Apple Hi-Fi Home Stereo for iPod (White)
by Apple Computer
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Our Price: $899.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $349.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple Hi-Fi Home Stereo for iPod (White)
Customer Review: The sound is AMAZING. Highly recommended!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I tried all the major offerings that had demos set up at Best Buy (Klipsch, Bose, JBL, Apple). I used my 5G iPod and tried some John Coltrane, J.S. Bach, Led Zepplin, and Rage Against The Machine (I wanted to test a wide variety). The Hi Fi was the most impressive BY FAR. If it sounded that good in Best Buy, I knew it would do well in my living room and quickly ordered one from Amazon.
I received it today, and after listening for a just few minutes felt compelled to write a review (something I have never done for any product before).
The sound is phenomenal. It is extremely powerful (fills my entire apartment at half volume), yet perfectly crisp at every level. The highs and lows have perfect clarity at the Normal setting, with no equalizer effects or boost. The box is solid, heavy, and clearly well-made. The base has a sturdy rubberized pad and there is no risk of it slipping off any surface even if accidentally knocked.
The device is small (relative to most sound systems) and has a very clean appearance. There is no transformer box to hide or large plug taking up all your outets - just a simple cord and small two-prong plug.
It interacts seamlessly with the iPod, and was literally plug-and-play when I took it out of the box.
My only complaint is the remote. It lacks any ability to change albums or playlists. It can change the volume, play or stop the music, and move from track to track within the same album/playlist. That's fine, but with a little more effort I'm sure they could have added some better interaction with the iPod itself.
That's a very small issue when you consider the sound, and other qualities of the device. It still deserves top marks.
I highly recommend it.
Customer Review: I'll be moving my stereo to the basement
Summary: 5 Stars
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to confess that I'm not an audiophile. I'm a music fan, and I'm definitely not the type to be more into his stereo than the music he plays on it.
That said, I must confess that I'm digging my iPod Hi-Fi in a big way. Part of my sales pitch to my wife in buying an iPod in the first place was that we'd eventually also pick up an iPod Hi-Fi, then move our stereo - and our CDs & LPs - to the basement. So my big question in hatching this scheme was, "Can this thing really replace a home stereo for most people?" (That's MOST people...not audiosnobs.)
I'm happy to report that the answer is yes. Actually, a big YES!
For this unit, the folks at Apple have stuffed the workings of a completely serviceable home stereo into a neat, compact little box. It does what most (again MOST) people want a stereo to do: fills a room with music, keeps the music clear, and allows the user to pump up the volume a bit without sacrificing sound quality. So, my worry that I might be replacing a stereo with a boombox was unfounded. This thing has a nice, big, full, rich sound. Audio geeks may disagree but, truth be told, most of us are not audio geeks.
Unlike some other folks who have reviewed this system, I have no problem with the iPod Hi-Fi being a bit on the heavy side. Hey - you don't want your stereo to seem flimsy! If I have one complaint, it's that I'm not completely sold on the design. It's not exactly bad, but with its white finish and rounded corners, it does look a little like a kitchen appliance. On the bright side, Apple could add a Belgian Waffle making function to their next version, and they'll REALLY have a hit on their hands.
Customer Review: Perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
This is exactly what I needed to complete my move to the iPod world. It's like having your entire CD collection in a boombox. It's simple to hook up, has great sound quality, and best of all NO SPEAKER WIRES!!!!
Big plus is the portability. I took this on a weekend trip, plugged it in, and had my entire CD collection with me while on vacation. Another advantage is I can move it from room to room as needed for workouts, folding laundry, or whatever (I prefer listening to music without ear buds). It's so plain and compact that I can even have it in a formal living room during a party without it looking out of place the way a stereo does. And the iPod charges while docked so no running out of power. I even could see buying a couple of these babies, putting them in a few different rooms I listen to music in, and just taking the iPod with me from room to room.
I got rid of my stereo several months after buying this. I just stopped using it, and I now no longer need CDs except for storage. And this takes up a lot less space. It can sit on a bookshelf or on the floor, could even sit on my desk if I wanted. No need for a stereo cabinet.
The only gripe I have is that the remote is pretty limited. It's fine for what it is, but I wish I could use it to search through the songs on my iPod from a distance. For example, while I'm listening to a song, I'd like to be able to see the iPod screen on the remote, use the menus to select the next song/artist/album I want to hear, and put it into a queue of songs to play. Sort of like making a playlist as I listen rather than have to create the playlist in advance and then play it. That would be nirvana!
Customer Review: Counterpoint to low ratings.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was given a 200 gift card to bestbuy as a university graduation present. I had planned on buying the bose ipod speaker dock, but I saw this and was immediatley interested. I paid the additional 150 on top of my giftcard, and brought it home.
First - yes, the Bose system is 50 dollars cheaper. But I submit to you that the extra 50 dollars is the cost of the form-factor and style. I was not excited about the Bose system, especially with the lack of bass. This system has the added bass, and the soundstage is not as bad as people make it sound. Plus, for MY money, the shape and form are awesome. I have it on top of a 3 shelf bookcase, which is all black, so the unit is about waist level. My other knicknacks and such that were on the shelf now are on either side of this unit, and I even have some on top.
The Hifi system blends into its surrounding so much better than the bose or the ugly JBL circular system. This is a bookshelf, table unit. Its not a huge home stereo, its for ambience and convienience. I personally use it for my family room/reading room where there is no other stereo or a tv, and its flawless.
This is a good unit for the price. Its convenient, stylish, and sounds great. It is a little pricey, but if you are in the 300 dollar range for ipod speakers (like the bose), then an extra 50 dollars isn't going to break the bank. If that extra 50 simply is NOT in your pricerange... well, you've got financial problems that a 50 dollar price break isn't going to fix.
I take this over the Bose or JBL anyday.
RAWK.
Customer Review: Such a great iPOD system--BUY IT and try it!
Summary: 5 Stars
Yes! Way to go Apple! They've designed a beautiful, sleek HiFi unit for the iPod that takes up very little room and delivers GREAT sound. And allows seamless integration with the iPod so you can use all its playback features with the HiFi remote. Only improvement for me would be to offer it in other colors as well. One important update: the description copy mentions it is compatible with these iPods: iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G, iPod mini, iPod 3G, iPod 4G (Clickwheel), iPod Color, iPod 5G/5.5G Video.
When you read the manual, it mentions that other docking iPods can adapt via the audio input cable OR the buyer can purchase another dock insert (e.g. for an 8GB iPod) from the Apple Store. However that should be unnecessary: my 8GB nano is blasting away right now on my iPod HiFi as I write this, and all I did is remove the dock adapter insert entirely, and connect it to the dock without the plastic adapter insert. Works perfectly--no cord needed. (For some reason, the dock design on the 8GB is mounted offcenter, different from most iPod docks.) But never fear: it works on ALL iPODS that have docking capability. Including the 4GB second generation nano, and the 8GB nano not listed above. For those who haven't seen it in a store, the package includes separate dock adapters (plastic covers) to fit all the listed iPods above, with the remote.
And keep checking: occasionally Amazon will offer free shipping for this item making it an even better deal. (Normally charges for shipping even for Prime customers.)