iPod Hi-Fi Introduced

[revjay]

Do You Hear What I Hear?

I have my iPod connected to my stereo (via the iPod dock), and I do hear a huge difference between the iPod and my CD player. Spending $350 on speakers to connect them to the iPod is a waste of money...

A waste of money for you...
Glad to hear you are able to discern good sound...not everyone is so discriminating...if the bass goes "thump" they are happy...so for them, the Hi-Fi may be just the ticket.

 

[maya]

OK, what I want to know is:

1. If it can be positioned anywhere, does that mean that it can fake surround sound? (Like that new Sony speaker that is one speaker and does 5.1?)
2. Is that what Steve meant by he's replacing his home stereo?
3. To all the haters: How can you guys know if it sucks when you've never heard it?
4. Can you play multiple HiFi's all over your house at the same time?

I LOVE THIS THING. SO COOL. GIMME THREE.

Some "Home Theater" magazine did some direct comparison with detachable 5.1/6/.1/7.1 speakers and the all-in-one box 5.1 speakers and guess which one sounded great you guessed it, not the all-in-one 5.1 home theater set.

Reason being is because it does a poor job at trying to recreate separate channels that actually surround you. The all-in-one HT set seems to be a fad of mid 2005-2006. It's just Apple trying to gets a share of the iPod accessories pie, and I don't blame them. However I am very pleased with my 5.1 system as it is more than ample to do the job(s).

I shall pass.

 

[revjay]

You can get a decent amp and a pair of used Maggies for $350, and it will sound heavenly compared to this crappy little box. Why people spend so much on inferior little speaker boxes just because they're "computer speakers" or "iPod speakers" I have no idea.
I'm going back to listening to my CDs on my heavenly Martin Logan Request speakers. Aaaaaaah heaven

I agree with you...but what about the form factor for those who don't care about the sound?

 

[artifex]

I agree with you...but what about the form factor for those who don't care about the sound?

Most boomboxes now have analog inputs. And if you want a desktop model, Target sells a unit by DLO for about $80 that has a remote and a dock.

 

[Village]

I was recently looking for something similar to this. I have an iPod 3g 30gig, and like to be able to use it at home.
I have a finished basement with a "home theater". Its a work in progress, but I have a nice receiver, speakers, decent TV, etc. Plus a good heavy mini-RCA cable to listen to my iPod.

jayb2000, wow, that's exactly what I've been looking for - thanks!

I think that's the stereo featured on one of Apple's iPod pages, which I've been looking for ever since I saw it. Too bad the remote can't cycle through the playlists, but no other product can do that now anyway.

 

[Evangelion]

Look at the specs on this thing. It has bose technology all over it, its using the similar specs of the bose wave radio but in a very elegant design that (when you see it in person, which I have) actually looks really good. basicly this is what known as a central surround speaker this means that this is a about $475 bose speaker system in one box.

But that Bose Speaker System is not worth $475, even though they are asking that much for it. What if I sold some crap speakers for $2.000, would it make this Apple thingy a "good deal" because it sounded more or less the same, while costing a lot less? No it would not.

 

[revjay]

Go Local

Another thing that ticks me off about this whole thing is that Apple went out of their way to make a media event out of it. Sure, do that for something huge, but for this? A simple "silent update" probably would have sufficed. If you ask me, they kind of made fools of themselves today...

You're probably right...but the attention is very telling as to the expectations Apple likely has for these products.

What if Apple had instead called the local regular press Monday morning and asked them to come Tuesday...we would not get all worked up for a week waiting for the "iSolveWorldHunger...or the iInstantMiddleEastPeace"...we would have been a lot happier with a $119 ipod case...really!

 

[powerbook911]

For those that ordered one, did it ship from the U.S., or Asia?

 

[wildmac]

For $99 I would expect it be made out of Steve Jobs' skin...

Nope for $99 you only get intern-skin.

For $250 you can get engineer-skin.

But for Jobs-skin you'll need to pony up $1,999

But look at it this way, it's PETA-friendly... B)

 

[Evangelion]

I haven't heard it (and neither have you), but I know something about 'sound and audio quality' and if you want a real audiophile experience, be prepared to shell out $15,000+ (and most audiophiles will tell you that's not nearly enough).

We are talking about hi-quality equipment. Not equipment that is targeted towards people who are willing to pay $500 for a wooden knob that is in reality worth about 0.50$

ust from looking at the pictures and listening to what he said:
* Very sturdy structure

Perhaps. But the proper quality-speakers I have handled feel like solid rocks as well (like the Genelecs).

* high-quality plastic cones (not the cheap paper you find in most of these)

My el-cheapo speakers had plastic cones as well. I haven't seen any paper cones in a long time (Bose still uses them IIRC).

* thick surrounds (looks like the cones will really move)

My cheap speakers had this same "feature".

In short: the features you listed (maybe apart from the sturdy design) can be found in cheap low-end speakers as well.

though the cones are small -- and very likely cannot reprodice 'audiophile' sound, they are large enough to beat out most high-end computer speakers and most likely ALL similar all-in-one systems.

The Genelec 8020A I linked to is used quite often as hi-end computer-speakers . And they are quite popular with iPods as well.

 

[sishaw]

I agree. Those features would be nice, but good sound is really expensive to create.

I agree about good sound being expensive. I hope the price in facts reflects effort on good sound, and not just profit margin. Bose always seems to charge about twice what their products are worth, and, while I certainly expect Apple to make plenty o' cheddar on its fine products, I really hope that isn't the case here.

I note that the forthcoming comparable XtremeMac "Tango" has some nice specs and will be around $200, which I assume includes both the technology and a reasonable profit margin.

 

[jgracia]

This presentation was so much crap.
Is apple taking on the 3rd party stuff that we all love so much?
For me, the great thing about an ipod, is that it's a portable music collection and I can take it with me to whereever, and connect it to whatever. I love having my retro B&O speakers in my ceiling, a retro pioneer amplifier and an ipod...it's a game to have the most interesting combination of quality stereos!

Now, in general i was always hoping this rumor would either be ********, or that apple would sincerely bring something unique! If they'd bring a medium priced stereo, featuring Adaptive Bass Control, for instance i'd have sayd...okay, this is something, since ALL other ABC's are so damn expensive.

Now about that MacMini. It was expected, but given that it had no crashing-cool thingie unveiled at the same time, it might just have saved the day had it incorporated a real DVR feature, which it doesn't.

On another note, if macminis would feature real dvr's, wouldn't they as well be roughing into a 3rd party supplier field as well?

over and out. I dislike that stereo from day one.

Why you say that?
that ipod hi-fi is an exceleny option, if you check the prices of the JVL, Bose, etc. units that do the same.
and mac mini with front row is a good option for a car or home entretaiment center.
Maybe the people in the United States has a lot of options but in other places is a good thing that some good company like apple sell products that you can put togheter and not isolate ones.

Hope they put an Apple Store here soon.

 

[ScottB]

When I imagined the boombox before I thought it would be a bit smaller, and probably have a white front. But hey blacks cool, even if it looks enormous. Guess it has to be to play as well as their claiming.

 

[zanevlc]

Great idea

If that's all you're looking for, there are products that cost half the price. For $350 for a retro 1970's boombox, the only justification can be that it sounds extraordinary. One thing I would do is encode both a lossy (128 AAC) and lossless file of the same song onto an iPod, take it to an Apple store, and listen to both. Can you tell the difference? If the sound isn't good enough to distinguish lossless audio files, I say--stick with the Apple headphones!

Great idea, (128 AAC and lossless) will try it out when they arrive here.

Here in Spain the BOSE SoundDock System costs the same 359 Euros.($428) but to me it is Small, ugly and poor sound quality when cranked up. Steve did say that this baby does not distort or lose sound quality even when cranked up. but we will see, with my version of CRANKED UP!!!

Maybe when I finally see the product, I may not like it!! as I would have loved to see the same model in powerbook Aluminum without the handles on the top, and instead use handles that when pushed pop out!! (like the old G4 CUBE handle on the base) this would have been oh sooo cool, everyone there with they eyes pooping out like they did, when he showed the G4 Cube handle but anyway I like this model.

 

[zanevlc]

Well, Greenwich is in the UK

GOOD POINT!!!! BUT NO!!!


it's about quality, not about quantity

Mmm ABFAB & French & Saunders!!!! can not think of any more QUALITY programs (JOKE)

 

[sishaw]

About this i-fi thing:

Is it just me, or did Steve's analogy, that 40%(?) of cars now have inputs, but Hi-Fis don't, so let's not build adapters, let's throw the Hi-Fis out, not make sense?

Yeah, I didn't get that either. Just about any stereo has got to have at least one unused input. I just hooked up an iPod dock to one of the line-ins and it sounds great. Just pop the iPod in when I get home. I even use the Griffin remote with it. I would think the better market would be:

1. People who don't yet (or maybe won't ever) have a component stereo
2. For use at work
3. For use in a room where the stereo doesn't reach
4. To take on trips

 

[WishIWasntHere]

Still Waiting

I'm still waiting for the fun, new products. These were 'new' items, but where's the 'fun' items?

There's got to be a better video iPod coming out sometime soon.

A fun product would also be a remote control for my Airport Express so I can control things from where I'm listening to streamed music instead of running through the house back to my computer to change something. That would be fun. No . . . it would be nice.

 

[theluckyone]

In short: the features you listed (maybe apart from the sturdy design) can be found in cheap low-end speakers as well.

The Genelec 8020A I linked to is used quite often as hi-end computer-speakers . And they are quite popular with iPods as well.

Hey -- I'm not knocking your Genelec speakers. Never heard them, but I'm sure they're fantastic. Probably cheaper and sound better. But there are other reasons to like the Hi-Fi...not the least of which are portability and form factor.

I didn't mean to list any 'features' per se. Just indicators of quality. Like a car's paint job...if it's really good, it indicates quality, but bad cars can still have a good paint job...

 

[EricBrian]

Yeah, me too... where is the 'fun'?

And, the minis are too expensive. The sound thingy is ***** ugly. The iPod case for almost $100? Why?

I feel 2/28 was a bust.

 

[WishIWasntHere]

Everything BOSE is Overpriced

But that Bose Speaker System is not worth $475, even though they are asking that much for it. What if I sold some crap speakers for $2.000, would it make this Apple thingy a "good deal" because it sounded more or less the same, while costing a lot less? No it would not.

In my opinion, everything Bose produces is overpriced and mediocre. Bose seems to be the high-end to the average consumer who shops at Best Buy, Fry's, etc. To someone who doesn't know a thing about true high-end, quality audio equipment (McIntosh, B&W, Sunfire, Denon, B&K Components, etc.), ask them what they would like to get and it's always Bose (several of my friends said this). This is because that's the high priced stuff being demoed in the special rooms at the typical, average, consumer retail store. It's high priced so it *must* be great.

 

[theluckyone]

In my opinion, everything BOSE produces is overpriced and mediocre. BOSE seems to be the high-end to the average consumer who shops at Best Buy, Fry's, etc. To someone who doesn't know a thing about true high-end, quality audio equipment (McIntosh, B&W, Sunfire, Denon, B&K Components, etc.), ask them what they would like to get and it's always BOSE (several of my friends said this). This is because that's the high priced stuff being demoed in the special rooms at the typical, average, consumer retail store. It's high priced so it *must* be great.

AMEN! GO McIntosh!!! (http://www.mcintoshlabs.com/)

 

[Bosunsfate]

General musings

Having watched the Cnet video and looking at what this does, its cool, I'd buy one.

On the things that are "missing" integrated Airport Express, etc. They'll be in future models. This is just the 1st gen of this.

Bottom line, its good, its quality, its not full of BS and gold plating like alot of other junk. It is something a lot of people will buy.

As for wanting something more from this. Well I'm guilty like most people here of building up more anticipation than Apple did.

 

[Evangelion]

Hey -- I'm not knocking your Genelec speakers. Never heard them, but I'm sure they're fantastic. Probably cheaper and sound better.

8020A's cost about 660e/pair, with rest of their lineup being more expensive. Yep, they are not that widely known among regural consumers, but they are widely used in recording-studios. And CEO of Sony has Genelec-speakers in his office .

But there are other reasons to like the Hi-Fi...not the least of which are portability and form factor.

IMO, speakers most important feature is the sound-quality. And the 8020A's are small enough to be portable. True, there are two of them, so carrying them around is a bit more difficult, but it can be done. And I think that the form-factor on the boombox is quite bad, since the speakers are right next to each other, making proper stereo-differentiation difficult. Maybe it has some advantages when we talk about carrying it around, but it reduces sound-quality.

As to iPod-connectivity... They are just speakers, but they can be hooked up to iPod if needed.

the main beef with the boombox is that it's advertised as a hi-end system. Which it isn't.

 

[flir67]

not sure

For those that ordered one, did it ship from the U.S., or Asia?

mine is supposed to be shipped out on the 3rd of march and recieved by the 7th with 2 days shipping.

is it me or someone not doing the shipping dates too well? I'll be calling to get a refund on shipping if it doesn't show by the 6th.


the keyboard and mouse shiped separate from pa and they charge full shipping when that item shiped out. and charge tax on shipping.

 

[jouster]

Why you say that?
that ipod hi-fi is an exceleny option, if you check the prices of the JVL, Bose, etc. units that do the same.

Yeah, but the thing is that those other products don't 'do the same' - they do a whole lot more.

I have a Bose Wave Radio, which has AM and FM, many more input options and a clock and CD player, for about a hundred bucks more.