Turntables remain the source device of choice for many audiophiles who prize analog sound, but friction in the bearings makes it difficult to keep the platter spinning at a constant rate, which is critical for high-quality playback. One solution to this problem is suspending the platter on a cushion of air, an approach championed by Bergmann Audio of Denmark in its new Sindre airbearing turntable, which debuts at CES next month.

Glass isn't the first thing I would think of as an ideal material for speaker cabinets, but French manufacturer Waterfall Audio disagrees. Its new flagship Niagara is a thing of crystalline beauty that boasts impressive specs.

In my never-ending quest for the ultimate in performance, design, and/or price, I came across the GA Star from a British company heretofore unknown to me—Gold Acoustics. This unique speaker is unlike any other I've seen, and while it certainly looks shiny, I can't help wondering if it delivers the sonic goods.

Living with a pair of La Sphère speakers from French maker Cabasse might be a bit creepy—they look like giant eyeballs staring at you—but if you can get past that, you're in for a sonic treat. As Michael Fremer concluded in his Stereophile review, "...La Sphère sets new standards, both measurable and audible, for accuracy in the reproduction of music."

B&W makes some of the best-sounding speakers in the world, so when the company set its sights on the iPod market, something special was sure to surface. First introduced in 2007, the Zeppelin melds exquisite design and sound quality into a stunning, single-piece iPod dock/audio system that seems to define the state of the art in this burgeoning field.