Best Reviewed
iPod Speakers
- Best portable iPod speakers Arcam rCube *Est. $475
- Ultraportable iPod speakers Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i *Est. $150
- Budget iPod speakers Altec Lansing inMotion Compact iMT320 *Est. $50
- Wireless bookshelf iPod speakers Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air *Est. $600
- iPod/iPhone clock radio iHome iA91 *Est. $100
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- Excellent sound
- Two-piece system, not attached
- About 150 watts of power
- Heavy
- No docking station
- So good that it exposes flaws of compressed music
The iPod speaker market is dominated by one-piece models, but if you want separate speakers, reviews point to the Audioengine 5, a unit that offers extremely high quality audio at a relatively steep but fair price. While compact compared with home speakers (10 by 7 by 7.75 inches), the units have a combined weight of 23 pounds, so they aren't very portable. Another complaint is that you have to connect the iPod via a headphone jack rather than a docking station. But you can recharge your iPod via a USB cable. Reviews say there is minimal distortion even at high volume (maximum output is 150 watts total), but some say the sound reproduction is so true that it reveals the auditory "limitations" of MP3 files. If you want something portable, reviews suggest the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (*est. $140).
The best Audioengine 5 reviews are at CNet.com, Macworld magazine and Audioholics.com, all of which conduct significant hands-on testing before spouting off. The review at iPodObserver.com is well-done but short. An owner review at Amazon.com, where about 20 users weigh in, notes that the Audioengine 5 sounds better after a "break-in" period, a common observation for high-end traditional speakers and headphones. Consumer Reports magazine rated iPod speakers in December 2007, but the Audioengine 5 isn't ranked.
| Audioengine A5 Powered Multimedia Speaker System (Black) | |
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Our Sources
1. CNET
This rankings list links to a full review for each speaker. The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere ranks sixth among the 12 here, with "great sound" for the price and an "innovative" wall charger. The negative is that it''s not as portable as some.
Review: Best iPod speakers, John Falcone and Jasmine France , Sept. 12, 2007
Breen gives the Audioengine 5 a grade of 4.5 out of five, saying it "is a very worthy set of powered speakers" that can get loud, but they lack the "gut-rattling thump you get from a system with a large subwoofer."
Review: Audioengine 5 , Christopher Breen, Mar. 17, 2006
Audioholics rates many high-quality speakers and says the Audioengine A5 is "in a class by itself." But Lawson notes that it "very quickly reveals the limitations of a portable device such as the iPod and that of highly compressed audio" and is better as a computer speaker system.
Review: Audioengine A5 Powered Speaker System Review , Jeff Lawson, Apr. 28, 2008
Sakellaropoulo gives the Audioengine 5 the maximum rating of five, stating "both the materials and the specifications É bests every other high-end iPod offering, from Bose's SoundDock to Klipsch's iGroove to Tivoli Audio's iSongBook to AltecLansing's inMotion iM7."
Review: Gear Review -- Audioengine 5, Misha Sakellaropoulo, Feb. 13, 2006
5. Amazon.com
Out of about 20 user reviews, all but one give the Audioengine 5 a perfect score of five. The dissenter awards it a four because there's a "hum" when music isn't playing. One review notes that like many good speakers, they're better after a "break-in period."
Review: Audioengine A5B Powered Bookshelf Speaker System, Contributors to Amazon.com
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Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Mini Docking Speaker for iPod
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iMainGo X Portable Stereo Speaker and Protective Case for iPhone, iPod, and MP3 Players (Black)
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