Most iPod/iPhone speaker docks come up short in the bass department. If you like your tunes thumpin', I've got just the solution: Buy.com has the Philips Docking Entertainment System DC912 for $79.99 shipped. Normal price? $179.99.
Before I get into the details, I need to point out the big "but." No, it's not, "but there's a rebate." And, no, it's not, "but it's a refurb." (It's new.)
The DC912 is $79.99, but you need to pay with PayPal to get that price. For me that's not an issue: I routinely sell stuff on eBay to fund my PayPal account, which I then use for stuff just like this.
If you don't have an account, the dock will run you $109.99--still a pretty solid deal considering the list price.
So, what's the big deal about the DC912? For starters, check the photo: It's sweet-looking! Love that silvery flat-panel design. You can use the stand or mount the dock on a wall using an included bracket.
Cooler still, it comes with a standalone subwoofer. A wireless subwoofer. Combined with the dock, it churns out a seriously impressive 100 watts of audio power.
The unit also includes a remote, an FM tuner with 20 programmable presets, and an aux jack in case you want to connect a non-iPod player. It can even play MP3s and WMAs stored on USB drives and SD/MMC cards.
As you'll discover in the above video review, CNET didn't love the DC912's audio quality. However, the user reviews on Amazon as well as Buy.com's product page tell a different story: 4.5 stars out of 5 across the board. (Users tend to be less persnickety about audio quality than professional reviewers.)
A note to iPhone owners: You can use DC912, but you'll have to switch to Airplane Mode to avoid interference.
My daughter is about to become the crazy-happy owner of a refurbished 8GB iPod Nano Touch ($179 from the Apple Store). Might just have to spring for one of these to go with it.
Why spend $49 on Apple's charging dock when you can get one for 6 bucks?
(Credit: Meritline)Tired of your iPhone's USB cable flopping all over your desk? Wish your handset could sit upright while it's charging? Sounds like you need a dock. Unfortunately, Apple charges a whopping $49 for its Universal Dock. Surely there's an alternative for cheapskates?
There is! Meritline has an iPhone charging dock for just $5.99, shipping included. (From Hong Kong, no less!) It normally sells for $15.99, already a good deal compared with Apple's product.
Granted, this dock doesn't come with a remote, nor a bunch of dock adapters for charging various iPods. However, although Meritline's product page doesn't specifically mention the Touch, Nano, etc., my semi-educated guess is that this dock will have no problem charging them. (If it can charge a 3G, it should be able to handle anything with a dock connector.)
The dock does have the same kind of line-out port as Apple's, so you can plug in headphones, speakers, etc.
And there you have it! There's not much more to say, other than "I just ordered one." Docks are decidedly handy to have around, and for 6 bucks, how can you go wrong?
Normally $150, this sweet dock can be yours for $60.
(Credit: Altec Lansing)The Altec Lansing inMotion iM600 iPod speaker dock has a list price of $149.95, but until Saturday, you can score one from RadioShack for $59.99 shipped.
That's pretty sweet for a dock with an FM radio, rechargeable battery, and four-star rating from CNET.
One thing straight away: The iM600 is compatible with most iPod models (including the Touch), but not the iPhone. It doesn't charge newer Nanos, either. It does, however, feature a remote, an alarm clock (if your iPod already has one, that is), a stereo input jack for connecting other devices (ah, there's the iPhone compatibility), and a folding design for easy portability.
Speaking of which, the dock's rechargeable battery is rated for seven hours, making it a perfect companion for picnics, the swimming pool, and other outdoor activities.
I already own an older Altec Lansing dock--it sits in the kitchen and gets a ton of use. Here's your chance to score one that's even better than mine, and for a much lower price.
(Credit:
Logitech)
Remember the Logitech iPod AudioStation? First it was $50 (after rebate), then $29.99 (after rebate). Now you can scoop one up for a measly $19.99 (after...you know). Shipping will run you around $14, which seems steep given the price of the hardware itself, but your out-the-door total is still pretty low.
The AudioStation (originally $150) is an iPod speaker dock paired with an AM/FM tuner. It includes a wireless remote, an audio input jack (for connecting non-iPod players), and composite and S-Video outputs (for watching iPod videos on a TV). It charges your iPod, of course, and cranks out 80 watts' worth of audio goodness. CNET's very favorable AudioStation review awarded it an 8 out of 10.
This a new unit, not a refurb, and it comes with an impressive 2-year warranty. The rebate deal (PDF) ends June 30.
(Credit:
OnSale.com)
Remember the Memorex iFlip from a couple months ago? It's an iPod dock that plays videos on its 7-inch widescreen LCD. It was $59.99 then, but OnSale.com has the iFlip on sale for $49.99. Plus, you can get back the cost of shipping (around $15) via a mail-in rebate.
The iFlip can dock, charge, and play most iPod models, though the 3G nano isn't listed among those that are compatible. You can watch videos and photos on the big screen or just listen to music through the built-in stereo speakers. The iFlip has dual headphone jacks so you can share the media goodness.
Granted, video quality ain't the best (check out CNET's review of the similar 8.4-inch model), but it beats squinting at your iPod's tiny screen. For 50 bucks, how can you go wrong?
(Credit:
Logitech)
Sound familiar? CompUSA.com has the Logitech iPod AudioStation on sale for $29.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate. (Plan on about $14 for shipping.) The last time I posted about this product, it was $50 after rebate!
The AudioStation is an iPod speaker dock that also has an AM/FM tuner. It features a wireless remote, an audio input jack (for connecting non-iPod players), and composite and S-Video outputs (for watching iPod videos on a TV). It also charges your iPod, of course, and cranks out 80 watts' worth of audio goodness. CNET's very favorable AudioStation review awarded it an 8 out of 10.
The rebate deal ends March 31, though there's every possibility it'll sell out before then. Trust me: You'll love pumping out your iPod tunes in your kitchen, bedroom, or wherever. This is a helluva speaker dock for 30 bucks.
Update: My apologies. It appears the price is now up to $49.99. Owing to some browser weirdness at my end, I was still showing $29.99. Sorry for the confusion!
(Credit:
SDI Technologies)
Now that you've stocked your iPod with dirt-cheap, DRM-free MP3s (see yesterday's AmazonMP3 post), why not let others enjoy your great taste in music? No, I don't mean file-sharing those MP3s (that's illegal), I mean popping your iPod into a speaker dock and filling the room with your tunes.
Decent docks often run upwards of $100 or more, but Amazon has the SDI OutLoud iH80B iPod speaker dock on sale for $39.99. No rebate, free shipping, new in box--sweet.
The iH80B runs on 8 "C" batteries or AC power; the latter charges your iPod while docked. It includes a remote, three iPod inserts (it's compatible with most models), an AV-out jack for viewing iPod videos on a TV, a line-in jack for connecting other kinds of MP3 players, and even a microphone jack for iPod karaoke. Add an optional second speaker to bring the total output power to 20 watts. (Yeah, the single speaker is a bit weak, but probably fine for smallish rooms.)
(Credit:
Circuit City)
For about the price of a budget digital camera, you can snag a budget digital camera and portable snapshot printer to go with it. Circuit City has the Kodak EasyShare C613 6-megapixel camera and EasyShare G610 dock/printer for $129.99 shipped (plus sales tax in most states).
The camera's fairly basic, offering a compact design, 2.4-inch LCD, and 3x optical zoom; CNET readers rated it 6.2 out of 10, meaning it's probably fine for tossing in your bag for everyday use, but not the camera you want to rely on for the family photo that's going to hang over the mantle.
As for the printer, it docks and charges the camera and churns out 4x6-inch prints in about 60 seconds. Over at Amazon, users didn't seem to mind the slow performance: They rated it 4.5 out of 5.
This is new gear, no rebates required. If you really want to get crazy, Circuit City is also offering an Epson CX8400 photo printer for $9.99 (after rebate) with any camera purchase--including this one.
(Credit:
Microsoft)
Good news for Zune owners: Buy.com has the Zune Home AV Kit for $19.99, a pretty sweet deal considering that big-box stores like Circuit City still sell it for the $99.99 list price.
The kit lets you connect your Zune (1st- and 2nd-gen models alike) to your TV or receiver, then control it from your couch via the included remote. That means you can listen to your Zune music library on your kick-ass stereo or watch videos on your big-screen TV (at a resolution of just 640x480, alas). The AC-powered Zune dock also charges your Zune, and the kit comes with an extra sync cable, handy if there's a PC nearby.
So, any Zune owners out there? I'm a fan, though I continue to be disappointed by the lack of TV and movie downloads from Zune Marketplace. Anyway, the AV Kit is new, not a refurb; you'll pay $7.09 for shipping.
(Credit:
Buy.com)
I know, it's already a portable video player--I mean one with a bigger screen. Buy.com has the Memorex iFlip on sale for $59.99 shipped, a pretty significant savings over the $199.99 list price.
Similar in design to a portable DVD player, the clamshell-style iFlip features a 7-inch widescreen LCD, stereo speakers, dual headphone jacks, and an iPod dock/charger that promises up to five hours of video playback from its rechargeable battery. It's designed for 5G iPods; I'm not sure if it'll work with 3G nanos. (Class? Anyone?)
I suspect that videos will look a little grainy and washed-out on the iFlip's 480x234-pixel screen, but it's probably better than squinting at your iPod's tiny LCD. Plus, it saves you having to hold the iPod at a comfortable viewing angle for hours at a time. I wouldn't pay $200 for one of these, but $60? I'm giving it serious thought.
