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December 2007
Speakers for portable players
Turn your iPods and other portable MP3 players into table-top systems
Sound systems that enable you to enjoy your iPod music without headphones are proliferating. Just dock your iPod (or other
music player) in one of those units, and you-along with friends and family-can listen to your favorite tunes through the stereo
speakers. Prices range from less than $100 to $600, so you'll find something to suit just about any budget.
iPod speakers come in all shapes and sizes, from small, slim units weighing a pound or two to big, boxy models weighing more than 15 pounds. In general, those systems output enough sound for casual listening in your kitchen, office, dorm room, or the like but don't deliver enough oomph for a noisy party. Some of the largest, and usually the priciest, models provide more volume and a fuller sound that could work in noisier settings. (Incidentally, although they're often dubbed iPod speakers, almost all those systems also work with other types of MP3 players, which connect to the system's auxiliary input, usually a 3.5mm minijack.)
Features and capabilities vary greatly. Some speaker systems incorporate an alarm clock, AM/FM radio, or CD player, while others are just speakers, pure and simple. Many have to be plugged into an electrical outlet, making them most practical for tabletop use at home. Others can run on batteries, giving you more mobility. Remote controls are standard, enabling you to control music playback without jumping up to adjust the controls on the console. With many systems, the remote can't navigate the menus, though a few models do allow this. Video outputs on some models let you watch your videos on a bigger screen.
iPod speakers come in all shapes and sizes, from small, slim units weighing a pound or two to big, boxy models weighing more than 15 pounds. In general, those systems output enough sound for casual listening in your kitchen, office, dorm room, or the like but don't deliver enough oomph for a noisy party. Some of the largest, and usually the priciest, models provide more volume and a fuller sound that could work in noisier settings. (Incidentally, although they're often dubbed iPod speakers, almost all those systems also work with other types of MP3 players, which connect to the system's auxiliary input, usually a 3.5mm minijack.)
Features and capabilities vary greatly. Some speaker systems incorporate an alarm clock, AM/FM radio, or CD player, while others are just speakers, pure and simple. Many have to be plugged into an electrical outlet, making them most practical for tabletop use at home. Others can run on batteries, giving you more mobility. Remote controls are standard, enabling you to control music playback without jumping up to adjust the controls on the console. With many systems, the remote can't navigate the menus, though a few models do allow this. Video outputs on some models let you watch your videos on a bigger screen.
