Apple's iPod Hi-Fi Launched 18 Years Ago – and Lasted Just 554 Days

[MacRumors]

Reflecting on the iPod Hi-Fi, launched 18 years ago, many long-time readers may remember it as Apple's ambitious foray into the home audio market, long before smart speakers were a thing.

Priced at $349, it promised audiophile-quality sound within a compact design, offering home audio without the clutter of traditional stereo components. It featured a built-in Universal Dock for iPods, providing a seamless integration that allowed users to charge their device while playing music.

With its capability to produce a wide frequency range and room-filling sound without distortion, the iPod Hi-Fi combined Jony Ive's minimalist design aesthetic and high-quality audio performance. Its versatility was further highlighted by the inclusion of an Apple Remote, and the option for AC or battery power, making it portable.

Many products in the iPod series achieved remarkable success, but the iPod Hi-Fi wasn't one of them. The device was praised for its big rich sound, bass response, and ease of use, but its high price was a turn-off for many Apple device users. Also, the connector prominently positioned atop the speaker unit exposed docked iPods to potential knocks and damage.

Despite its innovative features, the iPod Hi-Fi remained a niche product in Apple's lineup, and the combination iPod dock/speaker system never took off. Apple discontinued it on September 5, 2007, just 554 days after its launch.

Article Link: Apple's iPod Hi-Fi Launched 18 Years Ago – and Lasted Just 554 Days

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

iPod Hifi: "Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father."

HP Gen 1: "He told me enough! He told me you killed him!"

iPod Hifi: "No. I am your father."

Great sound, fairly portable, somewhat like the modern day variations of the boombox... BUT... too locked down (though, unlike HPs, at least it had an optical input to use with other sources, making them still quite useful 18 years later, even without Apple audio sources), too relatively expensive, etc.

About 10 years later: "Let's roll out another branded speaker... but this time let's make it even more locked down (no AUX input at all) and offer it at the 'same great price' popularly judged as 'too expensive' before."

So when "Luke" was discontinued and < 2 years after Luke "went missing", "Rey" is rolled out with cuts in hardware (tweeters and microphones) to then basically offer what otherwise appeared to be the same for $50 less.

Cue The Imperial March theme music: "And let's make it so that Rey can't dyad pair with Luke so that one must buy TWO Reys if they want stereo." Crank up some big spatial echo and insert that Emperor Palpatine laugh here.

 

[nortonandreev]

Thanks for bringing this up. Never knew this product existed.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

Still have mine. Bought a device to stream music to it via AirPlay. Still sounds amazing.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

I would be interested in it if they made one with higher audio quality than before 💴

 

[Account25476]

A project 1000 times better than building a car from exactly zero experience.

 

[brock2621]

Bet this thing still sounds amazing today for all 4 people that bought it

 

[mattkally]

I bought it 10 years ago. Still going strong

 

[dannys1]

Steve Jobs would never....oh wait.

 

[dannys1]

I would be interested in it if they made one with higher audio quality than before 💴

It's called a HomePod

 

[Jarman74]

If the high price was indeed a turn-off, Apple seems to have forgotten that lesson with the HomePod.

 

[User 6502]

It's called a HomePod

Except HomePod had a mediocre audio quality for its price.

 

[stocklen]

If the high price was indeed a turn-off, Apple seems to have forgotten that lesson with the HomePod.

Come on..

$349 *Eighteen years ago* cannot be compared to that price now.

And HomePod seems to be doing quite well for them, wouldnt you say?

 

[Marco Klobas]

Speaking of Hi-Fi: Apple could add hi-res to AirPlay.

Yes, I know, nobody hear the difference and even if it's heard it's only in the listener’s mind, etc.

If Apple can spend more than $10 billions on a car, why can't Apple spend a few tens/hundreds of bucks to enhance AirPlay?

 

[and 1989 others]

Aww. The original ipods. Loved loved loved the 1st Gen ipod nano. Still miss the click wheels.

 

[ric22]

A friend of mine had one. Sounded good compared to similar devices!

 

[RodThePlod]

I bought it 10 years ago. Still going strong

I got mine shortly after launch. I don't use it much these days, but it still works and sounds great!

I use it with my old iPod 3rd gen - which doesn't get updated in terms of music anymore. So it's great to listen to the music that I listened to back in the early-mid 2000s. Good for when I'm feeling nostalgic 🙃

 

[RodThePlod]

Bet this thing still sounds amazing today for all 4 people that bought it

I can confirm! Dunno about the other three people, tho!

 

[neuropsychguy]

Like the Newton, this is an example of a product that ‘failed’ but later returned in a different form and is much more successful.

 

[klasma]

So then "Luke" was discontinued and < 2 years after Luke "went missing", "Rey" is rolled out with cuts in hardware (tweeters and microphones) to then basically offer what otherwise appeared to be the same for $50 less.

Isn't the HomePod more like BB8?

 

[Sharewaredemon]

I can confirm! Dunno about the other three people, tho!

They already posted in this thread. 4 posts on first page

 

[jcmc]

Still have mine. Bought a device to stream music to it via AirPlay. Still sounds amazing.

What device did you buy for this purpose? I still have my IPHF in storage and would love to repurpose it and give it a deserved new lease of life.

 

[hugogogo2003]

What device did you buy for this purpose? I still have my IPHF in storage and would love to repurpose it and give it a deserved new lease of life.

you can connect an AirPort Express (get one on eBay) to the audio jack, I did the same with mine

 

[RealE]

I miss the days when the iMac came with the same Apple Remote.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Except HomePod had a mediocre audio quality for its price.

Clearly you never used HomePod before.

I miss the days when the iMac came with the same Apple Remote.

Same here. Used it to run front row. Also a fun prank tool to pause music from nearby Macs at the time.

Also, the connector prominently positioned atop the speaker unit exposed docked iPods to potential knocks and damage

But wasn’t that with all the speaker with iPod dock built in at the time? They had it front and center.