Let's face it: the speakers built-in to our phones and tablets aren't really cutting it for anything more than the random speakerphone call or video chat. For times when you want to rock out on the go, you need something a bit more substantial — something like the Logitech Mini Boombox ($100). Powered by rechargeable battery good for 10 hours... [More]

Its name might lead you to think it was a music venue, but the Cantata Music Center (£6,000, roughly $9,700) is actually one of the world's best — and most expensive — USB-based Digital Audio Converters. Able to handle a variety of sources, from CDs via the built-in player to digital audio files stored on your Mac, PC, or NAS,... [More]

Tube amps have long been praised for their natural, warm sound, and now you can get that classic sound and treatment in a modern package with the McIntosh 50th Anniversary MC275 Tube Amplifier ($6,500). Sporting a gold-toned chassis, this limited edition MC275 merges the classic 1961 tube circuit design of the original with modern niceties like a multi-colored LED display,... [More]

It's not exactly audiophile-grade equipment, but Bose's stuff is legendary for its ear-pleasing audio and retina-pleasing styling — which is exactly the combination you want in a soundbar. The Bose CineMate Soundbar System ($1,500) doesn't disappoint in this regard, offering up full simulated surround sound from a sleek bar that knows if it's mounted against a wall or on a... [More]

Placing a sound bar direct in front of/below your TV isn't the greatest idea if you still want to use your remote control. Unless the sound bar is the Yamaha YAS-101 Front Surround System ($300). Thanks to a unique IR code pass-through feature, the YAS-101 will ensure that your channels are changed and sleep timers set, and it also sounds... [More]

Sometimes you just want great sound, without the need for a gargantuan system. The Harman Kardon MAS 102 Stereo System ($1,000) delivers it with a integrated, all-in-one design that features a built-in CD player and FM tuner, dual USB ports, two coaxial and two optical digital inputs, analog inputs, a built-in clock with sleep timer, and a powerful 65 watt... [More]

Shiny black plastic? Check. iPhone/iPod dock? Check. Ability to explain the "k" in its name? Okay, so the Roth KRadio (£200; roughly $330) can't do everything, but it can give you access to thousands of Internet radio stations thanks to an Ethernet port and built-in Wi-Fi, playback music from your iPhone or iPod while it charges, hook up to DAB... [More]

Never mind the fact that it's quite a chore just to find 7.2-channel content for your high-end home theater — the Pioneer Elite SC-57 Receiver ($2,000) is ready to up the ante with a completely unnecessary 140 watts over nine channels, making it a 9.2-channel beast. Features include the ability to use those nine channels in one of ten configurations,... [More]

We've heard of the home-theater-in-a-box, but this takes it to a whole new level. The Libratone Lounge ($1,300) is designed to be a replacement for both the stereo hi-fi and more advanced home theater systems, thanks to five separate amplifiers cranking out 150W of power to an eight-inch woofer, a pair of ceramic midranges, and a pair of ribbon-based tweeters,... [More]

Looking for a great-sounding, AirPlay-friendly speaker system that's a bit more understated than the intentionally attention-grabbing Zeppelin Air? Meet the Klipsch Gallery G-17 Air Music System ($530). At 17-inches wide, it's not exactly small, giving the Tractrix Horn, 2.5-inch long-throw woofers, and bass reflex design room to breathe, while the built-in Wi-Fi, 3.5mm input, and USB port make sure there's... [More]

Find yourself in music streaming nirvana with the Sonos Play:3 ($300). This pint-size powerhouse features three digital amps, two mid-range drivers, a single tweeter, and a bass radiator for exceptional sound, an Ethernet port for connecting it to your network to open a world of music streaming options — including Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, and more — and compatibility with the... [More]

We've seen speakers shaped like eggs, airships, and even, well, speakers, but we've never seen anything quite like these. Taking their form from mother nature, these Oma Monarch Speakers ($TBA) use their slender legs and bodies — along with their large, wing-shaped wooden baffles — to create an unmistakable butterfly shape, while two 15-inch woofers, cast aluminum alloy horns, and... [More]

Inspired by the NYC neighborhood of the same name, these new Audyssey Lower East Side Speakers ($200) promise to deliver high-quality, room-filling sound from your computer, TV, iPhone, or anything else you want to connect. Thanks to .75-inch silk-dome tweeters, 3.5-inch woofers, 4-inch passive bass radiators, and Audyssey Smart Speaker digital technology, they produce sound that belies their diminutive size,... [More]

Whether you're just getting into vinyl or simply looking for a stylish replacement for your aging gear, the Pro-Ject RPM 1.3 Genie Turntable ($500) is a terrific choice. Featuring a strikingly stripped-down design, the Genie will turn heads with its looks, while the quiet running synchronous motor, two-step pulley, resonance-optimized platter, aluminum tonearm, and external power supply combine to deliver... [More]

Theater-like surround systems are great, but sometimes you just want crisp and pure plain ol' stereo. For those times, a set of standout bookshelfs — like the Bowers & Wilkins PM1 Speakers ($2,800) are just what you need. Sporting the company's all-new Carbon Based Tweeter, mounted inside a Nautilus tapering tube, the PM1s also offer Kevlar cone bass and midrange... [More]

Got a thing for the monolith from 2001? The Sound Freaq Sound Platform ($200) comes pretty close. This versatile speaker offers up Bluetooth, an iPod/iPhone Dock, an aux in port, and an FM radio, giving you plenty of sources to choose from — whether you're using the IR or App-based remote — while two 2.75-inch full-range drivers, dual chamber ports,... [More]

Portable audio systems are great, but most aren't the kind of thing you want to be seen carrying around. Thankfully, that's not a problem with the TDK Sound Cube ($300). Packing 20 Watts of output power and two 5.25-inch coaxial drivers into a stylish box, the Sound Cube offers iCompatible USB, 3.5mm, and auxiliary inputs for connecting a variety of... [More]

Whether you've given up home on your favorite AirPlay speaker ever emerging from vaporland, or simply want a wireless speaker that looks as good as most of your furniture, Libratone Beat Speakers ($600) should be on your short list. Wrapped in slate gray wool — or optional colored cashmere — these standalone towers boast 100 Watts of total power spread... [More]

Get a sleek surround setup with the Harman Kardon BDS 800 Home Theater System ($1,500). Packing a hefty, 65 watt-per-channel digital amplifier, Blu-ray player with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, and USB connectivity into a single, svelte package, it's everything you need to turn a simple HDTV into a full-on theater. The package also includes four identical two-way, dual-driver satellite... [More]

We've heard of home-theater-in-a-box systems, but never like this. The Klipsch THX Ultra2 Home Theater System ($13,000) is ready to take your theater from pedestrian to professional with a full complement of speakers, including three KL-650-THX LCRs, two KL-525-THX LCRs, two KS-525-THX surrounds, two KW-120-THX subwoofers, and a dedicated KA-1000-THX subwoofer amplifier, all boasting high-end tech like Klipsch Tractrix Horn... [More]