iPhone speaker advice..need something good.
Discussion
Hi; I fear I asked this question some time ago, and didn't do anything back then. Sorry.
Essentially I need some kind of iPod dock to provide good (as good as the relatively limited source can provide) sound for a decent double bedroom- about 13ftx13ft.
It needs to be compact and not too expensive ~£300 but this is somewhat flexible. Having auditioned various contenders (albeit in store) my favourite is too big and over budget, yet I have fallen for it and I need a Zeppelin in my life.
I thought the Zep Mini sounded dire in comparison especially as regards bass, but it was being used in a much larger room than I would be using it in. Is it as bad as it sounded or am I not giving it a fair chance?
I had thought about the entry level Fatman tube offering but it seems a bit big (I don't really want separates) and I can't find one nearby to listen to.
I wasn't enamoured with the Bose offerings, but did was impressed with the Revo Blok product.
I really need some help on this. In terms of the choice of music it will be fed, it's going to be the Beatles, Floyd, Foo Fighters and Muse, based on my most played songs.
Essentially I need some kind of iPod dock to provide good (as good as the relatively limited source can provide) sound for a decent double bedroom- about 13ftx13ft.
It needs to be compact and not too expensive ~£300 but this is somewhat flexible. Having auditioned various contenders (albeit in store) my favourite is too big and over budget, yet I have fallen for it and I need a Zeppelin in my life.
I thought the Zep Mini sounded dire in comparison especially as regards bass, but it was being used in a much larger room than I would be using it in. Is it as bad as it sounded or am I not giving it a fair chance?
I had thought about the entry level Fatman tube offering but it seems a bit big (I don't really want separates) and I can't find one nearby to listen to.
I wasn't enamoured with the Bose offerings, but did was impressed with the Revo Blok product.
I really need some help on this. In terms of the choice of music it will be fed, it's going to be the Beatles, Floyd, Foo Fighters and Muse, based on my most played songs.
Have a listen to the Vita R2i as also has DAB /FM and alarm functions.
www.vitaaudio.com
www.vitaaudio.com
Edited by E31Shrew on Thursday 28th January 20:25
E31Shrew said:
Have a listen to the Vita R2i as also has DAB /FM and alarm functions.
www.vitaaudio.com
Interesting. www.vitaaudio.com
Edited by E31Shrew on Thursday 28th January 20:25
Can anyone recommend somewhere good to go in the South West - Bath/Bristol area.
bobthemonkey said:
E31Shrew said:
Have a listen to the Vita R2i as also has DAB /FM and alarm functions.
www.vitaaudio.com
Interesting. www.vitaaudio.com
Edited by E31Shrew on Thursday 28th January 20:25
Can anyone recommend somewhere good to go in the South West - Bath/Bristol area.
Just spend the extra £80
http://www.hifigear.co.uk/site/scripts/product_bro...
A product likes that benefits not just by it's sound....it'll make you feel good even whilst it's off.
http://www.hifigear.co.uk/site/scripts/product_bro...
A product likes that benefits not just by it's sound....it'll make you feel good even whilst it's off.
I am particular fussy when it comes to mid range and bass and was very impressed with the JBL Radial (not the micro) after testing quite a few. I couldn't warrant spending that kind of money either on the B&W Zeppelin.
It has a decent sub built in the base, nice build quality and good looking too. Well worth an audition for the money.
You can pick it up for £150 (normal price £200) from some places. I can supply the link.
It has a decent sub built in the base, nice build quality and good looking too. Well worth an audition for the money.
You can pick it up for £150 (normal price £200) from some places. I can supply the link.
I bought my girlfriend the fatman for christmas. When you said you didn't want separates are referring to the speakers? It's not really that big, the speakers are very compact too, personally I find "proper" speaker placement an absolute necessity for stereo listening. You can also buy it sans speakers and use some lifestyle-type speakers if that suits.
She's delighted with it BTW and I think it's pretty good too, and we both have a good ear.
She's delighted with it BTW and I think it's pretty good too, and we both have a good ear.
E31Shrew said:
bobthemonkey said:
E31Shrew said:
Have a listen to the Vita R2i as also has DAB /FM and alarm functions.
www.vitaaudio.com
Interesting. www.vitaaudio.com
Edited by E31Shrew on Thursday 28th January 20:25
Can anyone recommend somewhere good to go in the South West - Bath/Bristol area.
I have the R2i and the sound is good for such a small unit. Two things to check - I seem to recall something about iPhone having to be in flight mode to work with it (I can't remember if that's for charging or playback and I only use it with iPods) and a few times the radio has for no reason whatsoever decided to switch itself on. Mine is in the kitchen, but I can see that if it were in the bedroom it could be irritating if that happened.
I know you'd prefer not to have separates but something like the Denon DM37, a simple dock and a pair of small bookshelf speakers would almost certainly sound better than any of the all-in-ones. Not so convenient, granted, but if it's sound quality you're after...
ks!5pen said:
E31Shrew - Thanks for that. Good to know I don't have a poltergeist! There is low-energy lighting in the kitchen but christ knows how that would affect things!
It's only done it a few times and not for quite a while now I think about it.
If you get further issues just call Vita ...number on their website and speak to Rich. Incredibly helpful companyIt's only done it a few times and not for quite a while now I think about it.
I'm currently looking at the revo ikon and pure avanti flow.
The Ikon is new, no reviews yet. Its party piece is its touchscreen control, but it seems to be a really solid piece of kit - ipod dock + dab + internet radio.
The Avanti has good reviews just about everywhere. Downside of this unit (for me anyway) is its size, it doesn't show whats playing on the screen.
The Ikon is £280 and the avanti is £240 (amazon for both). If you want a listen try your local marks & spencer..
The Ikon is new, no reviews yet. Its party piece is its touchscreen control, but it seems to be a really solid piece of kit - ipod dock + dab + internet radio.
The Avanti has good reviews just about everywhere. Downside of this unit (for me anyway) is its size, it doesn't show whats playing on the screen.
The Ikon is £280 and the avanti is £240 (amazon for both). If you want a listen try your local marks & spencer..
bower and wilkins zep £399, or zep mini £299, imho by far the best option for bog standard docks. i.e not the arcam solution which is well north of £1500 when teamed up with good speakers.
best option would be find a good local shop who will allow you to test equipment at home (with a suitable deposit), as the "best" system in your room may sound like tat, and the "worst" system in your room sound very good.
best option would be find a good local shop who will allow you to test equipment at home (with a suitable deposit), as the "best" system in your room may sound like tat, and the "worst" system in your room sound very good.
Well, I've been listening again today.
Nice shop, with a room furnished in a way much closer to the actual environment I would be listening to it in; much closer in size and with carpets.
The Zep. Mini sounded much better this time around and I do like the fact I can use the dock functions over USB.
The big Zep was fantastic as ever but the difference wasn't nearly as clear as before. Then again it is the one I want, it is only £90 more (thank you John Lewis) and I fear I will always regret not getting the proper one. After all I suspect this is something that is going to be around for a good few years.
What was interesting was that the lack of bass on the mini in the past was very apparent on modern generic stuff. The latest Robbie Williams single(yes, I picked up the wrong ipod)sounded totally lifeless on the mini, as if you were listening to it down a phoneline. I don't know enough to say if it was the recording, the device, the room that was the main cause of this.
Today, where the gap was closed, I used Pink Floyds Pulse, specifically Brain damage/Eclipse, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb. The scale of the improvement blew me away.
The R2i sounded fine, but I didn't really like the look of it & I don't listen to DAB. Also it was £350, and the full Zep is the only thing that would cause me to go over budget.
Also, does anyone know of a retailer for the Fatman line down 'ere parts?
Nice shop, with a room furnished in a way much closer to the actual environment I would be listening to it in; much closer in size and with carpets.
The Zep. Mini sounded much better this time around and I do like the fact I can use the dock functions over USB.
The big Zep was fantastic as ever but the difference wasn't nearly as clear as before. Then again it is the one I want, it is only £90 more (thank you John Lewis) and I fear I will always regret not getting the proper one. After all I suspect this is something that is going to be around for a good few years.
What was interesting was that the lack of bass on the mini in the past was very apparent on modern generic stuff. The latest Robbie Williams single(yes, I picked up the wrong ipod)sounded totally lifeless on the mini, as if you were listening to it down a phoneline. I don't know enough to say if it was the recording, the device, the room that was the main cause of this.
Today, where the gap was closed, I used Pink Floyds Pulse, specifically Brain damage/Eclipse, Wish You Were Here and Comfortably Numb. The scale of the improvement blew me away.
The R2i sounded fine, but I didn't really like the look of it & I don't listen to DAB. Also it was £350, and the full Zep is the only thing that would cause me to go over budget.
Also, does anyone know of a retailer for the Fatman line down 'ere parts?
Edited by bobthemonkey on Tuesday 2nd February 21:10
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