iPod Dock Reviews – iPod Docking Systems and iPos Dock Speaker Stations

This post is a work in progress.

I’ve been asked by my GF to buy her some iPod dock / speakers for Christmas and have spent considerable time researching the best iPod dock for under £100. A few days ago she says shes changed her mind and decided to get a phono cable connecting her iPod to her hi-fi instead so I thought I’d document my research, final choice and recommendations below for anyone who’s looking for the best value, highest audio quality iPod dock system this Christmas.

The Market Leaders

Before I start, If you want the best sounding iPod dock and youve got around £500 to spare then there are really only two contenders, both provide amazing sound quality and all of the bells and whistles

you’d associate with a high end audio system. These are:

B&W Zeppelin iPod Speaker

Bose SoundDock iPod Speaker

It’s also worth mentioning that all high end systems suffer the same issue. Should low quality MP3’s be played through them then you can audibly hear the distortion due to compression.

iPod Dock Selection Criteria

My criteria for choice is:

• The iPod dock must cost around £100
• The iPod dock must provide the best sound quality
• The iPod dock must be loud!
• The iPod dock most appeal to the female sense of aesthetic
• The iPod dock must be independently reviewed and recommended i.e. not from shop reviews

iPod Dock Review Sources

I’m an internet research shopper and as such I know how to fathom out the best priced deals on the net, however finding reviews for iPod docks from credible sources was hard as the item is called many things including iPod speakers, Portable iPod speakers (portable? Really?) and a host of other terms. In the end I tried Richer Sounds, CNet, Which, the Gadget Show and a few other review sites on which to base my purchasing decision.

My Recommendations for the top five iPod docks for under (or around) £100

#5. Klipsch iGroove iPod Speaker System

Buy from Amazon – only £94.99

#4 Philips DC910/10 iPod Dock

Buy from Amazon – only £99.99

#3 Logic3 iPod Dock

Buy from Amazon – only £99.99

#2 Gear4 Bass Station iPod Dock

Buy from Amazon – only £72.99

#1 Griffin Amplifi iPod Dock

Griffin Amplifi 1200-ITSPKR iPod Speaker System

Buy from Amazon – only £95.00

CNet Review – 7.7 / 10

“A truly outstanding speaker setup for its price, and with the build quality we’d expect of a system twice the price. While the lack of features may put off some, iPod owners who simply want an attractive and powerful set of speakers should seriously consider the Griffin Amplifi iPod dock”

Macworld Review – 5 Stars

“The Amplifi is a high-quality music playback system that competes well on music playback with other more expensive systems available. Combine that with the system’s pleasing design and eye-catching looks and Griffin has a winner on its hands. Budget-conscious iPod users who want good music playback twinned with an extremely simple system need look no further.”

Audioholics Review

“for the money I don’t see how you can beat the Amplifi. The Bose SoundDock is twice the price and the Altec Lansing IM7 is also considerably more. I hope that the sound and construction quality of the Amplifi bodes well for the upcoming wireless iPod speakers that Griffin is introducing this fall.”

Related posts:

1. Firefox 3 Beta 4 First Look
2. Small Project Web Design Process (In an ideal world)
3. 72 Hours with the T-Mobile Pulse Phone
4. Buy the HTC HD2 (Touch Leo) Sim Free for £549.99
5. Buy Windows 7 Home Premium for only £49.99