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The Snell Acoustics Illusion reference tower loudspeaker represents the crowning achievement of Dr. Joseph D’Appolito, one of the world’s most famous and respected speaker designers. Evidence of D’Appolito’s international acclaim can be found right on the front of the speaker itself—its arrangement of two midrange drivers flanking a single tweeter has for decades been referred to as a “D’Appolito array.” The ,000-per-pair speaker features what Snell calls “continuously variable cabinet geometry,” a curved shape that not only lends the speaker elegant, almost organic lines, but also reduces unwanted resonances inside the speaker cabinet. Each Illusion is individually calibrated to a tolerance of plus or minus .5 decibels, a manufacturing consistency achieved only in the world’s finest speakers. Snell offers the Illusion in a standard finish of high-gloss black under multiple coats of hand-rubbed lacquer. However, the company is known for its willingness to create custom wood veneer or painted finishes to suit any need. (978.538.6262, www.snellacoustics.com)

—Brent Butterworth

For a baseball fanatic, only a natural disaster could be less welcome than being pulled away from the TV when the home team is playing. With the Liveboard, baseball fans can keep track of the big game regardless of distractions. The 9 Liveboard uses Bluetooth wireless technology to pull up-to-the-minute data from an Internet-connected Windows or Mac computer up to 60 feet away. An alphanumeric display shows the home cities of the teams and the current score, while lights count balls, strikes, and outs, and also indicate which bases currently host runners. The unit can be set to show scores during your home team’s games only; to show scores of other teams when yours is not playing; and to cycle through the scores of all major-league teams currently playing. No data fees are required. Fittingly, the Liveboard’s chassis is crafted from white ash—the same wood used to make baseball bats. (877.320.9649, www.myliveboard.com)

—Brent Butterworth

In July, Danish camera manufacturer Phase One announced a new camera that will surely be one of the most highly sought after professional-grade digital cameras when it hits the market by the end of this year. Phase One’s P65+ is the world’s first digital camera based on actual full-frame medium film format. It captures images with an astounding 60.5-megapixel resolution, creating files as large as 180 megabytes and at speeds as quick as one frame per second. With an image viewing screen nearly two square inches in size, the ,990 P65+ provides the largest live-capture digital back available—a feature for which Phase One cameras are known. Established in 1993 by a Danish inventor, Phase One is a household name amongst professional photographers, though discerning amateurs are quickly catching on. (www.phaseone.com)

—Bailey S. Barnard

Photo credit: Peter Svenson

Audio enthusiasts revere electrostatic speakers, even though the rest of humanity seems baffled by these tall but slender creations. The best-known proponent of electrostatic speakers is MartinLogan, which celebrates its 1983 founding with the ,000-per-pair MartinLogan 25th Anniversary CLX. Like other electrostatics, the CLX eschews the usual cone woofers and dome tweeters in favor of a large polyester membrane of vanishingly low mass; many audiophiles feel the lightweight diaphragm better reproduces the faint details of high-quality recordings. However, while most electrostatics rely on a conventional woofer to reproduce bass tones, the CLX uses electrostatic panels exclusively. This unusual configuration ensures that bass instruments and deep-voiced singers receive the same natural reproduction as higher-pitched tones. The 25th Anniversary CLX has an aluminum frame, while the standard CLX has a veneered frame and retails for ,000 per pair. (785.749.0133, www.martinlogan.com)

—Brent Butterworth

Streaming MP3 music from a computer to multiple rooms of your home is easy—except that it requires a computer. Until now. With the Philips Streamium Wireless Music Center, no computer is necessary. Slide in a CD and the Streamium copies it onto its internal hard drive. From there, it can be played on the base station or on as many as five wireless extension units in other rooms. Color display screens on the base station and extension units allow easy browsing of your music collection by artist, genre, album, and song title. The screens also allow access to full-color album art and Internet radio stations. In the base stations and the extensions, Philips’ Super Sound Panel speaker technology delivers midrange and treble frequencies right through the units’ transparent front panels, and a woofer provides extra bass. A single base station with one extension unit retails for 9; additional extension units are 9 each. (888.PHILIPS, www.philips.com)

—Brent Butterworth

When it comes to photography, Swedish camera manufacturer Hasselblad is the alpha and the omega. Originally established in the mid-19th century during the early developmental stages of the camera itself, the company will release a digital single-lens reflex camera in October. It epitomizes high-quality picture taking by generating a 50-megapixel image resolution. Hasselblad’s H3DII-50 is the company’s fifth-generation medium-format camera and will deliver 33 captures per minute and produce image files as large as 150 megabytes. The ,995 camera will house a two-gigabyte CompactFlash card capable of holding 30 images. The camera will offer users the ability to capture images from eye- or waist-level with interchangeable viewfinders. Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution and Moiré Removal technologies—not to mention the company’s vast array of software and accessories—grant users the capabilities necessary to capture images as a professional would, regardless of experience. (www.hasselbladusa.com)

—Bailey S. Barnard

The Krell Evolution 707 may represent the first truly high-end product designed to meet the technical demands of the dazzling new Blu-ray movie discs. The ,000 Evolution 707 surround-sound processor serves as the “brain” of an elite home theater audio system. It can decode all of Blu-ray’s advanced surround-sound formats, including Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio. It also upconverts all incoming video signals to 1080p resolution and outputs them through its HDMI 1.3 digital video circuitry to ensure that all of the movies, TV shows, and even home videos you watch will look their best. Although any audio amplifiers can be used with the Evolution 707, it is best mated with Krell’s own Evolution amps. The processor can be linked to the amps through Krell’s proprietary Current Audio Signal Transmission (CAST) technology, which the company says eliminates signal degradation caused by cabling. (203.298.4000, www.krellonline.com)

—Brent Butterworth

The Monaco-based Wally yacht company is best known for its futuristic, some would say quasi-militaristic, designs. The Wally 118, for instance, looks like a yacht out of a science fiction movie. Its new 64 Wallypower yacht shares the same ramrod-straight lines and unusual angles as its larger sister ships, but the blue-hulled boat, with its expansive teak decks, is friendlier looking.

Beyond the sci-fi exterior and minimalist interior, Wally designed the yacht with a large volume of interior space, good sea-keeping abilities in the hull, and a potential top end of 50 knots. The unique shape of the 64 creates wider deck spaces than similar-size boats but still allows for exceptional performance. The yacht offers three interior layout options, including two- and three-cabin versions, each with en suite bathrooms. Owners also have the option of customizing the 64 with specific hull colors, leather decor, and handcrafted finishes for the galley and joinery. Wally even offers different overarching themes for easy styling of the 64, for owners who don’t want to bother with a laundry list of options. (www.wally.com, 011.377.93100093)

—Michael Verdon

Imagine a charming yet modern villa with space for 20―but it’s at sea. The Altura 840 is the latest long-distance cruiser from Ferretti Yachts. She has a sleek hull with large windows in both the salon and cabins below and expansive flybridge with a sizable sunroof in the hardtop. The enormous bow area features a lounge, table, and twin king-size sun beds. The rear cockpit provides outdoor shelter in inclement weather and al fresco dining. Inside, the main salon, outfitted with cherrywood walls and cabinetry, features a panoramic 360-degree view. Below, the owner’s suite at the rear has a separate, private entrance from the other five staterooms, and all benefit from an abundance of natural light from the oversize windows.

The 840’s designers gave her significantly more internal space than competitive yachts, and comfort levels are increased even more dramatically by standard-issue ARG stabilizers that reduce roll by 50 percent. This yacht will likely set a new standard for others to follow. (www.ferretti-yachts.com)

 —Michael Verdon

Apreamare’s new 82 Maestro combines the nautical heritage of the 150-year-old shipyard with a modern Italian interior. Unveiled at the Cannes boat show in September, the Italian shipyard maintained a classic-looking, expedition-style exterior while inside it’s designed with a surprising sense of openness achieved with details such as a picture window in the master suite and sleek, off-white furnishings.

Depending on engine choice, the blue-water hull can deliver a top end of 31 knots and cruising range of 400 nautical miles. It’s a yacht that is designed for ocean running but is faster than many other explorer yachts in its class.  In addition to spacious interiors, the designers also maximized the exterior three decks: The bridge has three lounges, sun platform, Jacuzzi, and wet bar, while the teak-laden cockpit area below is a good spot for al fresco dining. The new Maestro series will include 51 and 65 models. (www.apreamare.it)

—Michael Verdon