Bose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System (Gloss Black)
by BOSE
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List Price: Our Price: $399.00 You Save: $0.95 (0%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $270.00 (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 Bose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System (Gloss Black)
Customer Review: Pleasantly Surprised
Summary: 5 Stars
I purchased a Bose SoundDock Portable to use in a walk-out basement rec room and patio-- hence the 'portable' option-- thinking it would be OK (as in better than other sound dock options out there) but not great. I always had pegged Bose, at least today's Bose, as a decent quality, but not serious, audio gear hole for the brand blinded to chuck their money down. But the Bose dock's size, apparent ease of use, appearance, good reputation (although I took that with a grain of salt) and perfect fit for my situation got me, and I bought one. Boy am I pleasantly surprised.
I am using it primarily as an output for an iTunes stream coming through an Airport Express from my laptop. In that capacity it works flawlessly-- music goes in the 'aux' input via 3.5mm mini plug for nice, tight, clear, and, to use a phrase that gets tossed around way too much about Bose sound but now makes perfect sense, room filling sound. All without the room filling receiver/preamp-amp-speakers setup that you tend to need to achieve tight, clear, room filling sound. And I'm picky about my sound-- especially from an ultra pricey glorified boom box. Well, I see why the glorified happens now. Well done, Bose.
The unit is handsome, and I like being able to stow the dock thingie niftily inside it for a cleaner look when I'm not using an iPod. Battery life is good, several hours at cocktail volume, and my wife appreciates being able to eliminate the bulky power supply if we're entertaining, or just hanging out and indulging our neat freakness. If you care about those things, brace yourself: The power supply is really bulky and ugly-- 3.25" x 3.25" x 2". Fair to say though it's well designed, with a nice way to wrap and secure the cord around it for packing up or just taking up some cord slack. For the neat freaks, I guess. So being able to listen on battery can be a nice visual plus if that sort of thing matters to you. The remote is simple and intuitive, and the volume buttons on the side of the unit itself are a nice touch. Build quality seems solid.
I like loud music sometimes, and this thing is crankable without sounding flustered or too thin. The sound just gets bigger, proportionately, without harshness or even a hint of distortion. Nice. I love music, and my tastes I can safely say give ALL kinds music a shake at one point or another in a given week. I've enjoyed listening to the Bose's interpretations, and that's saying a lot!
All in all, a great sounding and good looking solution to getting music in a place where you don't want to use traditional separates-- without making you wish you had that receiver/preamp-amp-speakers. That's a nice achievement.
So far a great first experience with Bose, and I plan to give their products a serious look the next time I'm in the market for speakers. Hope this helps....
Customer Review: Way over budget but worth it
Summary: 5 Stars
Originally my budget for an ipod-dock speaker system was about $100. I planned on using it at home, in my rather large house, so I wanted something with good sound quality that I could crank up loud enough for background music during a party, but that I could also take around the house with me easily.
After reading many reviews I went to a few stores to listen to the following systems (using the same music from my ipod to compare them, including classic crooner Christmas songs (Nat King Cole), classic Rock (Rush), and classical (Beethoven)):
Altec Lansing inMotion iM620
Altec Lansing M202 Altec Lansing Dual Charging iPod dock
Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2
Logitech S715i
Klipsch iGroove SXT
Bose SoundDock Series II
and of course, this one, the Bose Sounddock Portable
The logitechs were not in the same league as the altec lansing, klipsch and bose. And since they're in the same price range, it was easy to rule them out. The Altec Lansing M202 blew me away. It had reasonable bass and just a very well rounded sound throughout the range. It's tiny and pretty inexpensive, so if you don't need super-high volume, it's a great buy. We decided it wasn't quite loud enough for the party scenario. The Klipsch was also solid - bigger bass than the Altec Lansings and still had a very nice high end. However then the price was starting to get closer to the Bose Soundock Series II, so I was starting down the slippery slope...
The Bose products both had much stronger and bigger bass than the other docks. But the Series II sounded a little tinny in the high end. To the point that I actually thought I might prefer the overall sound from the Klipsch or Altec Lansing, despite the weaker bass. The Bose Portable had the same big strong bass as the Sounddock II but with a much better high end. According to the guy at the Bose store (we ended up there once we figured out that we probably wanted the Bose), the Portable uses the "Wave" technology and the SoundDock II does not. Seems like an odd decision to me, on Bose's part, but it means that for that extra money you're getting more than just a handle and an extra input, you're also getting better sound.
We ended up purchasing the portable and have tried it out in the house with a bunch of different music and at different volumes. We're super happy so far, and glad we splurged. We listen to music enough that the extra enjoyment is worth it.
Customer Review: It's not just a speaker...It's BOSE..
Summary: 5 Stars
It took me few months to decide whether I will buy this product or not. First because of the price, $400 is not just worth it... for a small speaker? Im insane!!!..i thought. I could buy around 3 big speakers of another brand for that amount, for God sake. I started, reading all websites except BOSE (of course their website will only mentioned great things about their product) including customers reviews..etcetera.. I am planning to buy this w/ Amazon but I live in Costa Rica that for sure I would need to spend around $500 or more w/ the freight charges & taxes coming here. I was just walking today in a mall & entered this authorized APPLE STORE (ICON) & realized I could buy the unit for $460 only. That's not too bad i thought. I got the speaker, tried it... guess what, this is one of the few things I bought w/c I didn't regret spending that much money for a small package.
The sound is WONDERFUL, bass is not exagerately deep but so deep for that small speaker that you would just be amazed how it was produced and manufactured.
Portability, its 5-star...Now, I could go to the beach, lay down under the sun w/ my BOSE & nano touch together, playing my fave songs.. That's awesome! I just need a spare battery though for longer usage but who cares, spare batteries are for sale.
The ipod dock is just cool that I could hide it when not in use.
All in all... Of course, it's a must have for party lovers or beach goers who loves listening to music anywhere else..wherever you want, whenever you wish..
It's not just a speaker...It's BOSE!!!
UPDATE 2/17/11
I brought my speaker at the beach twice and my frieds was just so envy with my new stuff. Now, they're thinking of buying theirs. In regards with the battery, i thought it wont last that long. We went to a bar w/ a pool before noon & it lasted until around 8pm that night w/ continous playing. So, I decided not to buy a spare battery for the meantime. With that duration, i'm still OK. This is a must have for outdoors party.
Customer Review: This is perfect for my needs - portable, great sound!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was on the fence over a year before buying this sounddock. I'm sorry I waited so long is my only regret. I do a lot of outdoor events, and parties, and gatherings, and we always need good music that's easy to carry around. I looked at almost every other option on the market, and I finally took the plunge. I LOVE THIS THING! Not only do I use it at home a lot, in the Kitchen, Bathroom, living room, but I just throw it in the bag (that came with it) and it's so light. Yet so powerful. I never use it full volume and it's perfect for me. I would recommend this unit over and over. The only thing I need now is another battery! I would never return this unit for something 1/2 the price. Bose did a great job with this unit. The only somewhat annoying thing is that my iphone 3G, which I no longer use as a phone, keeps saying "this device is not supported". every few minutes, but other than that, I love it. If you want to spend a lot more on a home stereo system, get the Bose with all the small speakers.
I exercise a lot outside, so this is a lot of motivation packed in a little unit. Turn up the music and exercising is GREAT. If you're on the fence about this unit go to a bose store. I had my guard up a bit when I went to the Bose store, but when I heard how amazing the sound was, it took me all of 10 seconds to say "I'll take one now". $450 later - NO REGRETS! If you want cheaper i'm sure you can find it. But if you want great sound with good bass and big presence, plus ultra light to carry, this is the one. Remote is great too!
I didn't buy the unit from Amazon but I'm a huge fan of Amazon and buy many, many things here. I actually went to the Bose store and got it so I could take it home right then and there. Just fantastic.
And it's lighter than I thought it was. Definitely get the carrying case that comes with it. PERFECT. If you need more than 3 hours of music outside or wherever you are, get the additional battery.
Customer Review: If you want authentic music reproduction, this is the one.....
Summary: 5 Stars
8-26-10 UPDATE !!
Well.... I STILL LOVE IT! Since my last review I have gone to the dark side and purchased an Itouch for me and my Bose. It really completes the package. I have decent stereos in my garage and in my shop. I have found myself carrying the Bose into those areas and not using the BIGGER stereos that are already there. The Bose simply sounds better, way better. People that hear it are convinced. My cousin has since purchased one and so has a friend after hearing at a party. I have wifi at my home and I can tune in Pandora or Rhapsody on the Itouch, park it in the Bose, and carry uninterupted music anywhere on my property and even to our next door neighbors. I love this modern technology! A far cry from the old 8-track days!!
(Original Review)
My cousin had one of these at the beach recently. People kept walking up the beach to us wanting to know "where is that music coming from?? It sounds amazing and I don't see anything." He pulled up the small beach towel and the Bose was under it. They could not believe the quality of the music... even out in the wide open. How can such a small speaker make that much music? His answer was "I don't know ask BOSE"! I couldn't believe it either. I bought one as soon as I got home. I do not have an Ipod. I have a Creative Zen M. It sounds awesome. The Bose Sound Dock does not sound like a speaker in a plastic box. It has amazing, natural sound and the bass is incredible for such a small package. It will not vibrate your glass off the table but the lows are low & smooth enough to make you say WOW! I know the price hurts, but the pain goes away after 3 songs! Thank You Bose.... You have a new fan!!! I LOVE it!!