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This could be the last hi-fi speaker you'll buy

Nothing gets older faster than high-tech, but the Harbeth P3ESR sounds so good you may never want to replace it with another speaker. That's no hype; I know audiophiles still using similar speakers originally manufactured in the 1970s.

That's when American audiophiles first fell in love with small British monitor speakers engineered and designed by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and manufactured by a number of companies, including KEF, Goodmans, Rogers, Spendor, and Harbeth. Though the speakers were all built around the same design, known as the LS3/5A, not all LS3/5As sounded exactly the same. Back … Read more

Get a wireless floor-standing speaker lamp for $129.99

And now for something completely different.

Need a wireless speaker to complete your home-theater surround system? How about a Pandora-friendly speaker for the living room? Maybe you're just tired of sitting in the dark.

Whatever the case, here's a product I didn't even know existed until this morning, but now feel I must have: today only, 1SaleADay has the Soundolier DUO-CP lamp with wireless speaker for $129.99, plus $4.99 for shipping.

The Soundolier has a list price of $379.99, and that's exactly what you'd pay for one at Amazon. Elsewhere I've … Read more

Bose updates Soundlink Bluetooth Mobile II with better sound, adds AirPlay speaker

On a busy day for Apple products, Bose decided to quietly announce the next generation of its portable wireless speakers, the SoundLink Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II, and the SoundLink Air system, its first-ever Apple Airplay-enabled product.

The original SoundLink Wireless Mobile came out last year and received an Editors' Choice Award from CNET. Bose says the new Mobile Speaker II, which looks virtually identical to the original model, sounds better. "Bose engineers integrated new neodymium transducers and an updated digital signal processing algorithm into the acoustics package," the press release said. "Combined with the company's patented … Read more

Top 5 home theater essentials (2012)

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It's easy to go over the top when it comes to outfitting your dream home theater system. One minute you're checking out HD projectors, and the next minute you're trying to figure out how to convert your entire basement into a giant subwoofer.

But it never hurts to start with the basics. In this CNET Top 5, I asked CNET Associate Editor Matthew Moskovciak for the essential ingredients in today's modern home theater system.

Logitech UE rolls out new wave of headphones and wireless speakers

Logitech purchased the Ultimate Ears headphone line way back in 2008. Since then, slowly but surely, the UE logo has been creeping in as the upscale Logitech audio brand -- witness the UE AirPlay speaker from earlier this year.

As of today, the Logitech UE branding officially goes large with the introduction of seven new audio products. Among the new models are two mobile Bluetooth speakers, three new headphones with memory foam cushions, a noise-isolating in-earphone with four-armature speakers in each earpiece, and the next evolution of the Squeezebox Radio powered by Logitech UE's new mobile companion app.… Read more

Who wants perfectly accurate sound?

With the booming popularity of sound bars, iPod docks, and tiny Bluetooth speakers, it's increasingly obvious that most people aren't interested in buying the best-sounding speakers. Other factors, such as the smallest possible size and maximum feature set are higher priorities than sound quality. I go the other way and put sound at the top of my list, but I'm far from convinced that the most accurate sound is the best sound. Accuracy isn't what it's cracked up to be.

Digital audio formats, for example, always have more accurate frequency response than any analog format, … Read more

Jawbone Jambox remixes 100 custom color combinations for $199

The Jawbone Jambox Bluetooth speaker has always offered tinkerers the freedom to choose a custom voice through its MyTalk platform, but the company just announced even more customization down the line. Beginning August 28, you'll be able to build a unique Jambox using 13 grille and nine cap colors on the newly remixed Web site.

The combinations offer more than 100 possible permutations to fit your favorite palette. I recommend using Wes Anderson's cinematic aesthetic as inspiration, but you can start anywhere you'd like.… Read more

Get a DBest Duo Bluetooth mini speaker set for $49.99

When it comes to portable speakers, most products cram a couple drivers into a small brick of the Jawbone Jambox or Logitech Mini Boombox variety.

Many of them sound pretty good for their size, but the best stereo comes when you've got two speakers spaced farther apart.

On the other hand, you still want portability, and, ideally, Bluetooth.

Problem solved: Abe's of Maine has the DBest Duo Bluetooth mini speaker set for $49.99 shipped. That's after applying coupon code CNET20 at checkout. (That's right: This is another fine exclusive just for Cheapskate readers.)

Update: The … Read more

GoldenEar: $4.7 million speakers cast from 18-karat gold

I would like to talk about how the Hart Audio D&W Aural Pleasure loudspeakers feature crystal-clear highs and sternum-shaking lows, but I can't stop staring at them long enough to actually care how they sound.

The speakers look like a cross between a jelly bean and something an elephant left behind. But really, these speakers aren't about the looks. They're about being able to tell people you spent $4.7 million on 18-karat-gold speakers.… Read more

Get a Vizio sound bar and wireless subwoofer for $109.77

I've written many times about the merits of augmenting your TV's crummy built-in speakers with an external sound system. Even if you add lower-end speakers, the difference is night and day.

I've also written many times about Vizio's sound bar, which has sold for as low as $50 (refurbished). It's pretty good on its own, but if you really want to kick your TV sound system up a notch, you need a subwoofer.

Today only, and while supplies last, JustDeals has the refurbished Vizio VHT210 sound bar and wireless subwoofer for $109.77 shipped. That'… Read more