Going for a consistent look for your Apple setup? With a small footprint, aluminum body and matching detachable stands, the uCube speakers from UltraLink have a style that looks like they should have been included in the box with an iMac or MacBook. Plug ‘n’ Play USB powered, they claim to utilize a “smart” Digital Signal Processing power supply and a Balanced Mode Regulator for better sound even at higher volume levels. That all sounds pretty cool. Get it? Sounds pretty cool?Anyway, they are available in silver, black or red and can be found at several online sellers such as Thinkgeek, Crutchfield and Apple itself. Only drawback may be the price—$150 a pair, which means styling isn’t the only thing uCube has in common with Apple products.

Filed in categories: Desktop Computer Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

uCube Speakers Have Apple-like Styling (and Price) originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 18, 2012 at 8:00 am.

In my X-mini KAI Capsule Speaker review I mentioned two things that I considered might be worth pointing out.  The first was the price. When I reviewed the KAI  I showed it around to a lot of my mates. The universal opinion was ” Oooh I love the size! Oooh I love the sound! Oooh, the price….I don’t love it that much!”. Second was the fact that the mono speaker might not be enough for stereo “purists”. When X-mini saw this they offered to send me review units of two others of their speakers, the II Capsule Speaker and the MAX II Capsule Speaker from their range that addressed these concerns.  Will they meet the grade ? Read on…….

A quick comparison

KAI, II Capsule, MAX II

Above you can see the differences in size between the three models.  The II Capsule  is slightly smaller than the KAI while each MAX II is the largest in the series.

X-mini II Capsule Speaker

The X-mini II Capsule Speaker is the predecessor of the Kai without the Bluetooth connectivity. The same 40mm speaker, the same 2.5W of power and the same Bass Xpansion System.  It’s slightly lighter at 83.5g , and smaller at 60 mm×44mm (closed resonator), and is rated at a higher 12 hours of music, though from my experience if running “conservatively”,  the built in battery lasts quite a bit longer. And the price……..well it’s SGD$49.90 ($29.90US), compared with SGD$139 ($99US) – so over 2/3rds less than the KAI. And for all you fashionistas out there, it’s available in 9 different colours so you can accessorize (black, blue, orange, pink, purple, red, green, silver and white).

Just like the KAI, it has the integrated (albeit short 11.5cm) 3.5mm stereo connector, Buddyjack port (more on that later), and a USB port for charging, and the longer stereo cable (58cm),  but other than that, there’s only an on/off switch and a rotary volume dial. The II Capsule is made of a painted plastic whereas the KAI is has a much nicer matte rubberised finish.

Once again running this from a variety of devices, with many different genres of music, the II Capsule demonstrated the same aural qualities as the KAI.  Crisp and clear with a bass that certainly exceeds what you expect from something this small. If you don’t need Bluetooth connectivity (which in the X-mini range certainly comes at a price) and want a tiny and portable mono sound solution, then the II Capsule is definitely worth considering.

The only concern I have is the open driver unit like with the Kai.  I’m still really scared that something’s going to get in and pierce the cone even when it’s stored in its supplied pouch.

X-Mini MAX II Capsule Speaker

For those stereo “purists”, the MAX II Capsule may be the answer. One of the trade-offs you’ll have with stereo is having to carry two speakers with you so you’ll have additional size and weight and also the associated cables. The neat thing about the MAX II is that the speakers connect together for storage and transport via a couple of small magnets in the bottom.  Available in black, red or white, at 65.8mm×53.4 mm (closed resonator) and weighing in at 178g, they’re not going to take up too much space or add too much weight in your gadget bag. Like the capsule speaker above , each speaker independently puts out 2.5W and is rated for 12 hours of music (again  conservative as I’ve been running these 9 hours a day for the last week). Pricing is SGD$74.90 (approx $50US).

A single cable gives you all the connectors you’ll need: 1 X USB, 2 X miniUSB, and a 3.5mm audio. The cable is around 75cm in length and includes a rotary volume knob built in. The cable itself might be the “weak point” of the MAX II. It’s a fairly specific cable and while you can get replacement cables from X-mini, if it dies on  you there’s not a lot you can do to jury rig up a replacement. Note too that there’s a left and right plug on the multi-cable and I’ve actually rigged them up incorrectly above.   The cable is easy to set up but a bit unwielding and messy, though in the picture above I have everything pretty close together, something you’re not going to do if you separate everything out for stereo sound. Also supplied is a soft pouch to fit all this equipment into when you’re on the move.

Rather than a “flat” speaker like the two mono offerings, the MAX IIs have an angled driver in them.  It’s not a big angle and is designed to assist in directing the sound out towards the listener. Not surprisingly, each speaker in the stereo pair performs very similarly to an individual II Capsule speaker or KAI.  So you can expect clear, bright, and distinct mids and highs with sufficient bass for most genres of music or movie soundtracks.  If you crank it up enough, you can get those speakers “dancing”. Low’s appeared to be deeper than the II Capsule; however, this may be because you’re getting double the bass with two speakers. The stereo sounds fatter and fuller than the mono offerings, but I suppose this is really to be expected running in stereo.

Once again, and perhaps it’s just me as I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere else, but the MAX IIs have even less (no) protection of the speaker – the cones are completely exposed. A ripped or torn cone can’t be a good thing, can it?

Buddy Jack

Buddy Jacking is the capability to connect one X-mini speaker to another whether it be a mono or stereo speaker.  Connecting two mono speakers  still gives you two mono signals, but it’s amazing how much difference it makes to the volume and fullness of the sound.  In the above example, I can still use Bluetooth to remotely control my music player via the KAI.

Similarly I can connect the MAX IIs to the KAI.  Buddy Jacking this way results in the  MAX IIs outputting stereo but the KAI was still putting out mono sound.  If you want true stereo sound you don’t really want a mixed mono sound in the middle to “muddy” the separation.  Again though, the addition of two sets of speakers made the output volume substantially fuller. This function can also be used to connect your Bluetooth device to a home stereo or something similar.

Stereo separation aside (especially given that it’s not really what this function is about), if you had multiple X-minis and want to pump up the volume at a gathering, this feature is very handy to fill that space with a “bigger” and “fuller” sound.

The last option is to connect them all together for 4 X the sound and because the MAX IIs are the master I’m getting full stereo sound.

In summary

Both sets of speakers met my expectations built from my review of the KAI.  Clear and crisp mids and highs, sufficient bass to let you know it’s there, and certainly more prominent than you’d expect from such a small driver.  My mates are all blown away (not quite literally ) by the sound quality that comes out of all the X-mini range. Okay, they’re not going to satisfy a high-fidelity fanatic, and the bass isn’t going to rattle your teeth or burst your eardrums, but if that’s what you’re after you won’t be looking at these anyway. They’re aimed at the on the move sound enthusiast who wants a good balance between size, weight, and sound. If you need to share some tunes, or need to pump out more volume than the built-in speaker in your player, phone, or tablet currently puts out, then they certainly fit the bill.  If you’re in the market for this sort of speaker, either of these speakers is a really good option. If  Bluetooth isn’t important to you, they definitely come at a better price point than the KAI but with the same great quality and sound. If you need to fill a space with sound and you (or your mates) have multiple units, the Buddy Jack system works extremely well to further pump up the volume and “enhance” the sound.

Be warned though, like all market-leading and “trendy” products, there  are many reports of pirated and counterfeit versions of these out there with varying build and sound quality. Ensure you purchase either directly from X-mini or from an authorised distributor/reseller.

“Sound beyond size”…….you betcha.

Both speakers are available from the X-mini Estore

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speakers

X-mini II Capsule and MAX II Capsule Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 8, 2012 at 11:12 am.

The iHome iDM5 is a Bluetooth keyboard speaker system for smartphones and tablets. It features a full sized keyboard along with speakers and a microphone that offer speakerphone and streaming audio capability. The speakers have SoundClear® Voice echo cancellation and Music 3D technology along with SRS TruBass sound enhancement. If all that doesn’t get you interested, the iDM5 also provides 2 powered USB ports so you can use it to charge two devices. Is it just me, or does this device remind you of the Commodore 64? If you’re interested in the iHOme iDM5 space saving keyboard / speaker combo, you can buy one now for $129.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad, Keyboard, Speakers

iHome Releases iDM5 Executive Work Station originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 24, 2012 at 1:00 pm.

The La Boite Concept+CC LAB’s LD120 Hi-Fi Soundsystem+Laptop Desk from the A+R Store is the first high-fidelity laptop desk.  The desk has a leather-covered surface, and it’s available with red, black, or white legs with a piano-lacquered finish.  It measures 30″ tall x 22.5″ wide x 20.5″ deep.  It has a built-in DAC (digital-to-analog converter) sound card, 2 x 25W and 1 x 70W amps, and two tweeters and two mid-range speakers on the front, two full-range speakers at the back, and one woofer located under the desk.  Put the desk against a wall, and the two full-range speakers will reflect off the wall to create a wide stereo image.  You connect your laptop via USB, and there is also a 3.5mm audio jack and a pair of RCA jacks to connect other audio devices.  There’s even a power outlet for your laptop, so you have only one power cord from the desk to plug in.  It’s $1680.00, and that price at least includes shipping within the continental US.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Laptop desk, Speakers

La Boite Concept+CC LAB’s LD120 Hi-Fi Soundsystem+Laptop Desk originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 4, 2012 at 9:17 am.

I’m currently looking for an extension speaker for my Thinkpad Tablet as the in-built speaker is pathetic (yes singular). That being said, I don’t want it connected all the time – only when I want to share watching a movie and the like.  I want it portable and rugged enough to take with me wherever I go, just in case. The Zooka Wireless Speaker is a Kickstarter project that’s already fully funded.  The Zooka is a Bluetooth speaker with rechargeable battery and a silicone exterior. It can clip onto most tablets and notebooks, and the silicone exterior means you don’t have to worry about scratching your precious device. The battery will support up to 8 hours, it includes a 3.5mm jack for non-Bluetooth devices and comes in 6 colors (plus an exclusive glow in the dark model).

Retail price will be $99, and though fully-funded, there’s still some pledge options to get one before they go retail.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Zooka Wireless Speaker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 22, 2012 at 9:00 am.

I recently reviewed the Booster Mini Amplifier from Orb Audio, and I had ordered a pair of Mod 1 speakers so I could review the amp.  I was very surprised to also receive speakers and a subwoofer with the Booster amp, and I ended up with 2 extra pairs of Orb Audio Mod 1 speakers.  I certainly didn’t want these beautiful little speakers to go to waste, so I decided I’d buy a couple of Orb’s Mini-T amplifiers to use with the “extra” speakers.  The Mini-T is the smallest amp that Orb sells for use with TVs, computers, and iPods.  I’ll be using these small systems in the bedrooms in my house.

Most of the pictures in this review can be clicked for an enlarged view.

Specifications

• 15W/ch (more than enough power for the Orbs)
• Distortion:  0.04% THD+N (9W, 4 ohm)
• Efficiency:  88%  (10W, 8 ohm)
• Dynamic Range:  102 dB
• Input:  100V-240V AC 50/60Hz

The Mini-T is a gray, plastic box that measures 6″ wide X 5.5 ” deep X 1.25″ tall.  It’s very lightweight.  The front of the Mini-T has some prominent Orb Audio branding.  There’s only one control on the Mini-T – a large, rheostat-type button that pushes to turn the unit on/off and turns to adjust the volume.  The Mini-T has no remote control.

The back of the Mini-T has only one input.  A 3.5mm audio cable is required to connect your audio source to the Mini-T.  Unlike the Booster, you can’t use standard RCA connectors, you can’t have multiple sources, and there is no subwoofer connection.  They aren’t exactly like the speaker connectors on the Booster, but the Mini-T also uses bare-wire connectors for the speakers.

You’ll notice there are only right and left speaker connectors on the Mini-T amp.  There’s no possibility of surround sound.  You can connect a subwoofer to this amp, though.  Since there is no dedicated subwoofer connector on the Mini-T, you’ll need a subwoofer with hi level in/out speaker wire connectors.  You’ll run speaker wires out from the amp to the hi-level in on the subwoofer, then run more wires from the hi-level out on the subwoofer to the mid-/high-range speakers.  I don’t have a subwoofer for either of my Mini-Ts, though.

The FAQs at Orb say that any 8″ subwoofer will work fine with Orb speakers.  Most 10″ subwoofers should work as long as they have a variable crossover that goes to at least 120.  The beauty of the Orb systems is their modularity.  You can start out small and add to your system as your budget allows.

I was surprised to see battery compartments on the bottom of the Mini-T.  You’ll need four AA batteries for each compartment, but you can operate the Mini-T and speakers off batteries.  The Mini-T and the Orb Mod 1 speakers are small and light enough that you could put them in a bag and take them with you as you go about your day.

I don’t want to risk scratching up my Mod 1 speakers, so I won’t be using this as a portable system.

The only things in the box, other than the amp itself, are an installation brochure and the power supply.  Instead of one of those chunky wall warts that use up too much space on the power strip, the Mini-T has a normal plug  that connects into a power brick.  I like that because space on my power strips is always at a premium.

The speaker connectors don’t use RCA plugs.  Instead, there are + and – connectors for each channel.  You press on the colored tab to open the connector, insert the bare end of the speaker wire, and the connector clamps the wire into place.  To prevent damage to the system, be sure to connect the red connector on the back of the amp to the red post on the speaker.

One thing I found very strange was the placement of the right and left channels on the back of the amp.  Perhaps I’ve been doing it wrong all these years, but I always use my left and right when I place the left and right speakers.  When you look at the amp from the front, the right and left connectors are on the “wrong side”, and I had to cross the speaker wires at the back of the amp when I connected everything.  It doesn’t hurt anything; it just used up a couple of extra inches of speaker wire on each side.

If you read my Booster amp review, you’ll have already seen pictures of the Orb Mod 1 speakers.  These speakers are in the antiqued bronze finish.  They are also available in metallic black, pearl white, hammered earth, antiqued copper, and hand-polished steel.  The black and white have the lowest price; the other finishes are extra cost options.

These posts are for connecting the speaker wires.  The posts are marked with red or black tops.  Depress the post to insert the wire, making sure you are connecting the red from the amp to the red on the speaker and black to black.

Technical Specifications for Mod 1 and Mod 2 Speakers

• Speaker type: Magnetically shielded full-range satellite speaker.  Crossover-free design for coherent, lifelike sound.
• Driver: Advanced high-excursion 3″ full range polypropylene driver cone with Santoprene surround.  These materials maintain their sonic characteristics over long periods of time and also through a broad range of temperatures and operating environments.
• Magnet assembly: Fully shielded, high-density neodymium magnet with proprietary voice coil in high tolerance gap to create strong, highly focused magnetic field.  Compact magnet design allows for maximum free internal volume and extension of low midrange performance.
• Binding posts: Custom gold-plated brass binding posts (fits up to 14 Ga. wire)
• Frequency response: 80Hz – 20,000Hz (120Hz-18,000Hz optimal)
• Efficiency:  89dB
• Impedance: Mod1:  8 ohms nominal; Mod2:  4 ohms nominal. (Mod2 is compatible with all popular receivers & amps rated at 6-8 ohms)
• Power handling: 15 – 115W (also compatible with most higher wattage receivers, max. recommended volume setting of about 3/4 will be LOUD!)
• Speaker dimensions: 4 3/16″ W x 4 3/16″ H x 4 7/8″ D
• Construction: American carbon steel, assembled in USA
• Finishes: metallic black, pearl white, hammered earth, polished steel, antiqued bronze, antiqued copper
• Included accessories: 16 gauge American steel adjustable desk stands (available in black and white)

The backs of the speakers are threaded to attach them to the speaker stands.  Mod 1 speakers come with the standard black (or white) metal stands.  The stands come with a large screw to attach the speaker.  No tools are required for assembly.

The topmost picture shows the Mini-T amp (under the small white and blue lamp) and Mod 1 speakers in my bedroom.  This picture shows the amp (behind the remotes) and the Mod 1 speakers in my teenage daughter’s room.

In Rachel’s room, I have the Mini-T amp plugged into an Apple Airport Express Base Station so she can stream music wirelessly from her iPad.  She doesn’t use the system for her TV sound.

In my bedroom, I have the Mini-T connected directly to the TV.  I prefer to listen to music using the larger Orb setup with subwoofer in the living room.  The TV in my bedroom has wimpy speakers, and the Orb system delivers much better sound.

You’ll notice from the technical specifications for the speakers that their frequency range is 80-20,000Hz.  These speakers are missing a thumping bottom end, but they still sound better than my TV’s speakers.  In the future, I’d like to add a small subwoofer to my bedroom system.  The Orb speakers sound good by themselves, but bass is never a bad thing.

Even though the speakers and the amp are small, I get clear, clean, room-filling sound from the Mini-T setup.  It improves the sound from my TV without taking up a lot of room.  Rachel loves her little system, too.  If she’s good this year, Santa may bring her a small subwoofer for Christmas, but she’s certainly enjoying her music now.  The only thing we both would like is a remote control, because we both have trouble remembering to go over and turn off the amp.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Amplifier, Speakers

Orb Audio Mini-T Amplifier and Speakers Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 15, 2012 at 11:16 am.

The picture above is dominated by my giant 65″ TV, but you’ll notice two little speakers sitting in front of the screen (click for a larger view).  These little beauties are Mod 2 speakers from Orb Audio, a US-based “high-end speaker manufacturer who has proven that price does not equate to quality in the home audio industry.”  You’ll also see the Orb Audio Booster Amplifier in the right side of the TV cabinet (green lights identify it).  What you can’t see is the Super 8 subwoofer sitting on the floor behind the cabinet.  Orb Audio has added a couple of amplifiers to their offerings, and they offered The Gadgeteer the opportunity to review their Booster Mini Amplifier.  I was very excited to be selected to do the review, as it had been a few years since I had any sort of audio setup in my house.  I’d been making do with the wimpy built-in speakers in my TV and in my computer.  How do the Orb Audio Booster Mini Amplifier and Orb Audio speakers perform?  As a hint, we’ll find out their beauty is more than skin deep.

Most images can be clicked for an enlargement.

Orb Audio states their goal has always been “to turn the normal practices of many speaker manufacturers upside down, and to deliver speaker systems with the finest quality components, an attractive, upscale design and an affordable price.  The only way to accomplish all of this was to be different from the other players in the industry, make our speakers in the United States, and to sell them to our clients directly to avoid substantial (and totally unnecessary) markups.”  You won’t see Orb Audio products in a local store, unless you happen to be in New York City or Los Angeles.  If you wonder how you buy speakers without hearing them first, don’t worry.  You’ll get 30 days to try them out in your home before you commit to the purchase.

I’ve lusted for the Orb Audio speakers since Julie reviewed them with her own amp back in 2008.  I live in a small house with my family, and space is at a premium here.  The small size of these speakers is just what I needed, and I loved the sleek, round metal design.  I didn’t have an amplifier at the time, and I was paralyzed by the prospect of finding just the right amp to go with the speakers.  In 2008, I had a big rear-projection TV that had decent speakers, and I could listen to music with headphones, so I forgot about buying any A/V equipment at the time.

When I replaced my old TV with a flat-screen TV, I started thinking about home theater systems.  I didn’t want to buy one of those boxed systems.  I didn’t want a cheap system, but I didn’t want to buy a huge, expensive system, either. In the years since Julie’s review, Orb Audio has started offering some third-party home theater amplifiers that they have tested and determined to work well with their speaker systems.  I didn’t want to start with something as expensive as those amps, but I was intrigued by their own Booster Mini Amplifier.

The Booster Mini amp has entry-level home theater features.  You can use it with your TV, but you’ll only have left/right front channels.  There’s no surround sound with the Booster.  It was designed for use with computers, TVs, and MP3 players.  Just like with its bigger, more expensive cousins, you can hook up multiple sources and control playback with the included remote control.  You can add a subwoofer for fuller sound.  The Booster is great in the living room, bedroom, or anywhere you want music without investing a huge amount of money and needing a lot of space.

When I was selected to review the Booster Mini amp, I went to the Orb Audio website and ordered a Quick Pack set of Mod 1 speakers in hammered earth color to use with the amp. The beauty of the Orb Audio system is its modularity.  You can start small, like I planned to do, with just an amp and one pair of single orb speakers.  As you desire, you can build your system by adding a subwoofer, converting the Mod 1 speakers to Mod 2 or even Mod 4 speakers, adding a center channel speaker, or rear surround-sound speakers (with amps that have these other channels, at least).  I was going to start small with just one pair of Mod 1 speakers, and I planned to add a subwoofer later.

Imagine my surprise when a couple of big boxes arrived; Orb Audio had sent along some speakers and a subwoofer, too.

The Booster Mini amp is small, and it’s constructed of black aluminum.  It measures about 6″ wide X 6″ deep X 1.75″ tall.  The sides, bottom, and top are all solid metal with no grids or grills.  The front is simple with no gauges or dials.  You can see the power button at the far left (bottom) with a large IR sensor located above it.  Next is a status light (red when off, green when on), a button to select the input source, and four lights to indicate which source is currently selected.  There are two volume buttons, a mute button, and finally, indicator lights to show volume level (green, orange, red).

On the back, you can see there are four inputs: two sets of left/right RCA connectors and two headphone-style 3.5mm audio inputs.   With the Booster, you can connect a TV, DVD player, cable box, game console, or MP3 player, just like you can with larger amps.  Orb Audio says many people won’t even use 90% of the capabilities of bigger amps, so they created a small amp with the most essential features: multiple inputs, subwoofer support, remote control, and the like.  There’s also a connector for an IR blaster (not included) next to the subwoofer connector.  There’s a switch that lets you indicate if you are using the Booster with large speakers or small ones like the Orb Audio orbs.

You don’t connect the speakers to the Booster with RCA plugs.  You use bare speaker wire inserted into professional-quality speaker connectors.  Because it can be hard to connect speakers when the amp is installed in your equipment cabinet, Orb Audio uses a wiring harness that can be removed to connect the wires.  Once they are connected, you just snap the harness into the green connector seen above.

The Orb Audio website didn’t list technical specifications for the amp, but it does say the Booster produces 20W per channel.

You see the harness, complete with speaker wires, plugged in the back of the Booster here.  You’ll also see the DC power connector to the right of the harness.

There are only connectors for two speakers, left and right channels only.  There are no connections for a center channel speaker nor for rear surround-sound speakers.

This picture shows the beautiful Mod 2 speakers in hammered earth.  I had purchased a pair of hammered earth Mod 1 speakers, and Orb Audio included a pair of Mod 1 speakers in hammered earth in the kit they sent me.  They had also included a pair of Mod 2 speakers in bronze already installed on the optional stainless steel BOSS tabletop stands.  The bronze speakers are beautiful, but I had wanted the hammered earth in my living room.  I was able to captialize on the modular system, and I converted my two sets of Mod 1 hammered earth speakers into a pair of hammered earth Mod 2 speakers.

Technical Specifications for Mod 1 and Mod 2 Speakers

• Speaker type: Magnetically shielded full-range satellite speaker.  Crossover-free design for coherent, lifelike sound.
• Driver: Advanced high-excursion 3″ full range polypropylene driver cone with Santoprene surround.  These materials maintain their sonic characteristics over long periods of time and also through a broad range of temperatures and operating environments.
• Magnet assembly: Fully shielded, high-density neodymium magnet with proprietary voice coil in high tolerance gap to create strong, highly focused magnetic field.  Compact magnet design allows for maximum free internal volume and extension of low midrange performance.
• Binding posts: Custom gold-plated brass binding posts (fits up to 14 Ga. wire)
• Frequency response: 80Hz – 20,000Hz (120Hz-18,000Hz optimal)
• Efficiency:  89dB
• Impedance: Mod1:  8 ohms nominal; Mod2:  4 ohms nominal. (Mod2 is compatible with all popular receivers & amps rated at 6-8 ohms)
• Power handling: 15 – 115W (also compatible with most higher wattage receivers, max. recommended volume setting of about 3/4 will be LOUD!)
• Speaker dimensions: 4 3/16″ W x 4 3/16″ H x 4 7/8″ D
• Construction: American carbon steel, assembled in USA
• Finishes: metallic black, pearl white, hammered earth, polished steel, antiqued bronze, antiqued copper
• Included accessories: 16 gauge American steel adjustable desk stands (available in black and white)

This is a pair of Mod 1 speakers in bronze on the standard black tabletop stands.

I was worried about the magnets in these speakers, because I was going to set them on the TV cabinet in front of my TV.  Because of the strange shape of my cabinet, the speakers couldn’t be placed beside the TV.  The tech specifications say that the  neodymium magnets are fully shielded and have a very focused field.  I tried testing the magnets by seeing if a hairpin would stick to the speakers anywhere.  The same hairpin that stuck to the magnets in the Smart Cover on my iPad 2 didn’t stick at all to these Orb speakers.

The back of the speakers are threaded; you attach the speaker stands here.  The standard tabletop stands and the plastic-capped attachment screws are shown in the middle photo.  The speakers attach to the BOSS steel stands using screws and a plastic spacer.  You’ll need a Phillips-head screwdriver to assemble the Mod 2s on the BOSS stands.

These gold-plated posts are the speaker wire attachments.  For Mod 1 speakers, you simply push down on the top and insert the speaker wires to make the connection.  The posts are marked red or black on the top.  To prevent damage to the speakers or the system, be sure you check out the online installation guides before hooking things up.  Mod 2 speakers require an extra step.  You have to use jumper wires (included) to connect the two speakers together.  Again, follow the directions found at the Orb Audio site.

I guess it goes without saying, but the difference between Mod 1 and Mod 2 setups is that you get more volume from more speakers.  There’s also a slightly extended frequency range with the Mod 2s.

And speaking of extended frequency ranges, you probably noticed in the technical specifications for the speakers that the lower end starts at 80Hz.  If you use only orb speakers and no subwoofer, you’ll probably still get better sound than you get from your computer or TV speakers, but it will be missing the thumping bottom end.  To be sure that I got to hear the Booster Mini at its best, Orb Audio also sent along their Super Eight Custom subwoofer.

Front of the Super Eight subwoofer

Technical Specifications for Super Eight Custom Subwoofer

• Speaker type: High-performance ported bass-reflex design.
• Port type: Precision-tuned flared snorkel port.
• Amplifier type and power:  Custom high-power BASH digital hybrid amplifier with digital switching power supply for enhanced peak power output.  200W (continuous), 450W+ (peak)
• Amplifier THD: <.05% (100hz at full power)
• Amplifier S/N: >95dB
• Driver: Super long-throw 8″ high-performance driver with composite paper/high density ABS cone.  This yields rigid, lightweight design with excellent low frequency performance and increased detail and musicality.
• Magnet assembly: 30 oz. ferrite magnet
• Frequency response: 28-180hz.  Adjustable Crossover (40-160hz)
• Max. SPL peak: 111dB
• Max. long-term SPL: 107dB
• Dimensions: 12″ H x 11 3/4″ D x 11 1/2″ W (optional 1″ feet); 26 pounds

Features

• Adjustable phase (0-180)
• Adjustable crossover (40-160hz)
• Temperature protect circuitry
• Auto/On/Off Power
• RCA gold-plated stereo line level inputs
• High level gold-plated inputs and outputs
• 12dB/Octave hi-pass circuit

Bottom, showing the snorkel port. The optional feet are installed.

The back of the Super Eight has a multitude of controls.  Refer to the installation booklet, available on the Orb Audio website, for instructions.  You’ll also notice that the subwoofer has its own 200W amp inside, so you don’t have to wonder how a 20W Booster is going to drive a big subwoofer.

The thick black cable on the left connects the subwoofer to the Booster amp.  The cables on the right are speaker cables for the Mod 2 speakers.  I don’t know if they always come attached to the wiring harness, or if Orb Audio sent them that way to be sure they were hooked up properly for the review. 

I’m thinking it was the latter, since the Booster box had another wiring harness in it, along with a screwdriver sized to fit the screws on the harness.  There were also two booklets, the power supply for the amp, and a remote for the amp.  (Not pictured: power cord for the subwoofer.)

This system will be used in my living room as the sound system for my HDTV.  I connected the audio out from my TV to one of the Booster’s inputs using RCA cables.

I’d also like to use it for my music library in iTunes on my computer.  Unfortunately, my desk is on the opposite side of the room from my TV, and I don’t want to have to drape a 15-foot audio cable across the room.  I also don’t want to have to take my computer over and connect it to the amp while I’m listening to music.

I got an Apple Airport Express Base Station so that I could stream music wirelessly from iTunes to the Orb Audio system.  I plugged the Airport Express into a power outlet and spent about a minute connecting it to my wireless network.  I then connected it to the Booster amp using a audio cable.

I still have one RCA connector and one audio connector free on the Booster for future expansion. 

I put the Super Eight subwoofer on the floor behind my TV cabinet.  (Please excuse the dust.)  My cabinet fits catercorner across one corner of my living room.  The Super Eight is small enough that I’ll be able to push the cabinet back into place in the corner.

Because of the elongated diamond shape of my cabinet, you can see that the Mod 2 speakers block a bit of the screen.  I have ordered some floor stands from Orb Audio, so I’ll be able to place the speakers to either side of my TV.  I’ll try to add a picture of the speakers on their new stands later.

You can see the Booster amp in its new home in my cabinet.  Luckily, I don’t need an IR blaster for this setup.  The remote works well with the amplifier behind the glass doors of the cabinet.

Okay, I’ve written books about this system – now how does it sound?  It sounds just as good as it looks – and it looks gorgeous.  I don’t know all the fancy audiophile terms to describe performance, but I’ll try to tell you how the system sounds.  I’ve tried playing back music from iTunes, I’ve watched TV shows, and I’ve watched DVDs.  Everything sounds wonderful.  As I listened, I tried a couple of different settings for the subwoofer to get the bass to the volume level I preferred.  I tried listening to the music with the subwoofer turned off, too.  The Mod 2 s sounded good by themselves, but the subwoofer adds a whole new dimension to the music.

I listened to classical music, rock music, live music, and vocal music.  It all sounds rich and warm.  Even at a moderate volume for both the speakers and the subwoofer, I get room-filling sound.  (For reference, my living room is 17′ X 13.5′.)  Next I raised the volume until the indicator lights on the front of the Booster went into the orange range, then I backed it off one click into the green range.  (It was loud enough that I sent my husband outside to see if we were blasting the neighbors.)  I never heard any distortion from the speakers at this level.

Between songs, the speakers were quiet as death – no hiss or hum at all.  Music was clean and clear and bright, but never shrill.  Acoustic guitars sounded like someone was sitting in front of me playing.  Vocals were rich.  Both Josh Groban and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s voices were deep and resonant enough that I could feel their lower notes. I heard things in live music that I had forgotten were even there.

The balance between the Mod 2 speakers and the subwoofer was perfect.  The bass was full and thumping, but it never overpowered the mid and high ranges.  I could feel the bass notes, but they never caused any rattling or buzzing.  It’s been a long time since I’ve heard music played back on really good speakers, and it was wonderful to experience it again.

The stereo separation is limited right now by the placement of my speakers, but I’ll be able to move them a bit once I get the floor stands.

The speakers also worked well with my TV and DVD player.  As I mentioned, the Booster doesn’t do surround sound, but the Booster amp and Orb speakers sound worlds better than the built-in TV speakers.  Action sequences have more excitement to them with the added clarity, volume, and bass.  Dialogue is clearer and easier to understand, too.

I think the Booster amp is a great entry-level amp for your home theater and audio system setup.  It has plenty of power to produce room-filling sound that improves on anything you’ll get from your standard TV or computer speakers.  Paired with the Orb Audio speakers and subwoofer, you’ll hardly notice it’s missing middle and rear channels.  It works well enough that I doubt I’ll ever be tempted to “upgrade” to another amp.  I love the speakers.  I love the way they look, I love the sound, and I love the size.  I’ve never had a subwoofer before, and I’ll admit I was a bit worried it would be too loud.  It’s amazing how much dimension it adds to the overall sound of the music.  I like the Booster Mini Amplifier and the Orb speaker system.  It brings a whole new level to my enjoyment of music and movies.

And I didn’t want to waste the Mod 1 speakers, so I ordered a couple of Orb Audio’s Mini-T amplifiers to use in other rooms in my house.  I’ll review the Mini-T soon.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Home Theater, Speakers

Orb Audio Booster Mini Amplifier and Speaker System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 8, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The Fidelio SoundRing Portable Speaker with AirPlay from Philips lets you stream music from your computer, iPad, iPod, or iPhone.  It has a rechargeable battery that can provide up to three hours of playback using AirPlay or up to 6 hours when using the aux-in or USB ports.  It can be used simultaneously with other AirPlay speakers in your home.  The Fidelio delivers 16W RMS total power output through four speakers – two front-firing and two side-firing – and a built-in bass sound pipe that combine to “create an immersive, natural listening experience that you can enjoy from anywhere in the room.”  It’s small enough to be portable, and it can charge your iPhone, iPad, or iPod through its USB connector.  The Philips Fidelio SoundRing Portable Speaker is $299.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Apple Airplay, Speakers

Philips Fidelio SoundRing Portable Speaker with AirPlay originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 29, 2011 at 8:00 am.

Having literally just finishing the latest Skulduggery Pleasant novel, these spooky speakers caught my eye immediately.

The Minuskull speaker system is the work of French designers Kuntzel+Deygas. Available in walnut or black and white piano lacquer, these measure in at 9.25″ x 10.64″ x 5.91″.

“We expect from a loud-speaker something more than just a beautiful industrial high quality object with a very uniformed sound. We wanted to find the ideal sound for us, which is why each MinuSkull component is tailor made. “

Prices are 1500€ ( approx $2000US )  for the walnut and 1750€ ( approx $2300US  ) for the lacquer versions including worldwide shipping.  Because they’re hand made there’s up to an 8 week wait.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Minuskull Speakers Sound Spooky originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on December 14, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Are you looking for a really cool set of speakers that should also sound great too?  Then look no further as the team at Fab.com have found a limited edition set of 200 Ceramic Speakers designed by Joey Roth. These ceramic speakers are made of porcelain with cork enclosures.  They feature a custom designed Tripath amplifier and look fabulous.  With a price tag of about $300 the 200 are going to go quick and you need to order now to get them when they come in later in December – should be at your house just in time for the holidays.  For more information on to order check out the Fab.com site.

Filed in categories: Miscellaneous

Tagged: Speakers

From Fab.Com – Incredible looking ceramic speakers – I wonder how they sound? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 6, 2011 at 5:32 pm.

I know you’ve always dreamed of being able to attach a small speaker to the front of your iPad, notebook display, etc. Brando has just made your dreams come true with the USB Portable Mini Stereo Speaker With Sucker. These little speakers have a suction cup on the bottom that can stick to any smooth flat surface and can be used with devices that have a 3.5mm headphone jack. Not a fan of suction cups? Brando also offers a version of this speaker with hooks. Either version is priced at $15.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Mini Speakers that really suck originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 5, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Back in June, Janet posted a news item announcing these speakers. At that time they weren’t yet available. Now they are! If you’re still flinging birds at pigs, then you need one of these uber cute Angry Birds speakers. Available in Black bird, Pig and Red bird styles, these speakers from Gear4 range in price from $79.99 – $99.99. There are volume and bass controls and the Black and Red bird speakers include a 3.5mm jack for use with most music players. Also included with the Black and Red Angry Birds speakers is a plastic stand for your phone or tablet. The Pig speaker has a dock built into the top of the helmet for your iPhone or iPod touch.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Feed your Angry Birds addiction with these table top speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 30, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

On the heels of the amazing South of Market speaker dock, Audyssey has released another neighborhood inspired audio product: The Lower East Side Media Speakers. These minimalist designed speakers invoke the artsy feel of the iconic New York City area, much like the South of Market dock was inspired by the San Francisco district of the same name.

The Lower East Side speakers are designed for the digital age – with digital optical inputs – but also have analog inputs for connecting to just about anything you might have as your audio source.

The speakers are small. They have two .75” silk-dome tweeters, two 3.5” woofers and two 4” Passive bass radiators instead of a subwoofer. That saves on a lot of space. Given Audysseys expertise in Smart Speaker Audio technology, the bass on these babies should be rather impressive.

The Lower East Side speakers can be used with your TV, computer or your MP3 player.

At $200, they may seem expensive for their size, but pending a complete review and based on the South of Market speaker dock, we wouldn’t be surprised if they are worth it.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Audyssey Lower East Side Media Speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 26, 2011 at 11:26 am.

Ampigo Battery Case with USB charger

If you depend on your phone for communication, power is of a major concern to you. With the iPhone 3G and 3Gs, power was a bit thin – 3G network speed meant fewer active hours. With the iPhone 4, the battery is a lot beefier and the processor is a bit more powerful, for a net gain in usage time, but true geeks still need more juice. Other than carrying around cables and power blocks, what’s the solution? Ampigo has an answer, and it will allow you to have power for both devices: their Personal Speaker and Battery Pack. (Catchy name, huh?)

When I first was sent this unit to review, I wrote back and explained that I had the iPhone 4, not the 3G/3Gs that the label said the unit was designed for. Soon I had a response that it will, indeed work for either form factor. I opened the box, and found that it does! They are updating the box and I got an old package, apparently. The overall form is a sled of plastic that completely covers the back of the device (with a hole for the camera lens) with a 30-pin connector in the bottom to hold it in.

Camera port

Since it’s designed for both form factors, there is a bit of a gap either on the back or the sides, but the connection is ok. (I noticed a little side-to-side motion with my iPhone 4, which might get worse over time, but I don’t leave my phone in this case all the time.) The sides are covered about 60% of the way up each side.

Top exposure

Across the bottom, under the connector, the case extends a little less than an inch and contains two speakers, slightly larger than Apple’s earbuds. On the back, there are two buttons on either side of a row of blue LEDs. One button will activate and deactivate the speakers, the other shows available charge via the LEDs for a few seconds. In the bottom center is a port for the tiny charging pin. I charged the unit (proprietary USB charging cable only), which took over an hour the first time. Subsequent charges, even from completely dead, took about 30-45 minutes. The LEDs flash while charging, but give no indication of progress. You have to unplug and press the power button to see how far along you are.

LEDs and buttons

When in use, the unit keeps the battery going an extra 80% or so. The website mentions 30 hours music and 7.5 hours talk time, but that much use takes me several days, and the battery would drop power on it’s on during that time, making real testing difficult. It’s a notable increase, but not quite doubling. Rated at 1700 mAh, the battery is similar in power to the built-in battery in current iPhones. When playing an action intensive game, the case was able to raise the battery up about 2 percent in less than ten minutes. Allowing the phone to rest fully made for even faster charge times. If your phone is below 50%, a full Ampigo will recharge it to nearly full in less than 2 hours.

The speakers, though small in size, gave a noticeable boost to the built-in mono speaker of the iPhone. I don’t know if it’s just the stereo filling out the sound or what, but handheld games were quite lot more fun. Since they point toward the user, rather than into your palm, the sound never got muted when in intense action sequences. (The iPhone’s built-in speaker, which is flush to the bottom of the phone, often gets fully covered by a finger when playing landscape-oriented games.)

The speakers are small, but quite nice.

The market for battery cases is somewhat limited, but there are a few well-known brands out there. I’ve used several, and seen others in action, so I can’t help but compare this device to what I’ve known of this class of products in the past. A few things immediately jumped out at me. First, a non-standard USB cable. If you’re taking your computer and iPhone for a long ride into nowhere, you’ll have to carry their proprietary cable as well as a regular iPhone charge/sync cable. In this day of emerging standards, you’d think all manufacturer would start to put that miniUSB port to work, rather than making their own. (The EU has already mandated that all phones must use miniUSB in the next few years. Have these guys not heard about that?) Also, this means you can’t sync while in the case. You’re going to have to pull the iPhone out of the case, plug it in with a charge/sync cable, and then put it back in. What protects your iPhone in the meantime?

The tiny power connector port

The second thing that I had issues with is the stand-by time while not on the iPhone. I usually carry a battery pack in my bag while traveling, and only install it when I need the extra juice. This one looses about one LED per day, even just sitting on my desk. By contrast, the market leader will loose about one LED of charge a week when not connected. Quite a difference.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Case, iPhone power, Speakers

Ampigo iPhone Speaker and Battery Pack Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 4, 2011 at 11:30 am.

Here’s a multi-purpose gadget for you from Gadget4All.com.  This roll-up mousepad also has a 4-port  1.1 USB hub.  It also has two speakers that can be connected to an mp3 player using the included 3.5mm audio cable.  The speakers/hub are powered with the included USB cable, but it appears there is a connector if you supply your own AC adapter.  The Roll Up Mousepad with Speaker + Hub would make a compact addition to your travel kit.  It’s $22.00 at Gadget4All.

Filed in categories: Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers, USB hub

Mousepad with USB Hub and Speaker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 26, 2011 at 10:30 am.

Tech Lighting Railtones Wireless Sound System: I love this product.  Now for a little more clarification.  Ok.  I REALLY love this product.

To start with, I was never a big fan of amped up sound systems.   I don’t get it even though my husband claims it would make our HDtv system sound better.  I own a small business and I’ve been in small business shops in my historic downtown.   Their idea of a sound system is a couple of boxy stereo speakers hanging precariously somewhere while belting out the tunes of Sad FM-music for the Over Thirties such as …well…any Easy Listening from the 1970s which, hopefully, is the most pathetic part of this review.

Railtones from Tech Lighting  is a wireless speaker system that connects on to your existing track or rail lighting setup or can be installed separately with the included freejack.  Simply put, it is tasteful, elegant, non-conspicuous and delivers a quality sound.

Tech Light's Railtones speakers with remote, dongle and attachments.

The Railtones wireless sound system comes complete with two speakers, freejack for non-rail-track assembly, remote control, USB dongle, in/out line and plug.    Depending on your existing track or rail lighting appliance, you are able to connect one or both speakers in place of the actual light assembly.  The speaker does not offer illumination but does impart a superior sound for those areas of your home, office, or even small shop (like mine).  It is an ideal and compact way of bringing in sound without the bulky set up of traditional speakers.

Railtones works wirelessly.   By using the USB dongle, you can play music, talk radio, subscription radio from your computer.  The in/out line allows you to play music from any Mp3 player and the remote control allows you to control the power and sound to the speaker.

Remote control and USB computer dongle for Railtones

I really like the idea of the speaker on the track/rail lighting set.  I have a smaller version of a track lighting kit to highlight the antique popcorn machine in my shop’s front window. (I have my own kettle corn business).   This rail kit is far too small to support the Railtones speaker.  I would have to upgrade to a larger, sturdier kit.   But the Railtones set comes with a freejack for separate installation and until I upgrade to a larger track lighting kit (which is imminent), one of the Railtones speakers hangs comfortably in the corner of my shop where it imparts plenty of quality sound throughout my shop.

If the Railtones speaker does not fit on your existing track lighting appliance or you just need sound in a different area of the room, Railtones comes with a separate freejack in order to install one of the speakers elsewhere. In this photo, the Railtones speaker is installed in the corner of my new kettlecorn shop. Even tucked away in the corner, the sound is vibrant.

The assembly is also pretty simple; no more difficult than installing a ceiling fan.   Yes, there are different and less noticeable sound systems you can install in your small shop or your home.  That’s fine.  I like the Railtones design.  I like the look, I love the sound.  I very much like the flexibility that the wireless system provides me.

I play pretty much only Big Band music in my shop.  My shop is specifically 1930s-1940s themed.  When purchasing music to play over the speakers in the store, honestly, I’m kind of limited to the music that is available out there.  There are only so many times I can listen to “In the Mood”.  I subscribe to Live 365, an internet radio service that offers me all kinds of Big Band stations, Swing, even a couple of stations that offer music from the Twenties as well as vintage radio shows.  It’s great and my customers love it.   To be able to do this would be difficult without a wireless sound system and Railtones solves this problem.  The sound is beautiful and clear.

If I had one complaint about this product, it would be the remote.  You have to be, basically, standing directly in front of it in order for the speaker to receive the signal from the remote control and that’s a pain in the neck at times.

Railtones is not going to be found in your local Lowe’s, WalMart or Target.  TechLighting.com does provide a list of internet retailers and showrooms throughout the United States but expect to shop in specialty lighting stores.  Expect to pay anywhere from $450.00 to $599.00 for a two-speaker kit.

Keep in mind that this product is designed for home use but I have chosen to use it in my shop where it performs beautifully.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Home Tech, Reviews

Tagged: sound system, Speakers, track lighting, Wireless

Tech Lighting Railtones Wireless Sound System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 12, 2011 at 3:10 pm.

For awhile now, I have been using (and loving) the Audioengine A5 speakers. They are a pair of self-powered monsters. There is really no other way to describe them. Big and with killer volume, the A5s are one of the best bargains out there for computer speakers… for home use. I tried them out in my office and could not enjoy them simply because other humans work there. Rats. Later on, Audioengine decided to make a pair of passive (NOT self-powered) speakers – the AP4. These speakers were sized right between the A5 and the diminutive A2 speakers, the A5’s smaller brother. However, the big difference is that since the AP4 speakers are passive, they will not work as computer speakers unless you have an amp.

Audioengine has come out with the N22, a desktop amp of decent power and convenience that – when combined with the AP4s – makes for a darn good combination. With the availability of self-powered speakers like the A5 and A2, why would anyone want the AP4 with or without the N22 amp? Well, if you are looking for just computer speakers, there is really no reason. But if you want a little more flexibility, then the AP4 speakers make a great set of bookshelf speakers, surround sound speakers and any other kind of use that regular, ol’ passive speakers are good for. And paired with the N22 amp, your flexibility just multiplied. So, depending on your needs, you now have real choices.

Let’s start with the N22 amplifier. This is one compact unit that – due to its vertical design – will not take up much room on your desktop. And the design could not be more minimalist. One large on/off/volume button, a small blue power light and a headphone port… that’s it. There’s not even an Audioengine logo on the front. If you’re an audio geek that gets off on buttons and settings, look elsewhere. However, in this simplicity, there’s power, 22 watts of power per channel. And that space saving vertical design keeps things cooled down, which is important because amps can get pretty warm. And on your desktop right in front of you, that can be an issue. To help keep it cool, the N22 also goes into power saving mode when not being used. The volume knob is a little too simple because it has no markings. You can’t tell if it’s set to 11 or not. I would have preferred some small indicator.

The rear of the amp has all the connections you’ll need. There’s gold-plated speaker connections, RCA and miniplug audio-in sources (wiring included) , powered USB port (charging only – no audio USB, unfortunately), and a multi-functional line-out that can be used with another amp, pre-amp, subwoofer or the AW1 wireless adapter which I’ll explain later. Also included is standard grade speaker wiring for the AP4 speakers (which do NOT come with wiring). The N22 even comes in a cloth draw-string bag – classy.

Setup could not be any easier, just follow the included book. I should note here that the N22 will work with any 4-8 ohm-rated passive bookshelf speakers. If you have a pair not being used, the N22 can put them to good use.

Headphones really benefit from the included port. Using this port instead of the audio port on your PC/Mac will improve the sound. My Grado 325is headphones just sounded “bigger” plugged into the N22. Which they should because inside the N22, there is a Burr-Brown/TI OPA2134 headphone amp. So if you have some power-hungry, large headphones, that can be a big money saver right there.

Now let’s get to the fun part – the AP4 speakers. Like I said earlier, they are sized between the (huge) Audioengine A5 and (petite) A2 speakers. So if they sit on your desktop, they can take up a bit of room, especially combined with the N22. The AP4 comes in 3 flavors: Black (which matches the N22) , white and a more expensive solid bamboo wood, which Audioengine says have better acoustics. They are compatible with digital hybrid amps, stereo receivers, integrated amps, and tube amps… in other words, just about anything.

The speakers are naked in the front, no cloth cover. I prefer this look, but I know some don’t. They are front-ported for a little more bass. I don’t think that a subwoofer is needed, but if you are a bass-head, then you can always connect a sub to the N22. The rear of the AP4 speakers have gold-plated binding posts for secure connections. The tweeters are silk and the woofers are kevlar which seems to be the norm for higher quality speakers today. They’re also shielded, so they won’t make your monitor go psychedelic on you.

Since the N22 and AP4 are really made for each other, the sound is powerful, clean with no noticeable listening fatigue over hours of use.

While I was listening to the N22/AP4 combination, I was lucky enough to be able to mentally compare them to the A5 speakers I have. I’m not going to do a comparison, because I like each product to stand or fall on its own. However, one thing that I immediately noticed was that the A5s are much more powerful, both in watts (75 vs 22)and sound. The A5s will blow you out of your seat. The N22/AP4 won’t.

But the N22/AP4 combination still has plenty of power and oomph to let you disappear into your music. The sound is clean and the bass is measured, if not overpowering (a good thing, I say). In fact, I listened to Santana’s “Black Magic Woman” from the album “Abraxas” at FULL volume, turned to the max on the N22 (iTunes volume about 75% – normal for me). No distortion. None. Nada. Zippo.

I was listening to the Moody Blues remastered “On the Threshold of a Dream” album and when it got to the ending, “Have You Heard Pts. 1 and 2” and “The Voyage”, I was sold. I just love this album and the AP4s allowed me to lose myself without any distractions about mids and highs and clarity, all that stuff… it didn’t matter. It was just so effortless sounding.

Back down on earth, I sampled the Paloma Faith album, “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful”. There was a slight over-brightness to Faith’s nasal-tinged vocal over a wonderful choral backing on the song, “New York.” In this instance, I think it was the production, which only points out the accuracy of the speakers.

The Beatles “Love” album has unbelievable production values and the AP4s exploit that to the max. “Eleanor Rigby” slips in and out of a ghostly, aural haze, but the song itself is crystal clear and sounds like it was recorded yesterday. It’s hard to image it was over 40 years ago. It’s that good.

What has become apparent is that the AP4 speakers will give you what you feed them. They are about as neutral as you could want with little to no colorization to the sound. About the only caveat would be a slightly weaker bass due to the small size of the speakers, but a sub-woofer connected to the N22 will instantly boost that.

Given a choice to use speakers solely with my computer, I would opt for the more powerful and less expensive A5 speakers – or A2, depending on budget. But if you need a high-performance headphone/earphone amp and flexibility in your speaker set up, the N22/AP4 combination is really hard to beat.

Note: Here’s where it can get cool. Audioengine doesn’t just make speakers. They make stuff that makes their speakers way more fun. You can attach the N22 (and AP4s) to the surround/rear ports on a home theater receiver using the Audioengine W1 wireless audio adapters ($99) and get wireless surround sound. No more crawling through the attic or under your house. I will say here that I have not tried this myself as I personally don’t have the W1 adapter. But according to Audioengine’s Brady Bargenquast, the kind of setup is perfect for the N22/AP4 combination.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speakers

Audioengine P4 Speakers and N22 Amp Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 8, 2011 at 11:04 am.

Laptop speakers aren’t typically known for sounding all that great. You could always add a pair of big boxy speakers that plugin to headphone jacks… If that doesn’t appeal to you, Edifier is offering a more elegant solution with their USB Soundbar Speaker. It features magnetically shielded drivers, efficient bass-reflex design, two 3-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters, along with a built-in amplifier. I also has a classy aluminum casing and a one button volume adjuster. The USB Soundbar is compatible with Macs and PCs. It will be priced at $49.00 and will be available in  December at Apple’s online store.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Laptops and Gear, News

Tagged: Laptop, Speakers, Spotlight Gadgets

Edifier Offers Better Sound to Laptop Owners originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 24, 2010 at 11:36 am.

There are a lot of things to like about the new MM1 computer speakers from Bowers & Wilkins, the makers of the famous Zeppelin iPod dock/speaker. And while these don’t have the audacious design philosophy of the Zeppelin or even B&W’s legendary floor standing speakers, the MM1s stand-out on their own merits. They are clean, both in sound and design. And they are fastidiously accurate.

The are desk-top speakers designed for what is called “near field” listening. In other words, if you are sitting in front of your computer with these sitting on both sides of your monitor, you are in for a big treat. If you are across the room while the MM-1s are cranked up, its feels more like a snack. That’s not to say that the MM-1s can’t fill a room – they can – it’s just that the MM-1s were not designed to fill a room. B&W makes plenty of other speakers for that purpose. In fact, turn them up too loud and the MM-1s (with special  circuitry) will prevent the bass from distorting, and that can cut into the volume on very loud passages. But it is impressive what these small wonders can do.

Did I say small? They are kinda on the petite side. At least after having the monstrous Audioengine A5s crowding my desk for a year, the MM-1s seem small. I guess it’s relative. These speakers may be somewhat diminutive, but they certainly don’t sound it. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Gee, I’ve never heard that one before – small speakers that sound big… whoopee.” But, trust me. As long as you’re sitting right in front of them, it’s true.

Let’s be very clear here. If you want to be blown out of your seat, the MM-1s aren’t for you. But if you want just about the cleanest, most satisfying listening experience possible from desktop speakers, then you gotta try these. When I first heard the MM-1s, my reviewer mode immediately kicked in and I tried to think of a short, clever description. And one word kept coming back… effortless. And that’s the magic. The MM-1s sound full, warm and accurate with just the right amount of bass without breaking a sweat. Most speakers in this size range over-emphasize the bass to make up for their lack of mass and cheaper speakers usually have one driver to handle the complete frequency range. Not the MM-1s. There’s a dedicated bass and midrange with a separate “tube-loaded” (B&Ws name for it) tweeter for the high frequencies. This separation is what accounts for the accuracy and depth of the sound. Also, B&W use some sophisticated electronics called Digital Signal Processing that adjusts the sound output to the incoming signal. Translation: Your music should sound about as good as it can depending on the source material. It’s this attention to detail that makes them special.

The looks of the MM-1s match the aesthetics of Apple’s newer MacBooks and MacPros. Black cloth material is accented by a brushed aluminum strip with hidden on/off switches and volume controls. The volume controls are a bit inconvenient, but they can be ignored by using either your computer’s volume keys or the included remote. This egg-shaped remote provides all the basic functions: Volume, on/off and tracking controls. The previous/rewind, play/pause, next/fast forward buttons will work with many supported applications, such as iTunes, etc. One small annoying tidbit is that if you are playing your music in the background, the remote won’t work. iTunes needs to be in the forefront for it to work. Two more things to note are that the top of the right (powered) speaker gets quite warm to the touch and the hard rubber speaker bottoms are dust magnets.

Connecting the speakers is pretty straightforward. There are three plugs (USB, power and left speaker) cleverly hidden under the right speaker. Also, unlike most other speakers, the MM-1s plug into the USB port instead of the audio mini jack. That alone, does away with a lot of compromises. By connecting to the USB port, the audio signal stays about as pure as possible. Then the MM-1s convert the digital signal into sound using their own Digital Audio Convertor. This gives the speakers almost complete control over the audio quality, meaning that it bypasses the internal DAC in your computer (or iPod, smart phone, etc). To be truthful, this is a modest improvement over the normal mini plug route, but where it really pays off is when you plug earphones or headphones into the mini jack port at the rear of the right speaker. Wow. Suddenly good headphones sound much cleaner, great headphones sound way better and those free, included earbuds will still sound… like the garbage they are. Good excuse to upgrade those buds. There is also an AUX port to connect various MP3 players, smartphones, etc.

Since the MM-1s are fairly neutral sounding, meaning not too much bass or too bright, I decided to listen to different genres of music. Its still a little strange not being able to blow myself out of my chair like I could with sheer volume from larger speakers. But again, the MM-1s are are not made to do that. So I chose music I know quite well and has very good to excellent sonic characteristics.

Of course, I began with an Apple lossless rip of the SACD version of “Dark Side of the Moon” by Pink Floyd.

What I noticed right away was a lack of vibration from the intro heartbeat on the song, “Speak to Me”. But it didn’t bother me because there was a clarity and detail that had been missing from those larger, thumper speakers that could vibrate windows. However, plug headphones into the back of the MM-1s and – due to B&W’s own DAC – its a totally different experience. The rest of DSOTM was so pristine and engaging, it was scary.

A remastered version of Paul McCartney’s “Long Haired Lady” from “Ram” had a lot of bass pushed right to the front of the mix that an earlier CD never had. It reminded me of the Beatles remasters. It made me realize just how good McCartney really is. The MM-1s show off his musicality like few speakers of this size can.

A real audio (and patience) tester is Klaus Schulze’s “Vat was Dat?” from “Are You Sequenced?”. This monster clocks in at over 1 hour and 17 minutes of repetitive synth drum machine beats overlayed with brassy cymbals and synth horns, while an operatic vocalist belts out a tonal whining – for over an hour! Most people can’t listen to more than 2-3  minutes of it, but I absolutely love this piece. And hearing it on the MM-1s puts a smile on my face. None of the subtleties are missed. The sound is exquisite and I can’t get enough of it. But you’ve been warned… this is not for everyone.

Recently, Neil Young has been remastering his older albums and his reworked “Harvest” benefits from the effortless clarity of the MM-1s (there’s that descriptive word again). A lot happens in the opening song, “Out on the Weekend”, but I always thought the mix was muddy-sounding by design. Little did I know just how much detail Young had put into this work. There’s a punchiness to the bass drum and a bite to the harmonica that the MM-1s display with absolute realism.

And in the classical vein, “The Blue Danube”, from the “2001, A Space Odyssey” soundtrack is portrayed in all its analog glory. And here, it’s a good thing. There is an dreamy coziness shared among the strings in this 1968 Berlin Philharmonic recording that makes concentrating difficult. The neutrality of the MM-1s is apparent as any hint of brittleness or boominess is nowhere to be found. It’s a perfectly well-rounded piece.

The B&W MM-1 speakers are uber-expensive, especially for desktop speakers. But let’s face it; we are talking Bowers and Wilkins here. The MM-1s are as clean in their design as in their sound. If you appreciate musicality and detail over sheer volume in your music and find yourself spending hours and hours at a computer, then you should hear the MM-1s. B&W have designed near perfect speakers to please an audience of one – you.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Desktop Computer Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speakers

Bowers & Wilkins MM-1 Computer Speakers Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 20, 2010 at 10:00 am.

I reviewed the Orb Audio Mod2 Home Theater System 2 yrs ago and continue to be impressed by them. Now Orb is offering the same excellent sounding speakers in a small system for your computer or TV that does not require a large AV receiver. This new system includes 2 Orb Mod1 or Mod2 speakers and a tiny audiophile quality amplifier (2.76 x 5.39 x 7.48 in) that provide powers to the Orb speakers. The amp features 3 switchable stereo RCA inputs and will work with almost any computer, TV or other audio source. An optional subwoofer can be added for additional performance. The system is available for $299.00 from Orb Audio.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Desktop Computer Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers, Spotlight Gadgets

Orb Audio offers audiophile quality sound for your PC or TV without a huge receiver originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 18, 2010 at 3:24 pm.

Joey Roth’s Ceramic Speakers work with your iPod, a television or computer, or even a turntable with a phono pre-amp.  The cone-shaped speakers are made of ceramic with Baltic birch plywood stands.  They output 15W per channel, with 70 – 20,000 Hz frequency range.  Their amplifier, the item in the middle, is based on the Tripath 2024 T-Amp with gold-plated binding posts, 1/8″ input, and a cast iron base.  The speakers are 6″ wide, and are 7″ tall and 8″ deep in the stands.  The Ceramic Speakers are $495.00.  World-wide shipping is available.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers

Ceramic Speakers from Joey Roth originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 30, 2010 at 2:00 pm.

Ever wish you had great speakers everywhere with you to jam to your tunes on your mp3 player or even pump out better bass from the iPad, but don’t want to carry around a bulky speaker system?  Tunebug solves that problem with a device called Vibe.  What this small and very portable device does is that it turns anything into a flat panel speaker system with their patented SurfaceSound technology.

What you get in the box is the Vibe, 3.5mm audio cable, usb to 3.5mm charging cable, sound base/case, and the manual.

The Vibe has a brushed metal housing and weighs 5.3oz.  It feels great holding it.  And looks great too!  Something Steve Jobs will approve of!

There’s only one button on the top for on/off functionality.  The 3.5mm audio jack is on the side of the Vibe.  It has built-in LiPoly 450mAH battery rated for 5 hours playtime.

On the bottom of the Vibe is the SurfaceSound technology which creates the sound waves that transfers any surface to a flat panel speaker.

The sound base/case is nicely padded to protect the Vibe.  But it’s more than a box to house the Vibe.  It also is a nice flat surface to place the Vibe on and produce great sounding speakers from it.

You can place the Vibe on a Cheetos tube, glass display case, metal pot, or even on the iPad.  From my tests, it seems the Vibe works best on metal surfaces and anything that allows vibrations to travel. Like the side of your desktop computer.  You can still hear pretty good sounds from denser materials but the thinner the surface is, the better and louder the sound gets.  You might think it’s a bit pricey at $69.95 (direct from Tunebug), but I think it’s worth it because of the great build quality and awesome SurfaceSound technology to create great sounding speakers from any flat surface.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: audio gear, Speakers

Tunebug Vibe Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2010 at 12:04 pm.

These are maybe the most unusual speakers I’ve seen.  These plush, pink bears from Juicy Couture have speakers inside, and they come with a cable to connect with the audio out jack on any MP3 player.  The bears have articulated arms and legs, one is wearing a necklace with the Juicy Couture logo, and one has a pocket on the back to hold the MP3 player.  The bears are 9.5 inches tall (seated) and 8.5 inches wide.   There are no technical specifications, so I’m guessing the style and the brand name are the most important features of these little guys.  The Mini Bear Speakers look like something for a baby or young girl’s room – assuming she has her own iPod and the $68.00 purchase price…

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Juicy Couture, Speakers

Juicy Couture Mini Bear Speakers for MP3 Players originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 10, 2010 at 2:00 pm.

There’s a new member of the rechargeable X-Mini capsule speaker family. The X-Mini HAPPY adds an MP3 player and built-in SD/SDHC card slot to the popular X-Mini pop-up speaker format, creating a tiny boombox in your hand. The X-Mini HAPPY is currently available in the UK at advancedmp3players.co.uk and amazon.co.uk, priced at £49.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: MP3 players, Speakers, Spotlight Gadgets

X-mini Capsule Speakers Get Happier originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 16, 2010 at 8:45 am.

The Motz Tiny Wooden Speaker is a handcrafted wooden speaker that has been carved to look like an acorn. It includes a USB connector for charging the internal Lithium Ion battery and a standard 3.5mm jack to connect to audio sources. It also has a built in FM radio. It’s available from Pyramid Distribution for $35.99

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speakers, Spotlight Gadgets

Am I nuts for liking this speaker? originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 30, 2010 at 7:00 am.