Bose SoundDock Digital Music System Ipod Dock
Review: Bose SoundDock Dock Review
Pros:
Bose Sound Quality.
Good Battery Life.
Works With All Current iPods, iPads and iPhones.
Cons:
Expensive.
No 3.5mm Auxiliary Input.
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Our team of self-appointed experts has taken it upon themselves to locate and review the best iPod Docks on the market right now! Since their inception, iPod/MP3 docks have become one of the dominant forms of music playback in the world, so its only right that we play guardian to your wallet and give you the low down on which ones sound great and, conversely, which ones will have you reaching for the earplugs.
Introduction
In 1964, so the story goes, Dr. Amar G. Bose founded his own electronics company. Tired with sub par consumer electronics products that had been hurried into production, Amar decided to create a company that paid special attention to every little detail. He named the company after himself (Bose) and set to work.
Here in 2012, this new SoundDock is the next model up from the recent line of Bose iPod docks and several distinct improvements have been made. The new SoundDock now comes in a sleeker casing; it’s both lighter and thinner than its predecessors. Having said that, it is still definitely designed to be a stationary device. ‘Portable’ is not an adjective I’ll be using much in this review.
Despite that, the biggest drawback that I can see this time around is the price. A Bose SoundDock will set you back £200, which is no small amount of money for an iPod dock. Is it worth it? Let’s find out.
Bose put a lot of stock (both literally and figuratively) in their famed ‘acoustic’ speaker design and proudly boast that you, the listener, will be able to hear nuances and subtleties in your favourite tunes that you never even knew existed.
There’s also a rather handy auxiliary jack, which enables you to hook your SoundDock up to pretty much any other device and use it as an external speaker. Little extras like that are a great example of Bose’s famous attention to detail and meticulous design.
Lastly, the SoundDock employs digital signal processing circuitry, which will ensure crystal clear sound, from the most delicately embroidered folk tunes to the most thumping bass lines.
Hardware / Design
One thing I can say without any doubt at all is that the SoundDock is a great device. Designed carefully and cleverly, it’s a really nifty piece of kit (can I get away with saying ‘nifty’? It’s a nice word, I think. Lets see if we can bring it back over the next few reviews!) and it sounds like a dream. All the many design nuances of the previous models (some of which you’ll only get with Bose) are present and accounted for, with some new ones chucked in for good measure. Sonically, we just can’t fault it.
However, Bose, for all their good qualities, are definitely the Marmite of the audio world, every bit as polarizing as the brown stuff that goes fantastically with cheese. Critics of Bose argue that the sound is not that much better than any other decent speaker and that no design process, however ‘meticulous’ it may be, can justify the prices that Bose ask for. On this front, I am inclined to agree.
The SoundDock is a wonderful device, but it isn’t that much better than, say, a Phillips Fidelio. Whereas the Fidelio is available at around £70, the SoundDock is nearly 3 times that amount. For the asking price of the SoundDock, you can get much better models and therein layeth the problem.
Conclusion:
If the question you’re asking is ‘is it good?’ then my answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. If you have that sort of money to spend on a very good quality speaker, then I can heartily recommend this product and assure you that you will not be disappointed. If, however, you aren’t looking to spend the Earth, then there are much cheaper iPod docks around.
The problem with Bose products is simple, for all the good (and thoroughly well-deserved) reputation, the intricate design process that has made them famous also traps them. In order to do things the Bose way, you have to charge a lot more for the end product and we’re not talking a few quid, which would be more than acceptable, we’re talking about massive price hikes, like ‘real estate on The Death Star prior to Star Wars Episode IV’ kind of hikes.
£199.99
£199.99
£199.99
£199.99
£199.99
£199.99
NB! Confirm the retailer's price and product information prior to making your purchase.
Product Specifications:
Description
Version
Bose SoundDock Digital Music System Ipod Dock
Colour
Gloss Black
Dock Power
Power Source
Battery Type
Batteries Required
Charges Ipod When Docked
Yes
Dock Dimensions
Height
17 Centimeters
Width
30 Centimeters
Depth
17 Centimeters
Weight
2.1 Kilograms
Dock Sound
Subwoofer
Volume Control
Number of Speakers
Dock Features
FM Tuner
DAB Tuner
Bluetooth
Alarm Clock
LCD Display
Remote Control
Y
Was: £229.99
Now: £199.99
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Customer Reviews
Honest reviews of the Bose SoundDock Digital Music System Ipod Dock from previous customers
"I use my speakers in my office to play music during the work day and this is the perfect speaker. The sound quality is great, it's very simple to use and it's loud but not too loud. Plus, it charges my iPod when it's in there, so I don't have to worry about running down the battery."
Review by Jonathan Holden
"This was exactly what I was looking for!! It lets me use my iPod anywhere and lets others hear my music too. I wanted something to allow me to listen to my music without ear buds and with great sound."
Review by Daisy Fowler
"This was the second speaker set-up that I bought to play my iPod on at home. The first one was a different brand and was junk and lost all sound quality within 2 months."
Review by Callum Naylor
"After using it for a day, I bought another one for my girlfriend. I'm considering making it my XMAS gift for several friends this year."
Review by Mohammed Barlow
We encourage you to read them prior to making your final purchasing decision.