srs

Best Bluetooth accessories right now (roundup)

Do you like wires? Neither do we. And thankfully, you don't really need them anymore when you're using a smartphone.

No matter your preference -- iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, BlackBerry -- any decent modern smartphone is equipped with wireless Bluetooth capability. In addition to hands-free calling with headsets and stereo headphones, phones can also be used as wireless music sources for an increasingly large array of Bluetooth speakers -- perfect for listening to MP3s on the phone, or Web-based audio services like Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Cloud Player, iTunes Match, or anything else.

As someone who uses Bluetooth gadgets daily, I'd frankly feel lost without my handy assortment of hands-free mobile toys. And I've collected a list of some of CNET's favorites. … Read more

ABCs of Car Tech: Safety tech

You have heard gear heads brag about their car's horsepower, handling, and modifications, but when was the last time you've heard anyone brag about their new whip's crash-worthiness?

This week, we'll be taking a look at the unsung heroes of the automotive industry. Some of this hardware could save your life in the event of a crash, while other elements are there to keep you from dinging up your paint job in the first place. That's right. This week, I'll be explaining passenger safety tech.

Seat belts and SRS: Supplemental restraint system

Seat belts are the oldest bit of passenger safety tech and are basically fabric straps that keep you from bouncing around the cabin in the event of an accident. In the earliest days of motoring, you got a two-point lap belt and padded dashboard, but in the 80s, we saw widespread use of three-point safety belts for all passengers.

Working in tandem with the modern seat-belt system is the "supplemental restraint system," which is basically a technical term for airbags. In the beginning, only the front passengers got airbags--usually located in the steering wheel and dashboard. Modern airbags are triggered by sensors in the car that measure vehicle deceleration. When a car runs into something, it decelerates at a terrific rate, triggering the system's deployment. Gasses from a small chemical explosion are captured by the nylon fabric airbag, creating a cushion of air in as little as 8/100ths of a second. I can tell you from experience that the airbag slap stings, but it's definitely softer than the steering wheel.… Read more

Crave giveaway: SRS iWOW 3D for iPhone/iPad

First, congrats to Drew P. of Battle Creek, Mich., who won last week's awesome Toshiba HDTV/Bluray player combo. Now on to this week's giveaway, which brings us back to the audio realm with SRS Labs iWow 3D audio-enhancement adapter for iPhone, iPod and iPad.

That's right, you plug this little dongle into your iOS device and through some digital trickery, your music, movies, and games get a literal sound boost with a more open sound stage. There's also a free iWOW app that goes along with the dongle that allows you to refine and customize your settings.

Here's what SRS has to say about the accessory:

Utilizing patented SRS technologies, SRS iWOW 3D effectively and naturally restores the audio cues that are buried in the original source material, allowing the user to experience renewed clarity and detail. The result: Music and videos sound more natural, the way the artist originally intended, and are infinitely more enjoyable. The immersive 3-D audio, ultra-clear definition, and deep, rich bass will make you say "WOW!" after just one listen.

Normally, the iWOW 3D would cost around $60, but you have the chance to get it gratis. … Read more

SRS iWOW boosts iPod audio

The iPod catches some flack for not offering much in the way of EQ and sound-enhancement features. Sure, Apple's standard list of iPod EQ presets are a nice gesture, but they won't perform any miracles on you iPod's sound (especially if you're still hanging onto those stock earbuds).

The SRS iWOW adapter seeks to solve the problem by catching the audio between your iPod and your earbuds and injecting it with some extra oomph. Personally, I wasn't bowled over with the results (especially for the $99 MSRP), but to see if the SRS iWOW is … Read more

New Tannoy PSP speaker system features faux surround sound

PSP speaker systems haven't exactly taken off like iPod speaker systems, but a few continue to trickle out onto the market, including a new one that carries the Tannoy brand name and features SRS TruSurround (Accessories 4 Technology Limited is manufacturing the thing).

According to the press release, SRS TruSurround "processes any multichannel audio source and delivers an immersive virtual 5.1 surround sound home theater experience over two speakers or headphones. With TruSurround, consumers will feel as if they're surrounded by 'phantom' speakers that appear to extend all around them, putting them in the center of … Read more