Month: December 2008

The LP12 was perhaps the first high-end record player—it was introduced in 1972, in an era when no one thought the turntable mattered. A simple yet smooth bearing design and massive components ensure stable playback of your cherished LPs.

The Pro-Ject Debut III USB combines a time-honored, high-quality turntable design with a USB output stage, making it one of the easiest and best ways to transfer sound from vinyl records to a computer—and from there onto an iPod. No mass-market USB turntable can match its sound quality.

For music lovers, the Foxl could, on its own, make the difference between a dreary business trip and a great one. At 5.

The Ferrari Art.Engine is surely the most extravagant and accomplished compact audio system to date.

This audio system combines the timeless aesthetics and craftsmanship of a Steinway grand piano with the digital wizardry of renowned audio designer Peter Lyngdorf. Two seven-foot-tall speakers, each powered by 400 watts of digital amplification, source sound from a pedestal-mounted CD player and other audio sources.

There is no easier way to get better sound from your iPod than ordering the hf5. This in-ear headphone sounds dramatically and obviously better than the iPod’s stock headphones, delivering immensely greater detail, much more satisfying bass, and effective isolation from environmental noise.

Exploring the world of high-end audio may seem daunting to those without technological savoir-faire, but the S-300i makes it easy. Simply connect a few sources (like a CD player and radio tuner) and a pair of quality speakers, and you have an unintimidating yet fantastic-sounding audio system.

Many audiophiles consider amplifiers based on the antiquated vacuum tube to be sonically superior to transistor-based amplifier. And of course, there can be no denying the tube’s basic retro appeal.

Through the use of metal construction, advanced machining, and high-quality parts, Newport Audio has created one of the world’s most refined and capable in-wall speakers. The G85REC’s 5mm-thick aluminum faceplate provides a solid base for the speaker’s substantial 8[1/2]-inch woofer.

Even some of the world’s finest hotel suites offer nothing more for the music lover than a mere clock radio. The Soundmatters Foxl portable audio system ensures that you enjoy high-quality sound regardless of what your hotel chooses to furnish. Small enough to fit in most clutch purses, yet loud enough to fill the average hotel room with sound, the 9 Foxl incorporates a digital amplifier and high-quality speaker drivers with powerful neodymium magnets. A diminutive woofer panel on the back delivers amazingly potent bass for its size. The Foxl connects easily to any device with a standard mini headphone jack, such as an iPod, MP3 player, computers, and many cell phones. A 9 Bluetooth version is also available. An included AC adapter provides power and charges the unit’s internal battery. We have demonstrated the Foxl for perhaps 50 people; its sound quality always impresses and sometimes even astounds. (800.698.7662, www.soundmatters.com)

—Brent Butterworth