iPod speakers
Christopher Jones -- Wed, 07/12/2006 - 14:57
We're starting to get a nice collection of iPod speakers here at TPV HQ, and will have a review coming up this fall sometime. In the meantime, if there are any speakers you'd like to have us review, just post a note and I'll get them in here.
I just set up the Acoustic Energy Aego M, a $180 system with sub, and all i can say about them so far is Wow. And the Klipsch iFi just got knocked off its pedestal.
More to come later.
I would be interested in iPAL since it adds radio and is still somewhat portable. But seems pricey tho....
The pal is worth every penny. I have had one for 5 years, and would not blink at paying the price again. Near high end sound, top notch tuner, built in charger and battery, great customer service, a nice optional case (very reasonable price), and portability have made this the most usefull (and used) audio product I own. Great for vacations, picnics, or sporting events. I have several systems around the house; LR, basement, even the garage, and this little gem has inspired more people to comment on the "great sound" than any of them. Not because the others sound bad (to the contrary, I have always purchased my gear based on sound quality), but because they can't comprehend how such a small, simple, and unassuming radio can sound so natural and good. Even my brother-in- law who is the bass player for a well known rock band commented on how he could clearly hear each individual bass note. While the pal's bass is very deep, detailed, and un-distorted, it will not actually shake any floors. But, you would still be suprised how loud it will play without distortion. In a normal room, or on a table near you, it's output is more than enough. Also, even though the pal is mono, it has an erie way of disappearing into a room as a point source. When I used it at my business, many asked where my sound system was located, not realising it was the little radio on the shelf behind the counter.
We just got a Tivoli iSongBook into the office, so look for a review soon in TPV. In fact, with the number of iPod speakers we now have, a roundup review is probably in order.
chris
I came across this review of these speakers in my internet travels. I was wondering if someone could do a less slanted review of these speakers.
http://www.nickstarr.com/2006/02/06/ipoddesktop-speaker-review-part-1-2/
Finding diamonds in rough.
Can't say i've even heard of this company, but I like the stylish design. Thanks for the tip, and i'll see if we can get a set to review. At that price point, it's hard to come up with a comparison, but there are more and more high-end speakers for the iPod coming out. I'm curious to hear what a $1,000 iPod speaker sounds like--
http://www.genevalab.com/xlbl.html
The question that comes to my mind is, "What defines an iPod speaker?"
Is it a powered speaker that has a line level input?
Is it a speaker designed for tabletop use?
Is it a speaker that has an 'i" somewhere in its name?
OK, so the last question is tongue-in-cheek. But the problem I have with this is with the definition as it affects the sample pool.
There are literally hundreds of speakers that can be defined as iPod speakers. Only the reviewer's definitions limit the sample size.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
I had posted this elsewhere on the Forum but it probably best goes here.
Wayne Garcia's November 2008 listing of "best" desktop and stand mounted speakers includes the Sierra Sound inStudio 5.0 powered desktop system. It looked familiar and sure enough it is also the same system sold as the Kantos iPair 5 favorably reviewed in Playback Issue 3. A review of the specs and pictures from each vendor's web site confirms, to my eyes, that these are one and the same system. The only visible difference is that the inStudio 5.0's have grilles while the Kantos's do not.
Both web sites claim ownership of the speakers and a 2008 Reuters article http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS160392+15-Jul-2008+BW200... revealed that Sierra Sound had received a new round of investor funding to expand their product line.
Anyone know the details here?
I've put in call in to Kanto's PR firm to try and track down answers. I'll pass along whatever I'm able to learn.
Chris Martens
Editor, Playback
playback.avguide.com
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