25 Best Back-to-School Gadgets

Let's face it — a cramped dorm room is no place for a six-speaker surround-sound system. That's where the ZVOX Mini comes in. This 13-in.-wide (33 cm), 10-in.-deep (25 cm) speaker connects to just about anything with RCA-type audio outputs or a headphone jack (such as a TV, a PC or an iPod), and it packs in three standard speaker drivers, a built-in subwoofer for bass and integrated PhaseCue circuitry that essentially tricks your ears into hearing a three-dimensional soundstage. The ZVOX Mini should fill your room with high-quality sound while taking up very little space, even if its simulated surround sound doesn't quite equal that of a true 5.1-speaker setup. Just be careful not to lose the compact under a pile of dirty laundry.

Price: $199