The NuForce Cube is like the Swiss Army Knife of gadgets, there's a lot going on in a really small package (that's what she said). Besides being a solid portable speaker, the NuForce Cube is also a headphone amp and a digital-to-analog converter. So basically, you're handling a slew of problems with one crafty ... continue reading
Rocketfish, otherwise known as the Best Buy house brand, doesn't make too many new-fangled gadgets and doohickeys that you haven't seen before. But since they have a name like Best Buy behind them, what they can do is make all the stuff you were already thinking about buying for a fraction of the price that anyone ... continue reading
You probably already know the benefits of using whiskey stones instead of ice in your drink. Basically, they cool your drink without watering it down so you get all the flavor you expect at a bit more pleasant temperature. With these Icon Whiskey Stones, you can add a bit more fun to your boozing experience. Available ... continue reading
When Jawbone decided to make a bigger version of the Jambox, we can only assume that after hours of debating names someone half-jokingly tossed out, "What about 'Big Jambox?'" At that the team, so tired from crafting a kick-ass product, responded with a, "Fine, now can we please get some drinks." And that makes us ... continue reading
Even if you could get perfect sound from a pair of speakers, if they were bright pink and had pictures of Hannah Montana on them (that's what the kids are watching these days, right?) we would never buy them. Are we image obsessed? Hell yeah we are. Is it too much to ask to get something that is well-made and stylish ... continue reading
We love bikes. We love music. We would love to be able to combine the two of them so we could feel like Peter Griffin in that episode of Family Guy when his life has its own soundtrack, but it never seems to be that easy. Earbuds fall out. Studio cans block out all traffic noise, which is a problem when a hook-and-ladder ... continue reading
As we made our way through the various rooms at The New York Audio and AV Show (you can read about it here), we were struck by a common theme: We can't afford any of this. Don't get us wrong, the stuff was amazing, but it left us wishing we had a wallet bursting with bills and not random business cards. Oddly enough, ... continue reading
Let's be honest, the speakers on our portable gadgets are garbage. Listening to something on your iPhone without additional amplification sounds like the muffled beats escaping from the headphones of some dude sitting next to you on the train. As we've delved into the world of portable Bluetooth speakers, a few ... continue reading
We're not going to kid ourselves: you probably already have three different ways of projecting your iPhone / Android tunes throughout a room. If you're going to spend another $300 on another piece of technology to replace one of the ones you already have it had better be really damn good. The Table Top Concert Hall ... continue reading
With all the handheld gadgets we own and time we spend staring at them, we probably will evolve into some sort of craned-neck species. Human candy canes. If you're looking for one audio system for them all, there's the OnBeat Xtreme from JBL. It docks your entire Apple catalog (iPhone, iPod and iPad) and can also ... continue reading
The biggest issue we have with the iPad is the audio (well, and not supporting Flash and general addictiveness). Sure, a quick solution is a Bluetooth speaker set up, but once we're out of range that sucker is pointless. Seeing as how the iPad is a device for the go, tying it down with wires or 30 feet ranges, kinda ... continue reading
To some, speakers are simply pieces of equipment that get placed in corners, partially hidden from view. They deliver acceptable audio in an aesthetically bland design. We're going to go out on a limb and say, that as a reader of Cool Material, you are not one of these people. If you're like us, you put thought into ... continue reading
Do you remember a time when a proper home audio system cost thousands of dollars and required separate cabinets just to house a bunch of different pieces of audio equipment that we would consider ugly by today's standards? We do. We also happen to consider ourselves pretty technologically savvy, but setting those ... continue reading
The days of gigantic pieces of audio equipment stacked in your home are long gone. So are the days of tangled cables running throughout your home as well. In fact, the whole idea of your audio delivery system being tied to your home went out the window with all those jewel cases you had. If your portable Bluetooth ... continue reading
Let's face it, the speaker in your phone sucks. The phone volume is deafening with a really nice pair of headphones, but disconnect those bad boys and your party instantly goes to shit. If you're within arms reach of a stereo (read: crashing someone's party), you can just plug into that and force your formidable knowledge ... continue reading
There are certain brands that can actually make us alter our schedules when they decide to make a product announcement. Apple is the most obvious culprit, but for high-end audio devices—and the most ridiculous home phones when we used to buy them—we come to a screeching halt for news from Bang & Olufsen. With their ... continue reading
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