Ultra Cool Gadgets

Redefine your audio listening experience with the Creative GigaWorks T40. This new class of performance desktop speakers features a three-driver design for audiophile-like audio that injects new life to your desktop music-listening experience. Like the GigaWorks T20 the Creative GigaWorks T40 features the same hallmark of quality the GigaWorks series of speakers is well-known for–guaranteeing you a rich and defined performance. The GigaWorks T40 features Midrange-Tweeter-Midrange (MTM) driver configuration that improves the overall audio balance with deeper and richer bass effects, giving you music that sounds fuller, warmer in tone and closer to the original audio.
With quality components, such as the dual woven glass fiber cone driver, the cloth dome tweeters, BasXPort technology and the convenient control and entertainment extension, the GigaWorks T40 truly delivers its promise of acoustic audio quality with a style that complements any setup.

Technical Details:
Product Type - Speaker
Localization - Eng/Fr
System Components - 2.0 Speaker System
- Dual woven glass fiber cone
- Cloth dome tweeter

Customer feedback:

1. My curiosity got the better of me with these and I had to try them out. With the Creative GigaWorks T40 Premium 2.0 Speaker System they are really forcing consumers into some tough decisions, and that’s a good thing. The bottom line is that this update makes the T40s the best speakers in a 2.0 Bookshelf body type. Just like Creative’s GigaWorks T20 2.0, these speakers are very efficient, getting clear and impressive sound out of a set that has moderate power ratings. They are also well designed and pleasing to the eye, with slightly taller bodies in the same sleek style of the T20s.

Pros
+ Expanded design adds clarity and range with an added mid-woofer pair
+ Nice looks in a sleek form factor
+ High quality ports and cables allow for nice connection options
+ Extra cable
+ Nice adapter for RCA inputs (TV, receiver, etc.)
+ Decent low-end range and base with fantastic mid-range and high end sound
+ Nice more sturdy housing with good controls
+ Great sound output for limited power consumption and in a small 2.0 footprint

Cons:
- Bass XPorts on top will collect dust
- Cost is higher than the smaller T20s or Klipsch Promedias
- Price puts this set closer to 2.1 sets and some low end 5.1 sets

2. I’ll admit that I was drawn to these speakers by their striking appearance. They are very attractive speakers and also seem very well built, as if Creative had spared no expense on the casing and yellow woven drivers. So that said, how good are these speakers? First off, when watching movies or television on my laptop, these are fantastic. They sound like surround sound and are very clear and very loud. I don’t know how Creative got such great results from such a meager power rating (28 watts) but they did. These would be great for a living room if you wanted to attach them to a television. For music, you get similar clarity and volume. The bass is also very impressive and my friends did not believe me that there was not a subwoofer in there somewhere. That said, I noticed something that annoyed me when listening to music: the music sounded hollow somehow. It’s a small complaint to an otherwise great set of speakers, but it is still annoying. For audiophiles, this will probably be an important issue so I would recommend my previous speakers (Philips MMS321 2.0, $65 on Amazon) as a better alternative. They are not quite as loud but the sound quality is comparable. The Philips also have more watts (40) and are considerably less expensive.

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.

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.

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 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!!!

The PCMCIA Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook opens a new era of possibilities for the notebook user. This sound card delivers features previously only available to PC users but now available to notebook users (even those that are highly mobile). This is achieved by combining crystal clear audio with advanced, hardware-accelerated features all in a tiny PCMCIA format card! For instance it delivers THX certified 24-bit ADVANCED HD audio quality playback with incredible 104dB SNR, allowing for audiophile quality playback with support for DVD-Audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz and Windows Media 9: 24-bit multi-channel audio format.
The Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Notebook also provides encompassing 7.1 surround sound for Dolby Digital EX as well as DTS-ES supported DVD movies; any DirectSound3D games and CMSS 3D virtualized 7.1 stereo music. Gamers will love the hardware accelerated EAX 4.0 ADVANCED HD that not only brings games to life, but delivers maximum performance! Musicians will also enjoy true 24-bit recording and low latency ASIO support for the ultimate audio recording platform. Notebook audio just got very, very interesting!

Technical Details

* Superior Home Theater sound quality for all your music, movies, and games
* Rich, high-fidelity, 24-bit audio with 256 times the clarity of your basic notebook sound
* Enjoy music, movies and games in virtual surround on headphones or full surround on 5.1 or 7.1 speakers
* Make your digital music sound dramatically better with EAX ADVANCED HD Music Tools
* Experience game sound effects so realistic that you’ll feel like you are actually in the game

Customer feedback:

1. most new laptops come with Good Enough sound quality. Most speaker systems will Fake high quality. Don’t be hasty and buy a card before you’ve tested your laptop with your speakers. If it isn’t good enough, then look at something like this. But it’s so much cheaper to get the right soundcard integrated in the first place… what kind of laptop are you buying anyway if you’re willing to spend 99bucks on audio for it, but not willing to fork it out in the first place?

2. This is my second card, the first was stepped on by a youngster. I have a very high end laptop, but the sound is terrible. Using this card and decent pair of headphones does the trick. Good quality and easily installs. I think creative did a good job with this product.

A new class of desktop speakers made for the discerning listener who knows good audio. The Creative GigaWorks T20 is a powerful speaker system that’s made for desktop performance like no other. Featuring quality components such as cloth dome tweeters, stylized woven glass fibre cone drivers and BasXPort technology, the GigaWorks T20 is set to deliver unparalleled performance that will change your perception of desktop speakers. Enjoy its polished looks and Creative’s world-renowned quality audio playback.
The GigaWorks T20 Stereo PC MP3 Speaker System contains an expressive tweeter and a high performance midrange driver made from high-tech woven glass fiber. High quality, component-style controls and up-front access to the headphone output and MP3 player input make the T20 a great choice for demanding gaming and music enthusiasts.

Technical Details

* Model: 51MF1545AA001
* Item Package Quantity: 1
* Device Type: PC multimedia speakers
* Form Factor: Desktop
* Speaker Connectivity: Wired
* Speaker Amplification Type: Active
* Speaker Power: 2 x 14 Watts RMS
* Total System Power: 28 Watts RMS
* Speaker Controls: Bass, Treble, Volume, On/Of

Customer feedback:

1. These little speakers can put out an awesome amount of clear accurate sound, and they look great and feel very sturdy. Treble in particular is excellent, and the alleged Bass Xport technology must have something to it, as bass is more than adequate. The separate bass and treble knobs may or may not appeal; to some, they offer more control, to others the added circuitry distorts the signal and gives an added area of complexity in the design that may fail. The portability is excellent. The only real problem is that Creative is so secretive about the wattage and driver size, out of unnecessary concern that buyers may avoid getting these because of a few watts or a half inch. These sound great, look good, and the size to sound ratio is impressive. Four stars.

2. Pros
+ Nice looks and high quality cables
+ Extra cable
+ Nice adapter for RCA inputs (TV, receiver, etc.)
+ Decent low-end range and base with above average mid-range
+ Nice more sturdy housing with good controls

Cons:
- Only average high-range sound
- Bass XPorts on top will collect dust
- Creative reputation is not stellar
- Cost is near the Klipsch Promedia set

The High Fidelity Travel Companion For Your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus — Expand your music enjoyment with TravelSound ZEN V Simply plug in your ZEN V or ZEN V Plus MP3 player and get the best of both worlds - high fidelity audio and ease of portability. Indulge in a world of clear and detailed audio, courtesy of the four premium 36mm full range NeoTitanium micro drivers. This one-piece system also lets you dock and charge your MP3 player simultaneously. Packed with an extensive range of features such as dual power options, wireless infrared remote, wide stereo effect and clear FM radio reception (for ZEN V Plus only), get ready to take it outdoors and impress your friends at any party. Don’t limit the great sound to your ZEN V — connect any MP3 player, CD player or other audio device.

Customer feedback:

1. No matter how convenient it is to have a portable music player, there are times when you want to be able to listen to music “normally.” The Travelsound Zen V is the way to do so with the Creative Zen V and Zen V Plus players. It’s very small, attractive, easy to hook up, and simple to operate. (You may have to update the firmware on your player, but the download is free on Creative’s website, and the process takes just a few minutes.) There are lots of nice features. It runs on either 4 AA batteries or an included AC adapter. There’s a USB input, an auxiliary line-in input, and a subwoofer output on the back. The manual is pretty minimal, but it covers the basic operation. The remote control is surprisingly convenient, but it is very small, and there’s no on-board storage pocket or clip for it. Of course, the most important aspect of any speaker system is the sound quality. The Travelsound Sen V is outstanding! It’s amazing to hear the crisp sound from such a tiny system fill up a room. Obviously, you don’t get booming bass from such small speakers, but the bass is very good nonetheless.

2. After researching and finding good reviews for the Creative Zen V plus (at the time I bought it an iPod with similar features and size cost twice as much) I bought one and have loved it. A portable MP3 player is great if you’re in a position where it’s convenient to wear earplugs/phones, but the Travelsound makes the Zen V great pretty much all the time and everywhere. The sound from this little system is fantastic for 4W. You’re not going to rattle the windows at those decibels, but if you need your music that loud you’ve already suffered hearing damage! The Travelsound makes me able to carry our music on cookouts, tailgating, to the pool. I play it in my office and I bring it with me when I do surgery in the O.R. (At my facility a “permanent” stereo set up in the OR will be quickly stolen - the Travelsound with my handy little Zen makes me able to set up good sound, then carry it with me for safekeeping.)

It’s so easy. TravelDock 900 lets you connect your MP3 player - such as the Creative MuVo & Zen Micro. Share your music with everyone. Comparatively small like a pair of sunglasses case, this ultra-portable speaker comes complete with a stylish classic white finish. With premium NeoTitanium micro drivers to deliver stunning playback, show off your music collection with these fashionable travel speakers you won’t want to hide away. So let the party begin and enjoy your music wherever you are. Ingeniously designed, TravelDock 900 speakers are protected when you are on the move, and flip open conveniently for use. Ideal for travel. TravelDock 900 features an extremely efficient digital amplifier that gives you up to 32 hours playback on 4 AAA batteries.

Product Description:

# Lightweight, portable speaker system
# Fold-away headphone jack connects directly to iPod Shuffle, Zen Nano and other MP3 players
# Line-in connection to virtually any audio device: CD players, laptop PCs, etc.
# Clamshell design opens for listening; closes for driver protection
# Dedicated iPod Shuffle port for charging while listening to music
# High-fidelity, neo-titanium drivers
# Superior clarity and detailed sound
# Built-in amplifier delivers 4 total watts of power
# Battery life: up to 35 hours
# Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved. UL is the worldwide trusted source for product complianc

Customer feedback:

1. Very impressive, especially for their relatively small size. I travel quite a bit and like to listen to music (iPod) or home town radio (web) in my hotel room. These speakers are perfect for that! The bass is lacking, but that is expected in a very small speaker system. Nice highs, good midrange and enough volume to play at moderate levels in even the largest hotel room. I recommend them for anyone who wants to listen to their music/news without having to wear headphones all the time.

2. I bought this because it was very inexpensive— and I did not expect much - just something for hotel rooms, etc… but it actually sounds really great! The sound won’t rock a party or fill a room- but if you are looking for something to travel with - this is a winner!

Billed as the easiest way to upgrade from basic built-in PC sound to home-theater audio, Creative’s USB SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit external sound card is an affordable stand-alone audio interface for your PC that hooks up to your computer via a single, simple USB 1.1 connection (cable supplied). The card offers analog inputs for a microphone and an audio component (CD player, DVD player, etc.) and outputs including optical and coaxial digital-audio jacks and a trio of minijack analog audio outs that you can use with 5.1-channel surround-sound speaker systems. Your music and games will never be the same.
Now you can create MP3s from your CDs easier than ever and digitize your old cassettes and LP records, cleaning up the sound as you do so using Creative’s supplied software. (Be aware, however, that LP record playback requires, in addition to a turntable and cartridge, an outboard phono stage or an integrated amplifier equipped with a phono preamplifier; the USB SoundBlaster Live! accepts only line-level analog inputs.)

Technical Details

* High-resolution stand-alone sound card with abundant inputs and outputs
* Simple hookup via USB 1.1 port; no power supply required
* The perfect tool to help you put your LPs and cassettes on CD, create MP3s, and organize music
* Audio enhancements include bass boost, smart volume management, a multi-band graphic equalizer, and audio clean-up (hiss and click removal)
* Encodes and decodes audio at up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution; offers 5.1-channel output for use with 5.1 speaker systems

Customer feedback:

1. When I ordered this external sound card, I was skeptical, but when I received this card,hooked it up,it sounded fantastic. I had realtek onboard sound. I disabled it in the device manager tab, before i downloaded the drivers for the sound blaster live card, and without any problems. I’m running windows XP, with service pack 2. There is a big difference, no hiss, or distortion,and you can turn the speakers up louder, without sacraficing clarity. I would not hesitate to buy this card, even though you can’t get updated drivers, the ones that come with the CD is just fine, and they are certified by Microsoft.

2. An outstanding and innovative product. What’s cool about this product is that you can place it anywhere near your computer, allowing you to have all your sound ports/jacks and volume controls within quick and easy reach: With its microphone port, in/out line ports, speaker ports, and multiple other ports, you can connect just about any type of audio device directly to the SoundBlaster External Card. The multiple media software applications that are included free (on one CD) is alone worth the price you pay for the sound card. With the SoundBlaster External hardware and the included recording software, you can record anything (CDs, casettes, old vinyl records, your own live voice and music) and easily convert it to a digital audio file. From there you can use the editing software to clean-up and enhance your recording. Once you have saved your sound file, here are some ideas for you: email the sound file, or convert the file to an mp3 for use on a portable music player, or burn the file onto a CD: All of these you can do with the SoundBlaster External Sound Card. And, oh yes, the SoundBlaster External will make your computer sound absolutely great!