Altec Lansing inMotion iM3c Portable Speakers
$114.95 FROM GEEKS.COM
The first, and maybe best, portable audio system for the iPod is back. Though smaller than a textbook, the full-range speakers deliver deep bass without the need for a subwoofer and at volumes loud enough to rock any dorm room. A wireless remote makes it easy to change tracks. Includes an AC adapter, but four AA batteries can provide up to 24 hours of music.
Squeezebox
$299 AT SLIMDEVICES.COM
This elegant wireless device brings music to the ears of gadget lovers who want to enjoy their mp3 collection on a home stereo. Squeezebox connects to any stereo using standard RCA jacks. It plays mp3s pulled from your computer through a standard Ethernet port or wireless connection. The easy-to-read display lists tunes by genre, artist, song and album. Squeezebox supports most popular formats, such as AAC, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WAV or WMA. Need more tunes? It’s compatible with the pay-for-play Rhapsody music service.
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USB SD/MMC MP3 Player and Card Reader
$15 FROM USBGEEK.COM
Sick of glitz and simply want the cheapest digital music player possible? Fill an SD or MMC memory card with mp3s, and this ultracheap gadget will play digital tunes for up to 10 hours on a single AAA battery. Transferring files is easy because the device works with almost any computer that has a USB port. A 2-gigabyte SD memory card, which can store at least 400 songs, costs about $40.