The Japanese firm Hanwa’s announced today their solution to putting DTS digital sound on your computer via their USB Vacuum Tube dongle.

I seriously doubt the vacuum tube brings any value to enhancing the digital sound, but rather put a nestaligic look to a high tech product.

The USB vacuum tube will retail in Japan for $45 USD and include the USB dongle with DTS technology along with the headphones which support DTS sound.  After all, the dongle doesn’t do you any good without some speakers for enjoyment.

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Source:  SlipperyBrick.

Chestnut Hill has long put out their sound systems as a premium product.  If you are in the market for a premium iPod player, then consider the George Audio Speaker System - CHS40001.  Currently it’s available for $249 and free shipping!

All of GEORGE’s functions are controlled from the remote, meaning you can set an alarm, pick a song, or turn on the radio within a thirty-foot radius of the base unit. Great for desktop or bedside control, GEORGE fits anywhere.

Show off your mixing skills using GEORGE’s Jukebox feature, take requests and build a playlist, without ever leaving the party.

With 24 presets spread across four pages, you can mix your (more…)

If you are old enough to remember those ‘Foreigner’ pre-digital cassettes, you’ll also remember making your “Top 40″ by duping the Saturday morning radio show with Rick Dees. That’s why you’ve got a box of C60s collecting dust in the cupboard. So why not set them free with the USB Tape Express.

Utterly ingenious, the sleek Ion Audio Tape Express cassette player lets you rediscover the precious sounds trapped in your cupboard cassettes. Lets take that a step further, Ion Audio uses the Tape Express to convert those “Glory Days” and set them free in digital format. Simply USB the Tape Express into your computer and idiot-proof EZ software will start converting your recordings, so you can burn them onto CD, archive them in iTunes or transfer them to your MP3 player.

There is something Back-to-the-Future-esque about listening to old chart countdowns, forgotten mix tapes and piece-milled favorites. Because the Tape Express functions (more…)

We know the Nano and iPod Touch don’t come with speakers, so it was nice to see the latest product roll-out from Green Power.  Their sliding speaker system is quite nice, compact for the iPod line.

A miniUSB port makes the connection between the iPod and the speaker system.  Green Power reports a long playback of nearly 12 hours, but I find that hard to believe because my iPod barely stays charged for 12 hours using the ear buds.

The slider speakers are 1.5Watts which should carry a fairly good sound for desktop use at the office or maybe a quite pool side background music.

No report on price, but if they tag it more than $25, you wont see many takers. (more…)

Most use a headset for Skype and MSN chat, but for some the headphones are too cumbersome or you feel strange wearing them [the older folks].  So in the later case, you might opt for the 3 port USB hub that includes a microphone.

The USB hub with microphone has a frequency response of 20-16kHz so you’ll get the lows and the highs.  The convergence of technologies means you can ditch your external hub and USB microphone for this all-in-one unit.

It’s got some cool blue LEDs as well.  All this for just $14.

LaCie nailed it again with their new USB speakers, the Sound2 Speakers.  I thought their previous design was sweet, but this is sweeeeet.

LaCie teamed with Cabasse to produce a high quality USB Speaker product at a low price.  With a Class D Digital Amplifier, magnetic shielding, a bass reflex system, and a 30W total peak system output, the Sound2 Speakers provide amazing sound quality. Cabasse’s own Wide Band Driver comes (more…)

GetUSB has seen the Record to USB players from Ion Audio before and we’ve seen these filter into Costco, Wal-Mart and even Urban Outfitters, and now Thanko has joined the ranks with their new USB Record Player.

Granted, it’s not designed with the same conversion tools that Ion Audio has, but it does work with Windows Sound Record or Mac’s Garage Band, so conversion of vinyl to MP3 is totally possible.  In fact, many might prefer their standard apps to do the conversion rather than deal with a 3rd party software package.

Either way, the Thanko USB Record Player is a nice addition to that old-school sound for just $100 bucks.

Thanko hasn’t released a US version yet, but you can get one now from Japanese retailers here.