The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and
identifying the best iPod Speakers. See our ratings criteria
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| 1.
iLounge.com
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The iLounge Accessories Guide
Editors of iLounge.com
As of Nov. 2007
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iLounge.com boasts reviews of over 2,000 different iPod accessories, including dozens of speakers in six distinct categories ranging from small pocket speakers to multi-component shelf systems. Most reviews are detailed and appropriately critical, illustrated with lots of photos. Users can add comments or post questions. iPod speakers are assigned a grade so readers can see at a glance which speakers rate best. The downside is that there is no way to compare ratings, so you have to click on each of the dozens of reviews to see the grade.
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Playlist magazine
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iPod Speakers
Editors of Playlist magazine
As of Nov. 2007
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Playlistmag.com continually reviews iPod speakers in single-product reports and occasional multi-speaker articles, summarizing the results in this table. Highest-rated speakers -- called Playlist Picks -- are grouped at the top. Most of the reviews are quite detailed, but a few are disappointingly short. A nice touch is that the table includes a list of compatible iPod models for each iPod speaker reviewed. Altec Lansing speakers dominate the highest scores, but speakers from Acoustic Energy, Audioengine, Chestnut Hill and Geneva are also highly rated. It should be noted that the previously top-rated Logitech mm50 and AudioStation have been discontinued and replaced with their new Pure-Fi Anywhere and Pure-Fi Elite product lines. The review of the newer, updated Pure-Fi Anywhere states that sound quality isn't quite as good as that of its predecessor.
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CNet.com
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Editors' top iPod speakers
John Falcone
Oct. 12, 2007
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This listing contains top iPod speakers culled from longer reviews at CNet.com. CNet uses an Editor's Rating system where any product given a score of 7.0 or above is rated "Very good." The Logitech Pure-Fi Elite, along with Altec Lansing's inMotion iM7 and inMotion iM600 are the top-rated iPod speakers here. Other recommended speakers include the Chestnut Hill Sound George, Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere, Altec Lansing inMotion iM500, Klipsch iGroove HG, Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin iPod speaker, JBL Radial and Bose SoundDeck.
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iPod Speakers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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iProng.com
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Reviews: Speakers
Editors of iProng.com
As of Nov. 2007
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iProng.com (formerly iPodGarage.com) offers dozens of detailed iPod speaker reviews, but the site is harder to navigate since users need to search by product category and iPod model, then sort by rating, to see which speakers score highest. Currently, those are the mStation Orb 2.1, mStation Tower 2.1, Altec Lansing M602 and Logic3 i-Station7.
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PC Magazine
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iPod Speakers
Editors of PC Magazine
As of Nov. 2007
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PC Magazine tests iPod speakers as they come to market and currently has dozens of reviews posted on its website, many of which are either designed for the iPod or are iPod-compatible (via its headphone jack). Most speakers receive an editors' rating, making it easy to see which ones score highest, and the best ones receive an Editors' Choice award. In general, the reviews are nicely detailed, and some are quite lengthy. One drawback of PC Magazine is that they are a little behind in covering the most recent iPod speakers. Current Editors' Choice iPod speakers include the Chestnut Hill Sound George, SoundCast iCast, Creative TravelDock 900, Altec Lansing inMotion iM7, Bose SoundDock and Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0.
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iPod Speakers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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Audioholics.com
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Speaker Reviews
Editors of Audioholics.com
As of Nov. 2007
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Audioholics.com concentrates on high-end audio and video gear for enthusiasts. All products undergo rigorous testing and the articles are packed with details. However, there is no separate category for iPod or other MP3 player speakers, and while ratings are assigned, there are no comparative lists or tables that show at a glance which products are highest rated. The Audioengine 5 is currently the site's top-rated iPod speaker and is said to be "in a class all by itself." The Klipsch iGroove HG also scores well. This site focuses more on speakers for a home audio system than on portable iPod speakers.
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MobileTechReview.com
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iPod Accessories: Speakers
Editors of MobileTechReview.com
As of Nov. 2007
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iPod speaker reviews at MobileTechReview.com are not overly long, but they are critical and include plenty of details. There are about fifteen reviews listed. Speakers are rated on a scale of from 1 to 5 stars, and an Editor's Choice speaker -- currently the Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 -- is named.
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Pocket PC Central: MP3 Player Edition
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MP3 Player Edition Reviews - Players, Accessories & Software
Editors of PocketPCCentral.net
As of Nov. 2007
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This spin-off of PocketPCCentral.net covers MP3 players and accessories. Reviews are shorter than at some higher-rated websites, and fewer iPod speakers are covered. Rating grades are assigned. The highest-rated iPod speaker currently is the Logitech mm50, which earns an overall grade of B. This model has since been replaced by the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere.
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iPodObserver.com
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Gear
Editors of iPodObserver.com
As of Nov. 2007
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This section at iPodObserver.com -- sister site to MacObserver.com -- covers a host of iPod accessories, including iPod speakers. The reviews are easy to read, but don't delve that deeply into details. In addition, there are fewer reviews here than at higher-rated sites dedicated to the iPod. Current top-rated iPod speakers are the Audioengine 5 and the Logitech AudioStation, which was recently discontinued and replaced with the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite.
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Consumer Reports
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iPod Boom Boxes
Editors of Consumer Reports
Jan. 2007
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Consumer Reports tests six iPod specific speaker systems and names three that do the best job of reproducing sound accurately. Unfortunately, this "article," which is just a paragraph long, does not measure up to the magazine's usual standards as there is no mention of the other speakers tested. The complete test reports and relative ratings are nowhere to be found. Also, one of the recommended speakers is discontinued.
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The Wall Street Journal
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The iPod Out Loud: Testing Speaker Attachments
Walter S. Mossberg
Apr. 13, 2005
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This article by Walter S. Mossberg looks at four portable speaker systems designed exclusively for the iPod. Although the article is older, most of the speakers are available as reviewed or as updated models. While Mossberg and assistant Katherine Boehret don't do any rigorous testing, they do a nice job of examining the speakers from a user's point of view and details such as ease of use, ergonomics and sound quality are discussed. The Bose SoundDock is judged to have the best sound, but the dock is described as "flimsy." The JBL On Stage (now the On Stage II) sounded "rather good," and the cradle adapters are called "more secure."
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Laptop Magazine
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Accessory Reviews
Editors of Laptop magazine
As of Nov. 2007
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Editors at Laptop magazine review iPod speakers on a regular basis, and while speakers are rarely compared, each gets a star rating so you can see for yourself how they rank in the editors' eyes. In addition, top-rated products get an Editors' Choice designation. One downside is that iPod speakers are listed along with a multitude of other accessories for iPods, along with those for PCs, cell phones, home entertainment gear and more. Another is that most iPod speaker reviews are relatively short. The Logitech mm50 (replaced by Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere), Chestnut Hill Sound George and Altec Lansing inMotion iM11 are among the currently available Editors' Choice iPod speakers.
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MaximumPC.com
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Speaker Reviews
Editors of MaximumPC.com
As of Nov. 2007
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Maximum PC reviews a wide variety of high-tech gear, including speakers, with the highest-rated products making it onto this list, which includes a Speakers/Headphones category. Reviews are written with a little more "attitude" than is typically seen -- for example, its editors' choices are awarded a "Kick Ass Product" designation -- but ultimately are short on both length and details. Current top-rated speakers are the Audioengine 5, Zvox 325 and the Klipsch iGroove HG.
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Digital Trends.com
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Reviews for Speaker Systems
Editors of DigitalTrends.com
As of Nov. 2007
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The iPod speaker reviews at DigitalTrends.com are a mixed bag. Some are well illustrated with lots of discussion about a particular speaker's pros and cons, while others offer far less detail and insight. Another negative is that many of the products in this section are discontinued and other accessories (such as cases) are mixed in. Speakers are given a rating, and those that score above 8.5 get an Editors' Choice designation. The only current Editors' Choice iPod speaker is the Audioengine 5.
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iPod Speakers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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CDRInfo.com
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iGroove HG iPod speakers
Editors of CDRInfo.com
Jan. 29, 2007
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In this single-product review, the Klipsch iGroove HG is put through its paces. The author concludes that the "classic Klipsch sound -- the horn tweeter dispersion and clarity -- are preserved in this affordable, small and stylish design." The speaker is recommended for small rooms, dorm rooms or as an office speaker system for an iPod. No other iPod speakers are rated.
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The Gadgeteer.com
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Hardware add-ons (iPod - speakers / earphones)
Editors of The Gadgeteer
As of Nov. 2007
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TheGadgeteer.com has individual reviews of several iPod speakers. The reviews are easy to read, detailed and well illustrated, and opinions are offered, but ratings are not given and judgments about which speakers are best are not made.
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Consumer Guide.com
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MP3 Accessories Reviews and Prices
Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
As of Nov. 2007
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Since its association with How Stuff Works, Consumer Guide has become a much more worthwhile resource for product reviews. Even so, testing details are scant (even though speakers get a “performance” rating). The Logitech mm50 (now discontinued and replaced by the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere) and Logitech PlayGear Amp are Consumer Guide's current top-rated iPod speakers.
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iPod Speaker Reviews.com
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iPod Speakers Directory
Editors of iPodSpeakerReviews.com
As of Nov. 2007
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iPodSpeakerReviews is a site solely dedicated to that of its namesake. The reviews themselves are very short and read more like advertising copy than in depth overviews of the products. The Altec Lansing inMotion iM9 gets the highest Editor Rating, with little justification for the honor.
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| 19.
Amazon.com
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iPod Speaker Systems
Contributors to Amazon.com
As of Nov. 2007
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Amazon.com is a large Internet retailer that allows consumers to post reviews about the products that they own. While the quality of the reviews is variable and most are very short, this is a good place to learn how happy buyers are weeks or sometimes longer after their purchase, which is a perspective few if any professional reviewers can offer. It's also a good place to learn about inexpensive iPod speakers, which rarely receive professional reviews. Amazon.com gets plenty of traffic, so many iPod speakers get plenty of feedback. One negative is that there are lots of discontinued models listed, so navigation can get tedious.
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iPod Speakers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.
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CircuitCity.com
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iPod and MP3 Accessories: Speakers
Contributors to CircuitCity.com
As of Nov. 2007
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Like Amazon.com, Circuit City lets its customers comment on products they have purchased. This site has some positives and negatives compared to Amazon.com. On the plus side, it is easier to navigate since only currently available iPod speakers are listed. On the downside, while a few speakers get lots of feedback, others get only a handful of ratings.
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Epinions
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MP3 Speaker Systems
Contributors to Epinions
As of Nov. 2007
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Epinions.com is another consumer review site; however, most iPod and MP3 player speakers only get a handful of reviews at best. On the plus side, the reviews here tend to be longer and often more detailed than those on the retailer sites, and a few approach the quality of some professional efforts.
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| 22.
About.com
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Top 9 iPod Speakers
Unattributed
Not Dated
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This list includes a short paragraph about each recommended speaker, but none of these iPod speakers appear to have been tested. No performance details are mentioned, and the write-ups appear to be based on manufacturer advertising. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
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