CD player, AM / FM tuners, a line-in jack, a pair of 2-way shelf speakers, a dual 7-inch subwoofer enclosure and the ability to convert CDs / radio to MP3 files. And that's just the beginning. Aspiring DJs will also find a bundled cross-fader with monitor cue and a built-in two-channel mixer, and the iPod-lovin' interface ensures that you'll never have to touch your PMPs once they're mounted. There's also a USB recording function to save mix sessions to a USB device in ATRAC MP3 format. Too bad this setup will cost you half a grand when it ships next month. Check the full release after the cut.
Intempo unveils iPod-lovin' RDi-W / Fusion speaker systems
What can we say? Intempo has launched a new pair of iPod-compatible speaker systems, and unless you're somehow just entering the market for one in the latter half of 2008, chances are you're already yawning. Nevertheless, the RDi-W (pictured) does distinguish itself somewhat by including support for DAB and wireless internet radio, and there's a 30-watt internal amplifier to kick out the jams. The much drabber Fusion keeps things small and simple by offering up just 25-watts of power and DAB / FM tuners. Expect the couple to sashay into e-tailers next month for £169.99 ($316) / £99 ($184).Read - RDi-WRead - Fusion
Radiopaq Rp5 does DAB, FM and internet radio
Look out, Pure Digital -- you've got a new rival in town. Radiopaq, best known for bringing thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts to listeners via the web, has decided to hop into the hardware game. The Rp5 tabletop radio features a five-way speaker system, digital / analog processors, a headphone jack, remote control and a rather stylish design. There's also an integrated WiFi module for tuning into the outfit's website and even sucking down news, weather and traffic information. Of course, the more traditional FM / DAB tuners are there as well, making this one quite the multifaceted box. Word on the British streets has this one pegged for a September launch at £250 ($468).[Via Pocket-lint]
Ask Engadget HD: What's the best HTIB system?
Let's face it -- not everyone has the space nor disposable income to piece together their own multichannel surround sound system, and that's where this week's Ask Engadget HD question comes in. Take it away, Todd: "I'm currently stuck in a small apartment with a need for surround sound, but I can't go buy a bunch of separates and create a system. I'm obviously in the market for a small but great sounding HTIB. I already own a Blu-ray player, so I'm not too concerned with any built-in DVD / BD players. Which 5.1 (or greater) set out there today offers the best bang for my buck?" There's no shame in buying your surround sound in a box, so puff out your chest and give this man an answer. Are you pleased with the sound quality / volume / overall performance of your boxed rig? Does your friend's unit sound better? Turn it to 11 and speak up!Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Meridian $3K F80 home entertainment system gets reviewed
Before you unload $2,995 on anything, you're likely going to want the opinion of someone who has had a chance to try things out beforehand, no? Working under that assumption, we present to you a review of Meridian's stratospherically priced F80. Proudly called "the most expensive tabletop music system in the history of the civilized world," this unit was seen as a "model for all tabletop systems," with the reviewer even begging everyone else to look at this before starting up design on yet another ho hum alternative. The critic also noted that this unit pulled off what he thought was impossible: "identifiable left- and right-channel sound from a system that measures only 16-inches wide." As expected, the F80 was indeed the "best" he had ever heard in this category, but the omission of an iPod dock was a sore spot. For those with more disposable income than they know what to do with, this one seems a surefire winner; for everyone else, it's not worth going into debt over.
Genius' SP-T1200 speaker system loves to be touched
Okay, so you could argue that most any speaker system would appreciate some TLC, but Genius' latest really adores it. The SP-T1200 2.0 Touch Speaker System comes with a black-onyx finish and enables owners to rely on a touch screen to control function, volume, bass or treble. When touched, the panel lights up to visually show that contact has been made, and while these promise 30-watts of skull-rattling sound, we wouldn't count on audiophile type results. Grab 'em now if you wish for $99.