Technabob » amplifier

iBamboo Passive Acoustic Speaker Says No to Electricity

Range — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:40 +0000

This simple, yet distinctive acoustic amplifier is made out of bamboo. It’s supposed to amplify sound enough so that you can rely on your iPhone’s tiny speaker to power the sound of your tunes.

The iBamboo was made by New York area Etsy contributor Anatoliy Omelchenko and I have to say that it does look good with an iPhone in place. It’s machined so that it can rest on a flat surface. You just insert your iPhone 4 or 4S on the top and press play. The natural resonance of bamboo will amplify your music – though I’m not sure how much. With openings on both ends of the dock, it’s supposed to produce a “stereo-like” effect, but don’t expect true stereo separation, since the iPhone only has a single speaker.

Each one is crafted from a single piece of bamboo, then finished with a black lacquer coating. Keep in mind that since iBamboo is crafted from a natural material, each dock will be slightly different. The iBamboo sells for $25(USD) on Etsy.

[via Make:]

Griffin Twenty Digital Amplifier Adds AirPlay to Any Speakers

Range — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

It’s the beginning of CES 2012, and just like every year, there are lots of new toys around to make life easier. I spotted Griffin’s Twenty making the rounds, and thought that it would definitely be useful since it can turn any speaker into an AirPlay-compatible one.

This is basically a solution if you have speakers that aren’t AirPlay-compatible, which is probably most of us. Instead of replacing them, you can just get the Griffin Twenty and plug in your AirPort Express base station. Then you’ll just have to wire in your speakers and you can stream songs from your iOS device wirelessly to your speakers. I have to say it’s a pretty cool idea.

As its name hints, the Twenty outputs 20 watts-per-channel, and it connects to the Airport Express via its digital output, ensuring the most pristine audio. Griffin hasn’t yet announced a price or a release date, but I’m guessing it’s going to be sold soon. You’ll also need to add your own spare AirPort Express base station to make it work.

iPhone Passive Wooden Speakers: Look Ma, No Electricity!

Range — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Ever thought that you would own one of those acoustic speakers that works without electricity to amplify your tunes from your iPhone? Well, now’s your chance, thanks to Lowell’s minimal wooden iPhone speakers. No electricity is needed to power this baby, and you can choose from a few different types of wood to make it extra special.

The iPhone Speaker is basically a wooden dock that amplifies your iPhone’s tiny internal speaker. It’s supposed to work with all iPhones, and Lowell says the amplification effect is “amazing.” The dock measures 2″×2″×9″ and comes made out of cherry, walnut or soft maple. Each one has been handcrafted and finished with orange oil, coupled with wax.

Note that Lowell mentions that some older iPhones with cases won’t work in this dock. Other types of wood are available for $10 extra. The wooden iPhone speakers sell for $60 to $70 (USD) at Lowell’s Etsy shop, YellowGlueBlues.

[via Make:]

MegaPhone Holds Your iPhone In Place, Amplifies Its Audio to Mega Proportions

Hazel Chua — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:00:20 +0000

Would you believe me if I told you that there was a way for you to increase the audio from your iPhone many times over without hooking it to some speaker or some other electronic device? If you’re sharp (and know a thing or two about Physics), then you might be thinking of something along the lines of some sort of amplifying device.

So picture the iPhone Portable Amplifier Horn – only about ten times more massive and prettier, and you’ve got the MegaPhone.

Basically, the MegaPhone ceramic amplifier that’s fashioned in the shape of a horn, kind of like the ones you see in movies where people sound alarms or grab the villagers’ attention (yes, I mean those kinds of movies) by blowing into it. However, the designer behind it, En & Is, gave it a modern look by giving it a coat of sleek black and white paint. There’s also a gold-coated version for people who have a more expensive taste.

The MegaPhone ships out with a thin, wooden stand to hold the MegaPhone upright. You can check out the video below to see (or rather, hear) just how much it amplifies sound coming from your iPhone:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The MegaPhone looks pretty, amplifies sound, makes for a fine display on your coffee table, and unfortunately costs more than what most people would be willing to shell out for an iPhone dock-slash-sound amplifier: the black and white versions go for 400 Euros (~$544 USD), while the gold one costs 600 Euros (~$816 USD).

[En & Is via Oh Gizmo!]

SoundJaw Amplifier for iPad: Tiny Add-on, Big Difference

Lambert Varias — Fri, 27 May 2011 12:01:25 +0000

There are many things to like about Apple’s iPad, but its rear-facing speaker isn’t one of them. I’m not talking about how they’re weak and tinny since most mobile devices have below average speakers anyway. It’s that the sound is directed away from the user’s ears. Not only that, but their placement means it can be quite easy to unintentionally block the grill while you’re holding the tablet. That’s why Matthew McLachlan came up with the SoundJaw.

The SoundJaw is a piece of plastic that clips on to the side of the iPad or iPad 2, and redirects the sound coming from the speakers to the front. It’s simple but effective. I wish I could say the same about McLachlan’s Kickstarter video:

A simple background and a couple of demonstrations would have been enough. The iPad as boombox scene was particularly cringe-inducing. But that doesn’t change the fact that the SoundJaw could be useful to many iPad users. If you’d like the SoundJaw to go into production, pledge some money on its Kickstarter page. And ask McLachlan for a better video. A minimum $20 pledge gets you one of the first SoundJaws.

[via Wired]

Hive Dock for iPhone 4 Boosts Both Audio and Video

Lambert Varias — Wed, 04 May 2011 12:00:47 +0000

We’ve featured many speaker docks for the iPhone and iPod Touch, including ones that don’t need electricity to amplify sound. But this is the first time I’ve come across a dock that also doubles the display size. It’s called the Hive dock, and its inventors swear by its usefulness. Unfortunately, they have the same marketing challenge that Nintendo has with the 3DS.

You see, just like the 3D effect in Nintendo’s latest handheld, it’s hard to appreciate the magnification that the Hive dock’s Fresnel lens provides in pictures or videos. In fact the effect is just the opposite – the magnified display looks distorted on video:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

I have to admit, it is pretty hard to see the “improvement” with the display. To a certain extent this also applies to the amplification of the audio – but I guess we could say the same of other docks and audio equipment for that matter. Despite the criticisms and challenges, Jack Waitzman and his co-inventors Dorsey Cox and Zach Griggs are confident that they will be able to launch and sell the Hive dock. In defense of the video distortion in the clip, they state “A word about the videos… the magnification lens flare/glare/blur does not represent what is actually experienced in person. Hive’s A/V enhancement is obviously best when experienced through human eyes and ears. “

If you believe in the potential of the product, you can help Waitzman and company by backing the project on Kickstarter. A $45 pledge or above will get you one of the first Hive docks (at a discount from its $60 retail price).

[via 9 to 5 Mac]

iPhone Portable Amplifier Horn: Sound Without Speakers

Range — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:35:45 +0000

While the Trumpet amplifier looked really good, it was a tad expensive, which is why the iPhone Portable Amplifier Horn is an interesting alternative. As with the iTrumpet and iVictrola, it doesn’t need any electricity but the resulting sound is somewhat louder than the barebones speaker. Is it worth it? I guess there are some situations in which this could be useful.

This accessory was created by Bone Collection and can double as a stand for your iPhone. It’s compatible with the iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS, and the latest iPod Touch generation. It’s supposed to add about 13 dB of sound to the normal volume of the iPhone without any power source.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The iPhone Portable Amplifier Horns are available for $24.95 (USD) at CyberGuys. iPhone 4 models are available in black, green, white, and beige. It’s hard to say if this is a crapgadget or something that could be useful. All in all, I kind of like some of the bold colors, but when I need amplification, I think I’ll stick to some powered speakers instead.

[via GeekAlerts]

The Block is One Cool-Looking Tube Amplifier

Range — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:30:21 +0000

This very cool-looking vacuum tube amplifier was designed by Mateusz Główka. It looks like a solid hunk of metal, but it was made from sheets of aluminum and stainless steel. Each of the individual components has been placed specifically to give the best possible sound and reduce interference.

While digital technology is great, we all know that analog components have a certain warmth and depth of sound that is hard to replicate. This is one of the good reasons why there are some nice vacuum tube amp kits available out there, and they promise to outperform their digital counterparts while costing a fraction of the price.

All in all, this looks incredibly cool and I’d to see either a kit or a pre-assembled version of this for sale, if the sound is as good as it’s supposed to be. For now, all we have is this cool one-of-a-kind prototype.

[via Yanko Design]

Trumpet iPhone Amplifier: Brass Blast

Lambert Varias — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:07:24 +0000

Artist Christopher Locke – who also made these gadget fossils – used a salvaged trumpet to make an analog amplifier. Just like th iVictrola, the trumpet does all the work, so there’s no electricity needed. Locke uses it for his iPhone, but actually it can be used with any media player that will fit on the steel dock, provided that it has built-in speakers.

Here’s the “Analog Tele-Phonographer” in use:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Locke actually built a second version using a different trumpet, with one of the valves cleverly used as a mute button:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

If you had your eyes on the second version, tough luck, someone already bought it. The original Analog Tele-Phonographer is still available though, but the price might not be music to your wallet’s ears – Locke is selling it on his website for $400 (USD).

[via Cult of Mac via Walyou]

TDK Sound Cube: It’s Hip to Be Square

Technabob — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 22:41:49 +0000

TDK isn’t exactly a brand that’s made its mark on the U.S. tech scene since back in the cassette tape days, but with their recent, awesome retro boombox, and now this cool portable stereo, they’re definitely making a comeback.

The $300 (USD) Sound Cube is the latest in TDK’s Life on Record audio series, and looks like another potential winner. The 17-pound portable enclosure measures 9.8″ x 9.8″ x 9.8″. It houses a pair of 5-1/4″ full-range coax drivers, and the other two sides are filled with passive reflectors that look like speakers. It’s designed to placed centrally in your room, radiating sound outwards from the middle of your space.

In addition to standard RCA, 3.5mm and even 1/4″ audio jacks, the Sound Cube has a USB connector for plugging in your iPod or even a flash drive for music playback. It doesn’t have an actual dock for media players, but it has a non-slip surface on the top so you can use it with any player you want, instead of just iOS devices. It’ll even run on 12 “D” batteries, and has a handy leather carrying strap if you really want to use it away from an outlet. Early reviews over on Amazon are quite positive, claiming room-filling sound (for smaller spaces), with just 20-watts per channel. Plus, it just looks cool, dontcha think?

[via The Awesomer]

Onkyo Debuts Cool Retro Style Audio Gear

Shane McGlaun — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:56:34 +0000

I was a child of the 80′s, so I tend to remember all the weird stuff we had back them. The bright colors, questionable wardrobes, and gigantic electronics of the period are what I grew up with. Onkyo has unveiled a new line of audio gear that includes a range of audio components that has some retro 80′s style.

The only one of the new components that really looks like the 80′s I remember is the M-5000R amp with the big analog gauges on the front. My dad had a stereo with some gages like that on the front when I was a kid. Onkyo is showing of the M-5000R amp, the P-3000R pre-amp, and the C-7000R CD player at CES.

The gear from Onkyo has high-end features like DIDRC works to improve sound quality. The P-3000R preamp has AES/EBU digital connectors and USB inputs for PC audio. It also has a Burr-Brown DA and more. The M5000R amp has 8-ohm FTC rating and 80W of power per channel with a dynamic power rating of over 450W into 1 ohm. The C-7000R CD player is a high-end device as well with a silent disc mechanist and die-cast aluminum tray. The P-3000R sells for $1699, the M-5000R sells for $2499, and the C-7000R sells for $1499.

Heinz Can of Beans Amplifer: Musical Fruit

Technabob — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:01:44 +0000

While it’s not as cool as those mini Marshall and ORANGE amps, this is certainly one of the more unusual portable amplifiers I’ve seen.

Hand-built by some guy simply going by the name “Marcn,” this isn’t any ordinary can of beans. It’s a can of HEINZ BEANZ, baked beans in a deliciously rich tomato sauce! All kidding aside, what you’re looking at is actually a custom mini amp, perfect for electric guitar or keyboard practice. It gets its juice from a USB port, and there’s a guarantee that all beans have been removed.

Want it? Head on over to marcn’s Etsy shop now. I have a funny feeling there aren’t a whole bunch of these being made.

Fully Playable Electric Guitar T-Shirt: This One Goes to 11

Range — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:16:32 +0000

While I’ve seen everything from keyboards to LEDs integrated into t-shirts, this is the first time that I’ve seen an actual guitar put into a t-shirt. That’s not all: this funky t-shirt comes even with an amplifier.

The t-shirt is wired up with digitized samples of the major chords from a real electric guitar. The t-shirt comes with a magnetic pick, allowing you to play the t-shirt just like a real guitar. The mini-amp clips to your belt and should be loud enough to get your point across.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

If you’re musically inclined, this might be a great way to rock out anytime anywhere, especially when you don’t have your guitar. The electric t-shirt guitar is available for just $30(USD) from ThinkGeek.

[via Geek Alerts]

Roland Micro-Cube Amp: Big Sound You Can Carry Around

Lambert Varias — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 17:32:49 +0000

If someone in your family suddenly develops an interest in learning how to play the guitar, giving him or her the 2-watt Micro-CUBE amplifier by Roland will help ensure that your neighbors won’t kill you. That’s not to say you’ll be giving your loved one a gimped amp; the Micro-CUBE doles out full sound and clean tone. It also has a few tricks up its teeny tiny sleeves, such as models – iconic sounds from classic amplifiers that can be digitally applied to the input – and a few effects like reverb, flanger and phaser.

The amp is powered by a 9V DC adapter, but it can also run on 6 AA batteries. Measuring only about 10″ x 7 ” x 9″ and weighing just about 7 lbs., the Micro-CUBE is also the perfect camping buddy, for when your kids discover Dashboard Confessional and are possessed by an urge to go to the woods and cry in front of a bonfire. Here’s a video review of the amp from Jeff Bragg of Cool Tools:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can order the Roland Micro-CUBE guitar amp at Amazon for $110 (USD).

Dacport USB Dac/Amplifier: the Audiophile’S Travel Buddy

Lambert Varias — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:17:46 +0000

I’m not that familiar with audio gear and technology, but I do know that getting quality sound from earphones almost always comes with a high price tag. I mean I’m content with the sound that I get from the low- to mid-priced speakers that I’ve owned, but when it comes to earphones, I’m not that satisfied with what I get from the products in my budget range. The DACport is certainly out of my range (and it doesn’t even come with earphones), but you might want to get it if you can afford to drop serious money for serious sound quality.

CEntrance knows that even a great pair of earphones isn’t always enough for the discerning audiophile, and that’s where their gadget comes in. The DACport is a USB digital-to-analog converter and amplifier that supposedly gives high quality audio “so good that it reveals the subtle detail in your music”, and that it plays 24-bit/96 kHz music natively, with “bit-for-bit accuracy.”

Here are some specs: 96kHz (Also supports 44.1 kHz, 48kHz and 88.2kHz) sample rates, 24-bit (Also supports 16-bit) resolution, 120 dB dynamic range, 20Hz…40kHz +/-0.2dB frequency response, +9dBV maximum output level at 300 Ohm load (8.5V peak-to-peak), -97 dB (-0.5dBFS, 1kHz) THD+N.

The cigar-sized gadget draws power via USB and requires no drivers or other software to be installed. It is encased in anodized aluminum and comes with a belt clip and a felt carrying pouch. You can order one right now at CEntrance for $500 (USD). Again, that’s quite a lot of money, and I doubt if you’d want to pair $50 earphones with it. You can check out Head-Fi for a customer review by forum member Sasaki (the DACport and other gear in the pictures are his) for more info.

[via Everything USB]

Ivictrola iPhone/iPod Touch Amplifier: Blast From the Past

Lambert Varias — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:32:08 +0000

Designed by Matt Richmond, the iVictrola’s design and functionality harkens back to the olden days. Way way back to the olden days, when there were no electronics. It acoustically amplifies the sound coming from an iPhone or iPod Touch – no need for a plug or batteries.

The sound passes through a hole in the walnut “dock” and up to the vintage Magnavox horn.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Obviously the amplification won’t be as powerful or as clean as what you’ll get from powered speakers, such as the similarly designed Little Horn. At least the iVictrola requires zero wires or electricity. Plus the horn is gorgeous.

Unfortunately the iVictrola isn’t available right now, but do keep an eye out for it at Design Without Reach’s limited-edition online store. At least you still have time to save up $400 (USD) for this lovely amplifier.

[via Gentleman's Gadgets]

Gakken Mini Electric Guitar Kit Rocks

Technabob — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 03:50:15 +0000

The guys at Japan’s Gakken Otona no Kagaku Magazine are at it again, this time, they’ve created a really cool kit that lets you build your own mini electric guitar. Now, I’m not talking about the type the comes with Rock Band or Guitar Hero either. This smaller-than-life guitar actually has strings, a fret board, a pickup and electronic circuitry for playing real analog music.

The short-necked 4-string electric guitar kit includes everything you need to build your own electric guitar, along with detailed photographic assembly instructions (in Japanese!) From what I can tell, it sounds like there’s a tiny built-in amp and speaker, but you’ll really want to plug it into a regular guitar amp with a standard 1/4-inch connector if you want to rock out.

The guitar comes with the December 17th issue of the magazine, and if you happen to live in Japan, you can order from the Gakken Shop for ¥3675 (appx. $42 USD). The rest of us can pre-order the kit over at VeryCoolThings for $59.99 (USD)

Q-Acoustics Q-Tv2 Adds Serious Sound to Flat Screen Tvs

Technabob — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:55:25 +0000

While plenty of flat screen televisions have decent built-in sound, you really need to add on a separate speaker system if you want some real stereo separation and bass thump. The new Q-TV2 speaker system provides a unique way to improve your TV’s sound without cluttering your room with extra boxes and wires.

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.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

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).

Neuhaus T-2 USB Tube Amplifier: Simply Expensive. I Meant Exquisite.

Lambert Varias — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:53:50 +0000

Neuhaus Laboratories designed the T-2 with ease of use in mind, but of course with the high quality audio output that we’ve come to expect from Neuhaus. Okay I admit this is the first time I’ve heard of them. But they seem legit, packing 8 vacuum tubes in a simple yet tasteful case, with only 2 self-explanatory knobs to mess with – volume and audio source.

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.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

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]

Pocket Boombox: Hifiman Portable Audio Player With Modular Amp Bay

Lambert Varias — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:22:40 +0000

Most of today’s portable media players already have good sound quality, but their output can still be significantly enhanced using amplifiers. The only problem is, short of making a frankenplayer, there are currently no PMPs that have built-in amps. That will all change come June this year with the release of the HiFiMAN HM-801, a portable audio player equipped with a modular amplifier bay.

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]