Few things are as hated and necessary as taxes and subwoofers. But subwoofers, at least, are becoming easier to live with. Ten years ago, every good-sounding subwoofer took the form of a massive, ugly black box. Given the science of the time, the big box was necessary if you wanted deep bass. But thanks to a technological breakthrough or two, you can now buy an excellent miniature subwoofer that takes up less than a cubic foot of space.

Pity poor Ferrari. Everyone talks about how fast the company’s cars go, how precisely they handle, and how sexy they look. But few people ever mention one of Ferrari’s greatest accomplishments—despite the awesome capabilities of its products, they work just like any Honda, Hummer, or Hyundai. A 75-year-old grandmother can step straight from her spongy General Motors sedan into Ferrari’s new 515-horsepower 575M Maranello and make it to Sunday services in record time. If you can handle a stick shift, you can handle a Ferrari.

When is enough enough? If the subject is automobile engines, orchestral CDs or watch complications, most aficionados respond, “Never!” But ask the same question of a home theater enthusiast, and you are as likely to see rolled eyes as you are to hear a verbal reply.

Many people feel that surround sound has come far enough. And they have a point. Even an ordinary 5.1-channel surround-sound system—three speakers in the front, two in the back and a subwoofer for the bass—can produce stunningly realistic sound effects.