iPhone Dock/Speaker

I'm currently looking at the Klipsch iGroove SXT:
Amazon.com: Klipsch iGroove SXT Speaker System for iPhone and iPod (Black): MP3 Players & Accessories

the Kicker iKick501:
Amazon.com: Kicker iK501 Digital Stereo System for iPhone and iPod (Black): Electronics

and the Logitech s715i:
Amazon.com: Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker for iPod and iPhone: Electronics

Portability isn't an issue; I'm simply looking for an iPhone dock that will play my music with good clarity/reasonable channel separation. I've been looking at Bose Sounddocks (used), but they're a bit pricier (and apparently have compatibility issues with the iPhone 4).

Based on reviews I've read, the Kicker seems to be the best of the three I've listed; does anyone have any experience with it? I'm afraid it will be a bit overkill on the bass, which is not what I'm looking for (I'd much rather have clean, balanced mids and his that can handle classical in addition to, say, rock).

Thanks!

EDIT: I'm also hoping to use this as a viable notebook and TV speaker replacement.

 

I had the chance to test two of the three mentioned products you’ve listed (8 months ago), and both were very good at their respective price points.

I went to Best Buy to test a few devices and was blown away by the Bose Sounddock 10, but it was more money than I was willing to spend at that time. I bought the Bose portable later on “used” at an outstanding price, or else I would have just bought the Logitech s715i. The sound from the Logitech was very good considering the cost; it was actually in my top 3 devices when I left the store.

iK501 Kicker box is amazing! You can actually lower the bass if you feel it’s too much, it does have manual equalization functions for that purpose; my Bose Sounddock Portable doesn’t have this feature and neither does the Logitech. The Kicker also features RCA connections in addition to the AUX for even more connectivity options! If you don’t need portability, then the Kicker would be the way to go. I needed portability, that’s why I chose the Bose Portable. BSDP is compatible with the iphone 4 and I do use it for everything (phone/TV/iPod/G5). At $168 new for the Kicker, you would be hard pressed to find anything better at that price point and in some cases beyond!

Best non portable(s):

1a. B&W Zeppelin AIR

1b. Bose Sounddock 10

2. B&W Zeppelin

3. Kicker iK501

Best portable(s):

1. Bose Sounddock Portable

2. Logitech s715i

All of this is just my opinion, YMMV.

 

I'm using Sony ICF-CL75iP



I think it look much cooler then 3 above you mentioned. The dock is located right bottom.

Pro :
You can watch utube video too if your phone is jailbreaked.
You can put your favorite wallpapers , jpeg , png , bmp..etc supported.
USB/MMC with mp3 supported.
Alarm Clock with your favorite music.
You may use it as charger too , just plug your iphone charger cable and plug into it.


Review: Sony ICF-CL75iP Dream Machine clock radio with iPod / iPhone dock - GadgetLite - Latest gadgets and technology news

Gallery: Unboxing new Sony ICF-CL75iP Dream Machine clock radio - GadgetLite - Latest gadgets and technology news

 

That's cute!

 

before you buy anything Bose, read this

Bose produce products which are nothing more than gimmicks aimed at those who don't know any better and have more money than sense.

 

Those websites are aimed at people who don't know any better!

I've read all the "I hate BOSE" websites in existence! What they fail to realize is this, the buyer can easily go to most major stores and try the product before they buy it. I actually like BOSE, but don't think everything they make is great or even good for that matter. I don't like their in ear phones, yuk! But the BOSE Sounddock Portable is only a gimmick to those who don't know any better, who just spread negative propaganda where it is not relevant.

Do I think BOSE is expensive, yes! Gimmick? Please!

If you're using gimmick to demonstrate that the sound and looks stand out, then by all means!

I really hate to feed the trolls, but since I have the BOSE portable and tried several other non BOSE sounddocks, it is clear the BOSE portable is the best sounding dock (my opinion) that uses a battery. Expensive, yes! Gimmick? GTFO!

The B&W Zeppelin will have the music separation the OP is looking for. This is a matter of opinion, but the B&W Zeppelin AIR will match or beat most home stereo speakers! I was not able to take the Zeppelin home, I can only judge it in a store; car stereo store of all places and the thing sounded as if someone was doing a live concert!

The B&W Zeppelin is by no means something you will take with you (HUGE), that's why I love my portable dock. Big sound in a small package!

 

Id just get a line out connection and hook it to my home theater system listen to it on nice speakers instead of some mini all in one device.


If I had money to waist and wanted a gimmicky gadget like that though I would get the Logitech Squeezebox because it does a lot more than just ipod stuff. Can do all the popular internet music streaming services keeps fresh music going and no need to have it on the ipod.

Save the ipod tunes for when your away from the desk and on the go.


Another option you may have is bluetooth. I am not sure here most phones let you stream music via bluetooth but I know iphone stuff is kinda on lockdown and limits some features. Bluetooth in general is not the same quality as a nice solid line out connection however on these little speaker systems I highly doubt you will hear the difference it would be something high end bookshelf speakers would display or some headphones.

 

Hooking up the laptop to a home stereo system is just too much, it is much easier to use what you refer to as a gimmicky device to use with TV, Laptop and anything else portable for that matter.

 

Yeah I didnt say "you should do this instead" I just said its what I would do.

If I want to listen to my music, I want to listen to my music

Any time I am at a desk away from home I am using my laptop and the speakers on it are more than substantial to listen to on there own. If I need to go into audiophile mode I break out my DAC & Triple.Fi 10's

At home I have a desktop and its already connected to my home stereo system via a DAC.


I use my N900 phone for portable music and since you have to put music on there chances are you will listen to the same stuff more than once. So I find it best to only listen to it when your away from home/work as your backup music and listen to the larger source of music provided by your larger audio collection on your computer or on the net thus where the squeezebox would be the alternative I would use instead of a dock.

Its a nice stand alone device, not simply an expensive accessory to an existing device.

One of the cool features the N900 has is a built in FM Transmitter so I can just tun it into any nearby radio and listen to it I do that when I am washing dishes so I can hear it on the home theater system in the living area next to the kitchen.

 

A phone with an FM transmitter, I envy you!

Why is it so hard to add that feature to every phone now a day? It's all about streaming, I would prefer the simple radio myself.

 

We bought the Klipsh SXT yesterday at Best Buy for $134, it is used in a small massage salon and has a great sound, not good for rock or anything terrably loud. It is small and very cool looking. I saw the Bose, and was not impressed by sound or price, the little logiteck had good sound and bass but looked like cheap junk IMHO.

 

I don't see how a reputable forum based entirely around audio and visual is aimed at people who don't know any better. That's not the idea of a forum. A forum is a place for people to share their own opinions on matters and that's excatly what it is.
Coincidentally, the vast majority of the opinions expressed on this "website aimed at those who don't know any better" appear to contradict your own.

All I'm saying is that Bose over-price their products and that when you are paying several thousand dollars for a set of speakers without the frequency response that even a basic pair of apple earbuds offer, the millions that Bose spend on marketing have obviously not gone to waste.

Theres a reason that high end audio stores don't stock Bose products.

 

I hear ya Wally!

What all that has to do with what the OP wants is still a mystery?

I actually took the time and money to purchase these items, and tested them at home and at school.

 

OP said they were looking at used Bose systems, that's all.

Theres better value for money in buying a new Logitech system or something similar, as he was also looking at.

Plus how would OP know whether the previous owner had flogged the system or not if buying a used Bose.

TL;DR

Buy one of the ones you listed in the first post. Don't expect to get better performance if you pay more for a used Bose system

 

Well Wally, people buy used stuff all the time as we know in the sub forums here. There's a risk no matter what, it is up to the buyer to limit the number of risk by buying from reputable dealers/sellers. And no, there's no Logitech portable system that could compete with the bose portable if both were similar in price. But since portability is not a concern, there is also pretty much nothing that can beat the iKick at $138 either.

Why spend over $100 for something, if I may use tracman words "that you can't play rock or something considerably loud"?

BOSE Sounddock 10 and the B&W Zeppelin/B&W Zeppelin AIR is the standard for ipod docks, and would be everything the OP ever wanted in a ipod dock!

BTW...this used BOSE Portable in new like condition was purchased for $140. So yes, buying used is a risk, you just have to factor in the risk risk/reward factor.



If I had posted a question and went solely by your initial post


"before you buy anything Bose, read this

Bose produce products which are nothing more than gimmicks aimed at those who don't know any better and have more money than sense."


I would have cheated myself out of a good thing. That is why when you're serious about ipod docks as I am, you buy as many as you can and take them home. I took them home and couldn't settle for the logitech. I also didn't want to buy a bose portable for $435 either!

I give any maker a chance, I don't discriminate. If you have what I want, I say thank you and move on.

 

Fair enough. I'll admit that the Bose does beat the logitech but the B&W zeppelin truly does take the cake for me.

My worry with buying used speakers is that you just dont know how worn or damaged they might be, especially when you can't inspect the drivers as is the case with Bose Speaker Docks.

Personally, I don't like the idea of speaker docks anyway - Not enough controll over the overall sound.

I use FLAC Player on my ipod and the digital out which was thankfully included on the ipod touch 4G paired with the Apple Digital AV adapter. This plugged into a quality DAC and Amplifier playing through a pair of B&W 602s sounds SO much better than any oif the ipod docks I've heard. Practical? No. Portable? No. Sound quality? Exquisite.