Featured Reviews

The EMP VT-40.2 hybrid tube amplifier and 41-SE/B Beryllium cone speaker system was truly a delight to review. Its ability to transform your PC desktop into a high end audiophile rig on a shoestring budget is without peer. The 41-SE/B speakers alone are worth the full price of admission of this system. The EMP sound continually seduces me to work longer at my desktop PC which is good for Audioholics but not so good when I am late to dinner. With my love of food equaling that of audio, that speaks volumes for just how good this system is. Considering their very liberal return policy, FREE 30 day home trial program and FREE shipping I can’t say anything else other than “hearty appetite” as this is the meal your PC has been waiting for you to feed it. Once you dine on this system, you won’t settle for fast food or crappy mediocre sound again.

The Altec Lansing expressionist PLUS speakers are beautiful to look at. When it comes to desktop multimedia speakers I have to admit that I'm a sucker for good looks and put that as a high priority when selecting a pair of speakers. This 2.1 systems comes with a 5.25" subwoofer, whose diminutive size still allowed it to push quite a bit of audio and create a well-rounded sound that was, overall, very pleasing to both the eyes and ears.

Logitech may just be one of the first speakers many people buy. Why? Because they are attached to their computer. The name is practically synonymous with computer peripherals and control devices. The three new speaker system offerings are the Z320, Z523, and the Z520. The claim to fame with these new speakers is an open back design which is supposed to provide a 360 degree sound experience.

While KRK may not be a well known name in the world of home theater, they do have a reputation in the studio market. One of the dangers of getting involved in home theater and high fidelity is that you become incapable (or at least unwilling) to tolerate poor sound - even in your office. I was extremely impressed with the overall performance of the KRK Systems Rokit 6's. Unfortunately, I wasn't as impressed with the system as a whole.

Marketing drivel aside, the Expressionist PLUS system looks to be a very interesting "add on" speaker system for your next desktop purchase. At only $99, no one is expecting the moon here. The looks alone will sell a lot of systems. Altec Lansing historically has made very decent speaker systems. TheExpressionist PLUS should prove to be no different.

Yamaha introduced two new micro component systems that focus on new technologies and lifestyle design elements. The new MCR-730 ($499.95 MSRP) includes an integrated DVD player and full HD 1080p support for a complete audio/video solution, while the MCR-230 ($349.95 MSRP) is a sophisticated audio system complete with a built-in iPod dock, USB input, and a high-quality CD player. Each system includes a pair of high-quality two-way speakers that provide excellent bass through a low-height, large depth cabinet design.

The Samsung HT-BD8200 is a home theater sound bar equipped with a Blu-ray player and wireless subwoofer. This might be the best match I've seen for flat panel TVs in a long time. It's impressive since it features a fully integrated Blu-ray player with Full HD 1080p playback and a virtual 5.1-channel surround sound for a lifelike audio presence. And a wireless subwoofer! It is only 2.6 inches deep and accented with Samsung's Touch of Color design, for a classy, yet cutting-edge look. The included wireless subwoofer means that you can get fuller bass without having to worry about running cables from the sound bar to a corner of the room. It lets you maintain a clean and contemporary look.

In this digital age we live in, sometimes we get locked into the "more-is-better" mode. How many formats can it decode, how many different inputs/outputs does it have, exactly how big is the birds nest of cables coming out of the back of the unit? Actually - that mode works most of the time, but thing is, sometimes you just need to shut up and listen before you pass judgment on it. If you are an old school guy (read - your VCR was always blinking 12:00) the Z-Base 550 does a decent job of creating surround effects by ignoring all the digital data available on a disk and manipulating the analog signal to reproduce what the digital signal contains.

I constantly have people asking me about speakers for their iPods. It seems everyone has an iPod these days, even those of us who prefer to listen to full-fidelity music on our big systems. And the reality is, more often than not we are in the kitchen, at the office, or traveling - which means we need a more portable audio solution. Is it any wonder the iPod is such a success? I decided to do a roundup of portable docking speaker systems for the iPod, to get a better idea of what the latest offerings are from several manufacturers.