Category > Speaker Systems
February 28, 2006
iPod Hi-Fi: We will, we will, rock you
An Apple-branded speaker system is kind of like the Sasquatch of the iPod accessory kingdom. Long-rumored but rarely sighted, and you always knew that it could exist. Well, today we get to see it in the flesh. Dubbed the iPod Hi-Fi, Apple is clearly going after the high-end market with a product that would seem to double not only as a portable speaker system, but could serve as the only sound system in an apartment or small home.
According to Apple, the iPod Hi-Fi produces a large soundstage, precise imaging, and a wide frequency range. According to iPoditude.com, it looks cool, too. Two 80mm drivers provide highs and mids, while a single 130mm woofer rounds out the bottom end. The enclosure is a trick sealed/vented hybrid that took some serious engineering. The iPod Hi-Fi speaker system also features AC or DC (via 6 D-cell batteries) power modes, built-in handles in its double-walled plastic shell, comes with a remote control, and there is a combo analog/optical audio input jack on the back. It sells for $349 and is available from the Apple Store immediately. Extra coolness points when coupled with a wireless AirTunes to create a whole-house streaming music system.
Category: News, Speaker Systems | Comments (21)
January 25, 2006
iFish by Sega
For those of you who balked at the cute nature of the iDog, here comes the gender-neutral, non-emotive iFish. The iFish sports "50 healing soft musics with deep ocean sound for relaxing your mood," and lights in its head and body that illuminate. What's more - and here is where your iPod comes in - plug the iPod into its audio input jack and, "i-Fish will become a loudspeaker and move in fishy ways."
The iFish begs the question; what's next?! I vote for the iTurkey Vulture. How about the iLice? The iKiller Bee would be a good one. I think I'll wait for the iRoach though, myself.
The iFish sells for $65 and is available here.
Category: Gear, Speaker Systems | Comments (9)
July 20, 2005
Tivoli Audio iSongBook iPod boom box/alarm clock/radio
I've always thought Henry Kloss's audio creations were fine products, and I've had my eye on a PAL for some time now, but the new iSongBook could totally blow that out of the water. Based on Tivoli Audio's latest SongBook, the 'i' in the iSongBook comes from the addition of a flip-down iPod docking station that recharges the iPod and at the same time provides iPod control functions through the unit's remote control.
The iSongBook is feature-packed, you might want to sit down for this: it features a white and silver design, sealed weather-resistant housing, with a blue backlight to the digital readout that displays the digital clock, whose functions include an alarm with a 20-minute sleep timer that can be set to get your lazy ass out of bed with the iPod or the radio. There is an auxiliary input and headphone jack on the back that are protected by rubber covers. One of the speakers is detachable and has a 6' cable with rewind mechanism for cable management.
And now I'm just going to quote the press release because I'm getting tired of translating, "The iSongBook operates on standard AA alkaline batteries or NiMH/NiCad rechargeable batteries with the unit’s built-in charger; or by an AC adapter or 12V power source. The iSongBook is sized to fit in a suitcase, briefcase, or backpack, measuring just 6-3/16” H x 11-1/16” W x 2-3/16” D for the clock/radio with the slave speaker."
This little iSpeakerSystem doesn't come cheap though, look for it to be on sale "late fall" and be prepared to part with $330.
I think this product image officially marks the beginning of the end of the white-product-on-white-background photo shoot. I tried to increase the contrast as much as I could, but it's still quite difficult to make out the form factor.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
July 08, 2005
PodGear PocketParty Shuffle debuts
I know what you're thinking - "PocketParty Shuffle" sounds like a naughty drinking game you'd play at a party with a bunch of hot chicks. Sorry to disappoint, but the PocketParty Shuffle is a small, portable speaker system from PodGear. It plays music through two small drivers with 1 watt of output and plays for up to 10 hours with one AA battery (wow!). The front of the unit features a hidden green on/off status LED and the volume is controlled directly through the iPod which mounts in a recessed area on top of the unit. Small, light, nice. But I wouldn't really call it a boombox, because it's too small and with its 1 watt output it won't be making much boom. Let's refer to it instead as a song carton, okay?
Related:
- PodGear ships Shuffle Station for iPod shuffle
- Make Way for the PODWAVE!
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
May 05, 2005
PodGear ships Shuffle Station for iPod shuffle - updated
PodGear, those blokes from across the pond that keep pumping out the iPod accessories, today announced the availablility of the Shuffle Station, a portable speaker system/charger for the iPod shuffle. The Shuffle Station operates on "the mains" which is a fancy way to say you can plug it into the wall, or on four AAA batteries. It charges the shuffle via USB and/or provides stereo sound to entertain you with it's crazy random play. The specs for the speakers are pretty standard for this class; 3W output and a frequency response of 100Hz-20kHz.
There are buttons on the top of the unit for power and volume up/down, but you'll have to get used to operating the shuffle's control wheel upside down for track selection. What is interesting though, is that there are "line in" and "line out" jacks on the front of the unit. These connections add a lot of flexibility to the Shuffle Station and definitely add to the value if you ask me. For example, you can connect any audio device to the Shuffle Station like a different iPod model or even your computer's audio out. The Shuffle Station sells for £34.99 and is available from a number of retailers (most of them in the UK). Visit the PodGear site for more info.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
April 26, 2005
Methodshop.com reviews the JBL Encounter 2.1 speakers
A set of JBL Encounter 2.1 speakers landed at Methodshop.com and they offer a fun-filled, pun-filled review of them. So, in addition to looking out of this world, they also sound groovy.
The two satellite speakers feature a kind of funky dual-driver, bidirectional design so they're obviously not going after 2-channel purists looking for clear soundstaging. But it seems to me that the speakers have enough adjustable parameters to suit anyone's needs, and at $150 I think they'd be worth it as long as they sounded as good as they look.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (2)
January 20, 2005
DLO Comments on the iBoom Issue
iPodlounge got to the bottom of the previously mentioned issue (see Seems Like the iBoom Might Live Up to it's Name) with the DLO iBoom portable speaker system having strange and seemingly dangerous issues with electricity. DLO president and CEO Jeff Grady told iPodlounge that, "we had an isolated production run of iBooms that may present problems with the AC power while the batteries are in place." See the full article at iPodlounge for the rest of it, but it sounds like they're trying to make good of it and stand behind the product. The real good news is that by inference, the problem has been fixed.
Category: News, Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
January 18, 2005
Seems That The iBoom Might Live Up To Its Name
MacFixIt is reporting that some new owners of the DLO iBoom are having some problems with the units (here and here). One reader reported that battery acid leaked out of his father's iBoom. At least in the movie Aliens, you had to blow a whole in the monster before they leaked the stuff.
Whenever you hear about problems reported by readers you have to be careful and weigh all of the facts. I'd be curious to hear an official response from DLO on this issue. Of all the little iPod boom boxes, I thought the iBoom had some potential.
Category: News, Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
December 23, 2004
Make Way for the PODWAVE!
Macally recently came out with their PODWAVE miniature speaker system for iPod and other mp3 players. I can't really bust on it since I haven't heard it, but I would really like to (bust on it, that is). It is powered by one AA battery that lasts about 8 hours and it has an on/off switch that apparently must be used diligently otherwise I'm guessing that the unit stays amplified (a relative term here) and will drain the batteries even when not connected to anything. On the plus side, it's very light at .9 oz and it only costs $39.95 so if you never actually use it you're not out that much dinero. Apparently you're supposed to yell it's name (I assume over the din of it's 500mW power output), as they spell it with all caps.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
December 22, 2004
MacCentral Posts SoundDock Review
MacCentral has posted their review of the Bose SoundDock. They don't sound too hot on the unit, despite giving it a four mouse rating. Limited connectability due to a lack of AUX IN and a failure to be able to connect a docking cable to the iPod are the main complaints. I guess the sound quality was enough to push the rating higher.
There is no denying that this is a sharp looking speaker system, I'd put a "Keep Music Evil" sticker on it and be all set. The remote is a plus. The lack of an AUX IN is a deal-killer for me though. I can't believe that Bose wouldn't include that, big mistake. For the price ($299) you should get every common feature and more.
Category: Speaker Systems | Comments (0)
