Awesome Audio

There are a million different Bluetooth speakers out there, so in a quest to create something a little different, woodworker Matt Jordan decided to build one out of a hunk of wood from an apple tree. Watch as he turns the log on his lathe, adding coffee grounds and colorful powder along the way to give the finished piece a dramatic look.

This ridiculously powerful boombox cranks out up to 1000 watts of power via its two 4″ tweeters and four 8″ woofers, for seriously banging bass. It’s got built-in Bluetooth connectivity, runs for up to 12h per charge, and doubles as a guitar amp. Our favorite style is the graffiti pattern.

Enthusiast gear retailer DROP teamed up with THX to create the ultimate Bluetooth headphone. These cans have phase-correct planar ribbon drivers, a low-noise THX AAA amplifier circuit, and Sony’s LDAC wireless codec to produce audiophile sound without wires. They offer 30+ hour battery life, and can be run via a passive wired connection.

This unusual guitar effects pedal changes its sound based on whatever liquid you pour into it. Unscrew the watertight lid, pour in the beverage of your choice, and the conductive properties of said liquid will influence signal gain, while its opacity affects the equalization of the sound. Demo video here. (Thanks Mike!)

Take your audio and video streams anywhere – with or without a wireless signal. Audials One 2020 is a Windows application that can record and save high quality streams from a variety of streaming music, video, and online radio stations, so you can keep and play them back any time. Save 66% in The Awesomer Shop.

This hefty Bluetooth speaker cranks out 40-watts of power, and sounds better than speakers costing much more. It’s the perfect party speaker, with big bass and crisp highs, a convenient carrying handle, and excellent battery life, running up to 40 hours on a charge.

Vizio’s top-of-the-line 5.1.4 audio system for 2020 packs 18 drivers. The P514a features rotating speakers which automatically angle upwards when watching Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content. It’s also got built-in Chromecast and DTS Virtual:X support. It comes with two surround speakers and a wireless 8-inch subwoofer.

Anker’s 12-watt Bluetooth speaker kicks out a surprising amount of bass and delivers immersive 360º audio. It supports pairing two speakers for stereo sound, its LED light ring can pulse to the beat of your music, and it’s even waterproof. For even more volume, check out the 25-watt Flare+

Do you hate having to charge your wireless headphones? Well, audio maker JBL is working on a new headphone that never needs charging. It uses Exeger’s Powerfoyle tech to capture both natural and artificial light and convert that into power for your cans. Just 1.5 hours outside generates 68 hours of playtime.

Up your mobile audio game with Shure’s MFi-certified stereo mic for iOS devices. It augments your iPad or iPhone with pro recording abilities. Includes Shure’s MOTIV app which captures uncompressed 24-bit/48 khz audio, controls the mic’s five DSP modes, and more. Save an extra 15% with code MerrySave15. (Exp. 12/25/19)

Vivid Audio’s top-of-the-line loudspeakers feature a curvaceous cabinet design and the best in audio tech. Tapered Tube Loading tech and a curved bass absorber horn help eliminate unwanted resonances, for pure, uncolored audio, while their 3-way, 6-driver system can accurately reproduce sounds from 35Hz to 25kHz.

Tune out the stress of traveling with these lightweight, easy-to-pack, budget Bluetooth headphones. iFrogz Impulse 2 wireless cans have a 20-hour battery life and an aux cable for even longer play. They have 44 mm neodymium drivers, an integrated mic for hands-free phone calls, plus controls for volume and tracks.

A bible for discriminating audiophiles and and industrial design junkies, Hi-Fi: The History of High-End Audio Design traces the evolution of all things audio, from the 1950s birth of specialty equipment to today’s cutting-edge design. Phaidon’s 272-page book has 300 images and the expertise of Gideon Schwartz, founder of Audioarts.

This Bluetooth speaker might be tiny, but it cranks out an unexpected amount of volume for its size. It has a sleek metallic look, and runs for up to 4 hours per charge. You can even pair two together for true stereo sound. Save an additional 20% in The Awesomer Shop with code BFSAVE20. (expires 12/3/19)

Copenhagen audio company AIAIAI’s premium over-the-ear headphones are designed for exceptional sound and comfort. Their bio-cellulose speaker diaphragms are engineered to reduce distortion, while their cushions are Alcantara-wrapped memory foam. In wired or wireless versions with Aptx HD support.

Kanto’s powered TUK stereo speaker system maximizes sound quality in a compact form factor. They crank out 260W peak power (130W total RMS) and their Air Motion Transformer tweeters and low-mass aluminum drivers minimize distortion. They support Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD, along with phono, RCA, and Optical inputs.

In a just barely Halloween-themed episode, musical expert 12tone walks us through the complexities of distortion, and what it is about such sounds that make them more creepy and off-putting than others – sort of like the way he draws from right to left across the page.

Transform ordinary computer audio into expansive surround sound. This Windows and Mac app takes standard audio from games, movies, and music, and expands its soundstage around your head. Its graphic equalizer lets you fine-tune your listening experience, and can also boost volume. Save 57% in The Awesomer Shop.

The Turtlebox Bluetooth speaker is designed to be loud and rugged. It produces up to 120dB of clear and distortion-free sound, and you can pair two speakers for stereo. It’s rated IP67 for water- and dust-resistance, and also has a 3.5mm input.

Philips reasonably-priced, open back cans provide an immersive soundfield, and their 50 mm high definition neodymium drivers offer frequency response from 5 – 40,000 Hz with minimal distortion, so you won’t miss the slightest nuance. Plus their velour-covered memory foam cushions mean comfortable listening for hours.

Whether you love the flat-plane V8 grunt of a Shelby GT350, the snaps and crackles of a Jaguar F-Type, the whirr of a Porsche 911, or the brapp of a Mazda RX-7, every car makes a different sound. But as Donut Media explains, it’s way more than the pipes and mufflers that make a car’s exhaust note sound the way it does.

Sony’s near-field powered speakers offer reference quality sound on your desktop. They used a back-to-back dual woofer design to cancel unwanted vibrations, and their coax drivers keep sounds in phase for perfect stereo imaging. The system is expected to cost about $8K when it drops in early 2020.

Anker teamed up with Amazon to create a 2.1 channel soundbar that has Fire TV and Alexa technology built in. It supports full 4K UHD content with Dolby Vision and HDR10+, while it cranks out 100 watts of sound and has built-in dual subwoofers for cinematic sound. Drops 11/21/19.