iPhone 3GS from AT&T. Free ShippingPortable speakers for your MP3 player are easy enough to come by, but the smaller of these often suffer from problematic audio. Every once in a while, though, we come across a supercompact speaker that surprises us. The X-Mini Max II Capsule Speaker is one such model, featuring an innovative, travel-friendly design and surprisingly good sound quality for just $49.95. One thing's for sure: we wouldn't complain if we found one of these under our tree this year.
Read the X-Mini Max II review.
Digital music aficionados who are constantly behind the wheel are often faced with the dilemma of how to connect their MP3 players to their car stereos. The lucky ones have head units with direct line-in ports, and a few may even be driving around in vehicles old enough to sport the good-old cassette deck.
Either instance requires a simple wired attachment, but for those who aren't blessed with such accouterments, playing MP3 audio in the car is a little more challenging. Two options remain: custom install a hardwire connection or play music over often-spotty FM transmitters. Thankfully, there are a handful of transmitters on the market with solid performance, including the Eznex EzCube, a tiny device that connects to any MP3 player and will set you back about $50.
Fashion-forward audio accessories are nothing new. In the past couple of years, we've seen quite the parade of chic headphones from the likes of Phiaton and Monster Cable. Nixon, a company best known for its board-sport-inspired line of watches and other accessories, has decided to dip its toe in these waters, too, and it should come as no surprise that the company's Nomadic On Ear Headphones are among the most stylish we've come across. However, these $100 cans suffer from muted, mid-heavy audio that's hard to overlook.
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Corinne Schulze/CBS Interactive)
To put the word "audiophile" in the name of your product is a bold claim indeed, but that's exactly what Soundmatters did with its FoxL Personal Audiophile Loudspeaker. This travel-friendly speaker is among the most compact we've seen, and yet it manages to offer exceptional range and clarity, not to mention a tight low-end.
However, you'll need a wired connection to enjoy the speaker's audio capability. The FoxL comes in a Bluetooth model ($249) and a standard version ($199), but we don't recommend dropping the extra $50 for wireless connectivity.
Read the Soundmatters FoxL review.
One of several problems that can plague portable speakers is a lack of stereo separation. The easiest way to remedy this issue is to create a design where each speaker driver is actually housed in a separate unit, so that the left and right channels can be placed some distance from one another. Sony implements this technique in its SRS-M50 Portable Speakers, a compact set that retails for $49.99, and there's no doubt the unit offers better separation than most ultraportable speakers. In fact, overall sound quality is pretty decent, the style is likable, and the design lends itself well to portable use, all of which makes the SRS-M50 a great option for frequent fliers. Read the Sony SRS-M50 review.
'Tis the season to give, but with the current economic crunch affecting all of our pocketbooks, you may find yourself too cash-strapped to go all out on electronic gadgetry. But that doesn't mean you have to shy away from tech gifting. MP3 player accessories make great gifts and the majority of them aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg. In fact, you can find some cases on Amazon for less than two bucks!
If you have a SanDisk Sansa owner in your family, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up a slew of accouterments that are perfect for stuffing stockings and loading up under trees.
The BS300 is truly pocketable.
(Credit: Samsung)You don't need much more than your MP3 player--whether it's a standalone device or an app built into your cell phone--to enjoy all your favorite tunes on the go, but certain accessories can up the entertainment factor.
For example, if you spend a lot of time in hotel rooms, a portable speaker is practically a necessity, allowing you to rock out without being tethered to your headphones. In fact, why not do away with the wires entirely? One of the more advanced features you can find in portable speakers on the market today is built-in Bluetooth technology. This wireless protocol lets you stream music from any device with integrated A2DP technology, which can be found in most media-centric cell phones (save the iPhone) and even a handful of dedicated MP3 players.
The speakers often include integrated keys for controlling music playback, and some even offer mics for use as a speakerphone--and, really, we see no reason not to kill two birds with one stone.
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(Credit: CBS Interactive/Corinne Schulze)If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That has to be one of our favorite expressions here at CNET, and the hearing professionals who head up Westone clearly abide by it. In 2006, we got our hands on the company's only two pairs of consumer earphones--the UM1 and the UM2--both of which received high marks for their good looks, comfortable fit, and excellent sound quality. Rather than toy with two winning products, the company has added a third headphone to the lineup, the ultrahigh-end Westone 3 True Fit Earphones ($399). These super sweet-sounding headphones are pricey and a bit chunky for our liking, but their stellar audio performance more than makes up for any misgivings. Read the Westone 3 review.
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(Credit: CNET/Corinne Schulze)iPod speakers are a dime a dozen. There are big ones and small ones; black ones and red ones; some with alarm clocks, and many with built-in docks. As one might expect, you don't have to look hard to find models with integrated FM--and even AM--radios, but if you must have cutting-edge tech, HD radio with iTunes Tagging is where it's at. Among the handful of models offering this feature is the JBL On Time 400iHD, a tabletop speaker dock with JBL's signature space-age design. At $300, the On Time is anything but cheap, but the plethora of features and excellent FM radio reception may make it worth it for some. Read the JBL On Time 400iHD review.
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Aerielle)
Wireless music sharing isn't a new concept--just take a look at the Microsoft Zune, which lets you beam songs to other Zune owners with the press of a button. The problem with the Zune is that everyone you want to share with must have that specific brand of MP3 player.
Aerielle is offering a different take on music sharing with the i2i Stream, a device that connects to any MP3 player and headphones. Each i2i Stream acts as a transmitter and receiver, allowing the user to either broadcast music or tune in to others' "stations"--and either one is extremely easy to do. No doubt, the concept isn't for everyone, but for those who like to rock out in groups, it's a great solution.
Aerielle sells a pair of i2i Streams for $99.95, so you'll always know someone who has one, but the price needs to come down quite a bit before we'll consider it a value. Read the i2i Stream review.
