Music achieved higher fidelity, greater portability and came packaged in cooler designs in 2009.
Olive stepped sound quality up a notch with its Opus Number 4 and 4HD server, streaming 24-bit files. Redesigned Walkmans from Sony and Zunes from Microsoft featured better sound, screens and interfaces. Sonos made whole-house audio more affordable with its S5 and there were some extraordinary iPod docks launched, such as the B&W Zeppelin (pictured).
In our second category of essential gadgets for 2009, Paul Taylor’s summary of the best digital music systems is after the jump (dollars and hearts represent value for money and desirability, out of five). We’re also republishing our reviews from earlier this year of the Sonos S5, Olive Opus and X Series Walkman.
“Apple’s iPod Touch ($$, ♥♥♥) and recently updated Nano ($$$, ♥♥♥♥), which can now record video clips, are still the coolest kids on the block for portable digital media players. But for alternatives think about Microsoft’s latest ZuneHD player ($$, ♥♥♥) – because it has a radio on which you can listen to FM radio – and Sony’s elegant X Series Walkman ($$$, ♥♥♥♥), because it has built-in Wi-Fi and a beautiful touchscreen.
If you fancy buying the household a gift, whole-house audio systems are growing in popularity thanks in part to wireless modular systems such as the Olive Opus4/Melody ($$, ♥♥♥♥) and more affordable alternatives from Sonos and Logitech. The standalone Sonos ZonePlayer S5 ($$$, ♥♥♥♥), which can be controlled with a free iPod/iPhone app, is also very easy to set up and use.
If you are looking for something just for accessing internet radio stations, consider a standalone set such as Monitor Audio’s beautifully designed and Wi-Fi-enabled Airstream 10 ($$, ♥♥♥♥♥) .
If an iPod is the recipient’s main source of music, they would like an iPod dock: B&W’s Zeppelin ($$, ♥♥♥♥) is not new, but it is still one of the best-sounding and coolest. The new Bose SoundDock 10 ($$$, ♥♥♥) also delivers jaw-dropping sound quality while the Logitech PureFi Anywhere 2 ($$$$, ♥♥) delivers portability as well as value for money.
Nothing beats a set of good earbuds (better than the sets supplied with most MP3 players) or headphones. My favourites are Ultimate Ears Custom Earphone Monitors ($$, ♥♥♥♥), which are handmade to fit individual ears and deliver the sound quality demanded by professional musicians and audiologists. Alternatively, Etymotic Research’s ER6i earbuds ($$$, ♥) or Shure’s SE110s ($$$$, ♥♥) will make less of a dent in your bank account.
For those who prefer headphones, the Bose QuietComfort 15 ($$, ♥♥) are superb in noisy environments while the Shure SRH440s ($$$$, ♥♥♥) are excellent value.”
