Let's face it, the speakers included with most computer systems are enough to make a grown audiophile cry, (or maybe laugh hysterically). Your computer probably can't compete with your stereo system solely on the grounds of sound quality. Yet most of your MP3s are on your computer's hard drive. The solution:  MP3 Anywhere.

MP3 Anywhere is a new product from X10 which lets you pipe MP3 music from your computer to your stereo system. Your MP3 files play on the computer, but the sound emerges from your stereo. And you can control the music from the included MP3 Anywhere remote control unit. MP3 Anywhere operates in conjunction with several popular software MP3 players.

Here's how it works. You plug in the wireless sender unit to the audio line out or RCA jacks in the back of your computer. This sleek, black device looks like overgrown radar detector. It has a flat antenna, which flips up and turns. You plug the included AC/DC adapter into the sender unit. Its companion receiver unit plugs into the RCA jacks on the back of your stereo. A second included AC/DC adapter powers the receiver unit. Send music, receive music—get it?

At this point, even without using the remote control unit and software provided with MP3 Anywhere, you can send music from your computer to your stereo. Any audio signal sent to your computer's line out or speaker jacks will be wirelessly transmitted by the sender unit to the receiving unit (up to about 100 feet away) connected to your stereo. You can send MP3 music from computer to stereo, while you are at the computer using an MP3 software program — but wait, there's more.

MP3 Anywhere comes with a small mouse receiver unit which plugs into the serial or PS/2 port on your computer. This device receives the wireless signal from a remote control unit, and then sends the signal into your computer to control the MP3 Anywhere software program, called Boom. Your computer receives this signal just as it receives the signal from your computer's mouse. You then install the software driver which allows your computer to recognize the mouse receiver. The remote control device now works like a mouse, yet looks like a TV/VCR remote. You can move the cursor around the screen with the mouse remote, (your regular computer mouse will still work, too).

But the coolest thing about MP3 Anywhere is that the mouse remote can control several different MP3 software programs, from anywhere in the house. Imagine sitting in your living room or kitchen, remotely controlling Winamp or RealJukebox on your computer, but with the music blaring out of your stereo. And the software is not difficult to set up or use.

The MP3 Anywhere kit includes the transmitter and receiver units, two AC/DC power converters, a mouse remote (which looks like a VCR remote), and the mouse remote receiver, lots of different cables for hooking one thing to another, and the X-10 Mouse Remote Software. But the Boom software program, which allows the mouse remote to operate various MP3 software programs is downloaded from the web. The installation instructions are also downloadable from the Web, in .PDF format.

MP3 Anywhere is a new product from X10, but it is based on, and similar to, several other X10 products used to send audio/video wirelessly from one device to another, or to control various electronic devices in the home remotely. For example, the units used to send and receive audio in the MP3 Anywhere kit, can also send/receive video. And the mouse remote used to control the MP3 software programs also has additional functions not required for use in sending/receiving MP3 music.

New-born products, and newly-reborn products such as MP3 Anywhere, are usually a little wet behind the ears. So it is no surprise that MP3 Anywhere has a few minor bugs. For example, the Boom software program lists 7 different MP3 software programs which can be controlled via MP3 Anywhere. You must choose which MP3 program you are using from a list in order to make the software to be functional. But pressing the Select button on the mouse remote causes the Boom software to switch to the next program in the list, thus deactivating the program you are using. So, avoid pressing the Select button . . . unless you are using RealJukebox (the free version). When operating RealJukebox, the Boom software program uses the Select button to switch to the next entry in the RealJukebox main window. This allows you to choose which lists you want to play. A handy feature.

The MP3 Anywhere software works with seven different MP3 programs, including Real Jukebox (the free version). However, the current version of Boom does not work with Real Jukebox Plus (the pay version). An x10 representative assured me that this problem would be fixed in the next update of the software. The seven MP3 players which work with MP3 Anywhere are: Real Jukebox (free version), Winamp, MusicMatch, Liquid Player, RioPort Audio Manager, CD Player and Muzicman. Since most of these programs are available as a free download from the Internet, there's no reason not to have more than one on your computer system. (Even Winamp is now available as a free download!)

The concept behind MP3 Anywhere is really quite exciting. Connecting computer to stereo, so that the two devices begin to merge, is an idea which parallels one of the fundamental concepts behind MP3 itself—the merging of computer technology with music technology. MP3 Anywhere is sure to intrigue MP3 fans everywhere.