Rockin' docks!

Fwd Tech  Monday 31 August 2009

Want more than just iPod connectivity from your dock? Check these out...

It’s good to share. That’s why we like iPod docks so much. They release your tunes from the weighty shackles of their iPod prison to be heard by one and all in the vicinity. But that’s not all we expect them to do. We’re 21st century men. So we expect our docks to be 21st century tech. That means versatility and multi-tasking abilities we can be proud of. Here are our three of the best…

1. Roth Audio ALFiE Named after neither the womanizing philanderer played by Michael Caine (and subsequently Jude Law) or that squat alien from the 80s, ALF, that looked remarkably like the Fonz, the ALFiE is one smart iPod dock. It offers top-notch sound quality, thumping bass and warm sound. It’ll even play DVDs! Then there’s the FM/AM radio, CD playback, and sexy looks. Awesome.

2. Vita Audio R4 A literal translation of Vita Audio is “Hear life”. Now, we shudder to think what sort of sounds Vita Audio imagines life makes, but the sounds the Vita Audio R4 makes are stunning. The 2.1 speaker system offers honey-rich audio with a smidgeon of bass when your iPod’s slotted in the top. It also has a RotoDial on the top that’s removable and as tactile as it is bizarre. You also get DAB and FM radio, CD playback and a USB port. Natch!

3. Roberts Sound 43 It wouldn’t be right to have an audio round-up with a Roberts product. The Roberts Sound 43 may have a dull-sounding name, but it sounds anything but dull when turned on. It’s an excellent DAB and FM radio (naturally, being a Roberts), but it’s so much more than that. Slot in your iPod and you have a jukebox for your bedside. Sounds are rich and smooth thanks to “retro” six position graphic equaliser. Oh and it’s also an alarm clock! Wakey wakey!

Want more dock loveliness? Check out the iPod dock best buys...