audio

Music

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin MM-1 USB Speakers

4:51AM Mark Wilson | We have no actual specs on these Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin MM-1 USB speakers, but if the high-end computer speakers sound nearly as good as they look, we’re in for a treat. Arriving January 2010. [Ecoustics via Engadget]
Gadgets

Old-Timey Sound Locators Enhanced Hearing In Times Of War

4:20AM Adam Frucci | Back before radar, dudes in the military had to rely on their ears to detect incoming enemy planes. So they enhanced them with these flat-out crazy “sound locators”. More »
Entertainment

LG Soundbar Offers 4.1 Audio Plus Blu-ray For $1499

1:15PM Nick Broughall | Can anyone explain to me how 4.1 surround sound works from a soundbar? I can understand virtual 5.1 and Sharp’s 3.1 well enough, but what about 4.1? Is that three front speakers and one rear? Stereo front and stereo back? Three back and one front? I’m confused! More »
Music

How Mickey Mouse And Mr. Q Manufactured Emotion

9:00AM Rosa Golijan | Former Disney audio-experience engineer, Mr. Q, reveals how he assisted in developing a complex algorithm to arrange over 15,000 speakers around the Disney World theme park. All to achieve the ideal ambient music for “manufacturing emotion”. More »
Music

A Surround Sound Speaker, Not A Dartboard

5:20AM Mark Wilson | The EOps i24R3 Portable isn’t just the product of a design student and a 3D modelling program. It’s a real, wireless, waterproof, single-speaker surround sound system that was just announced by Hong Kong designer Michael Young. How does it work? More »
Music

Philips SHL8800 Headphones Let You Customise Your Ears

2:33PM Nick Broughall | If you fancy yourself as a big name designer and want to pretend you’ve got a deal with a major electronics manufacturer, Philips’ SHL8800 headphones will let you create your own customisable caps for the earphones. More »
Peripherals

Wattgate 381 “Audio Grade” Socket Is For Suckers Only

7:00AM Jack Loftus | The Wattgate “Audio Grade” wall socket costs a mere $US147, but the crisp, unmatchable sound it will help create in your home crafts the kind of priceless memories that last a lifetime. More »
Music

TerraCycle Recycles Tasty Treat Wrappers Into Speakers

6:00AM Jack Loftus | These recycled speakers are interesting, TerraCycle, but I won’t be 100 per cent impressed until you find a way to turn the World’s Largest Cheeto into a speaker too. More »
Peripherals

Polk HitMaster “Monitor” Means Faux Instrument Arms Race Exists

5:00AM Jack Loftus | The disdain I harboured for that ridiculous Altec Lansing Guitar Hero “stage monitor” was fading this morning, but news from Polk that they too would be entering the world of fake music accessories revived those feelings anew. More »
Music

Sonos ZonePlayer S5 Hands-On: Sonos For The Masses

12:00AM Dan Nosowitz | Sonos, best known for their premium-priced (but adored) wireless audio systems, announced an all-in-one receiver and speaker recently, and after seeing and hearing it, I’m impressed—but not blown away. More »