The downturn in the housing market is producing some interesting cross-marketing promotions. Well-heeled jet-setters moving into NYC's SoHo Renwick luxury condos when it opens in 2009 will be greeted by Bang & Olufsen gear, including a BeoVision 8 32-inch LCD TV, BeoSound 4 audio player and a BeoLab 4000 speaker. For sure, luxury space comes at a premium price in SoHo, so we can understand the desire of residents to own a compact system. And with the Renwick's all-glass exterior, the super-bright output of an LCD display also makes sense. Top it all off with B&O's famous design, and you've got a system that's a good fit for the target demographic. Sure, it's not the most bang-for-your-buck setup, but we don't really expect that Renwick residents will be counting pennies anyways -- prices for the units start at $975,000 for a one-bedroom unit. For that price, couldn't they toss in a larger 1080p set?

Read - Refreshed Intimus line
Read - Bravus subwoofers

Pioneer's not just focusing on the video side of things, oh no, it's also throwing a bone to the audio lovers in attendance. Designed to complement the EX series of drivers, the S-4EX bookshelf and S-8EX center channel were each constructed with the same heralded technology as used in last year's S-3EX tall boy speakers. When coupled with said boys, you've got yourself a complete multi-channel system consisting of EX drivers from top to bottom. Specs wise, each speaker can handle 160-watts of unadulterated power, and furthermore, you'll find a 3cm Ceramic Graphite tweeter dome, 16cm bass driver (2x in the center channel), ultra rigid cabinet construction and beech high gloss veneer or dark teak matte finishes. As usual, mum's the word on pricing / availability.

If you and your sizable bankroll have been waiting ever so patiently for McIntosh's new gear to arrive at your local dealer, we envy you. Not just because you've got the scratch, but more importantly because your wait is over. McIntosh announced that its fully-balanced, 300-Watt MC2301 mono vacuum tube amp ($11,000) is at your dealer now. Expect a call from your sales rep, lucky dog! While you're at the store, maybe pick up a XCS1K center channel speaker ($17,500). The compliment of two 10-inch woofers, 32 2-inch mids and 20 0.75-inch tweets should be a great way to break in that new amp, right? Finally, McIntosh hasn't forgotten the two-channel enthusiasts out there (whom we suspect make up a sizable chunk of their clientele) -- also "on the shelves" are its 250-Watt MA7000 ($8,000) and 200-Watt MA6600 ($6,000) stereo integrated amplifiers, and the MCD301 SACD player. Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA it's not, but we'd wager a McIntosh setup built around these pieces sounds mighty fine!

If Sony's diminutive new HT-IS100 HTIB is still too large for your hole in the wall, the HT-CT100 is probably your last hope at "surround sound." The sound bar itself is designed to be mounted beneath one's flat-panel and packs a trio of drivers which receive 50-watts each. As for the subbie, it gets a respectable 100-watts of its own. The system handles Dolby Digital / Dolby Pro Logic II / DTS signals and comes with three HDMI / optical digital audio jacks, a coaxial digital audio port, analog audio connectors and a remote to boot. Not a clue if this one's coming to America (though we have all ideas it will in time), but those in Tokyo can snag one in mid-July for ¥50,000 ($491).

[Via Impress]

Update: Seems this one's new for Japan only.

It's a common issue: you're looking to get a bona fide surround sound system, but you've no room for any monstrous towers or bulky bookshelf surrounds. Enter Sony's latest HTIB, the HT-IS100. Featuring a 200-watt subwoofer complemented by five "golf ball-sized" satellites that get 45-watts apiece, the system supports Dolby Digital / Dolby Pro Logic II / DTS and comes with a handy remote. As for the port selection, you'll find a trio of HDMI and optical digital audio jacks, coaxial digital audio, composite (x2) and stereo outs as well. Unfortunately, there's no telling when the set will be coming Stateside (though launches in North America and Europe are promised), but those in Japan can look for it on June 25th for ¥90,000 ($883).

[Via AP]

Not content with just giving you those IC-T drivers, Klipsch has busted out a new duo in its in-ceiling lineup, both of which proudly boast THX Ultra2 certification. Aimed at high-end users looking for high-end surrounds, the KL-7502-THX and KS-7502-THX models both feature dual 5.25-inch Cerametallic woofers that operate in an enclosed tuned-port chamber and at least a single 1-inch titanium tweeter. Better hope your bank account is pretty padded before ordering yourself a set, however, as these buggers are priced at a cool $1,000 apiece.

We fully expected that Ferrari logo and lacquered paint job to add a stuff premium to Meridian's F80, but this is undeniably insane. The "transportable home entertainment system," which has been hovering about since last March, is at long last ready to be purchased. Finding prospective buyers, however, will likely be challenging. The unit is now available in silver, yellow, white, black and the obligatory red, and each one will set you back a dumbfounding $2,995. We're thinking the unit itself would go for around three bills sans branding, but apparently Italian ponies aren't cheap.

No sooner do we ask about just how many readers actually give a hoot about multi-channel audio, in comes this. Considering the plethora of folks in the exact same situation, we knew right away it'd made a beautiful Ask Engadget HD question. Without further adieu:

"I recently splurged on a hot new plasma, but now I am looking for a surround sound system to complete the joy. My issue is that I currently live in a rental property, and don't have the luxury of poking holes in walls to set up my system. I know there are a few options out there for people in my position (sound bars, wireless rear speakers, PowerLine?) but I have no idea which gives the best surround sound result. I was looking to spend no more than $2,000."

We'll be honest -- almost anything is possible at $2,000, unless that includes the price of a few (very) nice drivers. We've seen solutions from Rocketfish and a slew of other companies that essentially enable users to add two rear surrounds sans wires when running cabling towards the back proves problematic, but often these are underpowered and flaky at best in actual use. Let us know what you've found to be superior in comments below.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Personally, we can only imagine what a $300,000 speaker setup sounds like. But you -- we know you're eager to pick up the Epilogue Speaker System (previous edition shown) and rub it in the faces of everyone else, right? Regardless of whether you answered that truthfully or not, Goldmund (those same cats who actually had the nerve to create a $17,000 Blu-ray player) has introduced the latest version of the aforesaid system, which will now be built specifically for integration into the Goldmund Media Room. Pretty though they may be, we have a sneaking suspicion you won't be getting much bang for your buck with these -- but then again, what do our virgin ears know, anyway?

MartinLogan, the name synonymous with electrostatic speakers, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by launching the flagship CLX speaker. Here's what to do if your golden ears find the sound of the company's panels let down by the integrated conventional cones in other models: come on back down to Earth (we think ML's marriage of cones and panels is great) and audition the CLX. This beast packs one 57-inch membrane for the high frequencies and another one for the lows. put it all together and you get 100-pounds of speaker that use low-mass films to cover a 56 - 23,000-Hz range. No, it doesn't spec out at the magical 20-Hz, but if that figure is all that's important to you, then you won't appreciate what these are about; besides, a little bird tells us these pair up quite nicely with the company's Descent subs. The CLX will show up in June at $20,000/pair (in a variety of finishes), but act soon and you can get on the list for the 25th Anniversary Limited Edition for $25,000. More eye candy in the gallery; sorry, no ear candy.

Atlantic Technology, which was busy showing off an array of in-wall speakers at CES, is now replacing its IWTS-20 LCR with an all new flagship: the IWTS-30 LCR THX Ultra2 Certified in-wall loudspeaker. Designed for use as the left, right and center channel, this unit is declared by its CEO as the "best sounding in-wall [it] has ever made, and it makes no apologies for being an in-wall." Mr. Peter Tribeman continues on to say that he knows of "no other architectural solutions that deliver this kind of performance and flexibility at anywhere near this price point." Regardless of hype, the unit itself uses the company's exclusive Low Resonance Tweeter (LRT) along with a single 8-inch GLH (Graphite Loaded Homopolymer) woofer and two 3.5-inch GLH midrange drivers. Of course, you wouldn't expect such an exalted speaker to come without a princely price tag, so we suppose we're not too shocked by the $1,250 (each) sticker.

If the HT-SP908 and HT-SP904 systems that Onkyo brought you last fall were just slightly too rich for your blood, the firm is banging out a new trio of HTIBs that just might slide right into your budget. Starting things off is the top-end HT-S5100, which includes a 7.1-channel HT-R560 receiver with three HDMI inputs (and one output), Audyssey 2EQ room correction technology and 130-watts per channel to go along with the seven loudspeakers and single 290-watt powered subwoofer. With this one, you'll also find a dedicated iPod dock and charging station. As for the HT-S4100 and HT-S3100, both sets include five speakers and a subbie, but the latter system's earth-shaker gets powered by the receiver while the former has 200-watts of built-in oomph (and an iPod dock, too). The whole lot comes with a bundled remote and can be had in black or silver motifs, and as for pricing, you'll be looking at $579, $479, and $379, respectively.

No stranger to electrostatic speakers, MartinLogan is giving audiophiles an awful good reason to rid their wallet of $8,495 (per pair) with the all new Spire floorstanders. Each powered hybrid electrostatic loudspeaker includes a 10-inch aluminum cone woofer and 200-watt high-resolution amplifier which produces bass down to 29Hz. You'll also find a 35Hz equalization knob for low-end calibration, the firm's own rigid AirFrame and the curvilinear XStat electrostatic transducer. As expected, such fine pieces are available in a plethora of shades -- Black Ash, Dark Cherry, Natural Cherry, Maple, Birds Eye Maple, Wenge, and Rotary Cut Bubinga -- and those not satisfied with dropping "only" $8.5k can free themselves of even more Benjamins by dreaming up a cabinet hue of their own. One more look after the jump.

[Via eCoustics]

Yamaha's no stranger to the quickly-expanding sound bar arena, and its latest looks to be quite the winner. The YSP-600 offers up 62-watts of total power split between two woofers and 16 "beam drivers," Dolby Digital / Pro Logic II support, a pair of HDMI inputs (along with one output) and a "Night Listener Enhancement" mode to keep you involved in the action without getting any nastygrams from your neighbors. Heck, it's even set to receive commands from any remote belonging to a Toshiba REGZA or Panasonic VIERA HDTV. The pain? A stiff £499 ($988) when it arrives next month.