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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]
Mark Levinson ships the No. 532 Dual Monaural Amplifier
If lending the company name to LG HTIB systems made anyone think that Mark Levinson was moving towards the mainstream market, the release of the No. 532 Dual Monaural Amplifier should lay those thoughts to rest. Not to be confused with a stereo amplifier for mere mortals, the No. 532 is really two 400-Watt mono amps that share power and control circuitry, bundled together in one tidy chassis. Obviously something only for the jet-set, the No. 532 is available now, but without pricing info -- that's got to be PR-speak for "If you have to ask..." Seriously, though, with the ML brand showing up on car audio and HTIB systems, doesn't this pretense ring a bit hollow?EDIT: The man Mark Levinson (behind the LG HTIB systems) has nothing to do with the brand Mark Levinson any more. -- Thanks, Spencer!
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.
HD movies featuring stereo sound in PlayStation Video Store
Though we suspect this is totally normal judging by the fact that not all HD flicks available via Apple TV have 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, it is a wee bit disappointing. One particular tipster wrote in to express his frustration with Sony's recently launched PlayStation Video Store, noting that his HD movie rental featured only stereo sound. When contacting Sony on the matter, a Store specialist informed him that no refunds were allowed and there was no way to determine how audio was packaged prior to downloading. So yeah, if multi-channel audio is paramount, you may want to think twice about emptying your wallet in the PS Store.
Orbitsound shows off T12 stereo soundbar / subwoofer combo
If you're tight on space and scared off by the psychoacoustic trickery done by virtual surround tech in TVs and surroundbars, maybe Orbitsound's T12 soundbar / subwoofer combo will appeal to you. While it looks like a traditional surroundbar, this unit is all about creating a wide stereo image, sans rear effects. Packed in the bar are eight drivers that do the stereo magic courtesy of airSound technology and 50-Watts of power. Combined with the external, but wired subwoofer, the company claims a "substantially flat" response from 20-Hz to 25-kHz. It reminds us of Boston Acoustic's TVee Two, but wired. Processing of the two stereo inputs can set to "off," "stereo," and "extra wide" courtesy a three-way switch. And of course, there's a dock to welcome your iPod when it ventures away from the warm tube glow of Orbitsound's T6. Our advice -- if you're into stereo, get yourself two small bookshelf speakers and a receiver; if HT is your thing, go for a HTIB or surroundbar.
Goodmans iPod boombox includes 7-inch LCD display
If you've somehow managed to hold off from buying an iPod sound system, you can probably afford to gloss right over this one, too. Still, those waiting for one with just a touch more extravagance will likely find lots to love about Goodmans' latest iteration. Aside from boasting a pair of speakers, 3-in-1 multicard reader, LED accents, iPod dock and a bundled remote, this unit also includes an integrated 7-inch LCD display for showing off stored clips, photos, etc. Interestingly, we're left to wonder what the exact resolution here is, but if it's not impressive enough to share, you can probably look forward to lackluster results. We won't stop you from taking a chance though -- it's your £89.99 ($178).[Via ChipChick]
NBC aims to broadcast stereo / 5.1 mixes simultaneously during Olympics
Rest assured, NBC isn't taking this year's Olympics broadcast lightly. After announcing that some 3,600 hours of the games would be shot (with many in HD), we've now learned that the network will be broadcasting the 5.1 surround mix and stereo mix simultaneously. According to Bob Dixon, NBC Olympics' director of sound design, 2008 marks "the first time the games will be produced totally in high-definition with 5.1 discrete channels of audio," and the plan is to send six discrete channels to those capable of receiving it and carefully downmix for those with stereo capabilities. Needless to say, there's going to be extensive work happening behind the scenes in order to pull off such a feat, and if you're the technical type, feel free to tap the read link to get a sense of just how elaborate the setup will be.
Logitec's LIC-iREC01 puts a stereo mic on your iPod
There's no shortage of microphones for one's iPod, but Logitec is looking to earn the business of those still on the hunt with its LIC-iREC01. Put simply, this dock connector appendage is said to work on "all generations of iPods" (with dock connectors, obviously), and provides a built-in stereo mic for voice recording on the fly, an additional audio input for connecting something more sophisticated, and a mini-USB port for keeping your PMP synced while this thing is plugged in. At the moment, pricing details are unknown, but those camped out in Japan can look for it to land in their neighborhood later this month.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Brennan intros JB7 Micro Jukebox with lossless CD ripping
There's already a good number of options out there for those wanting to rip CDs without the hassle of a computer, but the number of those that give you lossless CD ripping is quite a bit more limited. Those not willing to accept any compromises now have one more lossless-happy system to consider, however, with Brennan recently introducing its new JB7 Micro Jukebox. Available in 20GB, 40GB, or 80GB versions (and with or without added bookshelf speakers), the system boasts 60W of RMS power and packs a USB port that'll accommodate an iPod or a USB hard drive. Unfortunately, there's no Internet connectivity (wireless or otherwise), but the system does at least come pre-loaded with a database 2.2 million track names, which can be updated quarterly via a CD that Brennan distributes. Look for it to set you back £259 (or roughly $500) for the standalone 20GB unit, with prices running up to £388 (or $760) for the 80GB unit complete with speakers.[Via Randomly Accessed]
Venturi Mini uses lots of RF to get music from phone to car stereo
We've seen more efficient ways of piping tunes from phones to stereos, but admittedly, they usually involve a wire or two. The Venturi Mini, now being offered by Verizon Wireless, performs the wondrous feat of receiving music streamed to it via stereo Bluetooth and relaying it on to your car's head unit by way of FM transmitter, making the whole process completely wire-free. "But wait," as they say in the industry, "that's not all." The cigarette lighter socket-powered device doubles as a handsfree that cleverly pauses your music when the time comes to take a call. Grab the multitalented wonder now for $129.99 -- and if you live in Washington or Oregon, the sooner, the better.[Via MobileBurn]
The Etymotic etyBlu: a less ridiculous looking successor to the ety8?
If you want a pair of true, in-ear buds without the muss and fuss of wires, your options are limited and you need to be prepared to make some sacrifices. One such sacrifice that needs to be heavily weighed into the equation, for example, is your desire to appear as though there is a pair of black Duplo blocks hanging out of your ears. That's exactly the curse of Etymotic's ety8, a decent set of stereo Bluetooth 'phones (we've tried them, they're comfortable and sound great) that were irreparably damaged by the ugly stick somewhere during the course of their development. The high-end headphone outfit has another Bluetooth product in the works, though -- the ER-89 "etyBlu" just hit the FCC's wires, giving us hope that they heard our complaints loud and clear and have worked to make their kit just a little less embarrassing to wear in public. We couldn't find conclusive evidence in the documentation that we're looking at a stereo headset here; theoretically, it could just be a mono product for calls, but we're encouraged by a brief mention of listening to music (who wants to blast tunes into one ear?) and the fact that the ety8's model number is ER-88. Can anyone make out what's going on in this FCC label diagram here?
Electro's 2-CD iPod stereo costs way too much
We're beginning to wonder if the madness will ever end, but considering just how enjoyable it is to sit around and poke fun at the zany attempts to crank out "unique" iPod stereo systems, we suppose we won't mount any kind of offensive to stop guys like Electro from trying. The 2-CD iPod docking station has "subpar" and "lame" written all over it, but at least it does include one of the most interesting two-disc CD changers we've ever seen. As you can probably tell, it holds a pair of discs at once, your iPod in the middle and a speaker on each side -- all controlled by a minuscule remote. Granted, it does boast an equalizer (with just four presets, mind you), an AM / FM radio and a clock, but all that definitely does not add up to $199 worth of (non-name brand) gear.[Via SlashGear]
Eclipse offering up CD7200 mk II in-dash head unit
Just in case you haven't had your fill of in-car audio news tonight, Eclipse is hitting us up with a brand spankin' new head unit of its own. The CD7200 mk II should slide right into any single-DIN gap, and it comes HD Radio / SAT radio-ready in case you grow tired of listening to those MP3 / WMA discs of yours. Additionally, this unit features a built-in USB port, eight-volt pre-amp, E-iSERV technology, iPod support and SRS Circle Surround to boot. Your guess is as good as ours when it comes to a price and release date, though, but we'd bet this one won't remain in the shadows for too much longer.
Alpine eX-10 makes in-car handsfree calling, iPod integration a sinch
Alpine's already shown us (however briefly) one of its newfangled in-car audio accessories, and now it's time for numero dos. The eX-10 is a stylish iPod controller / Bluetooth adapter that includes a dash-mountable, full-color 2.4-inch display unit to clearly show what's spinnin' on your iPod. It also comes bundled with a remote to keep you marginally less distracted when flipping through playlists, and it saves you the trouble of hard wiring anything by operating on a spare FM slot. Granted, FM transmitters are always hit 'n (mostly) miss, but this unit allows users to hook things up via a 3.5-millimeter auxiliary jack if their head unit accepts such an input. Look for this one to start shipping at any moment for $199.99, and be sure to check out a closeup of the LCD after the jump.
Clarion's double-DIN MAX685BT head unit sports Bluetooth, iPod controls
We've oh-so-little to go on right now, but initial impressions of the double-DIN MAX685BT are underwhelming at best. This in-dash AV center looks to sport a relatively ho hum display, integrated cellphone / navigation support and Bluetooth connectivity, but none of these totally expected features are likely to drop any jaws. Additionally, it plays nice with your dock-connecting iPod and offers up a built-in USB port, but unless Clarion reveals some earth-shattering addition that we're not yet aware of, we'll probably pass on this one.
Elonex offers up Cube Play boombox, eXentia pro all-in-one PC
It's been nearly three years since Elonex delivered its original eXentia Media Center PC, but now the firm is hitting back with a new iteration along with an interesting boombox. The £999 ($2,045) eXentia pro all-in-one PC (pictured after the jump) boasts a 22-inch LCD and packs a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, DVD writer, integrated WiFi / Bluetooth and Windows Vista. As for the Cube Play (£179; $366), you'll find a fairly standard looking home stereo system with an eye-catching seven-inch LCD stuffed right in the middle of the action. What's that for, you say? Probably for you to check out DVDs or OTA Freeview broadcasts courtesy of the built-in DVD player and DVB TV tuner, that's what. Furthermore, the unit packs AV outputs, a USB port for loading up media, an FM tuner and a wireless remote. We'd say you could go on and pick up either right away, but both look to be out of stock for the time being.[Thanks, Alex]Read - Elonex Cube PlayRead - Elonex eXentia pro
Clarion unveils colorful double-DIN head units
Oh sure, we've seen plenty of flashy and sophisticated devices aimed at filling that gaping double-DIN hole in your dash, but how's about a device that 10-year old passengers and suckers for all-things-adorable would also dig? Enter Clarion's newest duo, which comes in either white (DUB275MP) or black (DUB275MPB; seen after the jump) and actually packs quite a nice feature set considering the lighthearted design. Aside from the CD drive, it also offers up a front-mounted USB port for loading up MP3 / WMA files, customizable accent lights, optional Bluetooth, AM / FM tuner, a 50-watt x 4 amplifier and a cutesy display to boot. Check 'em out later this month for ¥34,650 ($295) apiece.[Via ShinyShiny]
iStuff offers up Domino 2.1 iPod speaker station
Considering that the trendy white iPod HiFi is no more, it's no surprise to see another company filling the void with a rectangular iPod speaker station of its own. The iStuff Domino 2.1 sports an eerily familiar layout, 30 total watts of amplification, a pair of two-inch wide-range drivers coupled with two three-inch magnetically shielded fiberglass cone subwoofers, an S-Video output, USB connector, 3.5-millimeter auxiliary input and RCA stereo outs. Furthermore, this unit claims to play nice with the newest family of iPods, comes with a wireless remote and can be snapped up right now for £99.99 ($204).[Via iLounge]
Ministry of Sound's latest boombox plays nice with iPod, flash cards
Merely months after doling out a fresh new DAP, Ministry of Sound is making sure the boombox lovers get their fix, too. Available now, the MOSMC1319P micro system includes a pair of two-way speakers and boasts 20 total watts of amplification, a built-in iPod dock, FM tuner, USB interface, VFD function display, a preset equalizer, and a wireless remote. Furthermore, this unit plays nice with MP3 / WMA / WAV and even handles audio stored on your SD or MMC flash card. It's all yours for £87.99 ($177).[Via ShinyShiny]
