Every so often a gadget comes around that manages to transcend the cheap plastic frame in which it's encased. The first Buddha Machine was one such device. Created by a little -known Chinese company called FM3, the ambient-musical-loop-playing gadget proved a bit of a surprise hit, garnering a writeup in the New York Times and a compilation record of remixes, and eventually went on to sell an impressive 50,000 units.

Last week, Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian, the duo behind FM3, announced the release of the second-gen Buddha Machine. Save for the three new color selections (burgundy, gray, and brown), the second incarnation of the box looks nearly identical to its predecessor--something along the lines of a cheap transistor radio you might pick up in Chinatown.

The gadget is roughly the size of a pack of cigarettes with a large speaker monopolizing the front. There are two dials on the top of the box, with a 3.5-mm headphone jack between them. A single button and a power light sit on one side. The rear of the device opens up accept two AA batteries.

The Buddha Box 2 features nine new ambient sound loops. The new selection is noticeably more diverse than those of its predecessor--a welcome change. One of my biggest issues with the first incarnation of the box was its relatively limited aural palate. The selections on number 2 should fit a wider range of ambient-suitable scenarios. For further variation, the box also includes a wheel that bends the loops' pitch, to help you tailor the sound perfectly to its surroundings.

On a whole, the changes to the device aren't really major. But let's face it, the first version of the box wasn't really broken anyway. If you purchased the first incarnation, all you get with the second-generation is a couple of new sounds and the option of pitch bending, but if you're a fan, it might be worth the $25 price tag.

For those unfamiliar with the device, you can check out some sound samples at FM3's site. It's hard to really express the appeal and therapeutic nature of the box beyond that, but if you find the concept intriguing, you don't have much to lose by picking one up. [We just posted a video of the Buddha Machine 2 here.]