Stuff Geeks Want

On the surface, the ITC One is a pretty cool concept. But when you really break it down, it ends up resembling more one of those products that addresses a question no one has asked. But that may have something to do with its $25,000+ price tag…

SE2 Labs bills the ITC One as having “every high-end component you need.” Which is almost an oxymoron, since the ultra high-end AV world is notorious for selling things you absolutely do not need, like thousand-dollar audio cables.

So what does trading in your car for this thing get you?

• all sorts of premium processors and electronics (Vidikron Video, Bryston Digital Surround, ICEpower Height-End D-Class amplifier)
• Xbox 360
• iPod video dock
• HD DVR (Dish, DirecTV, or Comcast)
• RF remote control
• 4.3-inch touch screen
• anti-noise and vibration system
• a ton of I/O options
• a slick single cabinet for all these goodies
• optionally: Apple TV, Blu-Ray player, Nintendo Wii

In other words, not a whole lot, unless you abhor entertainment centers and would rather have a square R2D2 controlling your entertainment.

There’s also another obvious caveat: what happens when the Xbox 720 is released, or you want to upgrade a component? Simply put, you can’t (at least not easily). But then again, if you’re dropping $25K on one of these, you can probably afford to buy another in a few years when they upgrade it.

Having said all that, the idea is pretty solid, we just wish it cost a tenth as much (and packed more ordinary—but still very good—components).

When Logitech introduced the Audio Station about 18 months ago, it was the flagship iPod speaker system from the company. Sporting such features as an AM/FM radio, digital clock, video out, and impressive audio quality, the Audio Station was “well worth its [$299] price tag,” I wrote in my review.

If I liked it at $299—and that was having compared it to many other systems in that price range—can you imagine what I think of it at $19.97?

Through June 30 (or while supplies last), TigerDirect is selling the Audio Station for this insane price, after $50 rebate. Even if the rebate doesn’t turn up (although Logitech is good about those things, even if they’re a little slow), it’s still a good deal.

Why so cheap, you ask? A few reasons:

• Logitech discontinued the AudioStation and replaced it with the similar-looking Pure-Fi Elite last year, which takes over the $299 price point (although Amazon has it for $133.77)
• The AudioStation’s remote is somewhat weak (can’t skip tracks from it), the Pure-Fi has a much better one

And… that’s about it. So the Audio Station is old and not perfect, but it’s less than twenty-frickin’-dollars!

To put that in perspective, consider that Apple sells its “universal iPod dock” for almost $50, and that the AudioStation basically has the exact same functionality as that dock, except for the fact that it actually has speakers!

Enough chit-chat, go buy. You won’t be disappointed.

The way I see it, there are a few reasons you’d want to take your records and digitize them:

• to avoid having to re-purchase an album you already own
• to digitize an album that’s only ever been released on vinyl
• to capture the nuisances of vinyl playback that are missing from CDs or iTunes Store downloads

If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop for converting your records to CD, you want TEAC’s GF-350 Turntable CD-Recorder (around $250).

But if you want to actually have some freedom and control over your music—not to mention saving some coin—you’ll want to pick up one of Ion’s USB Turntables, which connect to your computer and dumps the converted audio to your hard drive.

We like the original iTTUSB Turntable, which can be purchased from Amazon for around $105 (Ion is also selling a limited number of refurbished units direct for $85 at the moment). Its features include:

• an adjustable Anti-Skate control for increased stereo balancing
• 33 1/3 and 45 RPM support
• 78 RPM support through the included software
• switchable Phono/Line-level RCA output (with built-in pre-amp)

The more robust iTTUSB 10 Turntable adds a dust cover, better software, and an analog input (so you can hook up a cassette deck or other analog source and record from that through the turntable) for $129.

The only model we’d stay away from is the new LP Dock, which basically takes the iTTUSB 10 and replaces the actually useful analog input with a built-in USB dock (which does nothing more than work like any other iPod dock would). Oh, and it costs $250.

If your iPhone and your alarm clock made a baby, Chumby would be the result. Unless your iPhone is your alarm clock… then that wouldn’t make a lot of sense.

Chumby’s got a 3.5-inch touch screen and built-in WiFi, allowing it to do things regular alarm clocks can only dream of. Like:

• running more than 600 widgets (weather, sports scores, eBay auctions, news.. you name it)
• connecting to Internet radio stations (thousands available)
• displaying your photos (from Flickr, Facebook, etc.)
• two USB 2.0 ports
• stereo speakers
• leather case

Of course it also does a solid job of keeping track of time and waking you up.

All this can be yours for a one-time price of $179.95, including shipping. You just need to decide between latte (brown), basic black, or pearl (white).

Chumby says the Chumby Network and all of its widgets and services will be free for life, but that could mean the company’s life, since Internet appliances seem to have difficulty staying alive.

But unlike those older and doomed devices, the Chumby’s got a good price tag, solid feature set, and actually makes an already useful everyday device even more so.

My buddy Rich runs a popular blog CrateDigger. On CrateDigger, Rich usually posts a mix in MP3 format of a few songs from his collection of albums, that’s vinyl to you young geeks out there, from his latest crate digging experience. And I love it.

At the same time, I have about 50 albums in my own milk-crate that quite honestly, I just don’t listen to that much anymore because I’m afraid to damage them.

Enter the TEAC Vinyl-to-CD Recorder and Audio System: the GF-350 Turntable CD-Recorder.

Use this Vinyl-to-CD Recorder to burn entire albums or create a customized compilation. Just Load a blank CD in the CD tray, put your favorite 33, 45, or 78 RPM record on the turntable, press Record, lower the tone arm, and hit Play—it’s that easy. No, really.

You can also plug in your own external analog audio source, if you want to more options for digitizing your music. You don’t need Apple’s Garage Band and a bunch of adapters to get your guitar riffs on CD.

It also has two 3-inch speakers, so you can listen along to the album you’re recording while recording it, without having to hook it up to a big sound system…

Finally, enjoy that warm sound that only vinyl can give, but on your iPod after you rip that CD to back to MP3 or AAC.

You’ll find this same system for $400 at other websites, but it’s only $250 at Amazon.com.

Price: $259 from Amazon.com

When I was in college at UNT in Denton, Texas, my roommate (who we affectionately called “Ogre”) had this kick ass stereo system. He had talked his dad into letting him bring the big home stereo system to college, so that we could listen to good music when we were studying.

Ogre’s stereo system was a huge Onkyo home stereo system. I spent many a night listening to “Pray Your Gods” from Toad the Wet Sprocket (which has some amazing bass if you turn it up loud enough, and have a good enough sub-woofer) and other heavy hitting songs…

When I saw this Onkyo iPod compatible dock system, I was blown away with product envy. I want this. Any self respecting geek should want this too. Onkyo is a name that truly says “we know sound, and we know how to make it sound right”.

This is the second generation of the CBX-300 CD receiver system. And it’s a nice blend of style, superb music performance and features.

It plays CDs, AAC, MP3, WMA files, straight from your iPod and has a radio receiver built in. It’s black (typical Onkyo) and according to the product literature “supports exemplary audio fidelity, especially for the low-end frequencies” which is also typical Onkyo.

It also has a remote control that lets you control all of the functions of the doc, including your iPod. It also has a video output for your videos or photo slideshows from your iPod Video.

For you audio-philes out there, here are some specs:
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio – Stereo 56 dB IHF-A and Mono 58 dB
• IHF-A Total Harmonic Distortion – Stereo 0.7% 1 kHz / Mono 0.52% 1 kHz
• Stereo Separation – 40 dB at 1 kHz
• Tuning Frequency Range – 530 kHz-1,710 kHz
• Signal-to-Noise Ratio – 42 dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion – 1.2% (1 kHz)
• Frequency Response – 4 Hz-20 kHz
• Audio Dynamic Range – 96 dB
• THD (Total Harmonic Distortion) – 0.085%
• Nominal Impedance – 6-ohms
• Compatible iPod Models – 5th Generation iPod with Video, 4th Generation iPod with Click Wheel, iPod Photo, iPod Mini, and iPod Nano
• Dimensions: Width 17 1/8 x Height 5 7/16 x Depth 9 1/8 (435 x 138 x 267 mm)
• Weight – 9.5 pounds (4.3 kg)

Price: $235 from Amazon.com

Ferdinand von Zeppelin envisioned the airship that would bear his name in the late 19th century. More than a hundred years later, most people equate Zeppelins to the Hindenberg disaster.

Which makes you wonder why the British speaker maestros at Bowers & Wilkins named their rotund speaker system after the German and Nazi blimps. Actually, maybe the answer is right there: “blimp” doesn’t sound very catchy.

Chances are you’ve never heard of B&W because most their speakers are priced out of the range of the common consumer ($2,000 to $20,000). For those you who know B&W or, better yet, have listened to their speakers, you know the 42-year old firm knows what it’s doing when it comes to acoustic reproduction.

The Zeppelin iPod Speakers System is probably the most consumer-friendly product in the company’s history, even if its $600 price tag takes you a bit aback.

But it’s money well spent when you consider the Zeppelin’s striking design and attention to quality. Dual tweeters and mid-range drivers are complemented by a 5-inch woofer that together deliver a level of audio fidelity that’s simply stunning in a package this small.

Pick one up today and be the envy of all your iPod-toting friends. Apple and Amazon are two of a very select number of retailers, get it from Amazon for $599.95 and pay no tax or shipping.

Got an iPhone? (and an iPod Touch, iPod Classic, iPod Nano 3rd Generation, iPod with Video, Zune, or Sansa e200 (why would you own either of those last two?))

If you do, then these portable speaks from DLO might just be what you’re looking for, if you like to go places and want or need to take some speakers with you to listen to your tunes or movies without using a pair of earphones.

The removable, rotating stand holds the iPhone upright or horizontally for the ideal portable movie-viewing experience

The speakers are powered by four AAA batteries, or an included AC adapter, so you can pretty much carry these babies anywhere, and the sound that comes out of them sounds like its coming from an extra-wide stage thanks to the engineering DLO put into them. The bass vents built into the speakers also provide for surprisingly deep base for such a compact and portable iPhone speaker system.

And these speakers won’t give you any of that ugly mobile phone interference you hear when you place your iPhone close to an older speaker system because they were designed with the iPhone in mind and digital interference free amplifier.

Probably the coolest feature of these speakers is how portable they are.

When you’re done using them, just pack the base and cables inside the speakers and roll them up into a nice little six inch diameter ball for easy packing:

Pick them up from Amazon.com for a cool $38 as of the time of this writing.