Bookshelf speakers

Bookshelf iPod speakers

One-piece speaker systems give users a compact and uncluttered all-in-one solution. The best provide good and sometimes great sound quality and attractive styling.

Overall, the Klipsch iGroove HG (*est. $190) gets the most recommendations from reviewers in this category. The big reason is sound quality, augmented by what CNet.com's Steve Guttenberg calls "a pair of honest-to-God two-way speakers (woofer and tweeter)." In addition, the horn tweeters are positioned within the cabinet to "focus the treble sound up toward the listening position." The result is natural sound with "surprisingly satisfying bass without exaggerated boominess or thickening."

Controls on the iGroove HG itself are sparse -- just power and volume. Everything else is operated by the included remote control. Some criticize the remote for limited functionality, with the most serious omission being the lack of any way to navigate playlists or search for songs on the iPod. Also, the remote is not backlit. The Klipsch iGroove HG has a dock with an adjustable backrest that can accommodate any dockable iPod, including the 2007 iPod Classic, nano and Touch. Klipsch has now discontinued the iGroove HG (it is still available in stores).

Instead of the iGroove, the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite (*est. $150) is the highest-rated one-piece docking iPod speaker system at iLounge.com. Audio quality is called as good or better than other options in this category, and the Pure-Fi Elite adds features such as an AM/FM/clock radio, albeit one without an alarm function. The Logitech Pure-Fi is a slight upgrade to last year's Logitech AudioStation. In comparison to its predecessor, bass response is said to be slightly constrained. iLounge.com still considers this to be an upgrade to what they dubbed the best speaker system of 2006 for the money. Features include composite and S-Video output jacks and a backlit wireless remote. The Pure-Fi Elite is powered by an AC adapter; there's no battery option. The Pure-Fi Elite is compatible with the newest 2007 iPod models.

CNet's review of the Pure-Fi Elite focuses mainly on features, and editors note that the Pure-Fi doesn't support passthrough of video playback of the latest 2007 iPods (though it will play video on a connected TV from older video iPods). Sound is called "impressive" as long as you don't expect room-rumbling bass. Early user reviews at Amazon.com are good overall. Although an AM/FM radio is included, some say it's not the best, and although there's a sleep timer, there's no alarm. The Pure-Fi Elite bookshelf system comes in black only. The dock is in the center, atop the control panel, and the two larger speaker sit on either side.

As you move up in price, you find speakers that approach the sound quality found in speakers designed for serious music enjoyment from sources such as CD players and turntables. Some have even garnered respect from reviewers more accustomed to testing audiophile-quality components. One such speaker system is the Chestnut Hill Sound George (*est. $500) . Playlist magazine's Dan Frakes starts his review off by saying how the George's bland white and gray exterior reminds him of many other speakers on the market. In the end, however, the only main drawback to the system is price, as the George is "an impressive package of technology."

The Chestnut Hill Sound George is also an Editors' Choice at PC Magazine. Editor Tim Gideon says that "the sound quality of the George is superior to that of any iPod audio system I've tested." He then goes on to compare the George to the recently discontinued Apple Hi-Fi, which "can't come close to reproducing as much tight, resonant low-end."

Some of the George's features include an audio port that will accommodate 3.5 mm cables along with a pre-amp-output for connecting the George to a larger system. A USB port in the back allows the George iPod speaker system to receive software updates. An AM/FM tuner along with alarm clock is included as well as a handful of plastic adapters to accommodate various iPod sizes (include the latest 2007 iPod Classic, Touch and nano).

Perhaps the biggest selling point for the George is its advanced remote control, says Laptop Magazine's Russ Fischer. The control panel on the unit detaches and becomes the George's remote. All of the functions except the subwoofer control can then be accessed wirelessly. The remote's display is also useful, showing the current song and artist along with date and time.

Although sound quality is great, the Chestnut Hill George is missing a few features commonly found on other iPod speakers. There is an iPod dock cradle, but there's no dock connector port for syncing with a PC or Mac. It is also missing video output for video iPods. Neither of these features will be important if you don't plan to hook up your system to a computer or to a TV. CNet.com's David Carnoy states that the George could do a bit better handling heavy bass.

Although it is by far the most expensive top-rated iPod speaker system, its reviewers say that the Chestnut Hill George is worth its high price. Laptop Magazine even goes so far as calling it "hands-down the best iPod speaker dock money can buy."

Few brands draw such a divergence of opinion from users and critics as Bose, and the Bose SoundDock (*est. $300) is no exception. Some love the SoundDock, while others say it's overpriced.

PC Magazine has given the SoundDock one of its Editors' Choice awards. "Our test unit produced spacious sound with few midrange colorations, and its sparkling high end lacked any trace of harshness," writes reviewer Don Labriola. The low end isn't spectacular, but is still fairly accurate. The SoundDock is also capable of producing plenty of volume. In his technology column in The Wall Street Journal, Walter S. Mossberg also gives the Bose SoundDock a thumbs-up for its sound quality, but complains that the iPod dock feels flimsy.

Despite its high price, the SoundDock is relatively devoid of features aside from a remote control that reviewers say is very good. There is no docking port connector, so you can't sync with a PC or Mac. Also missing is the almost universally standard minijack connector, which means it can't be used with non-dockable iPods or non-iPod music players. Though considered a portable speaker by some (a carrying case is available as an extra-cost accessory), it can only be used with AC power.

One-piece speaker systems are stylish and compact, and many are capable of producing excellent sound quality, but most are incapable of proper stereo imaging. For that you need to turn to a component system in which the right and left channel speakers are housed in separate enclosures. In a review at Audioholics.com, the Audioengine 5 (*est. $325) component speaker system rates 5 out of 5 stars, with reviewer Jeff Lawson saying the speaker system is "in a class all by itself." He adds that the Audioengine 5 is on a par with or better than other speakers in its price class. His biggest complaint with the speaker system is that its quality tends to reveal the limitations of the iPod as a music source. Best results come when listening to music recorded with little compression rather than MP3 or standard AAC digital music files.

The Audioengine 5 is relatively large, with each enclosure measuring roughly the same size as a "three-slice toaster," according to Christopher Breen in his review for Playlist magazine. Another issue is the lack of a dock connector. While the Audioengine 5 can be used to power and charge an iPod via a USB power connector at the top of the left speaker cabinet, audio is fed to the speakers with a second audio cable from the iPod's headphone connector. Breen says those small issues are trumped by the Audioengine 5's clean and balanced sound, plus its ability to pump out high volume levels.

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