iPod Speakers

If you have an iPods, you probably want to listen to it at home as well as on the road. Since not everyone has the room, the money or even the know-how for setting up a surround sound system in their home, manufacturers have been coming out with compact, portable yet powerful speaker docks.

Know Before You Buy

If you own an original iPod, don't expect that it will be able to dock on the speaker docks. Not all docks work for all iPod generations so always check to be certain that the speaker dock you want supports the iPod you own. Most come with interchangeable clips to fit different generations, otherwise you can jack in the iPod via a connector cable. Unfortunately, it just doesn't look as cool when you have to do that. Plus it defeats the purpose of having a dock since it won't charge the iPod and it won't work for alarm clock radios that are supposed to play the iPod as the alarm unless it is docked.

How to Choose

Price: Speaker docks range from less than $50 to several hundred dollars depending on what type of speaker dock you want.

Portability: Two options will be portable and desktop. If you want to take your iPod and the speakers with you wherever you go, a portable speaker dock will be the best option. Choose one that is wireless and that has long battery life. If you want to keep the speakers protected and the most compact possible, look for the kind that folds up, such as those with a clam shell design. Desktop models will usually need some alternate power source besides batteries. They generally offer more power and can provide more volume and onboard features.

Connectivity: If you want to hook up your speaker dock to any other multimedia device in your home, look for one with a variety of inputs and outputs that allow you to hook up headphones, CD players, computers and more.

Top Picks

Here are some highly rated speakers by CNet.com on the market for listening to your iPod at home:

Portable Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 DLO iBoom JBL Creature II Speakers  JBL Duet 2.0 Speakers  Logitech mm22 Sonic Impact i-Fusion  Sony SRS-P11Q Cyber Acoustics A-30	Desktop SX 2000 Speakers  iHome  JBL Onstage 2 Klipsch iGroove  Rain Design iWoofer  Logitech mm50 Bose Sound Dock Companion 3 Multimedia Speaker System Sonos Digital Music System Monster iPod iSpeaker Portable Speakers Scandya Dock (Available through manufacturer) Audioengine 5 (Available through manufacturer) ZVox Mini(Available through manufacturer)

The Best of Both Worlds

These picks work well for iPods and other MP3 players.

• Altec Lansing inMotion iM4 ($60-100)
• Creative TravelSound 200 ($50-70)
• JBL On Tour Portable Music Box ($100)
• JBL Onstage ($200)
• iPulse ($130, available at the Sharper Image)
• iSphere ($150, available at the Sharper Image)

New Products

Apple iPod Hi-Fi  ($349 direct) World-class acoustic design. Large sound stage. Precise imaging and separation of sound. Room-filling powerful sound without distortion. Seamless iPod integration. Apple remote. Analog/digital input. Minimalist footprint.

JBL Radial iPod Speakers  Can stand alone as an iPod-ready speaker or do double duty as your PC speaker. Gorgeous design reminiscent of the St. Louis Arch. Four drivers produce great sound in a compact space. Costs about $300.