Audio Equipment
Portable iPod speakers come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as cute and cuddly as DJ Bear. This tuned-in teddy has two high quality speakers embedded in his feet, and a plug-and-play pocket to which you can connect your MP3 player or other audio device to create a plush personal sound system. Audio playback is controlled by squeezing one of his paws.
The perfect Christmas gift for young or sensitive music lovers (hey, you can't hug a pair of headphones), DJ Bear runs on four AAA batteries and is available to order through US Store Janlynn for $39.99 (£21), plus international delivery charges.
Ripping songs from CD saves you having to re-buy them from online music stores for your MP3 player, but what about when they're stuck on old vinyl or cassette?
A new device from TerraTec holds the answer, allowing you to transfer tracks from records and tapes to your PC or Mac, even if you don't have a sound card. The PhonoPreAmp iVinyl connects your turntable or cassette deck to your computer via the USB port, and features a high signal-to-noise ratio of 86 dB to ensure great quality recordings. You can clean up the sound further using the supplied software - Algorithmix Sound Rescue (Windows) or Roxio CD Spin Doctor (Mac)- removing hisses, crackles and pops with a few mouse clicks.
Priced at £99.99, the iVinyl is little bigger than a bar of soap and requires no power supply. You can find more information TerraTec.
Want to enjoy the variety and quality of internet radio wherever you go? Now you can, thanks to the Bush TR2015WIFI, which offers access to thousands of stations from all over the world via the miracle of Wi-Fi.
Simply plug it in, select the nearest wireless network and you can search and tune into over 2,500 web radio broadcasts. Not only that, as the device is MP3, WMA and RealAudio compatible, you can also stream music from your PC, even when it's not switched on.
The TR2015WIFI features ten presets for storing your favourite internet radio stations and provides crackle-free digital reception. You can order one now from Argos for £119.99.
While the compression employed by digital music formats has made it possible to store lots of tracks in a small space, it also reduces the sound quality of the shrunk songs. Creative has addressed this problem with the Xmod, which claims to improve music playback for MP3, WMA and AAC files to a standard even better than CD.
It works by connecting between your computer or MP3 player and speakers or headphones, enhancing the low and high frequencies of digital tracks while boosting their audio dynamics. This produces a cleaner, richer sound in which elements damaged or truncated during compression - such as snare drums and bass - are identified and restored. The device also applies virtual surround sound to audio, making it equally effective for digital movies.
The Xmod will be available later this month for £59.99. See Creative Europe for full details.
Being able to blast tunes from your iPod out loud moves your music out of your pocket and into the party, but Apple's iPod Hi-Fi is both bulky and expensive (£249). For a far more compact, affordable speaker system, look and listen no further than the Intempo iDS-02 (£129). Available in black or white, this stylish audio orb boasts two 7.5-watt stereo speakers and a 15-watt sub-woofer delivering top quality sound and excellent bass response. The supplied remote allows you to control the basic functions of your iPod as well as adjust the treble, bass and volume, while the system also serves as a docking station, charging your player and synchronising with your PC or Mac music library. The iDS-02 is mains-operated and compatible with all iPod models except the Shuffle.
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