If you own an iPod or iPhone device, then you may want to buy a speaker docking station to go with it for those times that you want to play music in your home. There are several brands, so you need to know what to look for. Here are some basics that are important in speaker docking stations.
Audio Quality
If a speaker has lousy audio quality then it isn't doing its job. Depending on the speaker doc you choose, some have superb audio, but not too many other features. For instance, the Bose SoundDock Series II has both fantastic sound quality and lots of good features. It received an overall average of four out of five stars in 120 reviews on Amazon.com with the best ratings coming for its sound quality, ease of use and multiple features. It sells currently at Amazon for 9.
Size and Design
Another feature you need to consider is the size and design of the speaker dock you are going to buy. Don't just look at the picture, because that doesn't always show it right. You need to read the reviews and pay close attention to the details of the specs of the product. For instance, the Bose SoundDock 10 is a great product with nearly 5 out of five stars in 46 reviews on Amazon, but it weighs 18 lbs and that means it's not very portable. But if sound quality is more important to you than size, then get the Bose SoundDock 10, which is the Cadillac of sound quality. It's not cheap at 9 on Amazon, but you really get what you pay for if you want the best there is in sound quality.
Portability
Portability may not be as important to you in a speaker docking system if you don't plan on carrying it around, If it is to you, then look for ones that can fold flat, run on batteries as well as electricity, and are light.
Remote Control
And something that may seem insignificant, but is important to a lot of customers is the remote control. Some have many functions, while others just do the basics like play, pause, skip, or rewind. Better ones can navigate playlists, pick artists, and offer full iPod navigation. A good choice for this is the iHome iP1, which sells for 8 at Amazon and got 4 out of 5 stars on average in 42 reviews.
Extra Features
And then come the extras like being able to watch an iPod video on your TV, or an addition of a clock or a radio or other device.
Price
And of course the price. There are speaker docks from under 0 to over 0 on average. There are some very good ones for less than 0, like the iHome iH64 Multimedia Stereo Speakers with Dock for iPod, which got 4 and a half stars overall in 19 reviews at Amazon and sells for only .
