This speaker set really sounds great. I am an audiophile who would usually go the extra $$ for the best sounding unit (i.e. the Bose Sound Docks or something comparable) but you can only spend so much on peripherals. FYI, I checked out the various dock options on Amazon.com. I've heard the JBL On-Stage at a friend's house and liked it, but I was concerned about all the feedback in the reviews about that unit's volume control issues. Speaker sound is all about personal preference and hearing those speakers in the environment where they will be played. I went with the Klipsch for 3 reasons - the company is known for making high-end tower speakers, the unit includes an "S" video jack for showing videos and podcasts on my TV and the reviews here and elsewhere were positive. I normally wouldn't buy speakers without hearing them first, but I relied on the reviews and the company's reputation - and besides, the pricing was good and I could always return the speakers if they didn't sound great in my house.
I received the unit and unpacked it in my bedroom, where it will ultimately be used. It was super-simple to setup - indeed the instruction manual is only 3-4 pages of large type. I put my iPod on the unit and fired it up. The sound that came forth was crisp, clean and impressive. Frankly, not to knock Bose, but the sound was about as good as the sound from my Bose Wave Radio which cost more than 3X what the Klipsch cost. The sound is excellent with lusty base, crisp treble and superb midrange. I have played a variety of music and have been continually impressed with the sound reproduction. Pop, Hip Hop, Classical, Jazz - you name it, this Klipsch really delivers. And it fills my moderate-sized bedroom with music without any trace or distortion and it sounds very natural. I haven't used the S-Video hook up to view videos yet, but I'm sure it will work well also. In my opinion, this is the best unit at the $150 price point - it will not disappoint!
Here are my overall pros and cons for the Klipsch:
Pros:
-> Attractive form factor and reasonably small foot print
-> Easy to set up
-> Sound quality is excellent - at all ends of the musical spectrum
-> Price is very reasonable
-> Fills the room with clear, crisp music at any volume level - sounds great on low or played loud
-> Has video connection for movies and podcasts - many other speaker sets don't have this feature
Cons:
-> The volume buttons on the unit itself don't have a smooth positive feel - they are stiff in their operation
-> A screen like that of the Altec Lansing would be nice so that you could see the volume level and other key operating statistics of the unit
Bottom Line: If you appreciate good sound reproduction, this is the unit for you!!! Take it home and try it - you can return it if you don't like the sound. But trust me, you'll love it!!!! Klipsch iGroove SXT Speaker System for iPhone and iPod (Black)
Here's the quick. The Klipsch is quite good but not quite great. I performed my own side-by-side comparison of the Klipsch iGroove SXT ($149) to the Bose SoundDock Portable ($359).
Bose
* Richer, deeper more robust sound. Truly is impressive.
* Touch volume buttons easier to push (vs. Klipsch mechanical buttons take a little force).
* Cord transformer part of the plug plus the cord can smartly be partially hidden in the transformer to let out only the amount of cord you want (vs. Klipsch transformer in the middle of the cord that clutters the countertop). Advantage Bose.
* Achieves louder volume (though Klipsch is pretty good too).
* Heavier unit, presumably a reflection of larger speaker magnets. (Both units have essentially the same countertop footprint but the Bose is taller.)
Klipsch
* Very good sound, but just not as impressive as the Bose.
* Exchangable docking port for various MP3 players (though the one-size-fits-all on the Bose works fine for my iPhone).
* Accepts the iPhone without a warning. (Annoyance of the Bose: it displays a warning message that it's not compatible with the iPhone even though it actually is.)
* Price.
Bottom Line:
If you have $149 to spend, buy the Klipsch and you'll be happy. If you have $359 to spend, buy the Bose and you'll be very happy.
If you know Klipsch like I know Klipsch, then you, of course, should not be surprised at the great sound. The bass is not exactly earth shaking, but with the type of music I'm currently listening to (Jazz, New Age, Alternative), it suits my bedroom just fine. I'm definitely hearing a wider range of sounds than before. The system itself is pretty small (a lot smaller than I expected) but with the nice sound coming out, I'm glad it's a space saver.
My main concern is the docking connector. When you dock the Ipod/Iphone, it is only held up by a small connector; your Ipod/Iphone is not thick enough to lean up against the wall of the slot for support. Therefore, when you use your Ipod/Iphone, it definitely jiggles and will eventually loosen the connector. My easy solution: I folded a piece of tissue for support! :-)
(Also, the volume switches on the speakers are hard to push, but the remote solves this concern.)
Hopefully the next edition of the iGroove will address this problem, but until then, I'm enjoying this Klipsch immensely. - Klipsch - Iphone Speakers - Ipod Dock - Ipod Dock System'
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