NuForce Icon (Integrated Desktop Audio Amplifier, Silver Color). Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're looking for a modestly priced tiny amp that does a great job driving real world speakers, the Nuforce Icon is the one! When I say "real world speakers" I'm talking about most any decent pair of reasonably sensitive speakers, not some funky super high efficiency audiophile contraption.
In addition to typical RCA audio inputs, the Icon also has a USB input for use with a PC or laptop computer. I haven't tried the USB input.
At 12-watts per channel one would think this tiny amp wouldn't stand a chance against much larger power amps but with the Icon, it's more about audio quality vs quantity.
This amp sounds very nice! It's clean, crisp, transparent, and smooth with deep tight bass and extended clear treble.
The Nuforce Icon is significantly more powerful sounding with much tighter bass impact and definition vs any of the low power Tripath chip based amps like the Sonic Impact line including the Sonic Impact Super T amp which I also own.
I'm using the Icon in a small kitchen audio system with wireless (WiFi) streaming audio from my Slim Devices (Logitech) Squeezebox with my playlist and audio files residing on the PC in the basement.
I took my Sonic Impact Super T amp out of the system and replaced it with the Nuforce Icon. It sounds so much better now!
Because of it's Class D design the Icon is very efficient and runs cool so I just leave it powered ON 24/7.

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The NuForce Icon is an audiophile-grade Integrated Desktop Audio Amplifier featuring two 12-watt outputs, a 3.5-mm stereo input for connection to an iPod or other portable device, a USB cable for operation with a PC or Mac, and standard RCA inputs for employing the Icon as the heart of a conventional audio system. For the headphone enthusiast, the Icon also offers a high-performance headphone output. Of particular interest to the computer user, the Icon's line-out functions as a PC or Mac USB-to-analog audio converter or can also be used as a connection to a subwoofer. With the same patented technology that has won a string of prestigious awards, the tiny Icon brings NuForce's celebrated sound quality to the music lover's desktop. Applications: 1) As the core of a desktop audio system, the Icon connects to an Ipod, CD player, PC or Mac. 2) Via the best, jitter-free USB technology, the Icon operates as a USB DAC for converting a PC or Mac's audio signal to high-quality analog sound. 3) For optimal headphone performance, the Icon includes a discrete, high-performance headphone amplifier. 4) For operation as an audiophile-grade preamplifier, the Icon's linestage can be connected to a power amp or active speakers. 5) As a high-quality auxiliary power amp in a surround-sound setup, the Icon can be used to drive tweeters or rear-channel speakers.

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Lenovo ThinkPad X201i 3249MDU 12.1-Inch Laptop Review

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(More customer reviews)I feel compelled to write a review about the best laptop I've ever owned. I opted to get the low-end X201i (as opposed to more expensive X201 models). For around $850 my machine came with Windows 7 Pro and a camera.
I'm a trial lawyer and depend upon laptops for spreadsheets, videos and document data bases. For the past ten years I've relied upon various Lenovo products, but lately been unable to find one small enough, cheap enough and fast enough. Until now.
The X201i is far superior than the netbooks I've been using, and helpfully smaller than Lenovo's other laptops I've been using.
The X201i, although perhaps not having the same sturdy feel as more expensive Lenovo laptops, is quite durable. It isn't all that stylish, and is a throwback to Lenovo laptops I used 8 years ago, but it does it all.
Mine came with the 9 cell battery, which is way more than enough for long cross-country flights. In fact, it replaces my netbook which I would carry around for hours for light reading and notes. It replaces my more robust and larger Lenovos used for database work.
Another reason why I vastly prefer this small notebook over the netbooks is the pointer stick which to me is the most efficient way of mousing around a laptop

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X201i - Intel - Core i3 - 370M - 2.4 GHz - DDR3 SDRAM - RAM: 2 GB - Serial ATA - 160 GB - 7200 RPM - Intel HD Graphics - 12.1 Inch - TFT Active Matrix -Gigabit Ethernet; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.11g; IEEE 802.11n - Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

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Logitech Z-5450 Digital 5.1 Speaker System ( 970181-0403 ) Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers work well, they produce good sound, and the controls and optical inputs work great too. However, if you or your neighbors have a WiFi (IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g) 2.4GHz wireless ethernet network, the wireless rear surround speakers in this speaker system will step all over the 802.11 WiFi network. I used a spectrum analyzer to see what was going on, and this speaker system appears to use frequency-hopping spread spectrum indiscriminately.
Wireless speakers are a great idea, particularly for situations when running the wires would be impractical or ugly, but this particular implementation is incompatible with 802.11b/g WiFi networks. If this is not a concern to you (you *and* your neighbors are not using other 2.4GHz wireless products), then this speaker system may work well for you.

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Eliminate the hassle of hiding speaker wires! Immerse yourself in clutter-free, high-fidelity digital surround sound with Logitech´s THX-certified, 315-watt Z-5450 Digital 5.1 speaker system with digital hardware decoder and dual wireless rear speakers. The Digital SoundTouch Control Center supports Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks and includes digital and analog inputs for connecting DVD players, PCs, video game consoles, MP3 players, and more. Fine-tune your listening experience with a convenient wireless remote. Wall-mountable satellites help make installation easy in any room. The patented dual-chamber subwoofer enhances your games, music, and movies with thundering distortion-free bass.

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