Lasonic X Famous i931
This ghetto-fabulous boombox featuring a "Famous Stars and Straps" pattern designed by former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker sure is eye-catching, and its ability to play music from iPods, SD/MMC cards, microphones, USB sticks and line-level sources hits us right in the feature set sweet spot. But with an interface that somehow renders the user-friendly iPod nearly un-navigable and a chintzy plastic construction, it's best suited for one activity: belting out rhymes over backing tracks stored in one of the above-mentioned formats. See, this thing has a quarter-inch input that works with a standard stage mic. A gain control knob mixes vocals above or below the music, while an echo knob adds various intensities of delay to your voice. We would not recommend this 2 x 12 Watt monster for regular music listening since it can be so frustrating to use. But if you know exactly what you would do with a microphone enabled iPod boombox, Lasonic X Famous i931 will get the job done in style — even if your name isn't Radio Raheem. — Eliot Van Buskirk
WIRED Plays MP3s from iPods or flash memory. Displays song information. Lets you address throngs with a microphone (not included). Remote control and custom-fitted docks for various iPod models are included.
TIRED Flimsy construction not tough enough for the streets. Semi-opaque plastic obscures iPod screen; no display on remote. Controls are more confusing than MF Doom's rhyme schemes. Doesn't work with iPhone or iPod Touch. Even when blasting Fight The Power, we didn't feel like tossing a garbage can through a window.
$250, famoussas.com
(Photo by Eliot Van Buskirk, Wired.com)
