Good Questions: iPod Docking Station Recommendation?

Dear Unplggd, we moved in June to a house where the living room, dining room and kitchen are essentially one room. I am looking for a sound system for that space. I grew up with a 4-component stereo with floor speakers, carted it to college and everywhere, but now, I want clean and easy. We bought a bigger ipod and are looking for a higher-end docking station. I've forgone wireless speakers once I realized I'd be charging batteries all the time. One such system that has caught my attention is the Roth ALFiE, but it seems fairly new and I can't find any user reviews. Several people have recommended a "5.1 system", which seems simply like a surround sound sytem, other's have said the Alfie's price tag is too high, but my 4-component Sony stereo with floor speakers was $400 back in 1984, and the Alfie, along with an iPod and a pair of extra speakers, would probably come in around $1k. That seems pretty good for a sound system and storage medium imo. So, can anyone shed light on the ALFiE please? Thanks! Caro

We don't have any experience with the Roth ALFiE ourselves (though we would certainly would love to have our in-house audiophile, Peter, get one send over the pond to put thru the tests). The ALFie looks to be a well appointed iPod docking station, with the CD, AM/FM, DVD and alarm clock features, making it a decent secondary television set media unit (video out is component or S-video; no HDMI...boo!) with 2.1 sound. The pop-out iPod dock is a nice feature and the compact finish makes it a good small space choice, but we'll quote UK home theater mag, Whathifi's assessment to give you some details worth considering before you plunk down that $1,000 for a device that may or may not meet your audio needs:

"Sound from CD, radio or iPod is a slightly more qualified success. The ALFiE is never less than listenable, delivering music with assurance and enthusiasm – but the Roth's bass notes sound boxy and overconfident.
There are tone controls available to try to even things out, but the exhibitionist bottom end is not to be dissuaded.

ALFiE gets a lot right – so why only four stars? Mostly, it's because the machine is a trial to use. The remote control is unpleasant and uncertain, FM radio does without RDS, the display forgets how long a second lasts when playing an iPod, you can't eject a disc when using a different input and the touch-sensitive controls on the unit aren't sensitive at all."

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my friends have the Bose iPod dock/stereo, and that thing is rad! great sound, packs a punch, looks good, and can fill the whole house. they've got everything from the iPod touch, to the iPod classic, to the iPhone...bastards.

i just bought the iLuv because it said it works with iPod shuffles...yeah, well, it doesn't. i'm thinking i could go to radio shack and rig something because my shuffle works through a headphone jack, but c'mon! make it easier for the shuffle!

now i might have to go buy an actual real size iPod just so my dock will work :(

posted by kdkaboom on January 30th 2009 at 9:59am
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A couple of years ago for Christmas my daughter gave me the apple hi-fi ipod dock station (hope that's right.) I don't know the actual name but it sounds great. Everyone always comments on the sound.
This year she gave me for my kitchen the Tivoli SongBird which has am/fm radio, an ipod docking station that pulls out of the side, clock and I believe an alarm? It sounds good but not as good as the one from Apple. Still I'm happy with it.
I suggest you wait before investing. I actually like reading reviews by others before purchasing anything. It helps as well as actually seeing/hearing it in person compared to others. The hi-fi by Apple actually sold me when the sales person let me hear the actual difference compared to other docking stations. It quickly went on my short Christmas list of gifts. Shop around and check out reviews they do help.

posted by E.I.F. on January 30th 2009 at 11:32am
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Cambridge Soundworks makes a great clock radio that's available with either an integrated or external iPod dock. One model will even play DVD's, and has a video output so you can hookup a monitor.

The model with the DVD player and integrated dock can be had for $300:
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=landing_radio_i765

A model with just a CD player and an external dock can be had for $200:
http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/store/category.cgi?category=aud_radio&item=53CW0221AA003

posted by sunspot42 on January 30th 2009 at 10:20pm
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@kdkaboom:

You don't need to buy a new iPod, but an adapter so your shuffle can work with standard iPod docks. Here's a link:

http://www.dynexproducts.com/pc-646-8-dynex-30-pin-dock-adapter-for-apple-ipod-shuffle.aspx

@caro:
If you want to read about iPod docking station based solutions; some of the best reviews are on ilounge.com. But more than anything...try and get out to stores and listen to them. Trust your ears over reviews.

posted by RJHD3 on January 31st 2009 at 12:44am
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