Our dominant decorating taste seems to change with the tides. That’s why, when given the opportunity, we’ll try to pick up items that are adaptable to different palates (good advice a friend once gave us). That’s why we might even consider saving up the dough for the Vita Audio R4, which captures a brilliant look in its retro-cool, yet modern, styling.
We’ve featured Vita Audio products here before, but the new R4 includes updates like a CD player and iPod dock.
Features: CD player, iPod dock, USB playback port, FM Radio, Clock and Alarm. The front and back of the music system have ample room for inputs being designed for easy "plug and play" use while not creating a crowded place for cables. Price: Walnut $987; Glossy White $1,086. 
Looks sweet!
view ekoshyun's profile
at first I was like "why didn't I get this [during my recent office-appropriate ipod docking station shopping quest]?"...then I saw the price, and was immediately reminded. the pop out dial is awesome, though.
view amt230's profile
Looks good but who actually makes it? Vitra makes furniture and not into the audio business...As I would never buy a watch from Gucci, Chanel because they are not watch makers. Curious if anyone knows who actually makes this.
view LoriSF's profile
LoriSF, it's a company called Vita Audio, not Vitra.
http://www.vitaaudio.com/about/vitaaudio.html
view sparkle's profile
Blah!
I realize that it is cheaper for them to reuse car stereo innards and tweak them in small ways for this sort of thing...but would it kill them to put the USB port and AUX inputs on the BACK of the device?
Why invest all that effort into making something look good only to have it significantly negatively impacted when a user tries to take advantage of all the things it is supposed to do?
An Airport Express coupled with a FatMan Tube Audio system would cost way less and look every bit as good...and all the inputs are in all the right places!
http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/product_07/iTube_ValveDock.shtml
view RJHD3's profile
They're sorta ugly, but the Cambridge Soundworks clock radios are still the best sounding units out there, for the price:
http://www.hifi.com/store/category.cgi?category=landing_radio_i765
On sale for $299. Plays CDs, DVDs, CDs or DVDs full of mp3 files, and you can play songs off your iPod and hook it up to a tee vee to watch movies. Perfect for small space living or for a bedroom alarm clock / DVD player.
view sunspot42's profile