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Recently, Gear Patrol procured a B&W Zeppelin for testing. We wanted to know what all the hulabaloo was about and why all the critics were raving about what amounts to a $600 iPod dock and speaker system. Why, you might ask, would I ever spend that much on an periperhal for my iPod. Well, lets sum it up in one sentence:

The B&W Zeppelin does for your iPod sonic experience what your first HDTV did to your old Magnavox tube TV - you feel like you’re hearing your iPod for the very first time.

Now read on to find and see just what that is.

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Let’s face it, in today’s modern age having a pile of remotes is no longer acceptable. Frankly, it can also cause terrible entertainment meltdowns after a couple of brews (long story). Luckily for us, while we were off mashing buttons in the dark, the designers over at Logitech were tinkering away trying to create the perfect universal remote.

Have no doubts fellas, their latest creation is by far the best crack at remote nirvana to date and hence the righteously dubbed title of Harmony One (no relation to Keanu Reeves).

Featuring a sharp looking touch screen with menus that cater to the functions you use most often, this is without a doubt the missing link to your perfect home theater. Plus if you’re of the misplacing breed, the One’s convenient charging cradle should help to curb that pesky sofa digging habit. Cheers to simplicity.

Cost: $200 @ Amazon

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Tempted as you may be to associate the Klipsch Image headphones with the tattered original headphones currently strangling to your ipod; one listen to these copper beauties and you’ll know these are a class apart.

Touted as the smallest and lightest headphones in production, we put these miniscule tubes through their paces to settle for certain if they met the standards we’ve come to expect from a company like Klipsch. Read on to see why.

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There are some things in this world we just can’t be without. An iPod is one of them. Here in New York, I find being without my iPod actually makes me irritable. Want to make sure that it’s got juice wherever your adventure takes you? Well, so do the guys at Brunton. Their Solaris i6 Foldable iPod Charger is a great way to keep those tunes playing. Aside from featuring a direct-connect power cable for the iPod, this portable solar power charger also comes with a multi-linking cable that lets you charge cameras, cell phones and other devices. When not in use, the charger folds away neatly for easy and efficient storage.

What this means to you: Just don’t tell the lady you dropped a couple bills to power your $50 Shuffle.

Cost: $119 @ Amazon

Good things can come in small packages. Right? Right.

The Velodyne MiniVee 8 is a hard-hitting subwoofer that will round out any man’s home theater. Built with an 8″ woofer made of Kevlar, mounted to a diec-ast aluminum basket and powered by 1000 watts of amplification, the MiniVee 8 emits exceptionally tight, deep and resonant bass that will turn any movie or song into a full-on experience. The Dynamic Driver Control System ensures linear sound and the MiniVee 8’s output level can be controlled through its remote control.

Cost: $900 @ Crutchfield

Colorware is the originator of custom glossy colorized electronic gadgets including the iPhone, but my preference has always been much more of a subdued finish. The new Stealth iPhone from Colorware is just that.

Passing on the multi-hued looks many Colorware customers choose, the Stealth iPhone is served up in a glorious matte black finish. No part of the iPhone is left untouched from the subtle sleekness; the back, logo, frame button, dock and even earbuds are subjected to luxurious black. The smooth-touch surface remains scratch and scuff resistant like Colorware’s other finishes. It also adds resistance to fingerprint marks unlike the current or glossy iPhones which attract fingerprints worse than a police station crime log.

There’s basically only one configuration of the Stealth iPhone, black. So if you’re not comfortable with that then look on.

Cost: $775 @ Colorware

A $200 professional grade iPod and computer recording device. That pretty much sums up the Alesis Multiport. Perfect for musicians, DJ’s and prosumers looking for a straightforward and quick solution. It records directly to iPod Classics, 5th generation iPods and 2nd or 3rd generation iPod Nanos.

The MultiPort has built-in level meters, headphone monitoring, integrated iPod controls, simultaneous playback and recording, industrial-grade balacned inputs, 1/4 inch stereo outputs and phantom power for professional microphones. [via Digital Drops]

Cost: $200 @ Sweetwater

What do you get when you mix a premium speaker company with a performance design firm like BMW DesignWorksUSA? Well, the Klipsch Palladium P-39F is a good estimation.

The floorstanding speakers are a collaboration of design and sound technology. The CEA 2008 Best Floorstanding Speaker award winning P-39F speakers are encased in a curved form finished with a horizontal zebra-grain veneer. They stand nearly 5 feet tall. Klipsch’s trademark horn speaker is recessed into the top of the speaker cabinet in a jewel like setting. Lower frequencies are emitted through a nearly flat driver design. Combined they emit a high-efficiency low distortion, controlled directively flat frequency response, wide dynamic range sound. The entire package rests on a ‘floating’ brushed aluminum base.

What this means to you: Sounds delicious.

Cost: $15,000 @ Klipsch (summer 2008)

Ready your living room, you’re about to be buried in an avalanche of glorious rich surround sound. The Intimus 6T-DB Hybrid XD Surround Sound Speaker System is one of Aperion Audio’s finest home theater systems. The system is comprised of two 6T towers, 6C center channel, two 5DB dipole/bipole surround speakers and a Bravus 12D subwoofer.

Long story short, it will rock your face off.

Let’s start with the bass - every guy likes bass. The Bravus 12D subwoofer has not one but two 12 inch drivers that you’ll literally feel as it’s 500 watt digital amplifier explodes with room shaking frequences throughout your room (and neighborhood no less). The 6T towers and 6C center channel speakers will envelope you in flawless sound reproduction with a soundstage wider than a Lincoln Town car. Forget audio sweet spots, you’ll have a sweet room. Moving further back the dual 5DB dipole/bipole surround speakers will immerse the rest of your auditory senses with glorious cinema scale surround sound.

What this means to you: Warning, the Aperion Audio Intimus 6T-DB Hybrid XD Surround Sound Speaker System will create mad scientist laughter as picture frames fall from the walls, noise complaints are made, wives file for divorce, girlfriends move out and all forms of life cower at the sound of your Richter Scale measurable home theater.

Cost: $3769 (Range: $1170 - $5859) @ Aperion Audio

Sooloos is a fine example of a product that isn’t marred by mainstream requirements. When price isn’t an objective but tailored music is then get a quote from Sooloos and start assembling a system suited for your needs, whether you live in a studio or a sprawling estate.

Nothing adds ambiance, energy or a generally great feeling to a party or evening alone than music. It can make or break a night and that’s where Sooloos excels. The ControlOne, part of the Sooloos comprehensive lineup, is a device that controls, imports and congfigures all your music needs. The interface is a gorgeous 17″ touch panel display (a smaller 7″ screened micro controller and remote are also available). Better yet is the completely lossless importing ability which audiophiles will appreciate from the outset.

There are far too many features to list here so visit Sooloos for more on what they do. Erstwhile, here are some feature highlights:

• Touch control devices provide a uniquely engaging means of interacting with your music
• Intuitive graphical interface allows for easy management of huge music libraries
• Extensive album, performer, genre and related metadata, including high resolution cover art
• Audio circuitry is based on the same designs used in professional recording studios
• Audio is losslessly encoded, ensuring bit-for-bit accuracy to the source material
• All components are fanless and use virtually no moving parts, for near-silent operation
• Expandable to allow tens of thousands of albums of CD-quality audio in up to 32 zones
• All audio storage is mirrored, ensuring zero downtime in the event of disk failure
• Using a PC, you can effortlessly transfer music from your Sooloos system to your iPod®
• Control Sooloos with the most popular home control systems, including Crestron® and AMX®

Cost: Varies by installation @ Sooloos