About Electronics

T3: Overpriced? Yes, but the BeoSound 8 looks and sounds simply gorgeous.

For anyone that appreciates design, this is a coupling that makes the pulse race. B&O’s achingly stylish products share an aesthetic with Apple’s own gear, so it’s fitting that they are together at last in this sophisticated-looking sound system.

Minimalism is the name of the game here and the BeoSound 8 has an interface almost as elementary as the Apple iPad itself. Track forward and back, source select and volume are all you need for everyday use, so that’s all you’ll find on the central dial. The way the circular remote control replicates this precisely is a nice touch.

The distinctive outer circles are of course the stereo speakers, but behind the interchangeable grills (six colours are available, including yellow and purple) are a total of four drivers in a two-way design driven by 10W digital amplifiers. The conical shape of the speaker housings reduces the perceived bulk of the system, but it also prevents standing waves from building up behind the drivers.

Behind a plastic flap at the rear are USB and minijack inputs if you don’t mind ruining the minimalist design by plugging in a non-Apple device. Other than that, there are few additional features. Given the asking price, it’s surprising that B&O didn’t hang on for Apple to launch its wireless Airplay feature and include that. As it is, there is no wireless option here.

Instead, the emphasis is on sound quality and the sky-high production value translates into a crisp and dynamic performance. The wide speakers radiate a deliciously detailed treble and an agile bass far and wide into the room. It’s an open and expressive sound that works particularly well with classical and acoustic music. There’s also ample extension in the bass and that lends an ambience and authority to movie soundtracks too.

And thanks to a little switch that alters the sound mode between three settings, the BeoSound 8 works just as well freestanding on its own metal and rubber legs as it does mounted on the wall or pushed back into a corner. It doesn’t have the deep resonant bass and epic scale that the B&O Zeppelin commands, but the sound is just as sweet.

It’s a shame there’s no wireless connectivity to help justify that price tag and we have to say the B&W Zeppelin sounds bigger and better than this. That said, this is one stylish iPad dock that’s sure to impress your friends. It could also become a design classic like so many of B&O’s wonderful creations.

 

 

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Born Rich: Considering the fact that the shelves are flooded with a range of products for music lovers, finding a perfect holiday gift for a true audiophile is quite a challenge. You might find it a bit hard to lay your hands on the just right thing. After the Holiday Gift Guide for eco lovers, Kids and Apple lovers, we are here to help you with some enticing gift selections for audiophiles.

1. JBL On Stage IV iPod dock

The compact, lightweight and portable “JBL On Stage IV” loudspeaker dock for iPod/iPhone makes for one cool gift for an audiophile who happens to be an Apple lover. Four JBL Odyssey full-range transducers will flood virtually any space with realistic JBL sound. The IR remote lets you navigate your music library from across the room. Yours for $150.

2. Carbon Fiber SA7 Headphones

The SA7 headphones from the house of Sleek Audio are made from military-grade solid aluminum and carbon fiber. The two drivers are protected by shock-absorbent silicone and the company claims that the cute pair can even withstand 14,000 Gs. Sleek Audio’s aluminum and carbon fiber SA7 headphones cost around $400.

3. Hohrizontal 51 sound board

The stunning Hohrizontal 51 sound board from Finite Elemente embeds connections for a TV, PC and MP3 players and it also integrates a surround sound system with a 25wpc amplifier, with a frequency range of 50 to 25.000Hz (-6dB). This multimedia wall board is available in a variety of designs and colors with a high gloss finish for a price tag of $664.

4. Arcam rCube

Delivering high-fidelity sound from a portable system, the Arcam rCube delivers amazing sound from a cube smaller than a football. It’s powerful enough for a party and at the same time, it has been designed and engineered to deliver exceptional clarity even at low volume. The Arcam rCube iPod dock and speaker comes for around $800.

5. BeoSound 8 iPhone/iPad dock

The new BeoSound 8 from the house of Bang & Olufsen is undeniably one of the coolest and sexiest iPad/iPhone/iPod speaker docks we’ve ever seen. Taking your digital music experience to a completely new level, the BeoSound 8 iPhone dock features a manual room adaptation switch with three positions, so that you can place it anywhere without compromising on the sound performance. Priced at $999.

6. La Boite Concept’s LD 120 docking station

The La Boite Concept LD 120 is a docking station dedicated to laptop computers, allowing the convergence of new media with high fidelity. The LD 120 makes listening to music on your computer really easy. You just need to connect it to the USB cable. The built-in USB DAC converter (sound card) delivers hi-fi audio quality irrespective of your computer’s audio output. The LD 120 is both a one-piece and a stereophonic hi-fi speaker system. Priced at about $1,300.

7. Parrot Zikmu speakers

Parrot updated its distinctive, sculptural Zikmu speaker range with a new selection of colors and upgrades this year. Designed by Philippe Starck, the Parrot Zikmu stereo speakers deliver an immersive sound experience from a range of digital devices, including iPods, iPhones, Mac and PC computers, TV and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones. Yours for around $1,600 a pair.

8. Ultrasone Edition 10 headphones

The limited edition, high-end Edition 10 headphones from the German headphone manufacturer Ultrasone are made from a range of luxury materials. Limited to a run of 2000 units, the lightweight headphones feature Zebrano wood ear cup inlays, Ethiopian sheepskin leather ear cup pads, Titanium plated drivers and Kevlar coated cables. Priced at $2,749, the Edition 10 headphones come housed in a wooden box complete with a handcrafted Zebrano wood headphone stand.

9. Davone Ray Speakers

Simply stylish, Davone Audio’s Ray speakers in eye-catching walnut wood veneer are sure to to impress your audiophile friend this Christmas. The Davone Ray speakers sell for $6,000 a pair.

10. Greensound Technology glass speakers

In an effort to give the phrase “you hear what you see” a new meaning, Greensound Technology is offering the Glass Speakers that are bound to cast a musical spell on audiophiles. Offering specially engineered glass speakers in two series, FLOE Series and SERAC Series, the Greensound Technology has created an unmatched harmony of consistent high quality tone, everlasting performance and elegant design to suit any décor. Pricing for the Frazil Speaker Set, which includes two Floe speakers and a Forza subwoofer, sits at $8,000.

11. Ballerina Sweetspot chair

The Ballerina Sweetspot surround sound chair from the house of Klutz Design looks to be a great gift to complete an audiophile’s home catalog. Minimalistic in looks, the Ballerina Sweetspot chair is designed to serve as a simple chair with hollow armrests to hold remote controls. The designers then decided to make it an audiophile chair with narrow headrest designed to avoid rear-reflections, a low back and vibration absorbing feet. The Ballerina Sweetspot is priced at about $8,200.

12. DaVinci Audio Labs’ UniSon MK II turntable

Without a doubt, there’s an elite group of individuals who think the best way to listen to music is on a high-quality turntable. For such persons, you might love to consider the UniSon MK II turntable from the well-known Switzerland based turntable manufacturer, DaVinci Audio Labs. It comes equipped with a highly stable drive chassis for the liveliness and silent bearings for absolutely zero noise or vibration. Apart from these DaVinci Audio’s signature features, the UniSon MK II comes with height adjustable damping feet to ensure the turntable system is perfectly level. Priced at $27,800 this state of the art turntable can always justify why you need to buy a turntable.

13. BodySound’s Renaissance Seating

Featuring VIT VibroAcoustic Immersion technology, BodySound’s Renaissance Seating delivers excellent sound capture and orientation to cocoon you in a rich textural 3D audio experience. The arms of the Renaissance Seating conceal and automatically reveal the patented 3D sound system. You press a button and the arms of the seat reveal the high-end audio speakers. There are seven speakers in total, with the five built into the headrest, curved back and seat. Pricing for the Renaissance Seating starts at a cool $36,000.

 

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Born Rich: The new BeoSound 8 from the house of Bang & Olufsen is undeniably one of the coolest and sexiest iPad/iPhone/iPod speaker docks we’ve ever seen. Taking your digital music experience to a completely new level, the BeoSound 8 iPhone dock features a manual room adaptation switch with three positions, so that you can place it anywhere without compromising the sound performance. The gorgeous iPhone dock can also accept music streamed wirelessly over Wi-Fi. To suit your liking, the BeoSound 8 comes in either black or white with aluminum details and matching power cord. The BeoSound 8 iPhone dock, featuring cone shaped speakers, will hit the shelves by the end of this month for $999.

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