Non-marsupial nations, do not despair. David Bruguera-McLaren, chef de cuisine at The Melbourne Soup Kitchen in Australia, says we can substitute oxtails--and as far as I'm concerned, he's right. Oxtails are wonderful in this rich, deeply flavored and deeply satisfying cold-weather soup. Serve hot as a meal to 8-10 people, with crusty bread, salad, and red wine, while the cold wind beats against the door.
6 pounds of kangaroo tail (or oxtails), browned
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 celery stalks with leaves, diced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
2½ cups dry red wine
½ cup port
½ bunch fresh thyme (or 2 Tablespoons dried, wrapped in silver foil and pierced with a fork))
2 parsley storks (roots)--or 1 medium parsnip
1½ cups tomato paste
5½ quarts beef stock
4 cups tomato puree
2 Tablespoons salt
2 Tablespoons pepper
Garnish: potato dumplings (Rice 3 potatoes, then stir in 1 egg, ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup flour--beat with a fork til fluffly. Roll into 1-inch balls. Drop in gently boiling salted water and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain and hold until ready to serve.)
Brown the meat in a 450-degree oven, turning over once.
Meanwhile, in a large stockpot, saute the onion, carrrot, celery, and garlic in the oil. Deglaze the pot with the port, add red wine and bring to a boil. Add the tomato paste and the parsley roots (or parsnip) tied together with the thyme. Reduce to a simmer and cook down to half.
Add the browned kangaroo tail (or oxtails) and coat thoroughly. Add the stock, tomato puree, salt, and pepper--bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 90 minutes. Strain completely, reserving the meat to add to the soup later, and refrigerate until you can scoop all the fat off the top easily and discard.
When getting ready to serve, prepare and cook the dumplings. Then discard the congealed fat on top of the soup, bring the soup to a boil, and add the meat to it (discarding the bones).
Ladle into bowls and spoon the dumplings into each. Serve out back with crusty bread, a big salad, and lots of red wine.
by David Bruguera-McLaren
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Short Take: Motorola DC800
The Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter may be the perfect accessory to bring the Bluetooth wireless world to your stereo system. The DC800 allows the streaming of music using the Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) bi-directionally. A compliant Bluetooth enabled music player can stream music through the stereo system and the stereo system can stream music to a set of compliant Bluetooth enabled headphones. But in the real world, how does it perform? Let's do a Short Take and see how well it works!
RCA JACKS
The Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter is designed to extend a stereo system's functionality by providing inbound and outbound wireless audio capability using the Bluetooth standard. The unit can be placed vertically (Figure 1) or horizontally. The front panel contains a small power switch and a large "M" button used to initiate pairing with Bluetooth A2DP compliant devices.
THE WEAKNESS
Unfortunately the inbound audio functionality has a major weakness. The pairing sequence requires a pass key. Therefore, it appears that in order to pair any audio device with the DC800, the device has to include a keyboard or other mechanism to enter this pass key. Without this ability, it seems impossible to pair an inbound device. Motorola seems to have designed this for Bluetooth enabled PCs, cell phones and PDAs which are A2DP compliant. The GlobalSat iWAG (BTA-809), attached to the iPod, we reviewed here did not pair successfully with the DC800
OVERALL IMPRESSION
At first glance the Motorola DC800 seems like the perfect device to Bluetooth enable your stereo system. However with today's skyrocketing sales of Apple iPod's, it is inconceivable that Motorola would have designed such a perfect device without taking into account the ability to pair with iPod accessories.
I contacted Motorola support and they explained the pairing process. Unfortunately they were unable to help any further since they had no experience with the iPod together with a GlobalSat BTA-809. The DC800 has two pairing modes: the first, when the Motorola DC800 powers up, allows compatible devices to initiate pairing with it. This discoverable mode requires the entry of a pass key on the device requesting the pairing. This is fine for cell phones, PDAs and PCs, but the iPod does not have a means of entering the pass key. The second mode allows the DC800 to initiate the pairing sequence via discovery. This mode does not require a pass key. I placed the Motorola DC800 in discovery mode and the GlobalSat BTA-809 in pairing mode (there is only one mode). They failed to pair.
The Motorola HT820 and GlobalSat BTA-809 pairing was successful. This leads me to believe that there is an issue with pairing inbound devices with the DC800. The inability to use this function diminishes the value of the DC800 greatly. Despite the excellent quality of the outbound audio with the HT820 headphones, I can only recommend a slightly above average rating for this product. Should Motorola resolve the inbound device pairing issue it would receive a 5 out 5.
Review by: Stephen Skarlatos,
RCA JACKS
The Motorola DC800 Bluetooth Home Stereo Adapter is designed to extend a stereo system's functionality by providing inbound and outbound wireless audio capability using the Bluetooth standard. The unit can be placed vertically (Figure 1) or horizontally. The front panel contains a small power switch and a large "M" button used to initiate pairing with Bluetooth A2DP compliant devices.
THE WEAKNESS
Unfortunately the inbound audio functionality has a major weakness. The pairing sequence requires a pass key. Therefore, it appears that in order to pair any audio device with the DC800, the device has to include a keyboard or other mechanism to enter this pass key. Without this ability, it seems impossible to pair an inbound device. Motorola seems to have designed this for Bluetooth enabled PCs, cell phones and PDAs which are A2DP compliant. The GlobalSat iWAG (BTA-809), attached to the iPod, we reviewed here did not pair successfully with the DC800
OVERALL IMPRESSION
At first glance the Motorola DC800 seems like the perfect device to Bluetooth enable your stereo system. However with today's skyrocketing sales of Apple iPod's, it is inconceivable that Motorola would have designed such a perfect device without taking into account the ability to pair with iPod accessories.
I contacted Motorola support and they explained the pairing process. Unfortunately they were unable to help any further since they had no experience with the iPod together with a GlobalSat BTA-809. The DC800 has two pairing modes: the first, when the Motorola DC800 powers up, allows compatible devices to initiate pairing with it. This discoverable mode requires the entry of a pass key on the device requesting the pairing. This is fine for cell phones, PDAs and PCs, but the iPod does not have a means of entering the pass key. The second mode allows the DC800 to initiate the pairing sequence via discovery. This mode does not require a pass key. I placed the Motorola DC800 in discovery mode and the GlobalSat BTA-809 in pairing mode (there is only one mode). They failed to pair.
The Motorola HT820 and GlobalSat BTA-809 pairing was successful. This leads me to believe that there is an issue with pairing inbound devices with the DC800. The inability to use this function diminishes the value of the DC800 greatly. Despite the excellent quality of the outbound audio with the HT820 headphones, I can only recommend a slightly above average rating for this product. Should Motorola resolve the inbound device pairing issue it would receive a 5 out 5.
Review by: Stephen Skarlatos,
Thursday, May 11, 2006
10 Home Theatre Gifts for Mom
This will serve as a personal reminder to me and the rest of the readers that Mother’s Day is merely two weeks away. It’s probably time to start thinking about gifts. Robert Silva with About Home Theatre has compiled a list of 10 good home theatre gifts that will make that momma jump with joy on May 14. Topping the list is a 32-inch LCD TV, but also included are DVD player/VCR combos, DVR’s and speakers. This list also caters to the weak pocketbook with a 13-inch Sony TV and basic Pioneer DVD player. Show your mom just how much you love her by giving her an excuse to spend time in the home theatre and not with the family.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/10-home-theatre-gifts-for-mom-170734.php
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/10-home-theatre-gifts-for-mom-170734.php
Monday, May 8, 2006
the women behind the book New Asian Cuisine
New Asian Cuisine is the latest release to join the ever-growing list of cookbooks. However, what sets this book apart is that it is a compliation of recipes from over 100 celebrity chefs and "introduces the Asian version of the new USDA food pyramid." It's not only a cookbook, but also a handy reference guide to have in the kitchen.
Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa are the two forces behind this great book.
How did you come up with the concept for the book?
We are strong advocates for Asian cuisine, professionally and personally, and wanted to create a book to spark more interest in Asian food and beverages on all levels. Wendy and I have worked with chefs and the food and beverage industry through experience with our clients from our independent businesses.
When the new USDA Food Pyramid was introduced we discussed how it would be interesting to do an Asian version of this and that thought quickly snowballed into bringing on well known Asian Chefs as well as non-Asian chefs who have a love of Asian Food to participate in this effort by providing recipes of what we call "New Asian Cuisine". These recipes allow home cooks to prepare wonderful Asian food in the comforts of their own home when not dining out.
What was the most difficult/easiest part in putting it together?
We had the passion but we had never created a cookbook before. This was really a grassroots effort with the help of so many chefs and enthusiastic individuals that also shared our vision. The challenge was editing over 300 recipes and making sure that all content and measurements were consistent in style. Since most chefs cook in larger portions and we were trying to stay within the Asian Food Pyramid guidelines for most of our recipes, we had to modify the recipe and contacting chefs is no easy task! We had to contact and verify recipes with over 100 chefs both nationally and internationally! We also had to test these recipes at home to make sure the recipes worked.
Another huge undertaking was raising funds to produce the book. There were many challenges and barriers along the way and we continue to face these every day. The best part was the team effort that went into our book and how fast and efficiently we were able to work together. We were able to conceptualize,produce, raise funds, design, get the book printed and in major bookstores all within the year.
What do you hope readers get out of your book?
New Asian Cuisine is a book you can bring along when food shopping and traveling. It's not just meant for the kitchen. We want our readers to be inspired by our chefs and use their curiousity in trying new Asian ingredients.
New Asian Cuisine is also not a dieter's cookbook. The recipes adhere to the principles of the Eastern eating philosophy of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and moderation. We want to let our readers know that they also can create these wonderful Asian dishes in their own home and purchase Asian ingredients in their neighborhood. For this purpose, we have provided over 1400 Asian supermarkets, malls and online stores across the US on our website at www.newasiancuisine.com.
To differentiate ourselves from other cookbooks, we included a culinary passport to fabulous dining around the world to capture the readers' fine dining experiences at our chefs' restaurants. Also included is a restaurant directory of all of our participating chefs from around the globe.
Finally, we hope that our readers will be excited by the culinary contribution of the chefs that define a new way of thinking about Asian Cuisine.
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
The most interesting thing we learned during the creation of this book were from the personal stories from the chefs about the recipes they submitted. Many chose to send in their favorite home-style dishes that were from their childhood that reach deep into their cultural background. They also refashioned many traditional Asian dishes using Western culinary techniques and ingredients and always adding a heavy dose of creativity to turn out refined, innovative, contemporary plates.
Are either of you experts in the kitchen when it comes to Asian cooking?
We are both Asian food enthusiasts and absolutely passionate about this industry!
by Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa
Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa are the two forces behind this great book.
How did you come up with the concept for the book?
We are strong advocates for Asian cuisine, professionally and personally, and wanted to create a book to spark more interest in Asian food and beverages on all levels. Wendy and I have worked with chefs and the food and beverage industry through experience with our clients from our independent businesses.
When the new USDA Food Pyramid was introduced we discussed how it would be interesting to do an Asian version of this and that thought quickly snowballed into bringing on well known Asian Chefs as well as non-Asian chefs who have a love of Asian Food to participate in this effort by providing recipes of what we call "New Asian Cuisine". These recipes allow home cooks to prepare wonderful Asian food in the comforts of their own home when not dining out.
What was the most difficult/easiest part in putting it together?
We had the passion but we had never created a cookbook before. This was really a grassroots effort with the help of so many chefs and enthusiastic individuals that also shared our vision. The challenge was editing over 300 recipes and making sure that all content and measurements were consistent in style. Since most chefs cook in larger portions and we were trying to stay within the Asian Food Pyramid guidelines for most of our recipes, we had to modify the recipe and contacting chefs is no easy task! We had to contact and verify recipes with over 100 chefs both nationally and internationally! We also had to test these recipes at home to make sure the recipes worked.
Another huge undertaking was raising funds to produce the book. There were many challenges and barriers along the way and we continue to face these every day. The best part was the team effort that went into our book and how fast and efficiently we were able to work together. We were able to conceptualize,produce, raise funds, design, get the book printed and in major bookstores all within the year.
What do you hope readers get out of your book?
New Asian Cuisine is a book you can bring along when food shopping and traveling. It's not just meant for the kitchen. We want our readers to be inspired by our chefs and use their curiousity in trying new Asian ingredients.
New Asian Cuisine is also not a dieter's cookbook. The recipes adhere to the principles of the Eastern eating philosophy of maintaining a balanced lifestyle and moderation. We want to let our readers know that they also can create these wonderful Asian dishes in their own home and purchase Asian ingredients in their neighborhood. For this purpose, we have provided over 1400 Asian supermarkets, malls and online stores across the US on our website at www.newasiancuisine.com.
To differentiate ourselves from other cookbooks, we included a culinary passport to fabulous dining around the world to capture the readers' fine dining experiences at our chefs' restaurants. Also included is a restaurant directory of all of our participating chefs from around the globe.
Finally, we hope that our readers will be excited by the culinary contribution of the chefs that define a new way of thinking about Asian Cuisine.
What was the most interesting thing you learned?
The most interesting thing we learned during the creation of this book were from the personal stories from the chefs about the recipes they submitted. Many chose to send in their favorite home-style dishes that were from their childhood that reach deep into their cultural background. They also refashioned many traditional Asian dishes using Western culinary techniques and ingredients and always adding a heavy dose of creativity to turn out refined, innovative, contemporary plates.
Are either of you experts in the kitchen when it comes to Asian cooking?
We are both Asian food enthusiasts and absolutely passionate about this industry!
by Wendy Chan and Grace Niwa
Sunday, May 7, 2006
Home Theater Speaker: Zoran Digital Audio Processor Now Shipping in Altec Lansing Speaker System; TV Set-Top Home Theater Speaker System Brings Dolby
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 17, 1998--Zoran Corporation (Nasdaq:ZRAN), a world leading provider of integrated circuits (ICs) and software for digital audio and video compression, today announced that Altec Lansing's new TV set-top Home Theater Surround System is now shipping with Zoran digital audio IC.
Enabled by Zoran's ZR38600 IC, Altec Lansing's new ADA105 is the first Dolby Digital Surround, TV set-top Home Theater speaker system, using Altec Lansing's patented side firing speaker technology. Through this technology, and the ZR38600, Zoran's third generation digital audio processor, the ADA105 streams true Dolby Digital and Pro-Logic(R) sound from DVD players, satellite receivers and VCRs to the listener.
The ADA 105 provides the movie theater sound experience from a single piece, setop speaker unit and a 40 watt subwoofer, at a mass market price. The additional speakers and connective wiring found in most home theaters systems are not necessary.
"The ADA-105 delivers unprecedented capabilities to consumers in a compact, affordable and easily installed package," said Tommy Freadman, Vice President of Engineering at Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. "We chose the Zoran ZR38600 IC for its top quality Dolby Digital decoding and its flexibility, enabling us to implement our patented side-firing technology and unique algorithms in a very cost effective manner. This has allowed us to deliver breakthrough performance to consumers at a truly compelling price."
"Zoran is pleased to have helped Altec Lansing bring consumers high quality Dolby Digital surround sound and state of the art features," said Paul Goldberg, Vice President of Audio Products at Zoran Corporation. "This is an excellent example of how the ZR38600 not only offers the performance and flexibility which allows our customers to differentiate their products, but also enables systems to reach mass markets at compelling price points."
About the ZR38600
The Zoran ZR38600 is a true third generation Digital Audio Processor. Developed by Zoran in conjunction with Dolby Laboratories, it is the ideal solution for a wide array of digital audio processing tasks. In addition to Dolby Digital, Pro Logic, and audio data stream identification, these include, Virtual Surround processing, sophisticated Sample Rate System[tm] music modes, THX(R) processing, and bass management.
Enabled by Zoran's ZR38600 IC, Altec Lansing's new ADA105 is the first Dolby Digital Surround, TV set-top Home Theater speaker system, using Altec Lansing's patented side firing speaker technology. Through this technology, and the ZR38600, Zoran's third generation digital audio processor, the ADA105 streams true Dolby Digital and Pro-Logic(R) sound from DVD players, satellite receivers and VCRs to the listener.
The ADA 105 provides the movie theater sound experience from a single piece, setop speaker unit and a 40 watt subwoofer, at a mass market price. The additional speakers and connective wiring found in most home theaters systems are not necessary.
"The ADA-105 delivers unprecedented capabilities to consumers in a compact, affordable and easily installed package," said Tommy Freadman, Vice President of Engineering at Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. "We chose the Zoran ZR38600 IC for its top quality Dolby Digital decoding and its flexibility, enabling us to implement our patented side-firing technology and unique algorithms in a very cost effective manner. This has allowed us to deliver breakthrough performance to consumers at a truly compelling price."
"Zoran is pleased to have helped Altec Lansing bring consumers high quality Dolby Digital surround sound and state of the art features," said Paul Goldberg, Vice President of Audio Products at Zoran Corporation. "This is an excellent example of how the ZR38600 not only offers the performance and flexibility which allows our customers to differentiate their products, but also enables systems to reach mass markets at compelling price points."
About the ZR38600
The Zoran ZR38600 is a true third generation Digital Audio Processor. Developed by Zoran in conjunction with Dolby Laboratories, it is the ideal solution for a wide array of digital audio processing tasks. In addition to Dolby Digital, Pro Logic, and audio data stream identification, these include, Virtual Surround processing, sophisticated Sample Rate System[tm] music modes, THX(R) processing, and bass management.
Home Theater Speaker: Cambridge, Klipsch Vie for Top 5.1 Honors
The home theater/PC collision is inevitable. For some, it has already happened, with serious home-brewed home theater PCs adorning entertainment centers. For others, it could be the addition of a 5.1 set of speakers to their PCs. As with two-channel offerings, PC-focused 5.1 speakers have been steadily improving, and less expensive home theater speaker setups can also do a lot to make PCs sound better. But whatever your motivation, you may have found yourself looking longingly at 5.1 wares from both Klipsch and Cambridge, and pondered, "They both look good, but which set will rock my world, and not just my wallet?" Well friends, we're here to answer that and other vexing questions.
We put Cambridge and Klipsch in a faceoff for 5.1 supremacy. Loyd and Dave gave both sets of speakers some serious ear time, and while both sets sang beautifully at times, there were some sour notes heard as well.
Even priced at $400 and $350 respectively, Klipsch and Cambridge both had to make some design compromises to fit speakers with this many drivers and the requisite power into these price-points. That said, both arrive with plenty of amplification as well as a solid overall fit and finish. And either one of these sets of speakers should come bundled with a "creative responses to eviction notices" pamphlet, since the subwoofers on both units can torture downstairs neighbors. So who will prevail in this war of watts? Is one set clearly superior to the other? Read on, and all will be revealed.
Our test system was equipped with a Sound Blaster Audigy. With the Cambridge speakers, we used Audigy's S/PDIF output and connected to the speakers' digital input. For the Klipsches, we used Audigy's six-channel analog output mode since the Klipsch speakers lack a digital input. We ran under Windows XP Pro, and used the full version of PowerDVD 4.0 XP, which can internally decode either Dolby Digital or DTS.
We tested the speakers connected to typical tower PCs, with the listener sitting in the near field. While it may have been more useful to have a quieter environment (particularly for music), the fact is that these speakers will mostly live around a PC system, with its associated fan and other noises.
by Loyd Case
We put Cambridge and Klipsch in a faceoff for 5.1 supremacy. Loyd and Dave gave both sets of speakers some serious ear time, and while both sets sang beautifully at times, there were some sour notes heard as well.
Even priced at $400 and $350 respectively, Klipsch and Cambridge both had to make some design compromises to fit speakers with this many drivers and the requisite power into these price-points. That said, both arrive with plenty of amplification as well as a solid overall fit and finish. And either one of these sets of speakers should come bundled with a "creative responses to eviction notices" pamphlet, since the subwoofers on both units can torture downstairs neighbors. So who will prevail in this war of watts? Is one set clearly superior to the other? Read on, and all will be revealed.
Our test system was equipped with a Sound Blaster Audigy. With the Cambridge speakers, we used Audigy's S/PDIF output and connected to the speakers' digital input. For the Klipsches, we used Audigy's six-channel analog output mode since the Klipsch speakers lack a digital input. We ran under Windows XP Pro, and used the full version of PowerDVD 4.0 XP, which can internally decode either Dolby Digital or DTS.
We tested the speakers connected to typical tower PCs, with the listener sitting in the near field. While it may have been more useful to have a quieter environment (particularly for music), the fact is that these speakers will mostly live around a PC system, with its associated fan and other noises.
by Loyd Case
Home Theater Speaker: Orb Audio is your source for the small speakers ranked #1 for big, full sound and great web direct value.
Orb Audio is your source for the small speakers ranked #1 for big, full sound and great web direct value.
Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are an award-winning combination of superb sound and small, attractive design. Our innovative direct business model allows us to manufacture our speakers with the highest quality audio components and expensive, handmade materials while keeping prices very reasonable. Toss aside any notions you may have previously formed equating price and quality -- they don't apply here. Orb speakers are every bit as good or better than competing systems that sell for more than double our prices. There is no doubt that it takes audiophile quality parts and design to achieve big sound from a compact package. What it doesn't take, though, is markups. So we spend your money on parts and labor, instead of multiple layers of sales channels. That means not only are our prices lower than competing systems, but our quality is higher as well. That's right, we spend more on your speakers and charge less than most of the other brands out there. It's as simple as that. By investing substantially more on the things that matter, our speaker systems deliver an unsurpassed full, rich sound and brilliant imaging that you normally expect from much larger speakers. If you want to shrink the size of your speakers without sacrificing sound quality, these are the speakers that will end your audio search. Great sound. Compact size. Good looks. An elusive combination of features finally captured in one great, expandable system.
Our home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are designed with our exclusive Mod1 and Mod2 satellites and our high-performance audiophile Super Eight custom subwoofer. The Mod1 features a single steel spherical enclosure, while the Mod2 consists of two such enclosures. Both the Mod1 and Mod2 are constructed with top of the line components, such as high-power neodymium magnets, gold-plated binding posts and oxygen-free internal wire, and are assembled in the United States by skilled craftspeople. Our high performance Super Eight subwoofer is designed with a high quality amplifier and a custom, long-throw driver to produce the deep, tight bass normally reserved for much larger subwoofers.
For those that are looking for a complete home theater solution, you can add your choice of highly regarded Pioneer home theater receivers and DVD players to any of our speaker systems. Everyone is curious when they see our speakers. Most are astonished when they hear them. Don't be fooled into paying $2,500 or more for those famous home theater systems when an Orb Audio system will sound and look better. Also beware of those $500 Home Theater In A Box (HTIB) systems that will be sure to disappoint you. Instead, invest in Orb Audio, the Small Speakers For Smart People.
We guarantee you will like them with our 30 Day Satisfaction Return Guarantee.* More importantly, we are a small company and you can enjoy the benefits of doing business directly with an employee-owned speaker manufacturer -- personalized quality service, honesty and a very well-made product. We are very happy to help you figure out which Orb system is best for you and can also help you construct a custom combination of Mod1 and Mod2 speakers to meet almost any need. Call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) or send us an email at support@orbaudio.com if you would like additional information or would like to discuss your specific requirements. We answer most emails within one hour. You can also see why we think our Direct Service Advantage means we have the best customer service and support in the industry by clicking here.
Read the recent press reviews and customer reviews of our systems and see why we were recently rated #1 over systems from B & W, Mission and Infinity by Wired Magazine and awarded the Editor's Choice Award by designtechnica.com, a leading technology website.
Many small speaker systems sound small, or are not up to the task of playing music as well as they play home theater soundtracks. Through our innovative business model and use of top-tier components, these are issues that you will not be concerned with. You can say goodbye to giant, ugly speaker cabinets for good, because you will not miss them. Orb Audio speaker systems sound as loud and full as much bigger speakers, and feature the superior imaging and soundstaging of our custom speaker drivers. So, set your expectations aside and let us blow your mind, not your budget. We like to think that we build our speakers the same way you would if you were a speaker designer. We do not compromise on design or quality, and you will hear and see the difference. Whether you are looking for entry-level home theater or are a high-end enthusiast, there is an Orb Audio speaker system that is right for you.
From the technical innovations of our speakers, to the high level of craftsmanship and labor devoted to our HOSS floor stands, and our Direct Service Advantage, the Orb Audio difference is clear. Each Orb Audio speaker system redefines the price/performance expectations in our industry, providing top quality audio performance with leading edge design. We think that you will find that Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems outperform many domestic and European designer systems that cost several thousand dollars or more. By selling our speaker systems directly to our clients, we are setting a new value standard as well as a new performance standard, so do not be fooled by our price. We design and sell only premium, high-performance speaker systems. The only thing not high-end about Orb is the price. On top of that, our speaker systems are also truly upgradeable, which is a feature that is unique to Orb Audio. This means that you cannot go wrong with Orb, since you can start small now (from $219) and grow into a system as your audio requirements or budget evolve in the future. We encourage you to follow the informational links throughout our website to learn how Orb Audio are delivering more performance and value than anyone else home theater speakers in the market. You may also call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) for more information, or reach us via email at support@orbaudio.com.
If you are interested in receiving news and offers from Orb Audio, please join our email list on the left. We will not overflow your inbox with nonsense -- expect no more than one or two emails per year, on average.
Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are an award-winning combination of superb sound and small, attractive design. Our innovative direct business model allows us to manufacture our speakers with the highest quality audio components and expensive, handmade materials while keeping prices very reasonable. Toss aside any notions you may have previously formed equating price and quality -- they don't apply here. Orb speakers are every bit as good or better than competing systems that sell for more than double our prices. There is no doubt that it takes audiophile quality parts and design to achieve big sound from a compact package. What it doesn't take, though, is markups. So we spend your money on parts and labor, instead of multiple layers of sales channels. That means not only are our prices lower than competing systems, but our quality is higher as well. That's right, we spend more on your speakers and charge less than most of the other brands out there. It's as simple as that. By investing substantially more on the things that matter, our speaker systems deliver an unsurpassed full, rich sound and brilliant imaging that you normally expect from much larger speakers. If you want to shrink the size of your speakers without sacrificing sound quality, these are the speakers that will end your audio search. Great sound. Compact size. Good looks. An elusive combination of features finally captured in one great, expandable system.
Our home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems are designed with our exclusive Mod1 and Mod2 satellites and our high-performance audiophile Super Eight custom subwoofer. The Mod1 features a single steel spherical enclosure, while the Mod2 consists of two such enclosures. Both the Mod1 and Mod2 are constructed with top of the line components, such as high-power neodymium magnets, gold-plated binding posts and oxygen-free internal wire, and are assembled in the United States by skilled craftspeople. Our high performance Super Eight subwoofer is designed with a high quality amplifier and a custom, long-throw driver to produce the deep, tight bass normally reserved for much larger subwoofers.
For those that are looking for a complete home theater solution, you can add your choice of highly regarded Pioneer home theater receivers and DVD players to any of our speaker systems. Everyone is curious when they see our speakers. Most are astonished when they hear them. Don't be fooled into paying $2,500 or more for those famous home theater systems when an Orb Audio system will sound and look better. Also beware of those $500 Home Theater In A Box (HTIB) systems that will be sure to disappoint you. Instead, invest in Orb Audio, the Small Speakers For Smart People.
We guarantee you will like them with our 30 Day Satisfaction Return Guarantee.* More importantly, we are a small company and you can enjoy the benefits of doing business directly with an employee-owned speaker manufacturer -- personalized quality service, honesty and a very well-made product. We are very happy to help you figure out which Orb system is best for you and can also help you construct a custom combination of Mod1 and Mod2 speakers to meet almost any need. Call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) or send us an email at support@orbaudio.com if you would like additional information or would like to discuss your specific requirements. We answer most emails within one hour. You can also see why we think our Direct Service Advantage means we have the best customer service and support in the industry by clicking here.
Read the recent press reviews and customer reviews of our systems and see why we were recently rated #1 over systems from B & W, Mission and Infinity by Wired Magazine and awarded the Editor's Choice Award by designtechnica.com, a leading technology website.
Many small speaker systems sound small, or are not up to the task of playing music as well as they play home theater soundtracks. Through our innovative business model and use of top-tier components, these are issues that you will not be concerned with. You can say goodbye to giant, ugly speaker cabinets for good, because you will not miss them. Orb Audio speaker systems sound as loud and full as much bigger speakers, and feature the superior imaging and soundstaging of our custom speaker drivers. So, set your expectations aside and let us blow your mind, not your budget. We like to think that we build our speakers the same way you would if you were a speaker designer. We do not compromise on design or quality, and you will hear and see the difference. Whether you are looking for entry-level home theater or are a high-end enthusiast, there is an Orb Audio speaker system that is right for you.
From the technical innovations of our speakers, to the high level of craftsmanship and labor devoted to our HOSS floor stands, and our Direct Service Advantage, the Orb Audio difference is clear. Each Orb Audio speaker system redefines the price/performance expectations in our industry, providing top quality audio performance with leading edge design. We think that you will find that Orb Audio home theater speakers and stereo speaker systems outperform many domestic and European designer systems that cost several thousand dollars or more. By selling our speaker systems directly to our clients, we are setting a new value standard as well as a new performance standard, so do not be fooled by our price. We design and sell only premium, high-performance speaker systems. The only thing not high-end about Orb is the price. On top of that, our speaker systems are also truly upgradeable, which is a feature that is unique to Orb Audio. This means that you cannot go wrong with Orb, since you can start small now (from $219) and grow into a system as your audio requirements or budget evolve in the future. We encourage you to follow the informational links throughout our website to learn how Orb Audio are delivering more performance and value than anyone else home theater speakers in the market. You may also call us at 877-ORB-AUDIO (877-672-2834) for more information, or reach us via email at support@orbaudio.com.
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