Sounds for the Kitchen and Garden

[Desmo]

We want to get something to play a bit of music in the kitchen and also something portable enough to bring out in to the garden as well. A fairly nice all in one unit would be great if possible.

Not worried about it having a CD player so would prefer it to be mainly MP3 based either off USB drives or memory cards. A2DP bluetooth support would be an added bonus meaning I can play songs straight from my phone. Would also prefer it to have a 3.5mm input so I can plug almost anything in to it.

As for budget, we don't want to be spending too much. So I'd say around £150 would be ideal but could stretch to more if needs be.

So, any ideas?

[Flibster]

Hmmm. Was already to recommend a Sky Gnome... but thats not what you want.

If you've got an ipod...

linky (http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/Speakers.16/Alesis.316/ALESISTRANSACTIVE/Alesis_TransActive_Mobile_PA_System___Portable_Spe aker_for_iPod.3202.html)

Another similar thing linky2 (http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/gadgets-gizmos/mp3-audio/ipod-party-speaker/index.html)

I think that would be my choice. You can plug other mp3 players into the second one.

Can't think of anything else that matches at the moment.

[LeperousDust]

How about looking at wireless speakers (loads on the market, just search around).
or maybe Airport express and a longer 3.5mm aux cable?

Unless you want actual portability then i'm of no help! :D

[Desmo]

Was looking for something a bit "nicer" to sit in the kitchen really. It's only going to be used in there or just shifted outside in to the garden.

[LeperousDust]

I seeee, well if you've got an iPod the im500 (for nano and the original) or the im600. Totally portable decent audio (for portables) inbuilt li-ion rechargable battery good for 6 hours. Does radio and aux in too! :)

Around £100ish i think too so under budget!

[Desmo]

We don't have an iPod at all. I was looking at the Gear4 Blackbox but it only does bluetooth and aux in. I think I'd want memory card above bluetooth capability. The hunt continues.

[Pheebs]

Oh oh oh I know the perfecto product!

Product: Pheebs
Cost: Some loving and food. Some alcohol at times too. And maybe a silly pair of pants to wear.
Description: "Nicer" and better quality than stereo system. Item produces constant "music" throughout day and night. Perfectly portable, very rarely breaks down.
Current Stock: 1 second hand item. Has a couple of scratches on right side due to malfunction with small furry living organism called Trio. In good working order.

Feedback from previous customers:

"Tuning often required, off button has little if no affect and levels are not adjustable. However, brilliant item, worth every drop of alcohol fed."

;D

[Justsomebloke]

Can't really help, Personally my phone is an MP3 player & I have a lead for my PC & for my stereo & for my ghetto blaster.
For my garden I just carry the Ghetto blaster out to my back yard & plug my phone in & use one of my playlists, Same with the house system. Mediamonkey handles everything on my PC & then I arrange playlists on my phone when sitting bored waiting somewhere.
I even have a sleep playlist so I can put the phone on my pillow & drift off with the approriate tunes playing, Jobs a good'en.

[Flibster]

How about this?

http://svp.co.uk/product/aigo_f529_omnisphere_mp3_player_speaker_white_4427 7

Ok, it doesn't look to have the greatest of specs - but certainly looks to be kind of close to what you were after - and it's cheap enough to buy and bin/ebay if it's crap.

Or - http://svp.co.uk/product/freecom_musicpal_wireless_digital_internet_radio_4 4106
Wifi so you can stream to it - or pick up interwebnet.org/uk radio.

[Desmo]

Looks like I might have found something not too far from what we want :)

SONY CMT HX5BT

It's got a CD player that will play MP3's, there's A2DP Bluetooth support and a USB socket on the front which I'm assuming I could pop a memory card in a USB adaptor in to. It's a touch above budget though really so just need to hunt around for a decent price :)

[Desmo]

Got the Sony unit listed above in the end and it's a great little unit. Small enough to sit in the kitchen and then move about if we want to. CD player plays MP3 off discs and the USB will take our MP3 player and I think USB hard drives too although I've not tried that yet. After updating my phones firmware, I can now use A2DP and play songs straight from the phone via blluetooth. I can also skip song from the hifi which is handy. This also works, after a little fiddling, with my laptop so I can now sort out a playlist on there and play it straight to the Hifi :) There's also a 3.5mm input so pretty much anything can be plugged in and played. Well happy with it :)

[Desmo]

I've just discovered that microwaves **** around with bluetooth signals :D

[divine]

Desmo in 'discovering microwave leaking ~2.45GHz signal interferes with device that operates at ~2.4GHz' shocker :p

[Desmo]

I'm not sad enough to know what frequency a microwave works at ;D

[divine]

I'm not sad enough to know what frequency a microwave works at ;D

I am \o/

[LeperousDust]

Same happens with Wi-Fi to... Unless you're using 802.11a