These self-powered precision stereo speakers pack a punch and can connect to a variety of devices such as home theatre systems, HDTVs, iPods and any smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth. Set up is a breeze, just plug in the speakers and connect them together with the included speaker cable. Audio quality is stunning and can be tweaked via a remote control.

Sony SRS-BTX500 represents the largest of Sony's X-Series line of universal Bluetooth Speakers but now featuring the added convenience of pairing by NFC (Near Field Communication) which is compatible with most modern smartphones.

Supertooth is a company known for blending together audio products with Bluetooth functionality, and the Melody on-ear headphones are one of the newest products sticking to that combination. Lightweight, user-friendly and well thought out, the Melody headphones are a decent set, but not quite to the level that they should be.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to talk to 50 Cent himself about the latest SMS Audio headphones bearing his name and likeness, but then again, there wasn’t a whole lot of news to report, either. The one piece of info that might interest you is that new colours for the Street on-ear headphones were presented at CES, and word is they’ll be hitting Canada sometime soon, possibly before the spring. There are no technical differences between these and the original models, so this is purely a cosmetic change. The new colours are navy blue, monster green, metallic orange, metallic pink, metallic red, metallic teal.

The whole business around headphones these days is just as much about style as it is about substance. What celebrity isn’t endorsing a line of headphones nowadays? You know you’ve hit close to rock bottom when Pauly D from Jersey Shore is primed to get his own branded set. On the outside looking in at this madness is SOL Republic, a new company that’s barely a year old, but a potential rising star in a confusing category. Having met with one of the company’s chief executives and trying out a couple of their headphones, I came away surprised at what I experienced.