More and more of us keep all or most of our music on our iPods and this has led to an explosion in the amount and range of accessories available. Some accessories have proved more useful than others, take the iPod bog roll holder for example, we’ll let you make your own mind up about how useful (and hygienic) this really is but if you’re looking for a serious piece off kit then check out Bose’s portable range of Sound Docks.
Bose sit at the higher end of the audio market and many think this means they come with a higher price tag too. But, you might be surprised to learn that Bose’s portable range of Sound Docks do actually place them amongst some of the most affordable docks around.
Equally important is the fact that Bose cater for owners of the iPhone 4 and now the iPhone 5 as they have recently launched the SoundDock Series III.
So if you’re an iPhone 5 user, it’s the SoundDock Series III your need. But if you’re still using the iPhone 4 or earlier versions they it’s the SoundDock Series II that you’ll be needing.
The Series III is on sale at £199.95 but if you want the Series II, you can currently get £30 off, we’re selling them at £169.95.
Appearance wise, the Series II and III are very similar it’s just that the latter supports the new Apple Lightning connector.
Here we’ll take a look at the Series II.
The Bose SoundDock II doesn’t have any of the garish designs you might find on other brands but a sleek minimalist look. It’s really easy to use too, with just a few touch sensitive volume buttons on the right hand side.
As well as looking pretty good, its practical too. Though it’s fairly tall and wide, the Bose SoundDock II is really slim so if you want to plonk it down in front of your TV, or on your kitchen side (depending which rooms he party’s in) then it won’t take up too much room and see you trying to clear a space for it if you want to move it around. Plus,seeing as it’s portable it’s made for moving around and Bose have made sure of this by doubling up the speaker’s rear-firing bass port as a handy handle for carrying the dock. To make sure the iPod docking cradle isn’t damaged in transit it cleverly rotates and locks away ready to glide back into place once you’re ready to use it.
Of course Bose are best known for their superior sound quality and their sound docks don’t buck this trend. It might be small but it sure is mighty. The Bose SoundDock II gives out a bold and impressive sound even if the source music is quite compressed. All the elements are distinct and the bass notes are defined. It’ll have no problems in filling up your living room or kitchen with sound, and sound that is just as good at high volumes as the lower ranges. Plus the Bose SoundDock II is now even more budget friendly as we’ve reduced it to just £169.99!
The power cable can be tucked away, wound around a moulded slot at the back that helps keep the wires tangle free when you’re on the go with the sound dock in your bag.
Bose’s portable range of Sound Docks are solid and sturdy and up close you can see the twin drivers etc behind the front grille so whilst it’s small it still has everything you need packed into it.
If you don’t own an iPod then most models let you connect any other player via the 3.5mm stereo line input at the back of the dock. It comes with a little remote to control the dock from wherever you are in the room and its clear simplistic buttons mean you won’t get bogged down by loads of buttons you’ll never actually use. The remote is really responsive so you can easily browse back and forth through your playlist if you can’t quite decide what mood you’re in and the music to match.
So, if you’re in the market for an affordable iPod dock then the Bose’s portable range of Sound Docks are strong contenders. You get the quality and assurances of a premium brand name without the premium price tag and as it’s portable you can take it with you and enjoy your music whenever and wherever you are.