When you're crunching spreadsheets, Arcade Fire on $20 computer speakers does a handy job of providing a little background noise. On the other hand, when you're kicking back with a little Mahler and a glass of Pernod, you want to catch every last aural nuance. So it's only natural that you'd drop $150,000 on a pair of French company Cabasse's La Sphere coaxial speakers. The eyeball-style shape isn't just for looks: Cabasse claims that the spherical design allows the woofer to provide the best linear response at a fraction of the volume required for traditionally shaped cabinets. The stand, which looks like it came out of a science-fiction movie, is an integral part of the design, working with the speakers themselves to maintain "stability and spatial coherence." So you can close your eyes and get lost in the music--if you can shake the feeling you're being watched. -- By Emru Townsend