The traditional home stereo is far from dead, but considering that many of us in our increasingly mobile culture are toting around an entire music collection in our pockets, shouldn’t we be able to play these tunes anywhere – without having to wear headphones?
When was the last time you saw a receiver, loudspeakers and 500 CDs in a bedroom? But if you add up how much time you spend here – relaxing before bed, getting ready for work, or with the case of university dorm rooms, living in this tight space – it makes sense to toss a compact speaker system designed for the almighty iPod or another MP3 player.
There’s no shortage of such devices these days, but the following are five of my favourites -- and a bonus item for those looking for a portable laser light show.
High-tech lullabies
Consider it a perfect bedside companion for iPod lovers. The TEAC SR-L200 Hi-Fi Table Radio ($129.99; http://www.teac.com/) lets you dock your player in a snug cradle on top of the unit that not only recharges your iPod’s battery but also lets you listen to music, podcasts and audio books through its crisp-sounding stereo speakers. Or you can set the alarm to play your favourite song. Available in white or black, this clock radio ships with connectors to fit all iPod models and also features an AM/FM tuner with station presets, snooze bar and backlit LCD screen. Also included is a small remote and optional auxiliary input (and cable) to connect a non-iPod based MP3 player.
Power to go
Whether it’s for your home, office, cottage or beach, the Logitech AudioStation Express ($99.99; http://www.logitech.com/) is a sleek and portable iPod speaker system. Plug it into an electrical socket or pop in six AA batteries for up to 10 hours of audio, and then use the wireless remote to crank it up to 80 watts of total power. Non-iPod MP3 players can also be used with the auxiliary input jack (though it won’t recharge the device). Have a TV nearby? Use the composite output option to watch your iPod’s video – be it camcorder footage, TV shows, movies, music videos or podcasts – on a big screen instead of the iPod’s 2.5-inch display.
Conversation piece
Perfect for kitchen countertops, family room tables or even bedroom dressers, the JBL Radial ($349.99; http://www.jbl.com/) is a unique-looking circular iPod docking station and 30-watt speaker system that sounds a good as it looks. Available in bone white or piano black, this stylish portable accessory fits all iPod types with swappable adaptors, supports other MP3 players and includes a video-out option to view photos or videos on a nearby television. The wireless remote uses RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared), therefore you can control your tunes even from another room (up to 20 feet).
Bose SoundDock
This one’s my pick. They might not be new, but they’re still one of the best-sounding docking station speakers you could buy for your beloved iPod. Turn any room into a concert hall with Bose SoundDock Digital Music System ($399.99; http://www.bose.com/), which delivers powerful but clean, full-frequency performance out of its shielded speakers. As with other Bose products, it can be hard to pinpoint where the audio is actually coming from as it offers a spatial surround sound effect. Slip in any iPod with a dock connector on the bottom, press a button on the wireless remote and manage your music as you go about your business. Available in black or white.
Add some boom to your room
Music enthusiasts who spend time on the road may opt for this smart (and smart-looking) audio system from Altec Lansing. Similar to its stationary M602 product, the portable iM3 ($179.95; http://www.alteclansing.com/) looks like a teeny boom box and lets users insert their iPod, iPod nano or other MP3 player between two speakers (each housing 1-inch neodymium micro drivers) to fill the space with balanced sound. For iPod products, a wireless remote controls song navigation, power and volume, while the universal plug set offers adapters for various electrical outlets. No A/C plug in sight? No problem, the iM3 can run for roughly 24 hours on battery power.
Laserpod...and now for something completely different
The ‘60s gave us the lava lamp, but it’s all about laser light and LEDs in the ‘00s. Case in point – the Laserpod (US $89.95; http://www.firebox.com/) is a patented invention by UK light artist Chris Levine, whose work has lit up the band Massive Attack and high-profile fashion shows – though he might be best known for a celebrated hologram portrait of the Queen of England. The Laserpod uses three electronic lasers and three blue and purple LEDs (light emitting diodes), all projected through a crystal to create a dazzling light show throughout a room (best used in complete darkness). Turn on the Laserpod when you’ve got Pink Floyd cranked on a MP3 player docking station and you’ve got yourself one killer kaleidoscopic laser light show.
When was the last time you saw a receiver, loudspeakers and 500 CDs in a bedroom? But if you add up how much time you spend here – relaxing before bed, getting ready for work, or with the case of university dorm rooms, living in this tight space – it makes sense to toss a compact speaker system designed for the almighty iPod or another MP3 player.
There’s no shortage of such devices these days, but the following are five of my favourites -- and a bonus item for those looking for a portable laser light show.
High-tech lullabies
Consider it a perfect bedside companion for iPod lovers. The TEAC SR-L200 Hi-Fi Table Radio ($129.99; http://www.teac.com/) lets you dock your player in a snug cradle on top of the unit that not only recharges your iPod’s battery but also lets you listen to music, podcasts and audio books through its crisp-sounding stereo speakers. Or you can set the alarm to play your favourite song. Available in white or black, this clock radio ships with connectors to fit all iPod models and also features an AM/FM tuner with station presets, snooze bar and backlit LCD screen. Also included is a small remote and optional auxiliary input (and cable) to connect a non-iPod based MP3 player.
Power to go
Whether it’s for your home, office, cottage or beach, the Logitech AudioStation Express ($99.99; http://www.logitech.com/) is a sleek and portable iPod speaker system. Plug it into an electrical socket or pop in six AA batteries for up to 10 hours of audio, and then use the wireless remote to crank it up to 80 watts of total power. Non-iPod MP3 players can also be used with the auxiliary input jack (though it won’t recharge the device). Have a TV nearby? Use the composite output option to watch your iPod’s video – be it camcorder footage, TV shows, movies, music videos or podcasts – on a big screen instead of the iPod’s 2.5-inch display.
Conversation piece
Perfect for kitchen countertops, family room tables or even bedroom dressers, the JBL Radial ($349.99; http://www.jbl.com/) is a unique-looking circular iPod docking station and 30-watt speaker system that sounds a good as it looks. Available in bone white or piano black, this stylish portable accessory fits all iPod types with swappable adaptors, supports other MP3 players and includes a video-out option to view photos or videos on a nearby television. The wireless remote uses RF (radio frequency) instead of IR (infrared), therefore you can control your tunes even from another room (up to 20 feet).
Bose SoundDock
This one’s my pick. They might not be new, but they’re still one of the best-sounding docking station speakers you could buy for your beloved iPod. Turn any room into a concert hall with Bose SoundDock Digital Music System ($399.99; http://www.bose.com/), which delivers powerful but clean, full-frequency performance out of its shielded speakers. As with other Bose products, it can be hard to pinpoint where the audio is actually coming from as it offers a spatial surround sound effect. Slip in any iPod with a dock connector on the bottom, press a button on the wireless remote and manage your music as you go about your business. Available in black or white.
Add some boom to your room
Music enthusiasts who spend time on the road may opt for this smart (and smart-looking) audio system from Altec Lansing. Similar to its stationary M602 product, the portable iM3 ($179.95; http://www.alteclansing.com/) looks like a teeny boom box and lets users insert their iPod, iPod nano or other MP3 player between two speakers (each housing 1-inch neodymium micro drivers) to fill the space with balanced sound. For iPod products, a wireless remote controls song navigation, power and volume, while the universal plug set offers adapters for various electrical outlets. No A/C plug in sight? No problem, the iM3 can run for roughly 24 hours on battery power.
Laserpod...and now for something completely different
The ‘60s gave us the lava lamp, but it’s all about laser light and LEDs in the ‘00s. Case in point – the Laserpod (US $89.95; http://www.firebox.com/) is a patented invention by UK light artist Chris Levine, whose work has lit up the band Massive Attack and high-profile fashion shows – though he might be best known for a celebrated hologram portrait of the Queen of England. The Laserpod uses three electronic lasers and three blue and purple LEDs (light emitting diodes), all projected through a crystal to create a dazzling light show throughout a room (best used in complete darkness). Turn on the Laserpod when you’ve got Pink Floyd cranked on a MP3 player docking station and you’ve got yourself one killer kaleidoscopic laser light show.
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