Cool Recommendations

Houseplant HP1 Phono BT Record Player by Pro-Ject

 

Houseplant HP1 Phono BT Record Player by Pro-Ject

• Handmade in Europe by Pro-Ject, makers of excellent record players
• Manual, belt-drive turntable
• 33 RPM and 45 RPM playback
• Built-in phono preamp with by-pass switch
• 8mm thick glass platter and vibration absorbing feet
• Ortofon OM 5E moving magnet cartridge (that’s a good one!)
• Bluetooth speaker capability
• HiFi sound system capability- shielded, semi-symmetrical, low-capacitance phono-cables come with the player
• Adapter for 7-inch singles (spin it!)
• 8.6 inch high-precision, lightweight, one-piece aluminum tonearm
• Allen key, stylus pressure gauge, all the other stuff you need!

Time to learn the Drums?

Maybe the guitar isn't your thing - then it might be time to learn to drum. Take a look at this drum kit from Pearl.

The Pearl Roadshow 5 piece Kit.

• 9 ply, 7mm Poplar Shells & 1.2mm Triple Flanged hoops. Comes with Heads and Double Braced Hardware.
• Drums Included: 22x16 Bass Drum, 1x8 Tom, 12x9 Tom, 16x16 Floor Tom, 14x5.5 Snare Drum
• Cymbals Included: 16" Brass Crash-Ride, 14" Hybrid Hi-Hats
• Hardware Included: Cymbal Stand, Hi-Hat Stand, Snare Stand, Bass Drum Pedal, Throne, 2 Tom Holders

Hardware Cymbal, hi-hat, and snare drum stands should start with a strong and well-balanced tripod base. Double-braced legs and interlocking tilter adjustments are also vital for keeping all parts of the kit in place under the pressure of performance. ROADSHOW’s included hardware package is second-to-none in its class. All stands are dual-reinforced, height and angle adjustable, and feature double-braced legs to withstand the pounding onslaught of the heavy-hitting drummer. Snare Drum The Snare Drum is the voice of the drum set and captures everything from the loudest accents to the softest “ghost” notes. With a matching shell and finish, the ROADSHOW snare is full of attack and power, yet sensitive enough for drumming at any volume. Bass Drum The bass drum is the tonal heartbeat of the drum set and should not only set the low-end pulse for the groove, but be a foundation for the rest of the complete drum set-up. The ROADSHOW kick drum features an extended tension/tuning range for low, chest-thumping bass frequencies, and includes locking, slip-free feet (or ‘spurs’), and secure mounting for toms and accessories. Cymbals ROADSHOW’s included cymbal set features a 16” brass crash/ ride and a set of 14” brass/hybrid hats. Perfect for accents and timekeeping until an upgraded multi-cymbal set-up is acquired.

Is it time to take up the Guitar?

Maybe you've been stuck in quarantine, worked through your whole Netflix backlog and are looking for something to do. It might be a great time to learn to play guitar - either for the first time or start up again.

If you are looking to learn for the first time a great way to go is with a bundle that isn't too expensive but will still give you everything you need to get going.

The Squier by Fender Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar Pack with Frontman 15G Amplifier - Brown Sunburst Finish - HSS might be the one for you. 

The Squier affinity Strat pack includes everything you need to start rocking right out of the box. The affinity series Stratocaster features a fat-sounding humbucking bridge pickup and two single-coil Strat pickups for versatile tone. A vintage-style Fender tremolo bridge, “C-shaped maple neck and a lightweight, comfortable body round out the offerings. The included Fender front Man 15G amplifier boasts 15 watts of power and features both clean and overdrive channels, giving you tones suitable for almost any genre. It’s also perfect for jamming and practicing, with an aux input that allows you to connect a media device and play along with your favorite songs or backing tracks, as well as a headphone jack for Silent practice. The Squier affinity Strat pack even includes a strap, cable and picks, so now is the time to stop dreaming and start playing!

 

Bang & Olufsen's mood sensing BeoSound Moment

via www.acquiremag.com

Bang & Olufsen announces the BeoSound Moment, an intelligent home music player that learns your music tastes and listening patterns to create a custom playlist. It does this using a feature called "PatternPlay" which will not only suggest music based on what you've been playing, but will select appropriate titles for that specific time of the day.

Of course, it wouldn't be a B&O product if it wasn't beautiful. The design uses a touch-sensitive, double-sided wooden and aluminum tablet that displays a multi-colored "MoodWheel" user interface. If you touch the wooden side, the device automatically plays a PatternPlay playlist and on the other side is their MoodWheel which selects music depending on where you place your finger on the wheel.

Audioengine D3

via www.acquiremag.com

About the size of a thumb drive, Audioengine's D3 is a plug-and-play DAC for any audiophile who want better sound out of their computer in a compact package. The D3 features an all-aluminum case, native 24/96 HD audio processing, headphone amp, headphone/speaker jack, and an HD indicator for sampling rates above 48k.

Secret Audio Club Wax Packs

via uncrate.com

Secret Audio Club Wax Packs ($45) were made for guys with fond memories of heading down to the local shop as kids and picking up a pack of baseball cards, hoping to come across something rare or special. These collectible seven-inch vinyl records come packaged like baseball cards, with ten records in each series printed on black or limited edition color vinyl. They also include trading cards for the various bands featured on the records, with each one containing digital download codes for more music. Get each record in the series with this pack to discover new music, all while re-experiencing one of your favorite

Meridian Director Digital Audio Converter

via www.acquiremag.com

If you've got yourself a nice little audio streaming setup you may want to look into Meridian's latest product, the Director. The Director is a Digital to Audio Converter that takes all those digital bits and feeds them into your amp/speaker setup to get the best sound possible out of your digital music. Spec-wise the handmadeDirector features USB, Optical, and Coax S/PDIF, up to 24-bit, 192kHz Digital to Analog conversion, a noise minimizing 4-layer PC board, direct-coupled, fixed-output, Meridian's own upsampling technology. Meridian

Biorb Flow Aquarium

via uncrate.com

When you want to add an attractive water element to your desk, the Biorb Flow Aquarium ($125) is the right place to start. It includes everything you need for a working aquarium, just supply some living things — they suggest small fish or shrimp — and water. Its small profile (only 15 inches by 10 inches) won't dominate all the space in your cubicle, making it perfectly-suited for work. Acrylic construction is ten times stronger than glass, so you don't have to worry too much about your overzealous cleaning crew. It also only uses 12 volts of power, so you won't break the bank keeping the filter running.

El Rey Effects Guitar Pedals

via uncrate.com

While there are certainly plenty of options out there for guitar players looking to add something special to their sound, there's nothing out there quite like El Rey Effects Guitar Pedals ($150). Hand-wired and custom-painted in Cincy, these pedals look as good on your board as they sound coming out of your amp. Choose from pedals like the Mexican-wrestling-inspired Lucha Fuzz, the Ouija-board-inspired The Mystic, and several more. Whatever you choose, you're bound to make bandmates jealous and audience-members move.

Ruark Audio R7

via uncrate.com

If you want your home audio to sit as the centerpiece in your living room, it needs to look beautiful. The Ruark Audio R7 ($TBA) has a stylish 60s contemporary look, wrapped in walnut veneer cabinet and sitting on black lacquer legs. The center — made from aluminum and glass — houses a DAB+/FM/internet radio, a CD/MP3 player, and has the ability to stream music wirelessly over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. A removable RotoDial remote lets you control it from nearly anywhere in your home, while a selection of inputs at rear puts it at the center of your entertainment system. Two drivers, an eight-inch subwoofer, and 160 watts of power keep your music sounding great.