If you're looking for a bit more beefcake from your television and/or gaming audio, mStation has a couple of self-contained 2.1 stereo systems ready to flesh out the kabooms and clangs left wanting when emanating from just TV speakers. The mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb specifically features a cutesy, spherical form factor just begging to chum with the diminutive, stark white Nintendo Wii (as opposed to the mStation 2.1 Stereo Tower, which is, tall, black, and more cool than cute).

With just 30 watts of peak power, the Orb isn't exactly a house shaker, but at normal listening volumes it does a great job of bringing out that precious bottom end so integral to modern games -- to any audio, for that matter -- while boasting a footprint small enough to sit on a shelf or side table like a new-deco ornament that actually does something practical.

As a fruity little sound system for a multitude of sources, including phono-direct game and movie players, radio and old school record and tape players (with RCA to phono jack adapters), plus PC and Mac via USB and Firewire, you might consider the Orb for your office cubicle, maybe the bedroom, dorm, or desktop in the den, but only if your personality demands such a clearly cheery ornamentation.

As it happens, the mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb is also an iPod docking station (and USB hub), but with an included cover over the iPod cradle up top, the thing looks complete and discreet. Well, as discreet as an oversized Christmas bauble, anyway. Its 10 key remote, meanwhile, will control essentials like volume and power on/standby, plus the play/skip/fwd/back functions of an iPod if you have one.

Note it also comes in a variety of colors, with the white version obviously most-simpatico with a Wii, while the other colors nearly (but not quite) match the ostentatious palette of iPods. Go figure.