speaker

As a reviewer I have to admit I've blown up more than my share of speakers over the years. I usually push the limits just before I finish the review and ship them back to their maker. Hey, it's my job and I like to see how loud they can go, and most of them survive my torture tests just fine, but some can't take the heat, like the Sony DAV-X10's poor little satellite I popped last week. The 2-inch "woofer" fell prey to my over zealous fun with Eminem's "Live From … Read more

It's happy translucent speaker day in Crave, and we've got an acrylic orgy for you to sweat over. Ferguson Hill's FH007 is a set of four clear speakers: two shaped like balls for handling low-frequency sounds, and two "horn-loaded" models for high frequencies. Included in our setup is the optional FH008 100W subwoofer. Together, this lot will set you back about 800 pounds (around $1,652).

These unusual speakers are aimed at the style-conscious (read: super-rich) audiophile, and they come with the promise that they'll blend into any environment without appearing to take up … Read more

Now here's one way to get around potential trademark disputes with the lawyers in Cupertino. The "apple-style" MP3 player pictured here is shaped like the fruit in several colors, as seen on 7Gadgets, though it doesn't bear the hallowed Apple (uppercase) logo. Then, to go with it, you can get a pair of USB speakers that, when fastened with their attached magnets, also take the shape of the aforementioned seeded product, which Slippery Brick says is available in shades of red and green. It should also be noted, for the record, that neither offering has the … Read more

The GigaWorks HD50 is Creative's latest stereo desktop speakers aimed at the mid- to high-end audio crowd. Each speaker is fitted with a Titanium Super Tweeter and Creative High Definition Driver, which the Singapore-based company claims will "deliver smooth highs and natural, accurate lows." Creative has also equipped the HD50 with BasXPort technology, which it claims will offer a good bass without the need for a subwoofer.

But what's particularly interesting about the HD50 is its diminutive size: It looks no taller than the height of a standard CD case, making it ideal for those with … Read more

Formerly priced at $425 per speaker, these speakers from a respected maker are now listed at around $250 per speaker--a pretty substantial discount. Round out your home theater or immerse yourself in games with an audio upgrade.

What: Boston Acoustics tower speaker How much: $249.99 Shipping: Free Where: Amazon.com When: Through unknown date

Click here for product review.

Put that silly iPod away--this time it's the real deal--extreme hi-fi by and for fanatics. Chances are you've never heard a truly great sounding audio system, so it'll be hard to imagine living with sound that can take you to another place. The very best systems can summon up hot blooded performances of your favorite artists. It's music in the foreground, upfront and real--sure, your $29 plastic computer speakers can play tunes, but without a hint of passion, totally devoid of human spirit. It's merely music as background noise, a drone to fill in the … Read more

As mobile phones continue their evolution as uber-devices for music and everything else, they've struggled with such things as external speakers--with some particularly strange ideas surfacing along the way. But here's an interesting twist: Why not make a pair that resembles the speaking end of an old Ma Bell analog receiver?

That's our impression, anyway, of these new portable Philips speakers made for Nokia handsets. Gadgetizer says the mini-system, which comes in black or white, also has an FM radio built into the dock. All it needs is an old-fashioned dial for navigation. Of course, if … Read more

We've long wondered if there'd ever be a digital equivalent to two tin cans a string (other than our lousy cell phone, that is), and this is the closest thing we've ever seen.

The "Boosted Tin Can Speaker Set" is the product of a collaboration between Sprint's Boost Mobile and various graffiti artists, according to Tech Digest. The 5-inch speakers are more for looks than for sound, but that's just fine with us: Anything that applies graffitti to something other than our car or house is a good thing.

For some reason that we've yet to fathom, people seem to have a fascination with speakers in water--on the surface, underneath and with some unfortunate designs. But the Korean company Nexspeaker has taken the concept even further: with a speaker system that's shaped like a sailboat.

This 2.1-channel system pipes sound through its speaker sails, according to Gizmodo, and even has a subwoofer on deck. Alas, it doesn't appear to be an actual seagoing vessel. But that might be a good thing, because it probably wouldn't last more than a few seconds if Craver Caroline … Read more