MP3 Players & Accessories

The latest in gadget news has to do with JVC's new tabletop home theater sound system, the NX-BX3 for iPods and iPhones. It's JVC's first 2x30W sound system for iPod and iPhone, and is designed to replace your actual nightstand!

Available in both black and white, the NX-BX3 has a weight of 20kg for a size of 500x300x110mm and offers all the features that can be found in other iPhone/iPod speaker docks. It sports an FM tuner and SRS StudioSound HD for around $400.

The next time you buy an iPod dock, ask yourself this important question: can I put a lamp on it? It can hold glasses or a flower vase on its top -- really, the sky's the limit (plus some general weight restrictions) when it comes to the things you can place on top of it.

The dock arrives in Japan this month, and will follow in the US this summer.Read more

January 24, 2012 marked the 28th anniversary of the original Macintosh launch and on this important date in history, Zero1.tv announced that its new VooMote Zapper is now available at Apple.com and will be in Apple stores February 7, 2012.

The Voomote Zapper converts your iOS device into a smart universal remote that controls virtually all of your A/V gear. The lightweight dongle is the size of a paperclip, and is compatible with all mobile iOS 5 devices (iPhone/iPad/iPod).

Unlike base station solutions, VooMote Zapper provides "room to room" functionality that allows users to access entertainment whenever and wherever they want, with whichever iOS 5 devices they please.

What also sets the VooMote Zapper apart from the rest is its hassle-free set up and usage. It is extremely simple and intuitive. Once you connect your VooMote Zapper dongle, the free app automatically downloads, and prompts the set up. You immediately have full control over hundreds of thousands of electronic devices. This easy set up means no manuals or PCs are necessary. Users can also enjoy the freedom from having to connect to Bluetooth, the Internet, or buy batteries for their remote ever again. Read more

By now you've (hopefully) taken care of the big-ticket items on your holiday shopping list. But don't forget the stocking stuffers! We've put together a list of some great, yet inexpensive stocking stuffers, along with a few $5 toys you can sneak into your kids stockings - or even under the tree!

NewerTech NuTouch Gloves
NewerTech's NuTouch Gloves are the stylish and functional solution to keeping hands warm while using an iPhone, iPad, or other touch screen device in cold weather. Unlike other brands of gloves that limit finger use and touch capability, NuTouch Gloves have a special conductive fiber woven into all 10 fingertips so users can enjoy the fastest typing input on full-sized touch keyboards.

Made from a soft cotton mix and available in four hand sizes - S/M/L/XL, they come in a classic charcoal color and can be worn by themselves, or as liners with heavier cold weather gloves.Read more

SoundFreaq just announced the successor to their SFQ-1 iPhone dock. It's called the Sound Stack, a speaker that accepts wireless audio streams from any Bluetooth-compatible device. It also has the company's DubSub technology on board for superior bass.

"After two years in development, we're extremely proud of the acoustic bar that Sound Stack sets. It delivers power with detail, bringing instruments and voices closer to the listener than on any home system we’ve heard," said Matthew Paprocki, Soundfreaq’s co-founder and creative director. "Throughout our testing, enthusiasts and artists alike have commented that they 'can see the music being played.' Combined with our industry-leading feature set and value, it's a no-compromise product."

Soundfreaq says that this is the company's largest speaker to date, featuring engineered Kevlar-reinforced drivers, a tuned triple-ported housing, and proprietary UQ3 spatial sound enhancement. It's also got the aforementioned DubSub, which is a 2.2 speaker configuration that pairs two full-range drivers with two active subwoofers.Read more

Long before iDevices made their debut, SDI Technologies was creating audio solutions all the way back to 1956, and in fact, its Soundesign brand created the first clock radio telephone!

Now, the folks who brought you iHome are bringing back the Soundesign legend with the SD63 Retro-Style Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones- a new audio solution that captures the sleek, clean aesthetic of yesterday and combines it with the advanced technology of today.

With the new SD63 headphones, there are some design elements that remind us exactly of the 1960s old Soundesign brand. The SD63 Retro-Style Hi-Fi Stereo Headphones boast 40mm neodymium drivers, a volume knob on the outside of the ear cup, and a coiled six-foot cord.Read more

Sony recently debuted its new RDP-X500iP speaker dock for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod. Sporting a wide, tall shape and a front-mounted dock, the RDP-X500iP features Magnetic Fluid Speakers for increased clarity, a built-in subwoofer, dual passive radiators for added bass response, Clear Phase digital signal processing, an auxiliary input, and an included remote control.

This speaker dock from Sony has a lot of features to make the music stored on your iOS device sound its best. Sony's RDP-X500iP Premium Speaker Dock uses S-MASTER digital amplification that gets you closer to the music with high-performance audio output. Sony's Clear Phase™ linear phase correction circuitry ensures reduced distortion and increased sound presence, making your music crisp and clear. And the speakers use damperless Magnetic Fluid that delivers higher sound pressure with less distortion than traditional speakers. Read more

When I work out, I like my new gadgets to help me out with the monotony of the treadmill. You know what I'm talking about.....mp3 player, heart-rate monitor, headphones, etc. I've had to buy a larger gym bag these days to accommodate the electronics store I tote off to the gym.

New Balance, in conjunction with iHOME, just released the NB639 fitness headphones that promise to consolidate some of your gear, and make life a little easier. For starters it's a pedometer that accurately measures your running or walking steps. It's also a chronograph that you can use to time your workout, which eliminates the need for a stopwatch. The NB639 also has a built in heart rate monitor, where you just place your thumb over its sensor and it delivers real-time information.

Since the NB639 Fitness headphones don't have a digital display, it delivers your fitness information to you by talking to you. While you plug these babies into your media player, the NB639's also announces your pedometer, chronograph and heart-rate information. It can tell you not only your heart rate, but the number of steps you've taken, the calories you've burned, or the distance you've traveled without ever having to pause your music or stop your workout. It's a great feature, and works discretely with your music playing.Read more

JBL's Quick, Easy Fix to Car Audio

Pump up the volume in any car stereo system with JBL's MS-2, a groundbreaking car audio accessory that automatically optimizes your car stereo to improve listening experience. The JBL MS-2 uses digital signal processing to create clearer, more powerful sound from existing speakers in any car, making it the perfect iPod, iPhone or Android smartphone accessory for music fans.

Small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and simple enough for even a novice to set up in seconds, the MS-2 will transform the listening experience in all your vehicles and even at home (with a third-party power supply).

If your music is important enough to carry with you everywhere, you should carry the JBL MS-2 pocket digital processor. The MS-2 optimizes system performance for the acoustic characteristics of your speakers, electronics and vehicle interior, and DSP time correction to ensure that all the sounds reach your ears simultaneously, creating a coherent, richly detailed soundscape.Read more

The Bose OE2 and OE2i headphones reproduce music with improved depth and clarity, and the new contoured styling creates a closer, more comfortable fit

Bose has just introduced their next-generation on-ear headphones, the OE2 and Oe2i (for iPhone), available now in black or white.

The OE2i has a microphone for cell phone calls, along with an Apple-product friendly inline remote that's compatible with more recent iPhone, iPod, iPad, MacBook, and MacBook Pro models. Some of the features even work with Android, but volume control is often an issue with headphones that are designed specifically for iDevices.

The inline remote for both models looks identical to each other, and both headphones offer improved audio performance over the previous OE model that hit the market in 2008. The OE2 and OE2i are also lighter and slightly smaller than their predecessor.

"With redesigned and newly tuned earcup ports, audio reproduction is more balanced and natural," the company says. "There is no manufactured 'boost' across the frequency range; low notes are full and rich, and mid-high frequencies are smooth and clear."Read more

The Embrace headphones move away from BlueAnt's bluetooth wireless line, and focus on comfort and sound quality

BlueAnt's recently introduced the Embrace headphones, a departure from its Bluetooth wireless roots with a wired stereo headset. The stylish over-ear headphones include an integrated mic and controls for iOS devices that allow you to make hands-free calls and play, pause, and track-forward audio selections. Although their $200 retail price tag sways toward the higher end of the consumer market, these over-ear headphones showcase robust, well-defined sound and padded comfort. These are one of the best new gadgets BlueAnt has brought to market in a little while.

These are BlueAnt's first non-Bluetooth headphones, using a standard 1/8" connector, and designed with a focus on sound quality and comfort. They also come with two cables, one regular cable and another with an iPod/iPhone/iPad controller & microphone.

Star Rating:
Cost: $199.99
Where to Buy: Amazon

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