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bmr

A Kickstarter project promises crystal-clear-sounding speakers

Tech startup Coleridge Design Associates is trying to raise $45,000 on Kickstarter to manufacture a sleek-looking and transparent-sounding desktop speaker system, the aCube BMR. I've covered Kickstarter projects before, but this time I had a chance to listen to the product, and the sound definitely piqued my interest.

The aCube uses an advanced 4.5-inch BMR (Balanced Mode Radiator) driver mounted in handmade clear-cast acrylic 6.5-inch cube enclosures. The $180 speaker houses a stereo 20-watt Class-D amplifier, but if you want stereo sound, you have to buy a second speaker (without the amp) for $120. Optional at … Read more

British study shows recorded music far from dead

Last week, the British Music Rights organization published a study about the musical habits and desires of younger listeners. The survey (available here in PDF form) included more than 1,000 recipients, age 14 and up, enrolled in universities or "feeder schools," and the results contain some positive nuggets for the ailing recorded music industry.

Most notably, given all the warnings about video games and other forms of entertainment taking music's place, music is still important to kids: 73% of those surveyed said they'd want to take their music collection with them to a desert island. … Read more