Ultra Cool Gadgets

More than just a wireless music system, Xmod Wireless features X-Fi technology that makes your MP3’s and other compressed music files sound better than the original CD. It plays all of the music from your PC wirelessly throughout your house and since it doesn’t rely on your home network, there are no delays, dropouts or interference to deal with, and no IP addresses to configure. Simple to setup with no software, or drivers to install and works right out of the box.

Features
X-Fi Wireless Music System
Connect the Xmod Wireless transmitter to your PC and desktop speakers to enjoy Xtreme Fidelity music.

Play music from your PC wirelessly in any room
Make your MP3s sound better than CDs
Connect in seconds–no configuration needed
More than just a wireless music system… way more.
Upgrade your PC sound system to Xtreme Fidelity audio

Restore the detail and vibrance to compressed music such as MP3s and iTunes
Expand stereo music and videos into virtual surround sound

Customer Feedback:

1. The Xmod Wireless comes in 2 parts, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter connects very simply to your PC via USB and it functions as a USB soundcard, applying X-Fi sound enhancement to any sound or music that is passed through it. Compressed audio like AAC, WMA and MP3 files are upscaled to 24 bit quality and surround sound effects can be added.
You have to experience this to appreciate it. It really does make your music sound better. Sometimes the improvement is more subtle than at other times, but the quality X-Fi provides really shines when you connect the receiver end of the Xmod Wireless to a good set of speakers that you might have in your theater or family room.
So, on to part 2 of the package. The wireless receiver. This enables you to control and listen to your music anywhere you place the receiver in your house. Your PC music collection is streamed around the house with top notch quality and fidelity. I have my receiver connected to my theater setup and the sound is fantastic. You can purchase additional receivers if you’d like to play your music in multiple rooms.

2. First off, this product is incredibly easy to setup. Everything just worked right off the bat. About the only hitch was I had my transmitter placed to close to my lap top which caused interference, but Creative did a great job of communicating this limitation. Sound is crystal clear and the device is attractive and compact. I plan on buying additional receivers for the bedroom, the kitchen and den. BTW I plan on using 2.1 computer speakers since they give great sound and are very affordable. I strongly recommend Logitech speakers since they always have great sound and build quality.

Enjoy high quality stereo sound with these compact travel speakers. It features two powerful speakers and it’s compatible with your iPod, Mini iPod, or any audio player with a 3.5 mm jack. When used with an iPod, it will also function as a stand. It can be powered either through an USB power Cable or four AA batteries or AC Adapter. The unique fold-up design protects the speakers and makes it easy to carry around. You will be amazed by the sound quality of these mini speakers, with a signal to noise ratio of 63dB and a near full dynamic range of 200Hz-12KHz. They can fold up so they can be carried around easily in your pocket.
Features :
- Stylish white color that matches iPod Ideal for iPod, MP3 player, PDA, CD player and more
- Foldable lightweight design Volume Control Completely portable palm-sized and easy to carry
- Operates AAA batteries or USB power cable Works with iPod and iPod mini
- Specifications : 200 Hz - 12 KHz frequency response 50 mm speaker, 4 Ohms 3.5-mm audio line-in cable
- Power input: four (4) AA batteries or AC adapter (DC 6V, 350 mA)

Customer Feedback:

1. The speakerset is very convenient to carry around but don’t expect big sound out of the package. I bought it because the speakers on my laptop don’t seem to work.
Pros:
- Kinamx product can be powered by the USB
- Compact and easy to carry around
- Sound is fine in the midrange.
- Construction seems sturdy
- Very inexpensive

Cons:
- Included wire for connecting is very short. It is good enough for a mp3 player but needs maneuvering for a laptop
- Performance with some bass is mediocre. The speaker start vibrating a bit. I would have preferred to reduce the bass tones via a filter rather than attempting to play them badly
- Need to buy a power adapter to be able to play mp3 player

2. I purchased these speakers to make my purchase eligible for free shipping. I didn’t pay much, and these speakers are worth the price. They sound fine, they’re portable, and I like that they accept USB power

The Philips SBA1500/37 is both a portable and powerful speaker system to boost your music. Play extra powerful, rich sound to thrill your friends. These speakers come with their own power pack to amplify the music, which also neatly clips together with the speakers for true compact portability . Take them anywhere.

Technical Details:
- Powerful Speaker drivers produce realistic sound
- Acoustically-tuned air channel that turbo charges bass notes
- Wide stereo soundstage
- Compact and lightweight
- Plug and Play Speakers

Customer feedback:

1. I’m not an audiophile, so I can’t really comment on the quality of these speakers, but they sound fine to me. However, they do NOT have a “wall plug for extra power” as stated in the product description. The only power comes from three AAA batteries. I was looking for something that wouldn’t require me to carry batteries around, so this was disappointing. The speakers and power pod do pack together into an ostrich-egg sized unit, so the whole thing can tuck into an odd corner of my duffle bag.

2. Despite the fact that no AC power cord comes attached, I was stunned by the sound output of these tiny speakers. They’re superb. My only quibble would be that I’d prefer them in black, but that matters very little once you hear these titans. I’ve bought other mini-speakers within this price range and basically junked them… but Phillips comes through again and exceeds expectations. Don’t judge them by their size.

Bring your media with you wherever you roam with the Creative Zen 8GB player. Watch 32 hours of videos, enjoy up to 2,000 of your favorite songs or share hundreds of photos with your friends. And do it all on a device that’s about the width of a credit card.
The Zen sports a 2.5-inch TFT color display with 320 x 240-pixel resolution and support for up to 16.7 million colors. This razor sharp display is packaged in a device that weighs just 2.1 ounces and measures 3.26 x 2.16 x .44 inches (W x H x D). The internal battery powers the Zen for up to 25 hours of continuous audio playback and up to five hours of continuous video playback. Use the Zen’s SD slot to expand your portable media library with music, photos and videos stored on your SD card. There’s also a handy built-in microphone for capturing notes on the go.

Features:
- Product Type - MP3 Player
- Connectivity - USB 2.0
- Memory - 8 GB
- Voice recorder
- Clock and alarm function

Customer feedback:

1. Overall, great player with a very large display. The firmware needs some work. Audiobooks show up in the music list so shuffled playback selects random chapters for your listening pleasure. And a game or two wouldn’t hurt. In my humble opinion this is the best player for the money.

2. I have had this MP3 player for 3 months and I love it. It is extremely user friendly. I can easily import anything I want in seconds. No errors , no fighting. I also have an ipod touch that is an uphill battle the way. I love this thing.

Macally IceTune is a stereo speaker&charger featuring a space saving stackable design, easy access volume and power on/off controls. Cool blue mood lights enhance your listening experience. A stereo line-in jack connection allows you to enjoy high quality audio from a variety of MP3 and CD players, desktop computers and laptops.

Technical Details
- Stereo speakers with built-in iPod charging dock
- Compatible with all versions of the iPod, including the iPod mini
- Stereo line-in jack connection also allows you to enjoy high quality audio from other devices such as MP3 and CD players, desktop computers and laptops
- Space saving stackable design
- Easy access volume and power on/off controls

Customer feedback:

1. I had been looking for a docking station to put on a window sill in my kitchen and could not find one that would be small enough to feel safe. I finally saw the IceTune and it fits perfectly. Not only does it have a tiny footprint but the sound quality is great. In addition, because the speakers can be stacked or separated, you can actually get some separation between the left and right signal. Most of the other docking stations I have seen are built as a single block. As if these attributes were not enough, this just happens to be one of the least expensive docking options out there.

2. These speakers are awesome for the price. They charge your ipod even when the unit is off. The sound quality is great for around 50 bucks. I bought these for traveling and they are small enough to fit in a suitcase without taking up too much room. They also stack so they don’t take up much counter space. I can’t say enough about the sound quality. They are great!

Experience your MP3 music as the artist originally intended with the Creative Zen X-Fi–the first player to restore the quality of compressed music with award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology. Indulge in rich, crystal-clear audio when you listen to your music, as the detail that’s lost during file compression is now beautifully restored and played through premium-quality, noise-isolating EP-830 earphones.
A pocket-sized player that weighs a mere 2.4 ounces, the Zen X-Fi sports attractive curves with a graceful finish. Immerse yourself in the brilliant 2.5-inch TFT screen with 16.7 million colors as you watch your movies and view your pictures. Build with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology, the player lets you experience the very essence of music perfection as you listen to audio in crystal clear clarity. Hear your music the way it was always meant to be heard. Plus, the included EP-830 earphones provide optimum comfort with excellent noise-isolation capability. Or, be the life of the party as you share your music out loud with the powerful built-in speaker.

Technical Details:
- Capacity: 16 GB (4,000 songs or 60 hours of video)
- Up to 30 hours of continuous audio playback or 5 hours of continuous video playback on one charge
- 2.5-inch TFT LCD with 320 x 240 pixel resolution: 16.7 million colors
- Supports MP3, WMA, AAC5, WAV (ADPCM), Audible 2,3,4 audio formats; MJPEG, WMV, MPEG-4 video (including DivX and XviD); and JPEG photo formats

Customer feedback:

1. So far here’s what I love:
*) The new iPhoney sleek look is very nice, an improvement I think.
*) The buttons have a nice tactile feel. With very little practice I can easily find the play button and volume adjustment without looking. Visually its a little harder to figure out which button is where.
*) Even better, the buttons never get pressed unintentionally. This is a big plus since I use it for working out and yard work where I’m often bending over; my clix was constantly getting paused or fast forwarded unintentionally which has been a constant source of annoyance!
*) I found it virtually effortless to hook this up to my PC, connect to my existing MediaMonkey library and download all of my songs and playlists.
*) Great sound for bass lovers. X-fi crystallizer makes for a crisper quality if thats what you like.
*) Wi-fi connection, hooked up to my network easily and I was browsing the Creative Media Center in minutes.
*) Very lightweight compared to most of my other players.
*) User Interface: If you are familiar with Creative players then you will find the buttons easy to understand and use. I find the basic menu system easy to understand and navigate. Lots of nice background images to choose from.
*) Easy firmware update, I downloaded the latest firmware from Creative website and easily installed it.
*) Decent headphones included — possibly the best I’ve ever seen packaged with an MP3 player.
*) Lightweight, easy to carry, seems to be pretty rugged construction, fits nicely in a pocket.
*) Nice battery life: compared to my Clix 2 (4 ish hours) or my iPod Touch (about same!) this thing lasts forever at about 10ish hours.
*) Big bold colorful screen, which I find easy to read even in daylight.
*) I love the way it pops right back to where I left off even after a power off, it comes right back to the Now Playing screen and resumes my playlist. Most of my other players don’t do this very well so its a plus when it works the way I think it should.

2. I have had at least 15 different mp3 players and this one is by far the best one, the sound is great and the ear buds are good. I use around the ear head phones whit a headphone amp but the X-FI technology on this player is just incredible. I also love that you can expand its storage whit sd cards. I’m now leaving my Ipod at home and taking this one every where I go. The one thing I would change is that I would like it to have a replaceable battery.

The fact is, analog audio equipment is sensitive to a different type of noise than video, just as video is sensitive to a different type of noise than digital, and so on. In the past, manufacturers have used filters to combat the problem of noise introduced via power sources. Unfortunately, the filters were not optimized to attenuate at the different frequencies that are unique to digital, analog audio, and video realms. Products that managed to deliver truly cleaner AC power were thousands of dollars in price, out of reach for most people. Enter Head Monster Noel Lee. An uncompromising audiophile, Lee joined forces with Richard Marsh, the world’s foremost expert on AC power, to develop affordable solutions to AC power problems. The result? Monster Clean Power.
Monster PowerCenters also offer the most comprehensive home theater system protection available, featuring higher joule ratings for faster acting, full capacity surge protection. Monster’s Multiple SurgeGuard and Tri-Mode Circuitry instantly detects any voltage surge or spike and immediately suppresses it before it can reach your components. And, for your total peace of mind, the latest generation of Monster Home Theatre Reference PowerCenters come with higher Connected Equipment Guarantees (CEGs).

Technical Details:
- Monster Clean Power Stage 2 v.2.1 circuitry filter dramatically reduces electronic noise.
- T2 automatic disconnect/reconnect protection circuitry.
- Tri-Mode power protection circuitry with audible alarm and auto disconnect.
- 5750 joule rating provides a high level of surge absorption.
- 10 surge-protected, color-coded AC outlets. level of surge absorption.

Customer feedback:

1. I bought this as extra protection for my Samsung 56 inch DLP and audio system. Compared to using a normal surge protector, the Monster HTS 2600 indeed provided a clearer picture, cleaning up the snow and artifacts. I haven’t really tested out the audio yet. It’s good for peace of mind, as I want to protect my expensive investment.

2. The HTS 2600 MKII is a good product for the price($184 @ Amazon). I am not convinced that the “filtering” of clean current is that important in an area that has a modern power grid. However, the two major advantages that make it worth while are: (1) Provides excellent power surge protection for my $6K HTS investment; (2) Provides plenty of power outlets, coaxial cable outlets to organize the spiderweb of cables for HDTV, X-Box, DVD, VCR, AV Reciever, Sat/DVR with room to spare. Original HTS was DOA, but didn’t realize it within 30-days since I was awaiting for other components. Amazon still exchanged it .. Thanks a million!

Product Features
- Six piece surround sound package that includes 2 front and 2 surround speakers, 1 center-channel speaker, and 1 subwoofer
- Satellite and center-channel speakers utilize 3.25-inch polymer-composite cone drivers for distortion-free midrange
- Features 0.5-inch silk and polymer-composite dome tweeter in each satellite speakers and 0.75-inch silk and polymer-composite dome tweeter in center-channel speaker
- Subwoofer utilizes an eight-inch long-throw dynamic-balance poly-composite driver for longer driver excursion and better linearity
- Satellite and center-channel speakers can accommodate 6.1 or 7.1 channel systems
Tweeter complement (front/surround): 1 x 0.5-inch (13-millimeter) silk/polymer composite dome
Driver complement (front/surround): 1 x 3.5-inch (89-millimeter) polymer composite cone
Tweeter complement (center): 1 x 0.75-inch (19-millimeter) silk/polymer composite dome
Driver complement (center): 2 x 3.5-inch (89-millimeter) polymer composite cones
Subwoofer complement: 1 x 8-inch (203-millimeter) front-firing dynamic balance woofer
Overall frequency response: 40 to 24000 Hz
Frequency response (-3 dB limit): 45 to 20000 Hz

Customer feedback:

1. The Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 channel home theater speaker system is phenomenal and an outstanding value. I had originally been looking for a home theater in a box system to mate to a newly acquired 37″ LG LCD HDTV. The search was partly precipitated by the demise of the older generation DVD player we owned coupled to a failing 10 year old Onkyo surround-sound system. As I poked around on-line reviews and shopped Circuit City and Best Buy it became clear I could get more value and flexibility buying a receiver, an upscalable DVD player (improved picture with regular DVDs on HDTV) and a new speaker system than with home theater in a box.

2. Yesterday I finished installing the speakers… largely using the rich amount of educational information available on the polk audio website that helped me with speaker placement and hook-up. Note: I did NOT use the sub jack on the sub woofer.
The sound is phenominal… especially considering I paid $245. There is no doubt, that if told that these speakers only were sold for their MSRP of $599… that I would still buy them. These speakers meet so many of my requirements:
(1) Great Sound
(2) Attractive
(3) Blend into the environment (i.e., they are small)
(4) Great price
(5) Quality Name
The sound image created by the front 3 is amazing and the rears are perfect.

Product Features:

- 100 Watts/Channel at 8 ohms (FTC)
- Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, DTS Neo:6, THX Select 2 and THX Surround EX Decoder.
- HDMI video up-conversion with DCDi technology
- HDMI V1.3 repeater (3 in/1 out, 1080p compatible)
- RS232 Port for Audyssey MultEQ XT Interface Control

Onkyo is an organization consisting of people unsurpassed in the love of sound. Onkyo won’t settle for second best. It strives to complete what ithas started. That’s the Onkyo spirit. For the past half-century Onkyo components have been recognized as uncommonly musical among those who are truly fanatical about their music.

Customer feedback:

1. The reason to get this receiver over the 605 is the step up to 3 hdmi inputs and THX certification. The power consumption of this unit is more efficient then the 805 and 605. This unit was built after those 2 other models. This isn’t the lonely middle child, it shines on its own.
There is also a slew of issues this receiver does not exhibit that the 805 has problems with (check AVS forums for details). HDMI video looks great, 7.1 sound great! Price is great!

2. In short, this is a very capable receiver, but getting it set up is just awful. Once you –finally– reach the audio “audessy” setup with the microphone, it is painless. Audessy works quite well. They have solved the typical setup problems, but allowed a host of others to crop up.
Fan noise is excessive, the fan seems to have 2 speeds: on and off. It also seems to make a ringing sound as its frequency often reinforces the sound of the (normally quiet) fan in my 60″ Sony LCD projector above it. This is the best bang for the buck, sounds fabulous, but — really — needs a better manual.

The Creative X-Fi Wireless Music system allows you to play the music from your Xdock or Xmod wireless transmitter anywhere you have speakers, up to 100 feet away. Great for parties or making everyday activities in your home more enjoyable, this system lets you keep your player in one room, while listening to your favorite songs in another. With the X-Fi, you never have to worry about delays or dropouts, and you don’t need a home network or special drivers. This system is also incredibly easy to use: Simply plug it into your powered speakers or home theater receivers and the X-Fi automatically connects and receives music. Then you’re free to play, pause, and skip through the songs on your iPod, ZEN, or PC.
The X-Fi uses innovative technology to deliver crystal clear sound with all the highs and lows intelligently enhanced. It also expands your stereo MP3s and digital movies into virtual surround sound. Voices are centered in front of you and ambient sounds are moved all around you. For added convenience, the included remote controls iPod or ZEN playback when connected to an Xdock or PC music playback that connects to an Xmod Wireless. The best part of this system is that it’s expandable, which means you can add as many X-Fi Wireless Receivers as you like within the 100-foot range.

Technical Details:
- X-Fi Wireless Receivers play the music from your Xdock or Xmod Wireless transmitter wirelessly in another room. Add as many as you like to enjoy Xtreme Fidelity music throughout your home.
- Enjoy a wireless system that’s made for music–no delays, no dropouts and no home network needed.
- Adding an X-Fi Wireless Receiver is simple–just plug it into your powered speakers or home theater receiver. The X-Fi Wireless Receiver automatically connects and receives music–it’s that easy.
- Play, pause and skip through the music on your iPod, ZEN or PC. The included remote controls iPod or ZEN playback when connected to an Xdock or PC music playback when connected to an Xmod Wireless.

Customer feedback:

1. If you are like me and enjoy listening to online videos — for me it’s news, history, etc. — then this product is for you. It is a tremendous step over the older technology I had. Last I looked on Amazon, it was for sale for about 50 percent off, so I bought an additional unit. I would have paid twice the price; that’s how highly I think of this product.

2. The product itself is awesome. It really is. I was so impressed, that in addition to the dock being setup in the living room, I have 2 receivers. One in our bedroom, one in the office. SLICK!!! I was working in the garage all day, and took my wife’s iPod bucket out there, and connected the receiver from my office to the line in of the iPod bucket. My wife loves it, because on laundry day, she can run the wash on the first floor, and fold her wash on the second floor without missing a single song. AWESOME!!!