iPod Speakers

In terms of quantity and quality, iLounge.com, Playlist magazine and CNet.com have the most and best reviews of iPod speakers. Reviews at all three sites are packed with information, and all three use a ratings system that makes it easier to spot which speakers the editors believe are the best. iLounge.com is the best review source for iPod speakers, having both an extensive and current catalog of write-ups. Playlist deserves special mention for making it easy to spot at a glance which speakers work with which iPod models. iProng.com (formerly iPodGarage.com) is also a good review source for iPod speakers, but is more difficult to navigate and is not as up to date as the aforementioned sources. PC Magazine does an excellent job of covering the iPod speaker marketplace, but has fewer reviews than other websites. Some sites, such as Audioholics.com, look at iPod speakers from an audio aficionado's point of view. Consumer Reports' coverage of iPod speakers is lacking compared to their efforts in other product categories. We also read user reviews for iPod speakers at CircuitCity.com, Epinions and Amazon.com, which are especially useful for reviews on inexpensive speakers.

According to John Falcone, senior editor at CNet.com, "the iPod may be one of the most accessorized products ever created." Indeed, Apple Computer estimates that there are 3,000 accessories available for that ubiquitous MP3 player. Because iPod accessories are such a lucrative market, it is clear that manufacturers have a daunting task creating products that stand out from the crowd. Some might be trying a little too hard.

One example is the AFT iCarta Stereo Dock for iPod and Bath Tissue Holder (*est. $70). As the name implies, the iCarta is a wall-mounted speaker system that does double duty as a toilet-paper holder. It certainly has drawn attention, keeping critics creating double entendres since its introduction. While it is not terribly expensive, iLounge.com's Jeremy Horwitz notes that the iCarta is not up to the standards of similarly priced iPod speaker docks. "You can surely find better iPod speakers that will fit in your bathroom for equal or less money, and some of them will be portable, capable of being used in any other room of your house, or even outdoors," he writes. Still, he gives the iCarta a limited recommendation for its "novel -- or novelty -- characteristics, which some people will find amusing."

Other manufacturers are trying to make a dent in the market by cloning the highest rated iPod speakers. The iLive Portable 2.1-Channel CD Boombox with iPod Dock (*est. $70) looks a lot like the highly regarded Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 (*est. $180) , but reviewers say the iLive speaker doesn't compare in sound quality. Dozens of owners posting reviews to Amazon.com report that sound quality is poor; many say there's a constant background hiss. Others complain about durability.

Playlist magazine doesn't test the iLive Portable CD Boombox, but editors do test the iLive 1CR6806DT (*est. $40), giving it a grand total of one star (out of five). While it looks promising, editors say "this system fails miserably." Owners posting to review sites concur. Most complain about sound quality and durability.