Ok all...

With hundreds possibly thousands of speaker options out there for iPods / iPhones... I am keen to seek people's opinions and recommendations.

I've searched around and found some older threads, and even much of ilounge seems dated... With new iPods (and now iPhones) on the market - many of the older speaker systems don't charge or work with newer iPods let alone new iPhones... so I thought it might be overdue for a one stop recommendation thread for speaker recommendations please.

I thought I'd put some feelers out there for the best quality / best sounding speakers for iPod / iPhone.

Not sure if decryption did his review of the B&W Zeppelin - I couldn't find it...
but I have resisted buying a Bose SoundDock a few times.

Ok so portability isn't the primary concern for me... it will mostly be used in one location - but occasionally moved to beach house / other rooms etc...

I don't necessarily want a battery operated system as I am yet to find one with good sound quality.

B&W Zeppelin - extreme cost - and wow sounds great when volume is up loud - but at lower levels (sort of levels I'd be using it for in a normal sized room rather than a big shop) - I wasn't convinced it was worth the price. (iPod only compatible)

Bose SoundDock Series II - still a main contender. (iPod / iPhone compatible)

Altec Lansing - T612 - only head this the other day - is a close contender too possibly... (iPod / iPhone compatible)

but I'm keen to seek the wide experience of all members...

Don't worry about price (although that will eventually most likely be a consideration)...
Most important aspects are sound quality, and looks (of course)!!!

Appreciate as many recommendations as possible - so that this thread can become a one stop reference place for the future!

I'm happy to update this first post with recommendations / options, even links to reviews / articles if it takes off. I can include summary paragraphs on each product if people want as well.

With so many of us having iPods and iPhones these days, and with hundreds of options to choose from, I know I am hoping to benefit from this thread - and maybe many other members might too?

wow!
But by the look of their website it looks like over AUD$20000?!?!?!

Is this what you plug your iPod into?

Nice I notice there is a Melb stockist...
can I ask what you paid for them?

what are other people using / recommending?

As I grabbed my Snow Leopard today...

I noticed a large rectangular new iPod speaker by ... "Vuf"??!?!?!

Large, very heavy, lots of big speakers in it, heavier than the Apple iPod HiFi... lots of ports on the back as well...

anyone know more about it?
Seen reviews anywhere?
I'm having trouble finding it online?

Originally Posted by DJY

As I grabbed my Snow Leopard today...

I noticed a large rectangular new iPod speaker by ... "Vuf"??!?!?!

Large, very heavy, lots of big speakers in it, heavier than the Apple iPod HiFi... lots of ports on the back as well...

anyone know more about it?
Seen reviews anywhere?
I'm having trouble finding it online?

Yes, these are the VAF audio ones. They are fantastic. CompNow are selling them for $499 with a free pair of Klipsch Custom 1 headphones which are worth $279!!

Originally Posted by DeanCorp

Yes, these are the VAF audio ones. They are fantastic. CompNow are selling them for $499 with a free pair of Klipsch Custom 1 headphones which are worth $279!!

That's the one!
MAC1 have the same deal at the moment!!!

I'm going to head off and find some reviews...
Anyone else seen any reviews?
here are some photos from ilounge VAF debuts Octavio 1i iPod speaker system | iLounge News
review AVHub - Geare - Product Reviews - VAF Research Octavio speaker/dock
The music seemed much deeper, clearer, and better bass than the Bose.

If you're not going to use the dock connector *at all* to send music to your speakers, then you've got a much larger choice (anything really, as you would just use a 3.5mm to 3.5mm or 3.5mm to RCA cable).

Does the otterbox offer a dock connector pass through? This will enable you to use the dock connector as the single connection for audio out as well as power in.

As for 'best sound' it's all very personal. I feel larger speaker boxes (e.g. AudioEngine A5 or Aktimate) sound infinitely better than those Logitech ones you mentioned.

Even better still is to connect to a hi-fi amplifier and proper speakers. Go to any decent hi-fi store (i.e. not JB Hi-Fi and the like) and explore.

so DJY, what did you end up purchasing ?
i'm in the market to buy some speakers, but there are soo many out there.
was looking at the BOSE SoundDock II, but very mixed reviews on it.
need it to work with my iPhone 3GS, and 4th Gen (and probably iPod Mini)

Originally Posted by bashir

so DJY, what did you end up purchasing ?

I haven't yet...

Just when I was about to....
the new mini B&W was announced and the next Bose Soundock.

VAF went very close, as did a couple of others...
but I figured I'd wait as I want the best option for me.

I'm hoping the new B&W wins - as I think they make fine products, and have their speakers at home for my main home theatre system... but the Zeppelin just didn't do it for me.

We sell hundreds of iPhone/iPod docks a month and in my personal opinion, you can't go past the iHome range.

I personally think the B&W's are massively over rated, especially for the price.

We have various other models, in varying price ranges available here :: Apple : iPod / iPhone Docks : Buy Online at warcom.com.au

But my personal favourite is the iHome iP1 Bongiovi 100W STUDIO SERIES Digital Speaker for iPhone and iPod : Buy Online at warcom.com.au

Half the price of the B&W's and they sound great!

If anyone has any questions what so ever, please do feel free to contact myself or any of the Warcom boys on 1300 927 266 (Warcom) and we'll be able to help!

Why not go wireless? As in Bluetooth wireless... The sound quality is definitely not a $20000 Ferguson Hill but if you're looking for a simple way to control your music from across the room and not be tied down to a dock, check these out.

Tenqa SP-99 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Tenqa SP-109 Bluetooth Speaker

I too am in the market for something, and just noticed today that the Altec Lansing is retailing on the U.K Apple store for £99 but $399 on the Oz store. Surely that can't be right?

The best quality iPod dock made is the Wadia iTransport. It extracts a pure digital signal from the iPod bypassing its onboard DAC.

MUSICDIRECT - WADIA - iTRANSPORT Digital iPod Dock

It outputs s/pdif and what you do with that signal afterwards, of course, is up to the user.

Dave

Originally Posted by bashir

so DJY, what did you end up purchasing ?
i'm in the market to buy some speakers, but there are soo many out there.
was looking at the BOSE SoundDock II, but very mixed reviews on it.
need it to work with my iPhone 3GS, and 4th Gen (and probably iPod Mini)

ok... so I was up in Sydney and spent some time at the Apple Store.
Before I go into any details... my home theatre system at home is B&W... so I really wanted to like the B&W Mini! The Zeppelin, I have never been convinced of the looks... you either love it or not. Similarly, the sound quality in the past I have found as very good once the volume gets cranked up... but playing it at lower volume settings I wasn't convinced.
Also I have almost bought the Bose SoundDock (all three previous models) but have never been convinced... there has always been something in the back of my head - whether it is because it is Bose, or the range, or the bass, of the top end sounds... not sure.

So playing at the Apple Store. We ended up having about six of the Apple team mucking around with speakers, favourite songs, and cranking the B&W Zeppelin, B&W Mini, and the new Bose SoundDock 10 up to almost maximum! Sounded like a party and we did get more than a few people walking over, watching, and talking!

Thanks should go to all the team at the Apple store, Pat, Martin, and Jimmy especially! Was interesting that all the Apple staff that were involved and playing (with the exception of only one) preferred the Bose SoundDock10... and they use it nightly cranked up for their store clean-ups!

Another customer told me he bought the B&W Zeppelin, and then the Bose SoundDock 10, and has given his Zeppelin to his ex-wife now!?!?!!

Ok so quick verdicts... happy to give more details if anyone wants them.
WE did trial the same songs on all three players.... at different volume levels.

B&W Mini - I really wanted to like this one. It was a lot smaller than I expected... and for many songs did ok... but anything with bass?!?!?!? Terrible!!!! Couldn't listen to some songs! Sure I'm comparing this speaker with two models in a completely different price / sound / market bracket... but this one was the first to be taken out of the equation.

B&W Zeppelin - as I mentioned before - in the past I think it is the aesthetics that bugged me, as well as the quality of sound at the low volume settings. High volume settings next to the new Bose it didn't compete either. I wanted to buy B&W, but I didn't.

Bose SoundDock 10 - ok by now you might have guessed - I bought this one... and it is sitting in my formal lounge now! WOOHOO!!!!
WOW the bass, and range of tones I personally thought was cleaner to listen to - when directly compared to the B&W. The three factors that probably won me over in the end...
* it plays much louder than the Zeppelin, for outdoors, parties, groups, big rooms, this blows the Zeppelin away.
* Bass - wow - sounds great!!!!!
* Visuals - not a fan of the Zeppelin, and this one is much larger than the previous Bose models, but it looks fine. Doesn't look cheap, tacky, and hopefully it won't be a dust magnet. I think the Zeppelin would be hard to keep clean in the long term.

Happy to respond to anyone's questions if you have any...
Merry Christmas to me eh?!?!?
Will be taking it to the coast for a week after Christmas too!