It’s energy-saving power management system with integrated iGo Green Technology automatically reduces wasted standby power. It automatically powers down outlets when not in use and powers back up again when devices need power – reducing standby power by up to 85 percent.

It includes an instant wake-up button to immediately power the outlets with iGo Green Technology, in addition to two USB ports to charge mobile phones. It features four fixed and four rotating outlets to accommodate all sizes and shapes of wall plugs.

Buy for $80 from iGo

We recently told you about five Blu-ray players below $200. But here’s a player plus surround sound system that delivers majestic picture quality and an absorbing sound stage.

The Panasonic SC-BT300 is a 1250 watt, 7.1 channel system that integrates a Blu-ray player and an audio receiver with a built-in iPod dock. The system is made up of two tall-boy speakers that sound fatter than they look, four small speakers for the surround/surround-back channels, a center channel and the subwoofer.

The receiver uses Panasonic’s VieraCast system that lets you download additional content via the Internet from services like Amazon’s Video On-Demand.

It’s a well-thought-out system that combines the same excellent video quality of the standalone Panasonic DMP-BD60K Blu-ray player with a solid ‘above-par’ 7.1 surround-sound speaker package.

Buy for $489 from Amazon

Altec Lansing has announced the latest addition of its inMotion family – the iMT620 inMotion Classic – and it’s getting some early accolades for good quality and advanced thinking.

It’s a portable music system designed for the iPod and iPhone. It features a built-in FM radio tuner with four station pre-sets, built-in carrying handle (which few have), an LCD display that shows source, song and artist info, a handy remote that clips on the back for easy storage, a rechargeable battery with a five hour life and the ability to charge the handset while you listen.

Various early reviews we’ve seen sing this portable boom boxes praises: from great sound via its digital processing and twin three-inch drivers, to it’s clean sound with no iPhone interferance, to it’s compact size and ability to fold flat for packing.

Kudos to Altec Lansing for a great product with some ingenious thinking.

Buy for $142 from Amazon

Philips says “The senitivity to light differs a lot per person. In general, when using a higher light intensity a person needs less time to become fully awake.” That’s why the Wake-Up Light gradually increase in a 30 minute period up to 300 Lux. “Light falls on your eyes and positively affects your energy hormones, preparing your body to wake up. This makes waking up a more pleasant feeling,” their Web site says.

It also includes an iPod dock so you start waking up slowly to your own tunes or live programming via its built-in FM radio.

Buy for $200 from Amazon

So here’s an interesting solution…a floating, waterproof, wireless speaker you can use with an iPod, iPhone, MP3 player, computer, home stereo, TV, ANY audio source. It’s the PoolPOD from Audio Unlimited and it’s got a 900MHz wireless connection for up to 150 feet to a docking station where you simply plug your device via a 3.5mm or RCA output.

The sounds isn’t fantastic but hey, would do you expect for a waterproof speaker in a ball? We thought it sounded pretty good for a $72 wireless speaker that says no to water.

Buy for $72.00 from Amazon

CNET last week called HD Radio one of the decades biggest tech flops and it’s hard to argue that point. Put together the facts that radio stations failed early to make the financial investment in broadcasting equipment and HD’s creator, iBiquity, failed to mirror XM Radio’s smart move of getting sat-ready radios in cars years ago, and HD has had a tough road. That’s now changing with the first handheld HD Radio just out from Best Buy.

Made by KRI and sold by Best Buy under the Insignia brand name for just under $50, this little handheld beauty gives you regular FM stations as well as those enhanced with HD channels – which if you didn’t know are radio stations that piggyback onto an FM station and broadcast additional content like music, talk, sports and more for free, most of it commercial free.

The first thing you notice is the audio difference between analog FM and HD is dramatic. The frequency will first lock in on the analog signal and then the digital kicks in two to three seconds later with an ‘HD’ symbol confirming the station.

It’s got 10-station presets, a nice, bright, 1.5-inch LCD color screen, a 10-hour, built-in rechargeable lithium battery, an included USB cable for charging, headphones and arm band.

This unit works best outdoors depending on the signal strength of the station your listening to. It sounds great, is cheap enough and it’s lithium-battery holds an acceptable eight-hour charge in our tests.

Buy for $49.99 from Best Buy

Why would you want to get this when you can just buy a headphone splitter for a fraction of the cost and use your existing earphones with them? Because it means you only need to keep track of one piece of kit instead of three.

It also means if you just carry around a splitter and your own earphones that your pal won’t be jam-less because they didn’t bring theirs.

But at the same time, it means when you want to rock out solo you have to tolerate the extra sonic doppelgangers.

Buy for $39.95 via Amazon (or $49.95 with retractable cables as shown), plus about $5 shipping.

So why do you want it now? Because instead of costing you $149 like it would have before it was recently discontinued, you can pick it up today only for $44.99 shipped from Woot Sellout.

There’s no catch really, either. The unit is brand new and identical to what Amazon is selling for $100.85. While you’re comparison shopping, check out the 4.5/5 average rating Amazon customers gave the Amplifi. The reviews are simillarly positive over at Newegg, although the price there is $129.99.

All this makes for a great opportunity to pick up a speaker system on the cheap for the kitchen, bathroom, garage, or other extra room.

Two caveats: For mysterious reasons it won’t charge 6G iPods (“iPod Classic” models) but it can play them fine, and it’s not shielded, so listening to an iPhone will resort in occasional distortion unless you turn it to Airplane mode.

Buy for $44.99 shipped from Woot Sellout.

But you can right Apple’s wrong by putting together your very own 240GB iPod.

Start with a 60GB or 80GB 5th generation iPod (the model right before the Classic debuted, which was available in black or white). The 30/40GB versions are too thin, so don’t waste your time with those.

Crack the iPod open and swap out the hard drive inside for Toshiba’s newest 240GB 1.8-inch hard drive, which you can buy from Now Direct for about $200.

Think getting inside an iPod is tricky? It’s really not, provided you have the right tools and instructions. For both, turn to iFixit. First, buy yourself a new battery for $15, if only so you can get the 2 necessary spludger tools. Then follow their detailed hard drive replacement instructions.

It won’t be a walk in the park, but it’s not terribly difficult, either.

As a bonus, try to score a 5th generation iPod on eBay or Craigslist that has a broken hard drive—you might walk away with a 240GB iPod with a new hard drive and battery for about the same price as Apple charges for the new 120GB iPod.

Now that’s classic!.

The new TapeLink USB from Alesis will do the same, except for cassette tapes rather than vinyl.

The dual-cassette deck is equipped with a USB audio interface for connecting it directly into your Mac or PC. Features include normal and high-speed dubbing modes, noise-reduction circuitry, LED level meters, auto-stop, and software for cleaning up those recordings.

$199 with free shipping from the reliable folks at Abe’s of Maine

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

A couple years ago, Polk introduced the RM6750 Home Theater Speaker system, with 4 satellite speakers, 1 center channel, and a subwoofer. At $500, it was a solid value.

But the RM705 replaced the RM6750 this year, which means remaining RM6750 systems are being cleared out at ridiculous prices.

How ridiculous? Try $199 including shipping from NewEgg. (Together the system weighs more than 40 pounds, so free shipping is clutch.)

At this price, I’m not even going to see how the RM6750 compares to other $200 systems—I already know it’s the best one out there. Bring your own receiver, though, this is strictly a speaker setup.

Our post yesterday about the GLA-55 speakers was more fun than useful… so to make up for that we present you with the Logitech Z-2300 speakers: the set of 2-channel speakers you should actually want.

When it comes to quality speakers in the sub-$150 price range, the Z-2300 cannot be beat. And with Amazon selling them for less than $85, the value proposition is huge.

The speakers feature 200 watts of power, an 8-inch long-throw subwoofer for plenty of bass, and a SoundTouch wired remote control, for easily adjusting bass and volume (or easy access for plugging headphones in when desired).

The speakers also feature “THX certification” but that’s more marketing fodder than anything else, so we’re not going to extoll that as a virtue.

Instead, we’ll reiterate that you won’t find a better sounding set of speakers for the money.

Sure, Harman Kardon’s SoundSticks II might match your Mac better and sound great, but they’ll cost you $20 more and still don’t quite match the Z-2300 in overall audio quality.

Buy the Z-2300 from Amazon for $83.94

That’s right—this two channel speaker system has a price tag of $999.99. Dropping a grand on a pair of nice floor-standing B&W speakers is considered cheap, but it’s the exact opposite when it comes to computer speakers.

Not only is the price ridiculous, so’s the name: apparently GLA-55 was chosen because it spells “glass” in l33t g33k sp33k. In which case I say you may look like an A-55 when you show these off to your friends.

On the plus side, part of that premium pays for the enclosures, which are made from the same material as bulletproof glass… so if someone tries to steal your status symbols at gunpoint maybe you have a worthwhile defense.

The GLA-55 look like nothing else and are priced like nothing else. Which is probably why for a few months now these speakers are exactly that: nothing. Amazon is still only taking pre-orders, and who knows if these will ever actually be mass produced.

But if you want a reminder of what 2008 could have been, back when you drove your BMW with pride and had a job, I’m sure your life’s now-melancholy soundtrack will sing on these things.

$999.99 from Amazon

Let me save you some time: I already know Logitech’s Harmony 880 Universal Remote is one of the best out there because I spent copious amounts of time last year shopping around for a universal remote, and finally settled on this one as having the best features for the price.

Last year, this remote sold for $200 ($250 retail). This year, Circuit City is dishing them for just $99 for a limited time. Update 12/1 Amazon has it for just $79.99 at the moment!

At that price, I’m not even going to see what the competition looks like in the single-Benjamin category because I have better things to do, like finding other great deals out there for us to spend our money on.

Having said all that, if you’re looking for remote controls that don’t have fancy LCD screens and other features, check out The Register’s recent group test of some remotes. They range from cheap $25 models to $500 ones.

The AW1 is literally a plug and play solution: connect each USB dongle to a USB port (just to draw power), plug your audio source into one and your speakers into the other, and you’re done.

Audio Engine claims the AW1 is good for up to 100-feet without any dropouts or interference and that there’s no reduction in audio quality.

It’s also the perfect companion for the company’s excellent A5 speakers we wrote about yesterday, which conveniently feature a built-in USB port on top.

Alas, wireless freedom doesn’t come cheap at $149 direct with free shipping.

If you want some of the finest sound out of your music player for the money, check out the Audio Engine A5N bookshelf speakers.

Born of studio monitor heritage, the A5N’s represent the “premium” edition of the A5, an already outrageous speaker set. (The extra $100 goes towards the hot carbonized solid bamboo enclosure.)

The A5′s sport excellent tweeters and woofers that are perfectly balanced so your music sounds rich and full, not boomy or tinny. The kevlar woofer and silk dome tweeters don’t just look great on the grill-less A5′s, they’re premium parts.

The A5′s also feature a USB connector on top so you can plug your choice of iPod dock in. For those interested in beaming their tunes, the A5 also has a built-in power outlet that just happens to be perfect for accommodating an AirPort Express.

All in all, a great value at $349 in black or white, and $449 in the bamboo. Shipping’s free, too.

A couple months ago, we brought to your attention that TigerDirect was blowing out Logitech’s two-year-old iPod Audio Station for just $19.97 after $50 rebate (originally $299). If you missed out on that deal, it’s still available, albeit for $29.99 after $50 rebate.

Logitech replaced the excellent-sounding Audio Station with the similarly styled Pure-Fi Elite. Also originally retailing for $299, the Pure-Fi Elite features a much better remote than the AudioStation, and probably a couple other improvements, too (but we’re not sure what).

The important thing here is that onSale is now blowing out the Pure-Fi Elite for just $44.87 after $70 mail-in rebate. Free shipping is included, but that won’t do much to ease the anxiety some people feel leaving $70 up to the occasionally flakey rebate gods.

With most retailers selling the Pure-Fi for $125-$150, we’d call this a pretty solid deal.

What else do you need to know?

• It sounds great (with two 4″ woofers and two 1″ soft-dome tweeters)
• It features an AM/FM radio and a clock
• It sports Composite and S-Video outputs (for connecting your iPod to a TV to watch videos)
• It also has an auxiliary input, so you can use it with other devices
• It carries a respectable 2-year warranty

All in all, quite a solid package. The only question that remains is who actually is paying full retail price for Logitech’s stuff these days? Not you, clever reader, that’s for sure!

We haven’t even listened to it, to be honest, but given JBL’s track record we’d be surprised if the tiny Spyro delivered anything much better than “acceptable” sound for a 2.1 speaker system in its price range.

But you’re not buying the Spyro because it’s the best value or the best sounding, you’re buying it because it looks cute next to your iMac, or because it matches the wall color in your bedroom.

Nonetheless, here are some tech specs for you:

• 40Hz-20kHz frequency response
• 400MV RMS for rated power
• 6W Odyssey transducer in each satellite
• 24W Atlas transducer in the subwoofer
• touch controls for volume/mute on one of the satellites

The Spyro is available in a few different colors priced from $110-$114 at Amazon, which offers the best price with its free shipping: black, white, fuchsia, teal, and orange (our favorite).

iHome’s new iH70SRC computer speakers have two channels (meaning there’s no subwoofer), feature a built-in dock, and come with a remote control for adjusting the volume and your iPod from a distance.

While the speakers have a USB connection, it’s strictly for the dock: audio is still sent to the speakers the traditional analog way, with a regular audio cable.

One amusing “feature” of these speakers is noted in all-caps in the manual: “IF YOU PLAY YOUR iPOD AND A COMPUTER AUDIO SOURCE AT THE SAME TIME YOU WILL HEAR BOTH.” This opens up interesting DJ opportunities, although do your roommates a favor and test your mixing skills when you’re all alone.

The biggest sticking point for the iH70SRC speakers, apart from the bland name, is the price: $149.99 direct from iHome. For a two-channel speaker system that only puts out 15 watts per channel, this is getting into dangerously pricey territory, even with the built-in dock.

You can forgo the remote control and pick up the iH69B for $99.99 (currently available for pre-order), but those only pump out 5W per channel. At least iHome is offering a free set of earbuds ($19.99 normally) with any purchase over $99.

Especially when that gear is something like JBL’s On Tour portable speakers.

Let’s see what the On Tour has going for it:

• sleek and small package
• 24-hour battery life (4 AAA batteries)
• AC adapter included
• 2 Odyssey Neodymium drivers, 3 watts each
• compatible with virtually any device
• PSP bracket for attaching to and boosting your PSP’s audio

What it doesn’t have going for it is that it’s a portable speaker system, meaning you’re not going to want this to be your only way to rock out. Camping out? You’re fine. In a treehouse? Also solid. At the beach? You may be pushing it.

Reviews were positive for the On Tour (7/10 by CNET, 8.6/10 by CNET readers), but its $100 price tag put it beyond that impulse buy or just-in-case price range.

But forget all that now, because the On Tour is going on three years old, and Yugster is hawking them for just $39.95 including shipping. Quantity is limited (Yugster is a deal-a-day site but keeps selling items until they’re gone), so act now, you never know when you’ll need it!