A Little High

This audiophile-worthy 2.1 speaker system is pricey, but it has the performance to back it up. To put it another way, your Bose SoundDock is a Honda, and the AUX Classic is a Ferrari. Made in Italy by concert sound experts Outline, the system features a unique, transforming case that lets you position the speakers in a number of ways. In our month of testing, we couldn’t believe how lively and easy to listen to the compact system was. The AUX is easily the best speaker system of this size we’ve ever heard. The system uses no sound trickery, naturally reproducing essential frequencies (from just below 30hz to just over 18khz) thanks to its built-in 400 watt amp and solid wood bass reflex design. The speakers are also completely self powered, so they’re a great partner for your AirPort Express or Sonos setup. The AUX classic is available in Competition Red ($2,250), Piano Black ($1,500; shown), Alpine White ($1,500), Leather ($3,000) and, our favorite, Stage Black ($1,300).

Available in aluminum and gold finishes, the Lexon Jet Clock ($55) makes a great addition to your modern home. Created by British industrial designer Theo Williams, the Lexon packs a nearly face-wide LCD, on which it shows the time, day, date, and temperature, complete with a snooze-ready alarm clock. If audio is what you’re after, check out its clock radio cousin.

Pi ice! Yep these stylish silicone ice trays cast frozen H2O into the symbol for your favorite irrational number. The chicks will swoon when you hand them a drink filled with Pi ice, and Archimedes will give you a big thumbs up for your tasty Pi Jello shots.

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Just add water. Nearly 20 years in development and touted as “a breakthrough in instant coffee”, Starbucks VIA Ready Brew ($20/24 single-serve packets) brings full-bodied, authentic coffee flavor in an instant form. Available in Colombian or Italian Roast, Ready Brew is 100% natural roasted coffee, made without preservatives from the top 3 percent of the world’s coffee supply. There’s also a new Starbucks VIA Ready Brew 10-oz. Tumbler ($22), which stores six Ready Brew packets, while letting you mix one up on the go in seconds.

The Robo-Bowl ($25) is the coolest ninja robot bowl, maybe ever. This handmade wheel-thrown stoneware bowl is perfect for cereal, soup, rice, circuits, shurikens and so much more. Although it looks deadly, the Robo-Bowl is actually 100% lead-free and microwave and dishwasher safe.

Why give mere flowers this Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or just because, when you can give the ultimate in cool new botanical technology, the AeroGarden3 ($100). It uses all-natural high-tech hydroponic technology to automatically grow fresh florist-quality vibrant flowers, twice as fast as soil-grown plants indoors, all year long. Simply install the seed pods, fill it with water and the unit will automatically control the water flow and lighting and let you know when to add more water or drop in another nutrient tablet. It doesn’t get any easier than this and it includes everything you will need, including accent vases.

We like this set of modular couches designed by Philippe Nigro for Ligne Roset. The customizable nature of the design allows you to rearrange your seating set up depending on your mood and needs.

It’s a combination of the shades of pleasant colors, the ability to personalize it, and the organic, lounging aesthetic of the chairs that differentiate them from, say, standard assemble-yourself furniture choices.

Go for an early 1900s look in your living space with the Edison Chandelier ($400). This intricate overhead lighting system is stripped to the bare essentials of wires, sockets, and bulbs, letting the user positing the lights how and where they want using bronze-finished cord brackets. Clear bulbs with visible filaments finish the look, which is sure to add character to any setting.