Hasta La Gadget!

We’re not what you’d call audiophiles — we’ve stood dangerously close to a 128kb MP3 or two in our lives, and even tried internet radio once — but we still seem to prefer things that “sound good.” That cuts out most iPod docks on the market, which due to price, size and know-how constraints tend to do few favors for the low-bitrate music they usually serve up.

Enter the new iP1 dock from iHome, which kicks off a new “Studio Series” for the manufacturer, and features “Bongiovi Digital Power Station processing” to bump up the quality. Tony Bongiovi, audio engineer and cousin to Jon Bon Jovi, developed the DPS technology to improve sound in “compromised” environments like cars (it’s currently used by JVC in car stereos), planes and low-quality speakers, and is specifically tuned for its output device. The upshot is that the iP1 brings volume and clarity to the low and high end of the audio, especially in older recordings that haven’t already been compressed to high heaven, where details and oomph would be absent given the limited hardware. Sure, the result isn’t an “accurate” picture of what was recorded — you still need studio monitors to do that — but it makes most things sound “good” without adding the ruination of many digital audio enhancement techniques, and we even picked up a couple details in a favorite song of ours that’s received heavy rotation on our home system. It also had the unfortunate effect of turning a Bob Marley song into a bit of a banger (a “Could You Be Loved In The Club,” if you will) but can thankfully can be deactivated at the press of a button.

The dock itself packs a 100 watt amp, two 4-inch woofers and two 1-inch tweeters. The included remote can handle custom EQ in addition to switching Bongiovi on and off, and there’s also component video out and full iPhone support. It should be hitting stores in the middle of July for about $299.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

iHome iP1 isn’t bad for an iPod dock, packs a Bongiovi punch originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 May 2009 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It may not stand out from the crowd quite as much as some iPod docks, but Philips’ rotating SBD7000 speaker dock should still turn a few heads, and keep you entertained for at least a few minutes as you spin and tilt your iPod to your heart’s content. Apart from that somewhat nifty feature, however, the $120 dock is expectedly pretty standard fare, with it including cradles for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPod nano 4G, a four-AA battery compartment to let you take it out on the road and, well, not much else. Those looking for a little something extra can also opt for Philips’ $150 SBD8100 model (pictured after the break), which employs a more standard horizontal design but adds a motorized rotating dock to its bag of tricks.

Read – iLounge, Philips SBD7000
Read – iLounge, Philips SBD8100

Continue reading Philips SBD7000, SBD8100 iPod docks get the hands-on treatment

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Philips SBD7000, SBD8100 iPod docks get the hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 May 2009 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those who live rock and roll lifestyles need accessories that look the part, accessories like the Ion Audio Tailgater. It’s a $199 iPod dock that, with a few scuffs and scratches and stickers, wouldn’t look too out of place getting kicked around on-stage at the club. It works with any iPod (first- and second-gen users will have to made do with playback via the headphone jack) including the iPhone and Touch, has inputs for mics or other instruments, and even has an integrated battery for up to eight hours of rocking out when you’re way out. Now all you need is a gaggle of roadies to carry it there for you.

[Via iLounge]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Ion Audio’s Tailgater is the iPod dock that salutes those who rock originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod docks come in all shapes and sizes, and while Sony’s last attempt would be hard to miss in most rooms, this latest one is rather more subdued and sophisticated. It’s the CMT-Z100iR, naturally compatible with the iPod, iPod Touch, and iPhone, but also sporting the ability to play CDs through a top-mounted slot-loader. It can even play tunes from other MP3 players through its USB port, if you’re so inclined, and while its pair of 20 watt speakers probably won’t shake the walls, they should suffice for filling your minimalist retreat with the groovy beats of the Future Sound of London. No firm price or availability details yet.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Sony’s obelisk-inspired CMT-Z100iR iPod dock is full of modernist styling, stars originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not that Creative hasn’t dabbled in the HD iPod dock arena before, but it’s been awhile since the company has introduced a new one. Quietly, secretly, the outfit has pushed a fresh one out in the Cambridge Soundworks line, and it’s satisfactorily titled MovieWorks HD. The device does about what you’d expect by outputting iPod video and audio (via HDMI) onto one’s TV and / or sound system, though Creative points out that this one is the only one with its own Xtreme Fidelity, X-Fi Crystallize and X-Fi CMSS-3D technology — so yeah, take that for whatever it’s worth. Those who detest cables can also snag the optional wireless receiver, but first you’ll need to pony up $249.99 for the dock itself.

[Via eipZENter]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Creative quietly intros MovieWorks HD iPod dock originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 23:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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