Hasta La Gadget!

John Harrison looks like an unmade bed, talks more than Larry King and says he sees sound as color. He makes speakers out of hemp, and to spend any time with him leaves you thinking he’s smoking some of the product.

It would be easy to dismiss him as a lovable, eccentric old hippie. But the man might just be a mad genius. He has rethought the most fundamental part of a speaker -– the cone –- and traded paper for hemp. The result is the Tone Tubby, and it makes guitar amps sing like Aretha Franklin. You’ll find them in rigs used by everyone from Billy Gibbons and Carlos Santana to Keith Richards and the guys in Metallica.

“That is one fine, fine piece of product,” Gibbons told the guitar gurus at ToneQuest Report. “They look great, but most importantly, they sound great. They are really stunning, and they’ll stand tall with anything.”

High praise indeed. But you don’t have to be an ax-slinger to appreciate what a little hemp can do for your sound. Harrison’s outfit has higher ambitions.

Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com

What’s cute, cuddly, and makes all sorts of bizarro noises when it senses wireless waves? Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher, of course! This analog synth contraption is simplistic in nature and complex in design, utilizing an onboard antenna to sense WiFi signals and then alter the sounds being outputted depending on signal strength and direction. It’s not exactly the symphony that Bach forgot to write, but it’s certainly beautiful in its own nerdy way. Have a look at the video past the break, won’t you?

Continue reading Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher senses nearby wireless waves, makes music (video)

Yoshi Akai’s Wireless Catcher senses nearby wireless waves, makes music (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Philips has been on somewhat of a roll with new releases overseas, and the outfit’s new SoundSphere might just be the most intriguing yet. Generally speaking, home stereos don’t do much for us, but the minty fresh MCi900 and MCD900 definitely add a fresh touch on an age-old concept. Both systems are equipped with a pair of speakers, 100 watts of amplification and “free floating” tweeters that are outside of the enclosure. The shells themselves are molded from a single piece of aluminum, and there’s also an integrated CD player and USB socket on the both of ’em. The former gets a Streamium logo and a 160GB hard drive, support for internet radio and wireless streaming with networked PCs or Macs. There’s no mention of a price just yet, and potentially more disheartening, no indication that we unimportant Americans will ever see it on our soil.

Continue reading Philips breathes new life into home stereos with SoundSphere

Philips breathes new life into home stereos with SoundSphere originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are so many sounds you might want to block out during a flight. First up is the droning captain’s announcements telling you how high you’re cruising, when you’re going to land, or what the weather will be like when you get there. Next comes babies on board, stewardesses with drink carts, and, of course, engine noise. If someone could just block that out, flying might be a little more bearable.

For fellow travelers who crave silence, Sennheiser introduces the PXC 250-II Travel Headphone. This compact pair builds upon the original PXC 250 with improved NoiseGard technology, which reduces all types of ambient noise. Your music is delivered with high-performing neodymium magnets for a detailed sound with a frequency response from 10 to 21,000 Hertz. An included adapter cable lets them work with in-flight entertainment systems. The $259.95 price tag sounds well worth it for the peace of mind they’ll bring.

Marking one more step in our journey to a completely wireless world is the Sennheiser PX 210 BT (catchy name), a set of Bluetooth-enabled mini-headphones with a range of 33 feet. Roam where you want to and don’t worry about a cord bogging you down. If you’ve been disappointed with Bluetooth headphones in the past, you may want to give these a try: Sennheiser has equipped them with licensed Apt-X coding technology, which is designed to create flawless sound that’s free of interference.

Stow your music player in your bag when you use the PX 210 BT, since audio controls are right on the headphones. You can turn the Bluetooth on or off, change volume, and move back and forth in a playlist all from the included controls. The company promises 12 hours of continuous operation with the rechargeable lithium polymer battery. These headphones are available now for a list price of $299.95.