Bookshelf iPod Speakers

Bookshelf iPod speakers are larger and louder

One-piece iPod speaker systems give users a compact and uncluttered all-in-one solution. Bookshelf systems typically provide better sound quality than portable speakers, because of their larger size. They are usually more expensive. Some bookshelf systems include a separate subwoofer.

Experts say the Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus (*Est. $370) has exceptional sound quality. This two-part system includes a speaker with iPod dock -- compatible with all iPhone models and dockable iPods -- and a separate wireless subwoofer. Jeremy Horwitz at iLounge.com says the audio is "worthy of a mini home theater," although he notes that the sound isn't as impressive if the subwoofer is turned off. Overall, Horwitz claims the Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus is "one of the most powerful little iPod audio systems we've tested over the years, and definitely the most powerful unit yet to boast iPhone shielding." The system also boasts a PCMag.com Editors' Choice award, and the Hartford Courant's Kevin Hunt says the sound quality ranks up there with some of the better small home theater systems he's tested. Other pluses include video output for video-compatible iPods and a sleek, minimalist design.

While experts rave about the Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus, it does have a few downsides. Jeff Bakalar at CNET praises the sound quality as "impressive," but he thinks the i-DS3 Plus should offer more features (like an AM/FM radio) to justify its high cost. Jeremy Horwitz would also like to see more user control over audio equalization, and Tim Gideon at PCMag.com thinks the remote is a letdown, because it only offers limited functionality.

Tim Gideon thinks the remote that comes with the Chestnut Hill Sound George (*Est. $480) is superior because it allows full access to the iPod menu. The Sound George received terrific reviews when it debuted in 2007, but as technology evolves there are now cheaper speakers with comparable (or better) audio performance. In addition, Gideon says the Chestnut Hill Sound George can't match the audio clarity or power of the top-rated Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus. The Sound George is also not iPhone shielded, so you'll have to put your phone in airplane mode to prevent interference. However, the Sound George does include some extras -- like an AM/FM radio and alarm -- that reviewers would like to see on the Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus. Overall, experts say the biggest downside to the Chestnut Hill Sound George is its high price.

The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin (*Est. $600) is another high-end iPod dock for those who have lots of money to spend. Like the Chestnut Hill Sound George, it's been around for several years and has long been considered a top-of-the-line iPod speaker. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin was updated in June 2009. Little was changed to the classic design, but the Zeppelin now boasts iPhone 3GS compatibility. It earns excellent reviews, although most are dated from when the Zeppelin was first released in 2007. Experts generally say the Zeppelin is worth it -- if price is no consideration. It earned an Editor's Choice award from TrustedReviews.com in 2008, when Riyad Emeran said the Zeppelin offers "staggeringly good" sound quality. While most experts agree on sound quality, some find the price too high to swallow.

The Bose SoundDock (*Est. $300) was introduced in 2004 as one of the first high-end bookshelf iPod speakers. It has since been updated, and the series II model is iPhone certified and works with most iPods. Other than new iPhone compatibility, a rear auxiliary port and an updated remote, reviewers say not much has changed from the original SoundDock. You can still expect good sound quality -- which Jeremy Horwitz at iLounge.com describes as "good, not great" -- and simple fuss-free operation. However, most reviewers say the Bose SoundDock II hasn't kept pace with its rivals enough to earn a wholehearted recommendation.

Bose is also making a big statement with its new SoundDock 10 (*Est. $600). This big 19-pound iPod dock features a dedicated subwoofer, optional Bluetooth dock and new Bose waveguide speaker technology. The SoundDock 10 was released in September, so it hasn't accumulated many reviews yet. John Herrman at Gizmodo says the Bose SoundDock 10 is "easily the best iPod dock I've ever heard," although he notes that classical music sounds better than rock. The Bose SoundDock 10 is compatible with every iPhone model and most iPods.

iHome is known for their inexpensive iPod clock radios, but the company is making a move into high-end bookshelf speakers with the iHome iP1 (*Est. $250), which works with all iPhone models and docking iPods, and it includes a 3.5 mm input for other MP3 players. The iP1 comes highly recommended from iLounge.com, where it gets very high marks for its Apple-like sleek design. In fact, Jeremy Horwitz says the iHome iP1 is "as aesthetically close to the ideal iPod and iPhone audio system as anyone has yet come." In terms of sound quality, Horwitz says the iHome iP1 easily bests the new Bose SoundDock II. While it gets a very good review from iLounge, the iHome iP1 only scores a "fair" rating from PCMag.com. Tim Gideon says the sound isn't good enough for the price, and he notes significant distortion at high volumes. Overall, he thinks the top-rated Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus has much better sound quality.

For those on a budget, the Klipsch iGroove SXT (*Est. $150) gets high ratings in owner-written reviews. It was originally released in 2007, but the iGroove SXT was updated in September 2009 to account for the latest iPod and iPhone models. The latest version will charge and play music from any iPod or iPhone with a 30-pin connector (and the Shuffle via an auxiliary input). Owners praise the sound quality, and many say it's a terrific value. Jeremy Horwitz at iLounge.com says the iGroove has good sound quality at normal listening volumes, but he thinks the speakers sound strained at loud volumes. Some owners are disappointed that there's no battery, which limits the speakers' portability. It's certainly small and light enough to move from room to room, but the iGroove is definitely a bookshelf system.

Wireless iPod speaker systems

Wireless iPod speaker systems offer flexibility and style and reduce cable clutter, though audio quality usually leaves something to be desired. (Digital music is already compressed, and it must be compressed yet again to transmit wirelessly.) We found far fewer recent reviews for wireless iPod speaker sets than for portable or bookshelf systems, so there is little consensus about the best models.

The Griffin Evolve Wireless Sound System for iPod (*Est. $290) received many good reviews when it first debuted several years ago. Composed of two rounded cube speakers that wirelessly connect to its base, you can position them to maximize stereo imaging. The Griffin Evolve's rechargeable battery gets about 10 hours of playback. On the downside, sound quality could be better; it's criticized by reviewers at iLounge.com, Laptop Magazine and PCMag.com. In a current article on wireless speakers, Steve Guttenberg at CNET says the Griffin Evolve isn't loud enough and has poor bass power. Overall, he doesn't recommend it for a home theater system.

EOS has taken a similar route with the EOS Wireless (*Est. $180). This system includes a base station and one wireless speaker; other wireless speakers (Est. $115) can be purchased to expand the system. However, experts say the sound quality is not worth the system's high price. Bill Palmer at iProng magazines says the EOS Wireless has few audio controls, so you can't manually adjust the high treble and underwhelming bass. Other reviewers are also skeptical; it receives only a "fair" rating from PCMag.com and a "limited recommendation" from iLounge.com.