iPod Speakers: Reviews

Updated December 2011

An iPod speaker dock can turn your personal music player into a stereo, but there's a huge variety of speakers on store shelves, from little clock/radio gizmos to full-on sound systems capable of major volume. Our editors compare reviews from audio experts, as well as reviews from regular people to find the best-sounding options in a variety of price and size ranges.

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Best portable iPod speakers

Arcam rCube

*Est. $475 Compare Prices

The 11-pound Arcam rCube is pretty hefty for a portable iPod speaker, but users like its hideaway carry handle and compact, 8-inch shape. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to six hours of playback time at… expandmaximum volume, but what stands out most about the Arcam rCube is its sound. One reviewer describes it as "unmatched," and another calls the rCube one of the best speaker docks he's listened to recently. Reviewers say the rCube's high-end sound and simple, effective user interface are worth its high price, but most are unhappy about having to buy additional dongles (at $100 each) to activate its lossless Kleer streaming protocol. If wireless capability isn't important to you, the Bose SoundDock Portable (*Est. $350) costs a little bit less, and the Harman Kardon Go + Play (*Est. $180) is a little bulky for a portable speaker, but both provide excellent sound. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

TrustedReviews.com: The Arcam rCube is the only speaker system that receives a perfect 10 rating from TrustedReviews.com.

Sound & Vision Magazine: Reviewer Michael Berk declares that he was initially suspicious of the rCube, and he doesn't like the idea of paying extra for dongles to enable wireless streaming.

What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision: The editors of What Hi-Fi? award the rCube "Best iPod dock" status in its high-end price range.

PC Advisor: The only negative comment this reviewer makes is that you have to be careful where you aim the rCube's remote to get it to work.

MaximumTech.com: This reviewer likes the rCube's design and portability, but feels its performance doesn't justify the high cost, especially when the wireless streaming accessories cost extra.

TechRadar.com: Ian Osborne of TechRadar.com feels that the rCube delivers "stellar sound" and acknowledges that it's expensive, but not overpriced.

Electronic House Magazine: Electronic House reviewer Grant Clauser calls the Arcam rCube's sound "very good," and likes that you can use the rWand dongle on not just iPhones but iPads, too.

iPod Republic: Reviewer Daniel Tangen rates the rCube at 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "among the best sounding iPod speaker docks" he's listened to recently.

Pocket-lint.com: This is one of the older rCube reviews; reviewer Jamie Carter is impressed by the Arcam rCube's Kleer lossless streaming protocol.

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Ultraportable iPod speakers

Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i

*Est. $150 Compare Prices

Reviewers say the 1.5-pound Logitech S715i strikes the best balance between value, portability and audio quality. This iPod speaker is easy to tote around, and it includes a rechargeable battery that provides up to eight… expandhours of playback. The Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i has more bass drivers than previous Logitech speakers, providing very good bass response for a portable speaker, although you'll lose some volume when running it on battery power. Overall, reviewers say that the S715i has the best sound quality of any iPod speaker under $200. The Logitech S715i is compatible with iPods and iPhones, but you may need to remove your device's protective case to get it to dock properly. Reviewers also complain that the S715i's carrying case is thin and doesn't provide much protection. If you want a speaker small enough to fit in your backpack or purse, the iMain GoX (*Est. $70) doubles as a carrying case and surprisingly good speaker set, although it doesn't have an iPod-specific dock; its only input option is a 3.5 mm jack. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

iLounge.com: The Logitech S715i earns a strong recommendation from Jeremy Horwitz at iLounge.com.

CNET: CNET gives its coveted Editors' Choice award to the Logitech S715i.

PCMag.com: PCMag.com gives the Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i a good rating.

I4U.com: Although he would like more bass response, Shane McGlaun at I4U.com gives the Logitech S715i a high overall rating of 8.5 out of 10.

iPod Republic: Daniel Tangen of IPodRepublic.com says the Logitech S715i provides great value for your money, with sound quality that can match more expensive speakers.

KTLA (Los Angeles): KTLA's technology expert writes a brief review of the Logitech S715i, calling it "one of the best portable speakers out there on the market," Deputy Connor praises the easy-to-use dock and excellent audio quality.

AllTechRelated.com: Editors of the AllTechRelated blog give the Logitech S715i a perfect 5-star rating.

Amazon.com: The S715i earns more than 650 user reviews on Amazon.com, averaging out to a 4.4-star rating.

Apple Store: More than 15 reviewers give the Logitech S715i a 4.5-star rating.

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for $87.99

Budget iPod speakers

Altec Lansing inMotion Compact iMT320

*Est. $50 Compare Prices

If you want to spend less than $100, reviews point to the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact iMT320 as your best option. These 9.5-inch-wide speakers provide up to 24 hours of playback on four AA batteries, and the iMT320 is… expandsmall enough to throw into a suitcase for a weekend getaway. Overall, experts are impressed with the inMotion Compact's sound quality, especially given its small size. The audio is loud and powerful, and the speakers resist distortion even at very high volumes. Reviewers also like the integrated travel case, which folds over to double as a stand. On the downside, the inMotion Compact always resets to a mid-level volume when you turn it on, no matter what its previous volume setting. Its controls are also very basic, so you'll need to use the iPod's menu to pause or skip songs. You also miss out on some of the features common to higher-priced speaker docks, such as a remote control and wireless streaming. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: Jasmine France at CNET gives the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact a "very good" rating.

Macworld: The inMotion Compact earns a 4-mouse rating (out of 5) from Macworld.

AppleTell.com: The Altec Lansing inMotion Compact also receives a 4-star rating from AppleTell.com.

CultOfMac.com: CultOfMac.com gives the inMotion Compact iMT320 a 4.5-star rating.

What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision: What Hi-Fi? Sound and Vision magazine rates the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact at 3 stars out of 5.

Amazon.com: The Altec Lansing inMotion Compact enjoys a 4-star average rating from more than 250 Amazon.com reviewers.

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Amazon

for $49.99

Wireless bookshelf iPod speakers

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air

*Est. $600 Compare Prices

Reviewers sometimes complain about the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air's high price tag, but they almost always agree that it's worth the cost. Its lossless streaming AirPlay protocol also frustrates some users, who say… expandit's difficult to set up. The reward, however, is a high-quality, wireless listening experience that one reviewer calls a "joy to use." The Zeppelin Air provides excellent sound at all volume levels, without the distortion that often afflicts other speakers at maximum volume. Reviewers don't seem to mind the Zeppelin Air's unusual shape; some like it, especially the curved iPod cradle. Some reviewers also say that the Zeppelin Air's audio quality is an improvement over the previous model, although we couldn't find any direct head-to-head comparisons for confirmation. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNET: The CNET reviewers declare the Zeppelin Air's AirPlay streaming to be superior to Bluetooth, and say that setup is "fairly straightforward," although it could be confusing for some.

Macworld: MacWorld reviewer Dan Frakes laments the Zeppelin Air's lack of component or S-video video out options, but likes the remote's intuitive layout and the "subtle indentation" that makes it easier to tell when you're holding the remote correctly.

PCMag.com: The Zeppelin Air receives an Editor's Choice award from PCMag.com, but reviewer Tim Gideon warns that "serious audiophiles should steer clear" because of the signal processing used to avoid distortion at high volumes.

PC World (Australia): Campbell Simpson misses a display screen to help him navigate the initial AirPlay setup process, but feels that AirPlay capability is still one of the biggest reasons to purchase the Zeppelin Air.

Engadget.com: In this less-formal review, Engadget's Trent Wolbe notes that the Zeppelin Air's server "crashed a couple of times during setup," but that in the end it "wasn't a huge hassle." He doesn't like the brief (about two-second) lag between pressing play and hearing his music start streaming, and ends by calling the Zeppelin Air "hard to beat" for an auxiliary system, but too high-priced -- considering the sound quality -- to be a primary system.

Pocket-lint.com: Pocket-Lint's Libby Plummer calls the Zeppelin Air "reassuringly hefty" but not difficult to move around, and warns that what looks like a carrying handle is actually the iPod cradle.

iPod Republic: Daniel Tangen of iPodRepublic.com gives the Zeppelin Air a perfect 5 rating, praising it for an improved inner design that provides better sound dispersion (the exterior retains the distinctive blimp shape).

Amazon.com: More than 30 user reviews give the Zeppelin Air an average 4-star rating (out of 5).

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Amazon

for $599.95

iPod/iPhone clock radio

iHome iA91

*Est. $100 Compare Prices

IPod and iPhone clock radios don't attract as many rave reviews as larger speakers or portable systems. The iHome iA91 stands out from the pack, however, thanks to its compatibility with iHome's in-house apps -- iHome +… expandSleep and iHome + Radio. Reviewers are quite happy with the iA91's sound (size and type considered), but their focus always strays to the versatile apps. Examples of app options include fine-tuning the speaker and alarm settings, tracking your sleep stats, and streaming Internet radio. If you want a more compact iPod clock radio, the iHome iA5 (*Est. $75) is also app-capable, and gets excellent reviews. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

iLounge.com: Jeremy Horwitz, editor-in-chief of iLounge, pinpoints the iA91's improvements over last year's model, the iP90.

Beatweek Magazine: In this brief review, the author praises the iA91 for its reduced footprint and newly introduced app compatibility.

RunaroundTech.com: In this detailed, hands-on review, the author praises the iA91 for its many features, especially the app compatibility.

Mobile Whack: This extremely enthusiastic but detail-sparse review praises the iA91 for its ability to "rock your bedroom." The author likes the radio's sound quality and notices that if you set it to its maximum volume, it makes your nightstand rattle.

IPhoneSpeakerReviews.com: This enthusiastic review doesn't really tell us much more than we could learn from the iHome fact sheet for this clock radio, but the author does add some detail about the iA91's features and functionality and gives it a good, although barely explained, rating of 9 out of 10.

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for $79.99