Best ipod docking stations

[Method]

Yo. Wanted to gauge the opinions of those I trust...

I am looking to purchase an ipod docking station...(so when I travel, I can break it out for impromptu jam sessions with the crew).

I'm not afraid to spend money on quality. What's the best on the mkt?

 

[abboudc]

Yo. Wanted to gauge the opinions of those I trust...

I am looking to purchase an ipod docking station...(so when I travel, I can break it out for impromptu jam sessions with the crew).

I'm not afraid to spend money on quality. What's the best on the mkt?

I'm a big fan of the Cambridge Soundworks ones:
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=landing_radio_i765

 

[Gimpy Ric]

I'm a big fan of the Cambridge Soundworks ones:
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=landing_radio_i765

That is bad to the bone cool! But, I'm to broke and don't need one .

 

[solomr2]

Denon ASD-3W: LINK

This wireless iPod dock is probably not what you had in mind, but I recently installed this in my system and I am very impressed with it. For iPod integration, it is about as full featured and functional as you're going to get. But the coolest thing about it is the wireless features - it was a breeze to setup, even with my firewall and WPA security setup, and you can access media files on your local computers as well as listen to hundreds of Internet Radio stations.

I highly recommend it.

 

[Warpdrv]

Denon ASD-3W: LINK

$229.00 ?????


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7826748&type=product&id=1142295759733&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=7826748

Just got this for my son for Christmas, hooked up to a receiver, and works great.
I still have to load up his Ipod Touch with some music I am more familiar with and test it out on my main system for quality testing, but so far.. he likes it, and it sounds pretty good from what I have heard...

 

[solomr2]

$229.00 ?????

Yes, it is a bit pricey, I paid $150 for mine. But this is much, much more than just an iPod dock. Sure, it does iPod integration very well, integrating the display and tag info on the GUI on your TV screen, and it even charges your iPod while docked. But this is just the tip of it.

The ASD-3W is a great network client, fully integrated into your home network. The WiFi networking is built-in. Once connected to your network, you can stream music, video and pictures from any of your local computers, and it also lets you listen to hundreds of Internet radio stations, which you can search by genre, country, and several other categories. Another really nice touch is the GUI has the same theme and format as Denon's new high-end receiver GUI, which is pretty good, so it has a familiar interface. And of course, it comes with a remote, which has its own resting slot in the dock so it is easy to find.

As an iPod dock, it is one of the best I have seen, but having an iPod dock also serve as a network client makes it all worth the money and sets it widely apart from contemporary iPod docks.

 

[Method]

something along the lines of the Cambridge Soundworks iis what I am talking about...an independent, stand alone player/station...the Bose is another one I saw.

I guess I am just looking for the best one I can buy, quality-wise.

 

[Warpdrv]

something along the lines of the Cambridge Soundworks iis what I am talking about...an independent, stand alone player/station...the Bose is another one I saw.

I guess I am just looking for the best one I can buy, quality-wise.

hehehhe did he just say bose and quality at the same time...?

funny... must be new here...

At any rate... I saw that some of the people have had problems with the video portion of that cambridge unit... just make sure you save the receipt..

I Use a modded Xbox at every TV in my house, which allows me to stream music and movies off my 2 terabyte server, and runs through-out my entire network flawlessly... It takes a little bit to set it up, but its an awesome setup...

Good luck with your choice...

 

[Guangui]

I have this one, and extremely happy with it...Monitor Audio has a very good sounding unit, the I-Deck, don't know the price for the newer version, but the previous version is $99.99 Saturday Audio (www.saturdayaudio.com). This unit sells for $150 to $200, so $99.99 is a great price for Monitor Audio sound. If you check on the internet you will also see excellent pro reviews of this product.

Monitor's I-Deck also has a 3.5mm input jack for Walkman, and other audio devices with a 3.5mm out headphone jack; so you are not just limited to the I-Pod. And as an added feature it has a video out (S-Video and RCA Jack) so you can see your I-Pod's videos on your TV or Projector. A USB and Firewire connections are provided so you can connect your I-Pod to your computer without having to disconnect fromt he docking station.

This is one of the best sounding with the widest connections I-Pod docking station in the market.

Keep in mind that docking stations cannot do what a good receiver can do, so if money is no object, get a decent receiver with an I-Pod docking station (I recommend Marantz and Denon), with a good set of speakers (there are many to choose from, personally for the price I like PSB Image Series), so you can take advantage of multi-channel, surround, multi-zone, and other sound/video processing options.

If a stand alone unit is preferred, then go for the I-Deck.

 

[gus6464]

I got to see the B&W Zeppelin at the Home Theater Store when my friend was getting his new center and it sounded great. It's pretty big though and not cheap.

 

[Warpdrv]

Now thats just pee in the pants funny looking...

HHAAHAHH thanks gus..

 

[abboudc]

something along the lines of the Cambridge Soundworks iis what I am talking about...an independent, stand alone player/station...the Bose is another one I saw.

I guess I am just looking for the best one I can buy, quality-wise.

There's also a 745 (external iPod dock) and 735 (no CD player, external iPod dock) that are less expensive:
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=lp_radio_family

I have a 745i and the previous model CD740 (no iPod connector). The sound quality is great for what it is. I've never used the video-out, so i can't comment on how well that works. Two of our friends have purchased one after seeing/hearing ours (we have it in the kitchen, and now one in my daughter's room).

Stay away from the Bose SoundDock or whatever it's called. There are other 'clock-radio' like docks that sound better...i've heard many people like the JBL one, but i've never heard it myself.

 

[Maximite]

http://www.chillsound.com/ a few more options than the B&W.

 

[dorokusai]

I have one of those Fat Boy tube docks that's pretty nice, comes with speakers and is usually less than $160 new.

Mark
Polk Audio CS