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,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple Hi-Fi Home Stereo for iPod (White)
Customer Review: Apple's Priorities Were in the Right Place
Summary: 5 Stars
My wife and I have a high end home entertainment system that uses Paradigm Reference loudspeakers. I'll say right up front that the Apple Hi-Fi is not in the same league on the low end (bass). However, it is to Apple's credit that they did not try to artificially enhance the low end. The bass is smooth and tight to the physical limits of the small system.
Moving up the frequency range, the midrange and highs are excellent. One of the things that impressed me when we first got the Paradigm's was their projection and imaging. The Apple Hi-Fi projects voices nearly as well, but of course the drivers are much too close to each other to be able to image a large room. It can reach decent sound levels in one, however.
On the weight issue, I believe Apple made a conscious design decision to sacrifice weight for sound quality. It takes weight to make good sound: weight in the power supply, weight in the driver magnets and weight in the enclosure. I for one would not be willing to give up sound quality to get a lighter unit. The compact size also accentuates the weight - this thing is solid.
Apple's often mocked Hi-Fi hype is that it could be your only audio system. Well, if we were forced to downsize and give up our large entertainment system, then yes, I believe we could live with the Apple Hi-Fi as our sole music source.
Customer Review: A treat for sore ears...
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was a kid, I was fascinated by better quality sound than I was getting from TV and standard AM radio. I built a bunch of enclosures and amplifiers to see what a 10 year old could do with little money. The quest has continued even now that I'm 61. I've bought cheap "boogy boxes" that had better than average sound. I looked for what I intuitively knew what was possible. I've seen cheap stuff sound better than an Altec Lansing system that the owner said cost $30,000.
I know the serious freaks may complain about Steve Job's hyperbole about this product, but for me, it's rock solid. You can crank it up to max and it never distorts. What Apple gets out of a five inch woofer is amazing. And when you lift the device (and it's heavy), you gotta' know they didn't waste the weight just for the sake of forcing you to lift it; it's all about sound quality.
Just make sure you use this with plenty of space around it. It doesn't sound nearly as good in small inclosed areas. Larger rooms and outdoor spaces show it's potential.
Of the various sound products I've ever bought, this one is the most satisfying.
Much later: I find they've discontinued this item. Might be a bit of a cult around this product; I see very high prices for leftovers and used. Sigh! market decisions at their worst. C'mon Apple!
Customer Review: Amazing sound in a tight and clean package.
Summary: 5 Stars
I listened to Bose and all the others similarly designed products side by side and by far these speakers sounded the richest and nicest of the bunch. They look respectable at home and sound decent across a range of volume.
They have some very nice design features. The infrared remote is very sensitive and you hardly have to point it anywhere near the speakers for the speakers to respond. Very nice.
When you plug in audio (I often connect my PC to them), the sound fades in over a couple seconds so you don't get surprised with a loud volume. Nice touch.
Speaking of touch, the touch sensitive volume buttons work nicely.
The power cord is just a cord--there is no big transformer on the line. Nice design.
The one thing to be aware of is that the speakers are not hugely portable eventhough it does take batteries--it is not very light even without the batteries. Sure, you can move it around the house easily but you won't likely be putting it your bag to take on a trip.
Overall, this is one of the electronic products I've been most satisfied with in the last year. I bought two because I had two rooms where they fit in well.
Customer Review: comparison of apple and bose speakers
Summary: 5 Stars
I listened to both at Apple store, and felt I needed a better test at home. So I bought both Bose and Apple. My report? Bose sounds a little richer, fuller. Apple has more user control capabilities to tune the sound for more bass, classic, jazz, etc. although none of these seemed to do much. Bottom line, both are good. I moved the Bose to my wife cuz she can't deal with making different settings, I kept the Apple so I could try a few changes in the settings and it was a bit louder and almost equalled the Bose in quality. If my wife told me to swap 'em, I'd be fine with that too. Slight preference for Apple controls and using ipod displays, slight preference for Bose sound richness. Bose does take up less desk top space, perhaps half the Apple. Sorry if I can't tell you that I have a definite pick, but it's a slight edge to the Apple for me (controls, visibility of what's playing) versus a slight sound advantage to Bose. BTW, each are very simple to use, plug in the iPod and you're set to go. Oh, should all our choices be so good.Customer Review: BEST YET LOUD SOUND
Summary: 5 Stars
I'VE HAD THE APPLE HI FI FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME BUT I TAKE IT TO MY WORK AND LISTEN TO IT EACH NIGHT AND IT BLOWS EVERYONE OUT OF THE ROOM. IT'S CLEAR AND CRISP NO MATTER HOW LOUD I'VE CRANKED IT UP...IF IT GETS DISTORTED, I WOULD NOT KNOW SINCE I CAN ONLY TAKE THE LOUDNESS UP TO A CERTAIN POINT (AND THAT'S PRETTY LOUD) AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DISTORTION AT ALL. MY LITTLE 4G NANO WORKS PERFECTLY IN IT. I GOT MY NEW APPLE HI FI ON EBAY FOR $200 (SHIP INCL) AND THAT'S A GREAT PRICE AS YOU CAN SEE...BATTERIES DON'T LAST LONG IF YOU USE BATTERY POWER. SEEMS TO ME I ONLY GOT ABOUT 7 HOURS OUT OF THEM. I LIKE THE RUBBER PAD ON THE BOTTOM TO PROTECT THE UNIT AND YOUR TABLE OR WHAT EVER SURFACE YOU PUT IT ON. I LOVE THE HANDLES WHERE YOU CAN EASILY CARRY IT FROM PLACE TO PLACE....WONDERFUL UNIT...HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! P.S. I HAD ORIGINALLY WANTED THE BOSE, LIKE THIS BETTER THOUGH...:)