Crave

(Credit: Crave UK)

The last Gear4 StreetParty we got jiggy with was the StreetParty Size 0, and when it was just the two of us we had a pretty good time. Yeah, sorry for another helping of Will Smith references, but we were just told the Big Willie is in London later today and, well, we're pretty excited.

Anyway, the latest StreetParty just arrived in the CNET complex (two turned up, actually--we're not sure why) and we've had a quick play to form some first impressions.

The StreetParty III--or 3, if you're not down with the Roman numerals--is a mains- or battery-powered speaker dock for iPods, and it's ideal for festivals, beers in the garden or in the kitchen when preparing your nutmeg "cigarettes" (did you know Nostradamus smoked nutmeg before making prophecies?).

Anyway, for the asking price of 30 pounds (about $59) it's pretty decent, and very loud. It by no means produces a sound that'll do anything less than annoy audiophiles, and it's no living room hi-fi replacement. But for the upcoming summer festivals it's smashing.

It's on sale next month and you can expect a more in-depth review in the next couple of weeks. Now go and listen to Will Smith and revel in the magnificence of his clean rap.

(Source: Crave UK

(Credit: Crave UK)

When Gear4 told us it was holding its most exciting product launch to date, we knew we were in for a little treat. It came to show us its swanky new Duo in private, weeks before said launch, so we've had a chance to form a solid opinion already.

It's called the Gear4 Duo and it's pretty unusual. At first glance it looks like a compact 2.1 speaker unit for the iPod, with an integrated sub. But pull off the magnetically connected front panel and you've got yourself a portable, battery-powered system akin to Gear4's StreetParty Size 0. It's got two user-replaceable lithium-ion batteries, its own line-in and power supply, and a fold-away kick stand.

When you want to re-dock the front speakers, just push it up against the sub's face and the magnets hold it in place, and your music continues without fuss and, more importantly, without wires. It's hella handy if you're listening to a lengthy podcast in your bedroom, then go downstairs to cook a roast, feed the cat, or fire up a scented candle.

Sound quality's not too shabby either. When connected to the sub, the overall tone is acceptable; we call it "bedroom quality," as it's got no place as a main system in your lounge. The high end's a little abrasive and at loud volume the bass sounds a tad hollow, though it adds an acceptable warmth to the brightness that uncritical ears won't, er, sneeze at.

(Source: Crave UK)

(Credit: Crave UK)

Gear4 popped by Crave UK yesterday to talk about a super-secret new product (which we're not allowed to talk about--but you will be excited when we can). We were also given the company's brand-new Bluetooth receiver for hi-fi systems. It's called the Blustream RX and although we've not had a chance to test it fully yet, it's looking to be a promising nugget of kit.

It's a very weighty unit, shaped like a hockey puck and roughly the size of a British three-pin plug. We were surprised at how solid this thing is. It doesn't have the plasticky budget feel of many Bluetooth accessories, but rather a weight akin to the epicenter of a neutron star.

It'll pair with any Bluetooth transmitter--PC, mobile phone, some MP3 players--and hooks up to your hi-fi via stereo cable. There's no gold plating, but that shouldn't matter--the very nature of Bluetooth means your music may begin in lossless format, but it'll be wirelessly transmitted with lossy compression. Clearly it's not intended for audiophiles, but it's offering convenience to anyone with a hi-fi, regardless of its sonic prowess.

At 50 pounds (about $100) it's by no means going to break the bank. It'll be on sale soon and you can expect a hands-on report next week.

(Source: Crave UK)

(Credit: Crave UK)

Wires and wired connections are for old people, the mentally challenged and the Amish--all the cool people are using wireless stuff. Wireless technology is the connectivity of choice in today's prisons since, unlike Ethernet, it's virtually impossible to kill yourself using Wi-Fi.

OK, fine, wires are actually better than wireless for most things until 802.11n and WiMax (or similar) become mainstream. But Bluetooth has a high adoption rate and Gear4 is exploiting this ubiquity to the max. Its most recent Bluetooth speaker system, the Blackbox, is a rectangular, touch-controlled, 24W, glossy black speaker system.

Along with having A2DP stereo Bluetooth compatibility to stream choons from your phone, it's got a 3.5mm line-in socket and a little bass reflex port for that added oomph. Although best powered with the mains adaptor, the system can be run from four size C batteries. For some reason, Gear4 requires you to use a screwdriver or coin to unscrew the fastener locking the battery compartment. Someone, somewhere, got paid to make this decision. The mind boggles.

Anyway, it's a solid, well-built set of portable speakers, though it's hella prone to fingerprints and smudges. Sound quality's not too bad, though generally slightly muddy. Each speaker driver is mounted on either end of the Blackbox, producing quite a wide sound, but it does seem to somewhat negatively impact the overall quality of audio reproduction.

Pairing a device over Bluetooth was easy and must be done within 3 minutes of being switched on. The trippy LED visualisation on the front of the system looks pretty neat in our opinion.

The Blackbox is set to retail at 100 pounds (about $204) when it goes in sale later this week and you can check out our full review very soon. In the meantime, click through for some snazzy photos of this quaint little chap.

(Source: Crave UK)

(Credit: Crave UK)

Thin is in. You know it, right? Gear4 knows it, and in response it has released a speaker dock with dimensions that are usually reserved for supermodels--the StreetParty Size 0. It's so thin, in fact, it even gives that Flat Stanley bloke a run for his two-dimensional money. It clocks in at just 17mm (0.7-inches) thick and the iPod docking area cleverly folds away into the body of the system itself.

OK, so our tests prove it's no 300W Marshall valve amp but it'll help you party in the street, with the added bonus that looks invisible when viewed side-on*. With a weight of only 300g (about 10.6 ounces) it's obviously been counting those calories to good effect, but it still packs a cute 6W from its twin tweeters and twin low-resonance drivers.

The Size 0 is powered by either an AC adaptor or a pair of AA batteries and can be operated--as if by magic--with an infrared remote control (also thin). It charges your 'Pod while it's docked, functions as a PC dock for syncing with iTunes and can be used with other audio players via a 3.5mm line-in socket. It's got a solid feel and would certainly survive a beating inside a backpack during those long treks up mountains or a fun-filled family outing down mine shafts.

If you fancy pumping your beats through this slender piece of kit, it'll cost you around 40 pounds (about $79) any time from now. For those of you eager for more info, check back soon for our full review.

*Not strictly true, nothing 17mm thick is invisible. But is very slim indeed.

(Source: Crave UK)

(Credit: Crave UK)

Wires are the bane of music-lovers' lives. If you're not spending hours untangling your headphones, you're pulling them out of your mobile phone of MP3 player by mistake. Fortunately, something called A2DP--aka stereo Bluetooth--is putting a stop to this madness.

These Gear4 Bluphones, for example, feature A2DP technology that lets you hook them up to any stereo-Bluetooth-enabled device, such as the Nokia 6300, and listen to music in stereo without wires. If the device doesn't have A2DP support but does feature Bluetooth then it will still play the music, but in mono.

The Bluphones have built-in controls that let you play and pause music and go forward or back a track, and there's a built-in mic for hands-free. When you receive a call on your mobile phone the music cuts out and you can speak to the caller without needing to take the headphones off.

For a pair of Bluetooth headphones, they're surprisingly light and don't feel too uncomfortable to wear. We're not entirely sure about the flying-saucer design, but they're not so huge that it's embarrassing to wear them--and you look a little less mental talking through them than you would with a standard hands-free headset.

You can pick up a pair of these for about 50 pounds (about $98), which Crave thinks is a little steep, but hopefully they'll come down in price soon.

(Source: Crave UK)