Apple iPod Hi-Fi Speaker Systems that won’t break the bank
By Mark Knowles
To take full advantage of the iPod’s capabilities, a speaker system is a useful accessory. There are a selection of speaker systems that will work well with the Apple iPod, but all speaker systems are not made equal, and the maxim, “you get what you pay for,” is very applicable in this case.
Most people make a major investment in their iPod, both buying the player and then adding music. An iPod will hold between 1,000 and 40,000 songs, so if you are somewhere in the middle, and either buy the CDs and transfer them across, or download from the iTunes store, you will spend somewhere in the region of $10,000 if you have around 12,000 songs – I can’t believe anyone would go to the trouble of illegally downloading songs ☺
That’s a substantial investment, and it makes no sense to me to spend $89 on a cheap speaker system. Now, it may be that you grew up listening to music through a built-in speaker on a phone and your favorite tune is an electronic anime theme song and know no better, but investing in a decent amp and speaker system will open your ears to the fact that there is something infinitely better.
Typical iPod speaker systems
There are literally dozens of these. Altec Lansing, Klipsch, Bose, Phillips, Emerson, everyone and their grandmother makes a speaker system for the iPod. Apple them selves even make one. They all have a couple of things in common – They are all-in-one, cheap, and claim some sort of magical properties that allows them to generate a “stereo” sound from a single box. But you’d be hard pushed to tell the difference between most of them.
Genuine stereo is created by using two microphones, used at different angles to record different aspects of a piece of music with a view to giving your ears the impression that different instruments are placed in different places. The only way to listen in stereo is to have two speakers, positioned correctly to capture this. You cannot get genuine stereo from a single box. These various speaker systems are pretty much the same. The best of the bunch is Apple’s own, but the best thing I can say about this, is that it’s all right – grudgingly. If you only have room for one box, buy the Apple, but you will not be getting the best from your music. Really, I have three words for these things – crappy, crappy, crappy. | Amazon Price: $799.00 List Price: $349.99 |
Stereo Systems for the Apple iPod
These are genuine stereo systems that will allow you to get the best from your iPod (or any other MP3 player). They are not massively expensive, and I know you can spend an awful lot of money on a stereo – There are even cables that cost as much as $10,000, but these are reasonably priced systems that give good quality sound without being too expensive.
iTube Fatman Valve Dock Carbon Edition with Speakers
Few iPod components have gotten more rave reviews than the iTube Fatman, which combines a vacuum tube integrated amplifier and a separate iTube dock. Eager to add an extra heaping of elegance and even beefier output power, the heavyweights at TL Audio created a one-chassis version of the iTube Fatman.
This thing rocks. For around $1,000 you get the best of both worlds, digital usability with valve amp sounds. Just ask any guitarist on the planet whether he prefers a tube amp or a solid state digital amp.Another great thing is that it is modular. If you don’t like the tone of the speakers, you can add a different pair. It works with any iPod in the dock and all other MP3 players, including the non-docking iPods which can be connected through the auxiliary input. Comes with composite and S-Video output also. | Amazon Price: $1,149.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $109.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $799.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $1,499.00 |
Onkyo DS-A2X Remote interactive iPod dock with amp and speakers
This Onkyo device will allow you to put together your own system, because it connects an iPod to any hi-fi with the correct input. As usual, the manufacturers are keen to get you to throw away your old gadgets and replace them with new ones, so this does not fit all the iPods. Be sure to check it will fit yours before buying one. As of now, it is compatible with: 5th Generation iPod (iPod Video), 4th Generation iPod with Click Wheel, iPod Mini (software 1.4.1 or later), iPod Photo (software 1.2.1 or later) & iPod Nano (software 1.1.1 or later).
Don’t even try to think about using this to relay video – it does not work.
But, if you combine this with the Onkyo A-9555 Amplifier and a pair of Markhill MHSO1-B speakers, you will get just about the best sound possible out of your iPod – for about $1,500 all in. Don't forget the cables !
 | Amazon Price: $936.20 |
It’s not worth spending any more than this
Why is it not worth spending any more money than this?
Basically, no matter how much the makers push MP3 and all the little portable players. The simple fact is that the quality is very limited. You cannot get the same quality from the digital files that work on an MP3 player as you can from a CD. They might tell you that this is not the case – RUBBISH !
It is not worth spending any more than this because a good quality Hi-Fi system will just serve to show you how bad the sound is from an MP3. It will not sound any good.
Ever wondered why there are no high end Hi-Fi systems around to play music from an MP3 player? Now you know. Not worth it. The starting quality is too poor for it to make any sense. They are fine for playing though a pair of headphones, but the minute you plug one into a decent stereo system and play it next to a CD, you will hear how bad they really are.
These are about the top of the range and will help to the the best from your iPod without showing up the flaws.
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Matched Pair 12" Motorola Golden Voice Alnico Speakers 8 Ohm Guitar Hi-Fi Amp
Current Bid: $34.99
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Vintage Huge BOZAK B-199A 8ohm FULL RANGE HI-FI SPEAKERS Floor trapezoid speaker
Current Bid: $199.95
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KICKER KB6000 6.5" Indoor/Outdoor Speakers Hi-Fi Full Range
Current Bid: $94.99
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VINTAGE REALISTIC MiNiMUS-77 Hi-Fi Audiophile Satellite Speakers
Current Bid: $36.00
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It’s all about the speakers
Any hi-fi system is only as good as the speakers on the end of it. You can spend all the money you like on an amplifier, but if you put lousy speakers on the end of it, you will get poor quality sound.
There are two things that decide whether you are getting the sound you want from a pair of speakers –
The environment they are in. That is to say, the speakers will sound very different depending on where they are. Put them in a bare kitchen and then move them to a living room with a lot of soft furnishings and they will sound completely different.
Your personal preference and the type of music you listen to. What I may like, may not fit your tastes. If I like the blues and low amounts of bass, and you like rap and a lot of bass, we will probably need to buy different speakers to each other.
The best thing is to listen to them before buying them. And try to listen to them in the sort of environment you will be using them in. This is very subjective. There are some good pairs worth trying in the box to the right of this text. Try some and see is the best advice I can give.
Happy listening.
Comments
sorry Whitney - but $1000 for a hifi is actually pretty cheap :)
Hi Mark what a lot of investigation you have done.
Thank you it was really interesting for a green horn for me as so often I have thought of buying an ipod yet when I go to the one and only shop that has supposedly good ones the salesman can tell me zero,zilch nada and consequently return home with my credit card intact.
Well done now I must go back there and showoff my knowledge.
I haven't really look the prices up. So, I believe you when you say that. It's just too pricey for me. Many of the new technological items are. I guess I have other priorities- reptiles. Ha.
LOL - How much is a reptile anyway?
Vaccum tube?! Wow. Someone is actually using the thermionic valve? (as the Brits called it) Amazing. Yet again another great hub Mark.
Thanks Liam - This thing sound great.
Mark- the reptiles I buy tend to average aroudn $200 each. I currently have over 25 of them. Ha. But, not all of them were that price, some more- some less.
But, I wanted to mention, randomly, it hit me last night when I was trying to go to sleep. When I first clicked your hub (1) I saw iPod and (2)that won't break the bank. I was thinking iPod DOCK not speakers. Oops. Those are around $30-$125, so seeing the $1,000 price tag, shocked me.
Wow, $250 on a reptile ! Methinks we have different spending priorities :)
And yes, the dock I have here is about $100 - but you have to plug it in to something LOL
Yea I know... There are more expensive ones out there, but I definately don't have the money for a $2000 gecko. Ha. And yes they do exist. Google and Enigma leopard gecko. They're beauties, but over my price range.
Really? I think I've seen some that are wireles and run on batteries. I dunno. I looked into one that ran on batteries, but it did come with a wall adaptor.
I mean you have to plug it in to an amplifier and speakers :)
$2,000 on a lizard - who knew? makes the stereo seem cheap :)
OOO... I was thinking about the dock and speaker set things. Ha.
Yea I know. $2000 is a lot for a 10inch gecko. Ha. It's a new pattern and genetics and whatnot. Yea, it definately makes these stereos cheap.
What's the lifespan for one of these stereos? In terms of new technology, bugs in them, etc. Just trying to figure out which one (gecko or stereo) is truly the better deal. (Leopard geckos live about 10-15 years with optimum care.)
LOL - I don't think you can compare it like that. I doubt any of these will last 15 years - But you don't have to feed them and pay the vet's bills either :)
LOL true. But it was worth a true. Ha.
My friend had an IPOD speaker that he brought with him when we had our trip to bantayan beach resort, it is an 8 hours trip to the beach but with his ipod speaker nobody gets bored.
Them valve systems are very good Mark I've got a Coffee Table in the shape off a kidney with one off these Louwe Opta valve system in it, but by golly it make a better sound and harder sound than most of these intergrated transistor systems. I realy think I must get myself a iTube Fatman Valve Dock.
They are good - less technically perfect, but give a great warm sound. I think I would switch the speakers for wharfdales or something, but it's about the best sound you can get from an MP3.
Hi Mark
I would also recommend KEF PICOFORTE 3. It s cheaper than the FATman and I think looks better. Also the speakers you get with it are fantastic and it can be hooked up to your TV.
The Fatman fascinates me. I used to work on TV sets back in the day they were all tube sets, and I chuckle to see that now we think they weren't all bad after all. Ah, for the good old days when every tube tester used to indicate every other tube was bad, you could make a killing repairing stuff like that.
LOL
Big difference between a tube amp and a tube TV though?
I use my OnStage. It gets super super loud for it's size and cost $80 at Costco, you could probably find it cheaper online. But I love it, I've had it for four years and it has never given me a problem. I wish I had the money for a big speaker system, but I really don't need it. But that's just my little set-up :) I listen to my Ipod in my car, at the gym, and really loud at my apartment.
Sounds good. Does that one have separate speakers or is it all in one?
Although I don't think you can really apply the term hi-fi to any of the small systems.
No it definitely wouldn't be hi-fi. It is an all in one system, the only one I've found to give off that kind of sound.
LOl _ Great. I will have to remember that on enext time I do a write up. These are all what I would consider to be hi-fi - at least as far as you can get hi-fi from an mp3 :)
Thanks for the guide man, alot of the prices of speakers have really gone down for the ipod/phone now though, there's this pretty good site called advance mp3 or someting that have some really decent prices and I mean like £20-30 for some good soundin' speakers.
Personally I have never bought any speakers for any of my devices, I just bought a phono to headphone 3.5" jack and I just plug that into my dvd player, or my hi-fi when i'm at home, or if i'm in the car I just use the Auxillary input with another headphone jack cable, I admit these can't really be used at a party or anything, but if you're at a party and you need to hook your ipod upto a speaker dock for tunes... Leave that party ASAP!...
Ps,If you're going to buy the cables, don't go crazy and buy that titanium, gold plated, rubber coated, sound proof, special alloy, specially designed for apple, ultra low copper can't get any better fandango! I got all of my cables at the 99p store...
Cheap I know, but they do the job trust me. Saved alot of money!
Peace!
Does the ITube Valvedock work with the Iphone as well?
Whitney05 4 years ago
Mark, you had me with "that won't break the bank." These break my bank. Ha. Guess, I'll be sticking with the regular ipod and iTunes on my computer. :-\