An awesome $349 Klipsch Bluetooth speaker for $79.99: I found this deal on the Klipsch Gig XXL speaker when I was looking for a wireless speaker for a friend. My mouth dropped open and I started spreading the word, and in the 24 hours since then multiple friends and family members have purchased a Gig XXL for themselves. I'm hoping many of my faithful readers will be able to land one as well!

The Klipsch Gig XXL Party Speaker is a large, great sounding speaker with dual 6.5 inch-woofers, two tweeters, a plug-in karaoke microphone and a light show with multiple modes that can also be turned off. Despite the "Party" monicker the speaker is a jack of many trades, and I have used the Gig XXL in many different environments and applications. When I show a movie with my projector and a 120-inch or 150-inch screen, I run a 15-foot RCA-to-miniplug cable from the analog audio outputs of my Blu-ray player to the Gig XXL, which is placed directly under the middle of the screen. The Gig XXL fills a large room effortlessly with dynamic sound, bringing the movie to life. When my niece graduated college I bought a second one and paired it to my first Gig XXL for stereo sound, serving up music on the dance floor at her graduation party after the DJ had left. I have also used it on quiet nights on the porch at both my own and my girlfriend's home, enjoying background music. The Gig XXL can play for eight hours at full volume and charges with an ordinary, detachable AC cable.

I was delighted to find that no codes are required to get the deal and it is available for $79.99 from many online retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, walmart.com and Electronic Express. Macy's has it for $99.99 and accessories4less.com has refurbished Gig XXL speakers for $79. Getting the factory-fresh new one for $79.99 is obviously the best option, but I would be satisfied with any one of those offers, including paying $79 for a refurbished speaker or $99.99 for a brand new one. It's one of the best deals I've ever seen in almost 25 continuous years writing this column. Check it out and if you need a speaker, you won't do better for under $100 right now!

Q. I have a pair of Bose 901 speakers that I bought new in 1980. I have moved these speakers (plus the equalizer box) everywhere I have lived over the past 46 years. I am careful to set them up the proper distance from the wall so the sound from the rear speakers reflects properly. Is there any maintenance or cleaning that could or should be done that would maintain or improve the sound from the speakers?

-M.H., Milwaukee

A. It depends on the model of Bose 901 you have. If you purchased them new in 1980 you most likely have the Bose 901 IV, which uses foam surrounds for the multiple drivers that make up the speaker. If it has been 46 years, it is almost a certainty the foam has rotted by now. Later production versions of the 901 IV (around 1983) went back to cloth surrounds, which will not rot and are future-proof.

Turn off the room lights and use a very bright flashlight to look through the speaker grill to see the drivers. If they are rotting you should see evidence, and take steps to replace the rotted surrounds. An electronics repair shop can do it for you, or you can buy a $59 cloth surround kit from reconingspeakers.com.

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