Product: Creative Xmod; Price: Rs7,999; Function: 24-bit crystallizer dynamically expands compressed music for volume gain with enhanced high and low tones
Creative Xmod: This pocket-sized marvel sits between your playback device and your speakers or headphones. Its manufacturer, Creative, claims it can “intelligently restore the highs and lows for rich, crystal clear music.” Using a proprietary technology called the 24-bit crystallizer, it attempts to dynamically expand the compressed music, offers you a volume-gain control, and tries to fill in the missing jigsaw pieces in the soundscape. Creative has been criticized for claiming that the Xmod takes an MP3 beyond the quality of an audio CD, though there may be sound grounds for this. Since sound is based purely on perception, and each track may be different, results vary by track and by listener. Nevertheless, your MP3 music will overall sound much better and distinctly clearer than before. As the audio on broadcast TV and radio is highly compressed, the Xmod can enhance these, too. The device works out-of-the-box and requires no software drivers. It draws its power from the USB port of your Mac or Windows computer. Alas, this also makes it less portable, as it requires an optional power adapter to connect to your iPod, home stereo, radio or television. The second exciting feature in the Xmod is its ability to take two-channel stereo sound and reproduce it as surround sound, creating the illusion of extra speakers in the room for the listener. Compatible headphones can even recreate the illusion in your ears. The effect is doubtlessly thrilling. In India, the Xmod sells for an estimated street price of Rs7,999. Internationally, the price at various online shops ranges between $55 (Rs2,326) and $80.
Koss SSR1:If true portability is what you want, then go for the Koss Surround Sound Receiver. This curvaceous device runs on two AAA batteries, connects between any portable MP3 player and headphone. It creates a surround-sound experience from any recording, and also offers basic amplification and volume control for those low-volume MP3 tracks. Available online from Koss.com for $39.99 plus shipping.
{Product: Koss SSRI; Price: $39.99 plus shipping; Function: Creates a surround-sound experience from any recording (Photo)}
Koss EQ50: Just wish to equalize and amplify your music? Go for this portable amplifier that runs on two AAA batteries, offers you a three-band equalizer, and opens and enhances the sound quality to a certain extent. Available online from Koss.com for $19.99 plus shipping.
{Product: Koss EQ50; Price: $19.99 plus shipping; Function: Three-band graphic equalizer amplifies sound (Photo)}
Boostaroo revolution: Runs on two AAA batteries, uses patent-pending circuitry to enhance and expand digital audio, and actively splits the sound so you may connect two headphones to share your listening experience. Available from Boostaroo.com for $49.99.
Boostaroo portable audio amplifier and splitter: It’s exactly what the name implies. No knobs to fiddle with, plug in up to two headphones, and adjust the volume from your MP3 player to compensate for the volume gain. Available from Boostaroo.com for $29.99.
Product: Targus SoundUp; Price: $39.99 plus shipping; Function: Enhances sound for iPods, MP3 players, mobile phones
Targus SoundUp: You may also consider this sound enhancer for iPods, MP3 players and mobile phones. The upside: It works with one AAA battery, and offers two headphone slots, so you may listen to music with a friend without sacrificing amplification or volume. It does provide some basic sound-enhancement: The SoundUp “separates and reprocesses digital music files, providing a three-dimensional sound envelope”. Well, not quite as well as the Xmod, but decent enough for most use, or those on a budget. You may directly order it for $39.99 plus shipping from the online shop at Targus.com.