Created by Q Acoustics, the Q-TV2 straps onto the back of your flat-panel television, providing true 2.1 stereo sound that should beat out anything that’s built into your TV. Just snap the QT-V onto the back of your set, plug it into your TV’s optical, RCA or headphone jack, and you’re all set. The whole thing measures in at just 38mm (appx 1.5-inches) deep.

If you’re sick of your  TV’s thin, tinny speakers, the Q-TV2 should blow you away. Left and right channel sound is provided by a four wide-dispersion balanced-mode radiator speakers, powered with a 25w per channel amp. For big bass boom, there’s a slim vibration-free subwoofer that hides behind your display, powered by a 50W amp (the sub uses 4 individual to fit into such a thin package). Both the left and right satellites offer swivel mounts so you can adjust the angle of the speakers too.

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While the base model of the Q-TV2 is designed for TVs that are sitting on a stand, they do offer optional wall mounts (both stationary and cantilevered) for an added charge. Since the Q-TV2 is made in the UK, you’ll probably need a power adapter if you want to use it in other countries, and at this point it’s only available for TVs between 30 and 42-inches diagonal. So if you have a bigger screen than that, you’re out of luck. The system is available now from Amazon UK for £299.99 (appx. $497 USD).

The T-2 has a stereo output of 20 W. It connects to your players via gold-plated RCA jacks as well as USB, and its speaker connectors are gold plated as well. The T-2 also has a headphone jack, so you can enjoy the concert quality audio and go deaf in style. An integrated “Slow Power On” feature preserves the life of the amp’s parts by – wait for it – dary. I meant by forcing the amp to power up slowly.

The T-2’s steel cover and side panels are actually removable, so you can stare at the tubes unimpeded if you wish.

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You can read the rest of the specs and also purchase the T-2 at Neuhaus’ website. The amp sells for $795 (USD). Analog ain’t cheap.

[via Uncrate]

The HiFiMan packs a Burr-Brown PCM1704U DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) chip and can play back AAC, FLAC, WMA lossless, WMA, OGG, WAV and of course mp3 files. Files can be transferred to the HiFiMAN via USB. Unfortunately, the HiFiMAN’s lithium polymer battery only lasts up to 8 hours on a single charge, which is quite short by today’s standards. Automagically enhancing music probably drains a lot of juice.

You can already pre-order a HiFiMAN HM-801, but the price tag isn’t easy on the ears: $600 USD at Head-Direct. That’s actually discounted, because when the player is released in June the price will be jacked up to more than $700 USD. At those prices, the HiFiMAN won’t be as famous as current PMPs, but I’m sure it’ll have its fans, dedicated audiophiles that know just how powerful music can be.

[via anything but ipod]

The insanely expensive equipment is called the Telos 5000, a 5000-watt amplifier that is so revolutionary, Goldmund had to create “a few completely new circuits, some of them using technologies never used before in Audio Amplifiers, such as Martian & Borg technology.” The Telos 5000 is equipped with “16 separate high-power transformers developing a power close to 10,000 watts”, and an “Alize 7 D/A converter completely new designed to create a final resolution above 130dB”. The Telos 5000 must be so good that if you plug in a toaster it will sound like Eric Johnson, and if you plugged in a real guitar to the Telos 5000 and made Eric Johnson play the guitar, we will have world peace.

Or maybe not. But for $189,600 the Telos 5000 had better be freaking awesome. What’s even more astounding is that it’s almost sold out. True story.

[via DVICE]

The MP3 Amp Speaker is a dead ringer for its larger cousins, complete with a cloth front grill, curved corner protectors and a textured finish that looks like leather.

While the built-in 5-watt amplifier won’t make your eardrums bleed, the face does offer dials which go from 0 to 11, which is one louder than most speakers. The speaker can be powered by AAA batteries, or directly via a USB cable from your computer. It’s available from RED5 for £20.00 (appx. $40 USD).

Despite its size, Waves’ iGTR Personal Guitar Processor is a sophisticated piece of music gear, packing in a variety of effects which simulate the sounds of concert amplifiers and effect processors.

The portable gadget offers up a variety of virtual amp sound profiles which start out as simple as “Warm”, “Normal” and “Bright”, but that can be tuned and tweaked to the exact sound you like. The iGTR also offers effects like Phase, Tremelo and Wah-Wah, as well as Reverb, Chorus and Delay settings.

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Not only can you plug in your guitar, there’s an AUX jack for connecting your MP3 player for accompaniment too. There are even dual headphone jacks, so you and a friend can listen together. The whole thing fits in a box that’s not much larger than a pack of cigarettes, and runs on AAA batteries. You can get your hands on the iGTR over at Sweetwater Music for just $80 USD.

[Waves iGTR Product Info | Interactive Demo]

Created by industrial design student Joonas Saaranen, the Reppo II backpack features a built in pair of full-range speakers and an amplifier, so you can kick out the jams as you walk down the street. The only thing better would be if that big black patch were a subwoofer. Of course, that might shatter your vertebrae if you turned up the volume too much.

Saaranen’s concept design has gotten as far as a functional prototype at this point, but he hasn’t revealed if he’ll ever have them produced en masse. In the mean time, if you happen to be in Berlin, Germany (where Joonas currently resides) and hear someone coming down the street wearing this bad boy, offer up the mad props he deserves.

[via Square]

By taking an old Apple 5-1/4″ floppy drive he found at a thrift store, then working some electronics wizardry on the interior, modder Jeff Kobi took this old piece of tech junk and gave it new life as a retro-styled amplifier.

At the heart of the revamped drive is the hacker’s favorite Sonic Impact 5066 T-amp, capable of cranking out amazing clarity and boldness with just 15-watts per channel.

Wanna make your own? Check out Jeff’s step-by-step tutorial over on Instructables.

The Vers 2X offers room-filling sound thanks to a pair of 3-inch full-range speakers, powered by a 20-watt per channel (peak) class-D amplifier. The dual ported enclosure helps to produce extra bass boom despite the cabinet’s relatively small size ( 11.5″ W x 5.6″ H x 5.6″ L).

The $149 system includes adapters for playing and charging most iPod models including: iPod Video, iPod Nano, iPod mini, iPod, iPod classic, iPod touch and even the iPhone. There’s also a universal dock for other MP3 players. The Vers also includes a slick brushed metal 14-function remote control, which lets you control volume, change tracks, switch playlists and more.

As an added bonus, Versaudio takes an environmentally-friendly approach with their products. The 2X is built using wood farmed from sustainable plantations, assembled using screws instead of glues, and even comes packaged in 100% recycled and recyclable paper.

[Product Information]

Unlike most iPod docking stereos, Lars & Ivan’s PA-40Ti Hybrid iPod Dock skips the built-in speakers, and instead gives you 40 watts of stereo amplification that can power speakers of your choosing. While your iPod gets a cozy place to sit, the dock provides charging, USB connectivity and video output. The amp has additional inputs for your other devices (RCA stereo only, no digital), and offers a pre-amp out for a subwoofer.

You can find the Lars & Ivan Hybrid iPod Dock at Belgium’s designgadgets for €233,00 (appx. $342 USD).

The system is made from 3 individual cabinets which can be disassembled in case he wants to taking the show on tour. Gaming is powered by a PlayStation 2, preloaded with all of the Guitar Hero games on the hard drive.

The top cabinet has the left and right speakers as well as a cool backlit GH marquee, while the middle tier houses a heavyweight 27-inch Toshiba CRT.

The bottom cabinet contains a Logitech Z2300 subwoofer for some serious low-end, as well as the PS2 system that powers the whole rig. Rock on with your bad self!

[ArcadeControls via SlashGear via Digg]

The YSP-500 reflects sound from 18 individual sound drivers to deliver truly immersive surround with only a single box. Just like it’s bigger siblings, the box has all the requisite digital and analog inputs for DVD players and other audio sources.

It can decode Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS Neo:6 sound formats. It also offers SRS TruBass enhancement for the low end of things, but you’ll really want to supplement this system with a subwoofer if you really want a solid bass boom. As has been the case with all but the earliest YSP systems, this one includes IntelliBeam automated room calibration, so you you can get up and running with optimal sound in just a few minutes.

Keep in mind that while the surround effect from YSP speakers I’ve tested is pretty amazing, it’s best experienced in a room that has four normal walls, so sounds can be bounced off of surfaces appropriately. From my experience with the original YSP-1, odd-shaped rooms can be a bit of a challenge.

The YSP-500 should hit stores in Japan later this month for about ¥75,000 (appx. $647 USD), making it significantly less expensive than the larger models in the series. Expect to see these stateside within a few months of their Japanese release date.

[via ITMedia]

This dock from Dice Electronics looks to change that. Not only does the Dice iTPA-220 docking stereo have killer looks, it retails for just $299, which is a great price if it really lives up the the “audiophile quality” claims its manufacturer touts.

The stereo is based on dual 20-watt 6N3 tube pre-amps (usually found in very expensive systems) and comes with a pair of really nice looking wooden bookshelf speakers. The speakers offer a 4-inch mid/bass driver, a 1-inch dome tweeter, and are bass-reflex ported for a bigger thump. The system will also charge your iPod while docked, and a remote-control provides volume and track control capabilities.

Dice is taking pre-orders now for the iTPA-220, and expects to start shipping them in September.

[via Playlist via Gizmodo]

These “BooRu-BooRu” dolls look like some sort of bizarre Teletubbies on crack. They have a soft cloth body and hide their controls in the eyeballs, ears and tummies. Each of these battery-powered speakers has a built-in FM radio, amplified speaker and can connect to an MP3 player.

If you’re looking for a really trippy way to play back your tunes, you can pick one up from Korea’s Story Shop for 35,000 KRW (about $37 bucks.)

The XMI X-Mini Capsule Speaker features a special vacuum chamber which opens up like an accordion. The makers of the speaker claim this design mimics the acoustic properties of subwoofers, significantly enhancing bass output when compared to other compact speakers.

It’s also got built-in rechargeable batteries, letting you untether from your USB connection and listen to music wherever you go. Available initially in Singapore only, the X-Mini costs $49 Singapore Dollars (about $32 USD.)

[via CNET Asia]

Yep, no delicious frosting, just bass and treble. Just plug these compact stereo speakers into any media player or computer and you’ll be ready to rock out. They’re brand new, so they may be hard to find for a while. Expect them to start popping up from retailers over the next few months.

All this talking about cupcakes made be hungry. I’m gonna go get some pastries now.

The clean, elegant design lets the system integrate nicely into any living room. In addition to its styling, the DHT-M380 has some pretty decent specs for bookshelf sound system. It’s got a 120W amplifier, driving 6 audio channels. While that won’t exactly shatter any eardrums, it should be plenty for watching TV or the occasional DVD in your living room. 5.1 surround is available in DTS, DTS 96/24, Dolby Digital and Dolby ProLogic II formats, while there’s also 2.1 support for Dolby Virtual Speaker and Dolby Headphone technologies.

The system is expected to hit shelves in Japan this August, with a release in other countries down the road. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced.

[via AV Watch]

The Audio Pro Porto takes the traditional iPod stereo and flips it on its ear. Its tall vertical design features a place for your music player to dock on the top, and the speakers below. The company claims that the system can even crank out decent stereo imaging, regardless of the narrow speaker placement. The system will come in both red and black leatherette finishes, and has a convenient carrying handle for portability.

In addition to iPod docking capabilities, the Porto has an RDS-enabled FM radio, and dual 3.5mm stereo inputs for other media players. A release date and price haven’t been announced yet.

[via Chip Chick]

Like the Yamaha, the ES7001 crams all the amplifiers, speakers and surround processing gear into the same box. There’s no detail on what movie surround standards it will support, but I’d expect at least the standard Dolby Digital and DTS if not more.

The system will ship this June for ¥124,000 (just over $1000 USD.) An optional subwoofer will run ¥24,000 ($197 USD.) Speaking from personal experience with the YSP series, the subwoofer will more likely be a necessity than an option. A space-saving TV stand with a special cutout for the system will also be available for ¥50,000 ($411 USD.)

[via Engadget HD]

The SUBstage200 Stealth Subwoofer fits neatly underneath most couches thanks to its 4-inch height profile. The subwoofer hits your derrière with 200-watts of Class D amplification, and solid bass down to 32Hz ensuring a serious bone-rattling for everyone seated on or around your couch.

The SUBstage200 is expected to hit this July and will cost $399.

[via ChipChick]