Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Six 5.1 speaker systems under $500 (roundup)

Pioneer SP-PK21BS Pioneer's SP-PK21BS delivers exceptional sound quality and only costs $400.

(Credit: Pioneer)

Sound bars and home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems can sound "good enough," but if you want a home theater experience that's actually exciting, you need a bona fide 5.1 speaker system. And they're less expensive than you might think.

We've rounded up six 5.1 speaker systems that cost less than $500. You can find 5.1 packages for less than that, but around $500 is the sweet spot where sound quality starts to get pretty good. And we've also thrown in an ultrabudget option that comes in at just $84 and holds its own against the pricier competition.

One quick note before we get to the speakers. Unlike an all-in-one system like a sound bar or HTIB system, the speaker packages require a separate AV receiver. Check out CNET's list of best AV receivers for recommendations.

Best overall budget speaker system

Energy Take Classic 5.1

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The Energy Take Classic 5.1 ($400 street price) is our Editors' Choice and the hands-down best overall speaker system we tested in this price range.

While most of the systems we've reviewed have trade-offs, the Energy is seemingly without compromises, with excellent sound quality, a compact and elegant design, and a $400 street price. It's one of the best home theater values we've ever seen and it's an investment likely to last you at least 10 years--much longer than the average gadget purchase.

•Read the full review: Energy Take Classic 5.1

Even with its budget price, the Energy Take Classic has significantly better sound quality than all of the other speakers in our roundup, except...

Best-sounding budget speaker system

Pioneer's SP-PK21BS

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Pioneer's SP-PK21BS ($400 street price) blew us away with the kind of sound it offers.

The catch here is that the speakers are huge, especially compared with most of the compact systems in our roundup. (And the center channel is enormous by any standard.) The speakers also sport a plain, black wood-grain finish, which isn't an eyesore, but it's not stylish, either.

•Read the full review: Pioneer SP-PK21BS

If you don't mind the bulk and have the space, the Pioneer SP-PK21BS offers the best sound quality for the money, but it's more speaker system than many buyers need.

Best ultrabudget speaker system

Monoprice 8247 Monoprice's 8247

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) The two things you need to know about Monoprice's 8247 speaker system are that it costs $84 and it sounds "good enough."

While we'd consider all of these speaker systems to be affordable, the Monoprice 8247 costs hundreds less and delivers a true surround-sound experience. The build quality is also surprisingly decent for the price and Monoprice even throws in four swivel wall-mounts.

•Read the full review: Monoprice 8247

Don't get us wrong: this isn't an audiophile system, so set your expectations accordingly. But it's a perfect starter system or option for a secondary room.

Best ultrasmall budget speaker system

Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 system

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) We think the Energy Take Classic 5.1 is plenty compact, but if you want to go even smaller, check out the Boston Acoustics SoundWare XS 5.1 system ($500 street price).

The speakers are each just a little larger than a baseball, but they sound surprisingly good for their size. (But don't expect miracles. The larger Energy and Pioneer systems sound much better.) Their unique cubelike shape also helps them fit into tight corners where standard speakers won't fit.

•Read the full review: Boston Acoustic SoundWare XS 5.1

Our major knock is that it's tough to fit speaker wire into the cramped connectors in the back, but you'll only put up with that during the initial setup process.

Alternatives

Harman's HKTS 20BQ isn't our top choice, but it sounds good and is plenty stylish.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) Filling out the roundup are the Harman Kardon HKTS 20BQ (often available under $500, but currently closer to $540) and the Klipsch HD Theater 500 ($500 street price).

Both of these systems are good, but it was hard for us to find a reason to recommend them over the other options. Specifically, both systems are similar in size, price, and design to the Energy Take Classic 5.1, and we prefer the Energy in both cases. However, if you find the Harman or Klipsch at a significant discount, they'll do the job.

Honorable mention: While the Mirage Nanosat 5.1 system wasn't included in this roundup, we've reviewed it in the past and were impressed. The list price is more than $800, but we've occasionally seen it discounted for less than $500 online.

Editors' note, November 14, 2011: This roundup has been updated to include the Monoprice 8247 speaker system.


View the original article here

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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Leaked BlackBerry pic could point to first BBX OS phone

Leaked BlackBerry pic could point to first BBX OS phone | Dialed In - CNET Blogs CNET Home Reviews Cell Phones Camcorders Digital Cameras Laptops TVs Car Tech Forums Appliances Cell Phone Accessories Components Desktops Games and Gear GPS Hard Drives & Burners Headphones Home Audio Home Video Internet Access Monitors MP3 Players Networking and Wi-Fi Peripherals Printers Software Tablets Web Hosting News Latest News Webware Crave Business Tech Green Tech Mobile Security Blogs Video Photos Media Cutting Edge Apple Politics & Law Gaming & Culture Microsoft Health Tech RSS Download Windows Software Mac Software Mobile Apps Web Apps CNET TV How To Phone Tablet Computer Web Home Theater Marketplace Log In | Join Log In Join CNET Sign in with My profile Log out
CNET Dialed In Leaked BlackBerry pic could point to first BBX OS phone Jessica Dolcourt by Jessica Dolcourt November 14, 2011 1:27 PM PST Follow @jdolcourt BlackBerry with BBX OS?(Credit:The Verge)

We all know that RIM needs a new game plan to stay relevant in the super-smartphone age, and its name is BBX.

The forthcoming BBX operating system converges QNX, the OS behind the unsuccessful BlackBerry PlayBooktablet, and BlackBerry OS, which continues to run current BlackBerry smartphones.

Even when RIM announced its plan to develop BBX last month at the BlackBerry Developer Conference in San Francisco, it didn't tell us much else about it--what it'll really do, how it will look, and when it will launch. What we did know is that it'll succeed the BlackBerry PlayBook 2.0 software...and that RIM doesn't even own the rights to the name.

The design we see here in this leaked image, which could be of a BBX phone (or may not be), has a large, edgy design with an all-touch display and no keyboard. That tidbit is consistent with reports that BBX phones will eschew the physical keyboard for which RIM is so famous.

(Via The Verge)

Jessica Dolcourt Jessica Dolcourt pits phone against phone in the ongoing epic battle of the latest and greatest smartphones. Before that, she sat in judgment of smartphone and desktop apps. In her personal life, Jessica remains tireless in her quest for the world's most perfect cheese.

Follow @jdolcourt Topics: Smartphones, Cell phones, BlackBerry Tags: BBX, BlackBerry
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SNL shows best sexual couplings of gadgets

SNL shows best sexual couplings of gadgets | Technically Incorrect - CNET News CNET News Home Reviews Cell Phones Camcorders Digital Cameras Laptops TVs Car Tech Forums Appliances Cell Phone Accessories Components Desktops Games and Gear GPS Hard Drives & Burners Headphones Home Audio Home Video Internet Access Monitors MP3 Players Networking and Wi-Fi Peripherals Printers Software Tablets Web Hosting You are here: News Latest News Webware Crave Business Tech Green Tech Mobile Security Blogs Video Photos Media Cutting Edge Apple Politics & Law Gaming & Culture Microsoft Health Tech RSS Download Windows Software Mac Software Mobile Apps Web Apps CNET TV How To Phone Tablet Computer Web Home Theater Marketplace Log In | Join Log In Join CNET Sign in with My profile Log out .mad_center {text-align:center;} .mad_center div, .mad_center table, .mad_center iframe, .mad_center a img {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
CNET News Technically Incorrect SNL shows best sexual couplings of gadgets Chris Matyszczyk by Chris Matyszczyk November 14, 2011 10:55 AM PST

It's Monday, all the more reason to offer you a little fantasy to help you through what might be a difficult week.

So please lean back a little and make sure there's no one close by whom you might accidentally nudge with a flinging arm or head. For I am going to show you gadgets having sex with each other.

You see, on Saturday, the kind and thoughtful folks at "Saturday Night Live" decided that given gadgets' new societal podium of sexual desirability, they should be shown having sex.

No, this is not pornography. There is foreplay.

Within these three minutes, you will see a Droid and a digital camera getting it on.

You will see aniPad removing lace panties after offering anXbox controller "a lifetime of love."

You will see presenters Emma Stone and Andy Samberg--yes, he who plays Mark Zuckerberg on a good day-- introducing all sorts of gadget relationships that you had never imagined, or at least never thought possible.

There's some interesting and moving dialogue too.

I can only hope that the knowledge of what a GPS and a curling iron are capable of doing together will send your mind into paroxysms of joy and flights of rare fantasy.

In technology, you see, anything is possible--if you just keep an open mind.

Chris Matyszczyk Chris Matyszczyk is an award-winning creative director who advises major corporations on content creation and marketing. He brings an irreverent, sarcastic, and sometimes ironic voice to the tech world. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.

Topics: Music, Media, Social networking, Advertising Tags: sex, Saturday Night Live, gadgets
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PETA goes after Mario and his Tanooki suit

PETA goes after Mario and his Tanooki suit | Crave - CNET CNET Home Reviews Cell Phones Camcorders Digital Cameras Laptops TVs Car Tech Forums Appliances Cell Phone Accessories Components Desktops Games and Gear GPS Hard Drives & Burners Headphones Home Audio Home Video Internet Access Monitors MP3 Players Networking and Wi-Fi Peripherals Printers Software Tablets Web Hosting You are here: News Latest News Webware Crave Business Tech Green Tech Mobile Security Blogs Video Photos Media Cutting Edge Apple Politics & Law Gaming & Culture Microsoft Health Tech RSS Download Windows Software Mac Software Mobile Apps Web Apps CNET TV How To Phone Tablet Computer Web Home Theater Marketplace Log In | Join Log In Join CNET Sign in with My profile Log out
CNET News Crave PETA goes after Mario and his Tanooki suit Jeff Bakalar by Jeff Bakalar November 14, 2011 12:34 PM PST Follow @jeffbakalar (Credit:PETA.org)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals recently began calling the new Super Mario 3D Land for the Nintendo 3DS insensitive to the hunting and killing of real-life tanuki racoon dogs for fur. I guess PETA never had an issue with everyone's favorite plumber stomping on turtles and using their shells as weapons all these years.

From the "Mario Kills Tanooki" section of PETA's site: "Tanooki may be just a 'suit' in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it's OK to wear fur."

There's even an accompanying Flash game that encourages players to help a skinned and bloodied Tanooki reclaim his fur.

I'm all for animal rights and the ethical treatment of them and I don't think wearing real fur (tanuki or any other animal) is especially humane. But I do think it's safe to say no animals are or were harmed as a direct result of Super Mario 3D Land.

Instead, PETA is exploiting a game that's marketed to kids to propagate its agenda. Splattering animated blood on their site and flashing "Mario Kills Tanooki" is a bit harsh, even for a organization that has links to known arsonists and the ALF, a group declared by the Department of Homeland Security to be a "terrorist threat."

But don't worry kids, I actually recently had a chat with the big man himself, and he assured me that the Tanooki suit he wears in the game is made completely of faux fur.

(Credit:Bridget Carey/CNET)

(Via PETA via Kotaku)

Jeff Bakalar Before covering video games and gear for CNET Reviews, Jeff Bakalar worked in film and video production. He's a gamer, comic book nut, and a diehard New Jersey Devils fan. Off the ice you can catch him live every day as the co-host of CNET's infamous podcast, The 404, or every week on preGame.

Follow @jeffbakalar Topics: Games and gear, Entertainment Tags: Mario, suit, tanuki, Tanooki, PETA, Nintendo, Super Mario 3D Land @import "http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/Ads/common/info_board/info_board.css";   Explore the BlackBerry Mall on CNET Learn about the new BlackBerry smartphones, read CNET editors' reviews, check out the latest BlackBerry videos and participate in the BlackBerry forum Visit the BlackBerry Mall on CNET

 

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