iPod speakers/docks

[Splush]

Not exactly a deep technical question this, but I'm wondering if anybody has any experience with iPod speakers and could either recommend or warn me off certain brands? My sister wants one for christmas, and while she's not exactly an audiophile I'm aware that most of these will be crap quality and I'd like to avoid those if possible.

I'd prefer them to be on the cheaper end of the scale, like under £50, but if there's a more expensive one that gets really good reviews I might go for it.

Ta!

[ynnekkenny]

JBL are a good range imo
I have the JBL Radial which was £150 last xmas so it'd prob be cheaper this year. they have other products though

www.jbl.com

[Splush]

I've just discovered that her boyfriend has got her one already, so this thread was a big waste of time. I hope he hasn't bought something crap.

Cheers for the tip anyway ynnekkenny :)

[Soapie]

Just for the record, best in that price range is the Kensington flat panel one for £30. Best sound you get until you spend £100 on the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere. If you wanted to get something more girly, there's on that looks like a handbag called iHome2Go or something, which is actually surprisingly good sonically (~£50).

Also for the record, I think the JBL range is okay, but woefully overpriced. All of the products in the range are worth about half the asking price.

[ynnekkenny]

hmm i dont really think jbl are overpriced they really are crystal clear flawless sound and i think you do have to play for quality if you are an audiophile but you are right Kensington are a decent make for ipod docks. there are quite a few good docks available at around the £30 - £80 mark. but it is all about personal choice. best thing to do is walk into currys one day with your ipod and plug it in to every dock and crank the volume up : )

[Soapie]

hmm i dont really think jbl are overpriced they really are crystal clear flawless soundNo they are not. If, to you, crystal clear means all you can hear is a harsh bright treble with all the bass and most of the mids lost in a washy high end then fair enough, but I reckon the sound is utter cock.

I'm all for paying extra for better sound quality, I think you missed what I was trying to say entirely. They do not sound good. If you think they really are crystal clear then I would hasten to add that you either a) have not heard the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (or mm50) or b) don't know that much about audio reproduction.

EDIT: lol if you're an audiophile.

[Splush]

Speaking of Logitech, the Pure-Fi Elite is a dead sexy looking thing.

http://www.logitech.com/repository/560/jpg/5034.1.0.jpg

It's a rare ipod dock that doesn't look like a toy or something, if I was in the market for one I'd be tempted by this.

[Soapie]

Yeah, it's cool. Only problem is that for the money it costs there are far better sounding docks out from just about anybody. Sure they don't have radio or alarms and stuff and in most cases not a video output, but you can buy the original Bose Sounddock for that price, or for less money buy the Jamo i200 which also sounds pretty great.

Yes, I do work in a shop that sells iPod docks.