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Axiom Audio's new Audiobyte PC speakers: the lacquered walnut version runs $559 a pair

(Credit: Axiom Audio)

Most PC speakers are afterthoughts--the computer equivalent of those awful earbud headphones that come bundled "for free" with portable media players. But Canada's Axiom Audio is offering a high-end alternative with its new Audiobyte PC speakers. At 6.5 inches high by 5.5 inches wide by 4 inches deep, the stereo speakers aren't too much larger than standard computer audio offerings, but they're effectively miniaturized versions of high-quality bookshelf speakers, sporting two-way designs with a 1-inch titanium dome tweeter and 3-inch aluminum cone woofer.

The Audiobyte is now available in a variety of finishes and price points: silver, charcoal, black or white standard synthetic matte finish ($349); cherry or burled walnut high-gloss synthetic ($399); and lacquered real-wood burled cherry or walnut ($559). Each package includes a pair of stereo speakers and a separate amplifier module, that latter of which can also accept direct iPod connections via USB. An optional EPZero subwoofer runs $179. Those price tags aren't cheap, especially compared to most offerings from PC audio stalwarts like Logitech and Altec Lansing--and not having yet heard the Audiobytes in action, we can't make any claims as to whether or not they live up to their audiophile billing. But Axiom is betting that more refined listeners--those who might be considering the $400 Bose Companion 5 speakers, for instance--would be willing to give the Audiobytes an audition.

CHIBA, Japan--Who said work and drinking don't mix?

A number of years ago, during an economic downturn, JVC had to lay off an engineer who had worked for the company for around 20 years. Sometime later, the engineer was in a tavern with a friend when he contemplated the squid snacks.

Why, he thought, are the squid so flexible? The bartender told him they soak in sake first.

Evidence that eating snacks and drinking sake can lead to major breakthroughs.

(Credit: Michael Kanellos/CNET News.com)

The engineer had an insight into how to tackle a problem that had vexed acoustic engineers for years: how to make loudspeaker cones out of wood. Making speaker cabinets from wood is easy, but crafting a wooden cylinder--that curved thing at the center of a speaker that's shaped like a cone--isn't.

He began to soak wood in sake and the result is what you see in the picture: speakers where most of the significant parts are made out of wood.

"You get a very smooth sound out of wood," David Gifford, manager of the advertising group at JVC, said during a booth tour at Ceatec Japan 2007, the large trade show taking place here this week. JVC sells both complete wood speakers and speaker kits. They are priced at the high end of the speaker market. A kit can sell for 30,000 yen, or around $290.

JVC, a unit of Victor Company of Japan, actually uses sake to cure its speaker wood, added spokesman Akiko Sakakibara, not a chemical substitute or some other substance. "We've tried scotch, wine--but Japanese sake works the best," Sakakibara said.

The engineer, naturally, was rehired and audiophiles rejoiced.

The Chestnut Hill George: now cheaper (thanks to a price drop) and better (via firmware upgrades)

(Credit: Chestnut Hill Sound)

Remember George? The iPod-friendly tabletop radio from audio start-up Chestnut Hill Sound garnered mostly positive reviews when it debuted earlier this year, thanks largely to its unique wireless remote control, but the $550 sticker price limited its appeal. Well, as of today, it's a decidedly better deal. Chestnut Hill has lowered the price to $500 and will bundle in the outboard remote charging stand--pretty much a must-have accessory--at no extra cost for units sold through the end of the year. To date, the charging stand cost an extra $50 as well, so the net savings on the new deal is a cool $100. Still pricey, to be sure, but right in line with plenty of other luxury label tabletop offerings from Bose, Tivoli Audio, and Boston Acoustics--none of which offer the George's cool remote.

In addition to the price drop, there's more good news for current and prospective George owners. The long-promised "skins" (side panels and speaker grilles available in different colors, as seen on Chestnut Hill's website) are now on track for October availability; they're expected to retail for $100 apiece. And the company has continued to make good on its pledge to keep updating the product, with the latest of several free firmware upgrades adding a variety of tweaks and improvements to the product. Meanwhile, the company is still planning to deliver the promised HD Radio add-on before the end of the year.

(Credit: DLO)

DLO has announced its new HomeDock Music Remote for the iPod. It's a wireless solution for controlling your iPod from anywhere in your house or apartment. Your iPod simply rests in a dock, which doubles as a charger, and is connected to your home stereo. With the included OLED remote, you can navigate through all of the artists on your iPod or even create a playlist of your own. Adding even more functionality to the dock, it's also equipped with a USB port, allowing you to sync your iPod with iTunes.

Like other remote-controlled players, the HomeDock uses RF signals to communicate with its base, eliminating the need to worry about line-of-sight issues. DLO claims the device will work up to 150 feet away, even through walls. And while you'll lose the convenience of the iPod touch wheel and the album art display, the DLO's design won't drain your iPod's battery like the Belkin TuneStage 2 does.

The DLO HomeDock Music Remote retails for $130 and is available now at Apple Stores and DLO directly.