Gadgets Blog » Home Audio & Stereos

Bose Companion 3 Series II Computer Speakers

Dan Evans — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 17:02:02 +0000

Finding quality computer speakers can be a real chore, and it’s easy to see why with the wide variety of options available. While surround sound and stereo systems are designed for a specific audio function, be it movies or music, computer speakers must instead inhabit the middle-ground, needing to be versatile in application while still packing an aural punch. Additionally, computer speakers have to compete with other office electronics for desk space, making larger and bulkier units a hassle.

Enter the Bose Companion 3 Series II computer speaker set. In spite of its long and awkward name, these speakers offer up a great combination of quality, price, and style to make them great for all types of audio. The setup is straightforward and space-saving: two stand-mounted speakers rest on either side of the computer with a beefy but compact subwoofer going somewhere nearby, or even under the desk.

Seeing as it’s a Bose unit, there are some fair expectations about sound quality at stake, and these speakers do not disappoint. Using Bose TrueSpace Signal Processing, the speakers are able to add spaciousness and ambiance to the sound, giving the speakers a larger-than-life quality. Bass frequencies are crisp and punchy thanks to the subwoofer, which provides ample boost to the low end without overwhelming the speakers. Volume can easily be controlled by the disc-shaped control know, offering auxiliary and headphone jacks in a compact unit.

The flexibility of the speakers is a great asset. They can easily be transported due to their small size, and they perform well with a variety of sound. Although they don’t have the volume levels of some larger systems, the clarity present at low volumes more than makes up for this. Movies sound as though they are in surround sound, and MP3s have a light and crisp tone to them, with vocals in particular sounding lush in the mix. There’s no way to adjust the EQ on the speakers, which should be alright if your computer or MP3 player offers the ability to do this, but it would have been a nice touch.

Overall, for the price and size, this unit from Bose is unbeatable. It provides great sound quality without costing an arm and a leg, and you get the opportunity to buy into one of the most trusted brands in audio. While you could pick up a more powerful system for the same price in a different brand, for personal office use, these speakers are hard to beat.

Finding the Right Speakers for Your Music

Dan Evans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:54:23 +0000

As a pretentious audiophile, I’m picky about the way my music sounds (which is too bad in some respects, because we’ve lately been going through a period where high quality music is hard to come by). I’m not talking about the quality of modern pop music either. There’s an ongoing debate as to what format of music has the highest quality of audio: everything from the “natural” sound of a record player to the “chopped up” sound of a CD.

While only the most trained ears are able to pick up on some of the minute differences, the advent of MP3 players initially dealt a serious blow to audio quality, a period we’re only now coming out of. When these players only have a small amount of available hard drive space, we wind up with lower quality MP3s and thus lower sound quality on the music.

In addition to the importance of having high quality MP3s on your device, the next most important item to making your music sound great are the speakers. By using this guide, you should be able to find a system that is best for your needs and you should be well on your way to great-sounding music!

Know the return policy before you buy! This is an important step, as you’re shopping for a speaker system that fits your listening space and the acoustics it has. Not all living rooms are created equal, and oftentimes, it’s hard to hear exactly how a system sounds while it’s set up in a large department store with lots of background noise. To successfully find a speaker system that’s right for you, you’ll need a fair degree of patience. By purchasing a unit with a solid return policy, you’ll be able to shop with the security in having the freedom to test out a number of units, ultimately settling on one that matches your needs.

Find a system that matches your desired listening power! If you’re intending to blast music for large parties, you’re obviously going to need a system with some oomph. On the other hand, some speakers systems have great sound quality at lower volumes. The difference is up to you, for the most part, and you’ll need to find speakers that correspond. For louder volumes, a set of subwoofers is almost required. A good subwoofer will enable you to play music with strong, punchy bass and low-end frequency. If you’re intent on serious decibels, then you’ll probably want more than one, strategically placed in the room for maximum efficiency of sound. On the other hand, if you’re looking for ambient background music, you’re best off with a pair of bookshelf speakers. These units include good bass frequency built-in but can become clipped and blaring at louder volumes. This is an important decision to make as you shop for a system.

When in doubt, find an audio package that is meant to work together! While most think or organized speaker systems as being used for home theaters, there’s no reason why you can’t get extra for your money by investing in a home theater system. A complete system will allow for great sound quality in addition to the flexibility provided with your living room television set. This type of purchase allows you to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. Recently, my roommate and I jerry-rigged an old stereo so that we can both play music out of an iPod and connect it to our television for better sound. Most new stereo systems will allow this kind of flexibility, but when in doubt, be sure to ask someone in the know at your choice department store!

Gadget of the Week: Bose Lifestyle 48 Home Entertainment System

Dan Evans — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:44:14 +0000

Building a strong brand image can be both a blessing and a curse to an electronics company. Consumers see the brand name and immediately expect a heightened level of quality, with features that are both familiar and innovative. In the world of computers, Apple is a prime example: their forays into the realms of music devices and telephones brought some innovative features to consumers that resulted in a great amount of brand loyalty. At the same time, future Apple devices (I’m looking at you, planned Apple Tablet Computer) must desperately avoid a lower standard of quality so that the brand name does not slowly degrade. Fortunately for consumers, companies with such brand loyalty are keenly aware of this high standard and ensure their products meet the stringent demands of their customer base.

In the realm of consumer audio, I would argue that no brand captures the imagination as keenly as Bose. The high-end speaker company produces some of the best audio equipment in the world, with models ranging from portable speakers (ideal for laptops) to the commanding Lifestyle 48 Home Entertainment System, which bundles speakers with a progressive-scan DVD player into one of the best sound systems available on the market.

The specifications for the system are impressive, consisting of virtually every trick Bose has crammed into their systems. The speakers, which Bose bills as its “Premium Jewel Cube” series, look stylish and are small models, easily blending into any living room. The five speakers can be placed anywhere in the room for high-definition 5.1 surround sound. The placement of these speakers is less important than in other models, as one of Bose’s most innovative features comes into play on the Lifestyle 48. The ADAPTiQ audio calibration system finds the optimal acoustic settings for any room and speaker placement. The media center analyzes the dimensions and other variables in the room, giving the best sound quality imaginable.

The other great feature of the system is the musical storage offered on the Lifestyle 48. The uMusic intelligent playback system offers up to 340 hours of music storage on the media player, and playback can be tailored much in the same way the Genius feature works in Apple’s iTunes. Finally, the VS2 video enhancer enables synchronization with other video and audio sources, including HDMI. This is great for the versatility of the unity, which also comes equipped with Bose-link, allowing for playback in up to 14 rooms in the house, or even outside.

Of course, all these features do come at a steep price; the unit retails for $3,399.95, which can be an immense price tag for an average consumer. Nonetheless, for those looking for a top of the line model, look no further than this magnificent Bose system. For those looking for for something more reasonably priced, check out Smarter’s home entertainment systems. With a great variety of systems from Panasonic, Sony, and Samsung, a home entertainment system can make great improvements to any living room.

Discounts on DVD Players

colleen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:36:57 +0000

There are a few of us that can’t bear to get rid of that VHS player in the family den; we watch all of our old Disney tapes on it, and the family home videos, and the weddings and anniversaries of years and relatives past. But nothing new comes out on VHS anymore, so if you want to buy anything new, you need to invest in an DVD. We’ve all learned to cope with the transition, I think, but maybe some of the older relatives haven’t really felt the urge to invest in a new DVD player, thinking that they are perfectly happy watching and re-watching the movies of the past. But what about the movies of the future! Give the gift of the future to your favorite grandpas and grandmas, aunts and uncles this holiday season. Smarter.com offers the best comparison shopping so you save even when you’re splurging on gifts!

Here are some of the top DVD players on the market:

Toshiba HD DVD Player: $119.30

Samsung HD DVD Player in Black : $89.99

Find discount DVD players at Smarter.com.

Deals and Steals: Gadgets Wholesale

colleen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:14:21 +0000

MonitorOutlet.com is dedicated to selling you any type of electronic you desire at the lowest, wholesale price! Everything from digital camcorders to projectors and projection screens, MonitorOutlet.com has your back and is a great one-stop shop to price compare anything your heart desires. Some of the top products include:

Picture King Dalight Screen Square Format from MonitorOutlet.com: $189.99

Samsung Blu-Ray Disc Player from MonitorOutlet.com: Marked down from their own wholesale price of $349.99 to $321.99.

Record Deal – I want me some TURNTABLES, can you dig it

evette — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:48:54 +0000

Am I the only who has noticed they literally play the same 5 played-out songs on the radio! If I hear Britney Spears “Womanizer” one more time, I am going to ram my car into a redwood and slip into sweet oblivion.

Wow, that was a bit macabre but that’s how strongly I feel about the topic. I have seriously considered purchasing a set of turntables for quite some time now. Don’t get it twisted, I don’t plan on becoming some hokey wannabe DJ or anything. I just like the vintage sounds that records emit, not to mention the smell of vinyl. I guess I am an old soul…

Well if you feel the way I do check out the great deal on Pioneer PL-990 fully automatic turntables!

Enjoy the sweet sounds of your record collection with it’s 2 -speed, fully automatic stereo turntable with phono EQ and a moving magnet cartridge included. Simply hook this into your stereo system and enjoy listening to some old (or new) favorites.

Offered by 4 stores – Price range is: $149.99 to as low as 108.98

This is a great deal, if you want to check out the Pioneer Turntables for yourself – Click here!