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Pod connection Check to makes sure your iPod or iPhone dock adapter is included. The best way to check is to take your iPod to the store. The products on test will accept most iPods, but they don't all come with the necessary plastic mount to make a secure connection. Only the Sony and Logitech models claim to able to connect an iPhone.
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Remote control Although you can control these products from the on-board or music player's controls, it's handy to be able to do so from a distance, particularly if you're using them at a party or outdoors. The Altec is the only one without a remote control.
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Battery The ability to run on batteries is useful for extra portability or when playing music outdoors, but don't expect them to last long if you turn up the volume. Back-up batteries for the clock are a good idea in case the mains power fails.
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On-board controls Labels should be clear and easy to understand. Buttons and dials should be big and far enough apart that you don't have trouble using them. They should also be positioned on the dock so you can get to them easily.
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Video out Later versions of the iPod and iPhone support video, and a video out connection from the dock may be useful if you want to watch and listen with friends.
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Auxiliary input Although the dominant personal music player in the market is the iPod, there are many other music players and products, such as computers, CD, DVD or even tape players, and this connection will allow you to use the dock with almost all of them. All except the TEAC CRX260i have one.
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Headphones If the dock has a radio, these will be useful for listening without disturbing others.
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Alarm Of the speaker docks that have an in-built clock, all except the Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus will wake you with the radio or your iPod. Only the TEAC CRX260i does not have an alarm, but along with the Sony will play a CD. The AVLabs can also play "natural sounds".
How do they sound?
Most of our testing is done indoors in controlled circumstances, but for this test we also took the docks outside to see if they could provide music for a small party or barbecue. Most aren't suitable because they either can't provide enough sound, or the sound is distorted when the dock is turned up to maximum volume.
Our outdoor listeners, all CHOICE staff, like the GHT best, and the Jensen and TEAC SRLXiB are also considered good with the volume slightly turned down.
In our studio setting, the expert panellists were more critical of sound quality. They were impressed with the GHT for its rich bass and sense of space, but noticed some vibration at very low frequencies. However, they felt this would only be a problem for music with very deep bass notes. The Altec Lansing cannot match the GHT for bass, but the panel liked its clarity, thought it sounded "natural" and had a sense of space. The Jensen was also described as clear and balanced, but sounds mono and lacks the natural feel of the Altec Lansing.
Most of the rest are only OK for sound. The AVLabs AVL785, Logitech Pure-Fi Express Plus and TEAC SRLXiB are the best of them, but all have trouble with bass and tend to lose clarity when the music is complex.
The Memorex iWake and Sony ICF-CD3iP don't have much volume to begin with and distort if turned up to near-maximum. Although the panellists weren't impressed, they felt these products could serve as a clock radio with the added docking function, but only if sound quality isn't a priority.