speakers

For some time now, we've been playing a little game to see how high speaker prices would go. Most have come in around the level of the "Vivid Audio B1 Loudspeakers" ($13,500 a pair) or the "Karissima" line ($24,400 each), but some have reached as high as the $140,000 or $150,000 (the "Muon" and "La Sphere," respectively).

Chump change.

Meet the "Grand Enigma," a set that tops a list of "the world's most expensive speakers" compiled by HigherFi. The price? A cool $… Read more

There must be something in the air--or the water, to be precise. Just as we were wrapping up an item on a waterproof LCD, we got a note from our friends at Electronic House about a speaker that's designed specifically for the shower.

That alone is hardly new, but this one is still worth noting for its unobtrusive design. While most bath-friendly speakers blend into the decor about as seemlessly as an aloha shirt at the cotillion, the "SoundTile," does its best to live up to its name by looking like an intentional part of its surroundings … Read more

Despite what we've seen on the market lately, there's no rule that says portable speakers must look like electronic mutations. In fact, as mobile phone makers get more comfortable with their musical side, they're beginning to create better speaker concepts all the time.

From an aesthetic perspective, Veritronix has come up with an eye-catcher that seems ideal if you don't need a phone with surround sound and don't want an attachment that's reminiscent of The Fly. And beyond its good looks, we appreciate that the VX-818--which measures a svelt half-inch thick--works wirelessly and … Read more

iPod speaker systems are a dime a dozen, but Jamo has succeeded in designing a lovely little setup that'll slot nicely under your television or on your bookshelf. Called i200, this trendy iPod dock has been designed by the award-winning Danish team Birgitte Smedegaard and Stine Weiss. These aesthetic goddesses have knocked up a system that looks lovely and sounds equally impressive.

While this is no replacement for a main hi-fi system, it'll happily complement a modern kitchen or bedroom and comes with a quaint little remote control for skipping through tracks while cooking your Sunday roast.

The … Read more

With so many wireless headphones available, one might wonder why anyone would want something like the "TV Hear" remote speaker. Basically, it's a wireless "personal" speaker with a 30-foot range that lets you listen to the telly without disturbing a sleeping spouse or anyone else within earshot of average volumes.

But some people still like to hear things in the open air, and Brookstone says there are other uses for this speaker, such as listening to the TV while you "bounce from room to room--trying to cook dinner, for example, while catching the evening … Read more

You'd think summer had already arrived, given the recent spate of frolick-worthy products ranging from pool-dwelling jellyfish to splash-proof LCDs, not to mention at least two types of iPod-enabled grills.

But if all you want to do is enjoy your music wirelessly in the open air--and feel good about it, ecologically--then something like the "Outdoor Wireless Solar Speaker" might be in order. This cord-free acoustic device can work up to 150 feet from your stereo or computer, lasting as long as eight hours after each solar charge.

Just be sure that your microwave and land lines don'… Read more

Ridiculously expensive loudspeakers seem to be something of a trend on Crave lately, alongside more realistic products for the rest of us. And while not all can command prices of $150,000, there's no shortage of those that can still drain a budget in a hurry.

One thing we've noticed is a curious phenomenon regarding their design, which appears to get more interplanetary with each level of pricing. The "Vivid Audio B1 Loudspeakers," for example, have taken an alien-type form that we've observed in other species in the galaxy.

Maintaining a unique design is a … Read more

We loved the floating MP3 player showcased recently by fellow Craver Tim Moynihan, despite his rather graphic description of its design (which, we suspect, says more about Tim than the device in question). But it's got some competition in the hypercompetitive aquatic music market.

The "Drop Speaker" from Zumreed has waterproof controls so it can be handled alongside the bath, pool, hot tub or any other venue where you typically splash your electronics. And beyond the unique droplet design (get it?) that conceals an iPod dock insider, Technabob says the speaker comes in blue, white and orange … Read more

With all due respect to the penguin speakers craved by some of our colleagues (OK, just one), we think this pair is the best way to go if your audio equipment must be shaped like an animal.

Hong Kong-based Brando is often known for its bizarre products, including speakers, but we give them credit for this "USB Mickey Mouse" model. Well, maybe not too much credit: As Gizmodo notes, there's no indication that Brando has been licensed to use the iconic ears by trademark-obsessed Disney. So if you want a pair of these, you may want to … Read more