Japan will sound a bit richer next week when Onkyo’s GX-500HD speakers become available. They use the latest generation of VL Digital technology and include two 40W cabinets. Made with the PC specifically in mind, control dials are placed conveniently on the front of one cabinet, and the speakers include both optical and analog-ins. The low end’s a little bit high at 50 Hz, but there is a subwoofer pre out if you’re looking to add some rumble. High frequency reaches 100 kHz, so hide the dog before rocking out. Given that the GX-500HD only supports 100V in its current incarnation, we’re not expecting these in stateside anytime soon, but the asking price currently equates to $515. [via Akihabara News]

Much is left to the imagination with designer Erick Sakal’s speaker concept. We’re guessing, for example, that the big speaker hole in the front is the subwoofer, while the fins of this sea creature-like creation hold the midrange and tweeters. The speaker does seem to operate wirelessly, with a special iPod transmitter, but where’s the power cord? The photo is tagged as “organic” so maybe we’re looking at some fine lumber from a small farm. Or maybe I’m reading into this too much. It’s pretty to look at, anyway. [via Industrial Design Served]

With stereo speakers embedded in its eye sockets, the iPig 2.1 from Speakal is positively thrilled to play your music. A gentle touch of the ears controls volume, but a remote control is also included. It supports all generations of iPod Classic, Nano, Touch and Mini, as well as the iPhone, and there’s also an auxiliary jack for other sound sources. The four speakers (other two on the back, likely) are 25 W each, with a 15 W subwoofer. Not bad for a little oinker. Grab the black limited edition for $130, or save $10 by choosing white, pink or yellow. [Amazon.com via BB Gadgets]

Music’s marriage to the modern computer has opened the doors of creativity to a new world of musicians.  The ability to create, record and edit sound once carried a heavy cost– and can now be done for a few hundred bucks on your home PC or Mac.  But what is missing in this digital revolution?  Touch.  Music is best created in a tactile environment, one that is lost the world of a mouse and a keyboard.

In recent years, manual control surfaces have helped manage this problem, but none as creatively as this concept by industrial designer Mike Neumann.  The Poly.Touch Tangible Synthesizer Concept is a music synth engine with a revolutionary control surface that uses physical objects to create/control sound.  The formation and position of each block on the control surface shapes the sound like the knobs and faders of a classic synth controller.  Drop a few blocks on the surface, arrange and tweak them, you’ve created a new sound for your digital music environment.  While the Poly.Touch is still only a design concept, we’d love to get our hands on a working prototype…

If the economic downturn has left you with piles of cash you don’t know what to do with- we’ve go the headphones for you. German-based Ultrasone has released a new pair of high-end headphones that have an exterior made of ruthenium metal, gold plated plugs, and interior ear cups covered in Ethiopian sheepskin. All that luxury definitely comes at a price, with the headphones running a whopping $1500 a pair. Not just pretty to look at, the headphones do have some audio qualities making them worthy of the higher price tag. The phones are built on Ultrasone’s new S-Logic Plus technology; each pair has full-bodied surround sound, a 40mm titanium-plated driver, and a frequency range of 6Hz to 42kHz. So they’re worth it, sort of. [via Wired]

Looking to trade the free, cloud-based music prediction of Pandora and Microsoft’s MixView for an expensive stand-alone system? Bang & Olufsen’s got the solution, and they make sure it looks damn sexy for all that extra coin. At $5,900, plus $500 for the floor stand, the BeoSound 5 includes a master control and a “black box” that houses all the PC and Web connections. A “More of the Same” program creates playlists from your existing music collection using math formulas. The 10.4-inch wireless LCD panel can also connect to Web radio stations, which are, you know, free. Oh, the irony. [via Wired]

Samsung is reportedly working on its first full touchscreen phone. The M7600 is expected to have Bang and Olufsen audio, with am amp built-in to improve audio quality. The phone is also expected to have an AMOLED screen, 3-megapixel camera, HSPA-based 3G, and GPS.

The rumors come from some leaked photos of the device that hit the web this weekend. No word on what pricing would be for the phone- or if we’ll even see it come Mobile World Congress. From the looks of things however, it looks like MWC this year is shaping up to have a ton of pretty decent product announcements, despite the tumbling world economy.  [via Electronista]

Ever think to yourself: “Boy, my sound system really isn’t creepy enough”? If so, you’re in for a great surprise– and a swift, decisive disappointment. These Audiomatryoshka iPod speakers that look like a small family of drones in secret cahoots to eat your face in the middle of the night, are merely a concept and won’t be helping you pimp your dock  anytime soon. Whether you’re afraid or eerily attracted to these unique speakers, you can’t help but stare. They were created as a working interpretation of  Matryoshkas (Russian nesting dolls) by Russian designer Alex Mamontoff.  Wonder how the sound quality is? [Geeky Gadgets]

This blogger has always had a fascination with pre-digital electronic soundscapes.  The age of analog synthesizers was a peak for electronic music, a time where warmth and authenticity graced the otherwise inhuman sound of sine waves.  If we could pinpoint the perfect moment during the analog age, it’d be Vangelis’ soundtrack to the film Bladerunner.  Just listening to it raises the hair on our arms…

Back to the story.  A group of synth enthusiasts called Recording Productions, Inc. has put together a collection of recordings of classic synthesizers intended for your mobile ringtone.  The Korg MS10, the Prophet 600, the Roland SH1000 and others come alive every time your phone rings… in all their analog glory.  Head on over to the RCP Tones website for audio and more… [rcp tones]