Before 1950, vacuum tubes added warmth and created rich tones for music lovers listening to the radio. Today, in a world of transistors and compressed file formats, returning to that golden age of yesteryear seems nigh impossible.

Roth Audio attempts to recapture the experience with the Music Cocoon MC4. This four-tube amplifier system connects to your iPod, CD player, or any audio device that supports a 3.5mm jack or stereo RCA inputs and "brings back the excitement of listening for the first time." Of course, you'll still have to provide speakers yourself.

Of course there's no mention of what happens when the tube burns out and needs to be replaced, but I'll bet the company will have an answer in April when the unit ships for $799. — Stephen Schleicher

Via Roth Audio