This handy little unit from Pioneer can cost you as much as $249.99 (the standard retail price), although it is possible to get it on sale or used for prices that can dip below $200 depending on location and condition.

The overall design of the unit is one of the points in its favour, as are the excellent options and range of support features that you get with it. These aspects all tend to be above average for a stereo of this price range, which is definitely something that hardcore digital music users will love.

On the other hand, all of these excellent options can make operation of the stereo a little bit difficult and even the most basic functions can be frustrating for someone that has not taken the time to read through the instruction manual in order to learn how to use the stereo.

Pioneer DEH-P6000UB

There are many things to like about this unit from Sony, including the fact that there is hands-free calling functionality built into the device. There is also a lot of support for different audio options and the overall package is actually designed quite well with flair and panache.

At the same time however, the phonebook that comes with the device does not have a particularly high capacity, which is definitely a minus in a product that retails for as much as this unit does. Furthermore, navigation through audio options on the interface provided is a bit sluggish and could certainly be improved upon in future incarnations of this device.

Overall, this Sony all-in-one unit is a good purchase if you want that type of functionality, but there are trade-offs in the purchase as well. It retails for around $330.00, although used units can be purchased for as low as $225.00 on occasion.

Sony MEX-BT5100

The new Image X5 headphones are 2mm larger than the original but costs lesser. The original X5 from now on will be referred to as the X10s. If you go with the remarks of Klipsch, the X5 utilizes translucent patent-pending Contour Ear Gels. These ear gels claims to be anatomically designed so as to comfortably fit the human ear canals. The balanced full range armature driver with a tuned bass-reflex system which X5 uses gives an experience of crisp and clear highs and deep and impressive lows. The original X10 uses an exclusive balanced full range armature micro-driver. For those who prefer a lot of bass in their music, the best choice is X10. The X5 features a superior top end with more forward voicing. The Image X5 is available in the retail stores and online stores at a cost of $ 249.99.

via GadgetReview.com

When looking into purchasing Hi-Fi Speakers for your home theater surround sound system, you’ll want to focus on a few key aspects to guarantee that you get the most bang for your buck. This guide will take you through those key aspects, showing their relevance and importance to the total package.

Surround Sound Formats

Dolby Digital and DTS are two of the largest players in surround sound format. What this means is that nearly all movies will come in either one or both of these formats. There are several other formats as well that are not used enough to merit a purchase, so by choosing utilizing Dolby Digital or DTS you’ll be able to enjoy the highest quality your speakers can produce.

While Dolby Digital is more prevalent a format, it isn’t always offered in 5.1 surround due to how the soundtrack was recorded.

Active Vs Passive Speakers

The core difference between active and passive speakers are that active speakers have a built in amplifier. This amplifier allows you to plug nearly any device into these speakers and operate them. Passive on the other hand, rely on a stand alone amplifier to power them. If you enjoy plugging your MP3 player or computer into your speakers, active is the way to go, however if you prefer the quality that can be enhanced by using a stand alone amplifier (although more costly), passive is the way to go.

Stereo And Multi-Channel

If you’re only planning on using two speakers, you can still benefit from having a quality Hi-Fi setup. However, instead of spending extra money for features you won’t be utilizing now, you may want to invest in a system gear specifically towards stereo over multi-channel. That way your 2 speaker system give you a greater value then using only 2 channels on a multi-channel system. If you’ve got the room however, a 5 speaker setup will provide you with a lot more depth overall.

iHome has added two more products to its gadget range, the new “all-in-one” speakers. The speakers which have been named iH69 and iH70i are designed to save on clutter. The users can play, dock, charge and sync iPods directly to their computers with these speakers. They are compatible with all docking iPod models and work both on Mac and PC. The iH70i model boasts of higher watts and a full function remote control.

via TechFresh.net