DROP AND GO
Out of the box, the device is a winner. All
you have to do is plug it in, hook it to a set of
RCA jack compatible speakers, and you're good to go.
The dock powers your iPod, and the handy remote
allows you to control the tunes from across the
room. Pretty slick if you ask me. The
big selling points of this cool accessory are as
follows:
- Wireless Remote Control
- Powered Docking Cradle
- RCA Output for use with your Stereo speakers or Amplifier
- Made for all iPods with dock connector, including 15GB, 20GB, 30GB, 40GB, 60GB, iPod mini, iPod photo and iPod nano
WAY COOL REMOTE
The remote is pretty cool, and lets you control
volume, play-pause, skip forward and back, etc. from
across the room. Very nice when you're wanting
to play and control background music, at say, a
dinner party and the dock is across the room.
The wheel on my remote doesn't support the circular
touch wheel functionality that is found on the touch
wheel of my iPod, and I'm not entirely certain
that's a bad thing. As the dock doesn't come
with a large screen, or a way to transmit what's on
the iPod screen back to the remote, it would be
impossible to switch play lists anyway, so that
functionality isn't really needed. Basic VCR
type functionality is all that's really needed.
Powered by 2 AAA batteries, the remote does a very good job of controlling your iPod of choice. I was actually pleased with the remote's functionality, and capabilities, given its small, easily pocketable size. I've had the device for a few months, and it has yet to need a battery change.
Figure 1:
A front shot of the unit shows the IR receiver.
As you can see in the two pictures, the remote sits behind the iPod on the wire rim that supports it, when you're not using it. The only problem I've had with this system is keeping my 9 month old son, Sam away from the remote. The boy is definitely a budding gadget freak. He's gonna make daddy proud!
Figure 2:
The remote rests cleanly in a wire cradle in the rear.
VOLUME LEVELS..? HELLO!?
My wife and I have a Bose Wave Radio in the living room
of our house. It came with a multimedia dock that
supports RCA connections, and I've got the Kensington
Dock connected to it. When turned up "to 11," the
speakers on the Wave Radio rattle the windows of the
house. It can seriously crank out the tune-age.
However, the volume is greatly muted when the iPod
Stereo Dock is connected, and I have no idea why.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to make the entire
house deaf; but I would expect that it would pump out
the same level of sound as the radio or a CD played
through the Bose Wave Radio. I can control volume
on both the iPod and Wave Radio, and no matter what I
do, it just doesn't put out the same level of sound.
While I'm not deaf, I am disappointed.
PROS
- Works out of the box
- Wireless remote
- Compatible with just about every iPod
CONS
- Pricey
Inadequate volume levels
OVERALL
IMPRESSION
For what the dock does, it's awesome. I don't
need a "media center" in my living room when I can
bring my iPod down stairs and pump the tunes through
my Wave Radio's awesome speakers. However, based on
what it does, its price point, and the accessories
it competes with in this space, the Dock is over
priced. For just a few dollars more, DLO Home Dock, with
remote, pumps an iPod Video signal to your TV, so
you can watch videos, slideshows, etc. as well as
listen to audio through your stereo speakers.
Items like the iBoom, or even Apple's own Universal
Dock, which does the same thing as the Kensington
and the DLO Home Dock; but for only $39.99. In
order for this product to be successful, its going
to have to come in at a much lower price point
and/or offer more. However, for what it does,
it does a good job. I give this product the following score:
