The Best iPod Speakers Revealed

Time was that people had full stereo systems with mounds of CDs, tapes or records. Today, most people's stereo is their iPod connected via a docking station to a set of speakers.

The problem is: It is hard picking out a set of really good iPod speakers. If you are shopping online you can't know out how they sound. And even if you drive to a shop to give a test listen the store's speaker selection will be limited and, anyway, a huge open shopping area is not the best environment to gauge how speakers will sound in your living room.

Enter Spot Cool Stuff. We've tried out over 50 different iPod speakers in real home environments. Below are the ones in various categories that produce the best sounding music.

What's the very best iPod speaks taking into account price and quality? We've saved the best for last . . . 

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Loudspeaker

The distinctive shape of the Zeppelin looks cool but the design has even more function than it does form. The Zeppelin's shape spreads sound waves out such that they fill an entire room like no other speaker on the market.

Special feature: Comes with a remote that controls your iPod's play functions as well as the speaker volume.

Works with: Any iPod model (and most other MP3 players too)

Elton Porsche Design Audio P'9120

The sound quality produced by most clock radios makes you think that the speakers were an afterthought to the designers. With the P'9120, Elton started with an amazing sounding set of speakers. They then had Porsche design a clock radio to go around those amazing speakers. The result was the P'9120.

Special feature: The radio is capable of receiving shortwave and XM as well as the standard FM and AM bands.

Works with: All the iPod models except for the shuffle can fit the included dock. Any MP3 player can play through the P'9120 via the auxiliary port.

Comp Speaker iPod Dock

This clock radio is the only one on the market with a dock that works with your iPod in either the horizontal or vertical positions, making it an excellent choice for the iTouch and the latest Nano that have adjusting screens. The sound quality is above average but audiophiles looking for a budget clock radio will be happier with the iHouse IH9 (see the review below).

Special feature: Dock works both vertically and horizontally.

Works with: All the iPod models except for the shuffle can fit the included dock.

iHome IH9 Speaker System

The engineers put a lot of thought into the clock radio functionality of IH9. This model comes with a programmable snooze bar and high contrast display. The alarm can even be programmed to progressively get louder. But what's most important is that the IH9 produces great sounding tunes. Comes in either black or white.

Special feature: Two separate alrms, each of which can be set to either the radio, a buzzer or an iPod playlist of your choice.

Works with: The iPod mini and iTouch, the iPod 4G, 5G, 5.5G and 6G, the Nano 1G and 2G

Logitech Pure-Fi Elite

The latest speaker-iPod docking station from Logitech produces vibrant and clear sound quality—and looks good doing it. It also has a radio (that doesn't work very well) and a clock (without an alarm) but the sound quality, and the relatively low price, is what makes the Pure-Fi Elite stand out from the competition. It is a suberb value for any price below $150.  

Special feature: The Pure-Fi Elite is light and compact enough to be easily moved between rooms.

Works with: All Nanos and iPods from 2G to 5G (eg. not the latest 6th generation model).  

mStation Stereo Orb

When we got our first look at the mStation Stereo Orb we expected it to be all design fun and no audio quality. We were half right. The Stereo Orb has an eye-catching look and emits a rich and vibrant sound. What was especially surprising was the base, which booms our from behind the Orb. In fact, we had to turn down the base so that it wouldn't overwhelm the treble notes. The Stereo Orb comes with a remote.

Special feature: Comes in silver, red, black, lime green, pink and white.

Works with: Any iPod Nano.

JBL On Tour Portable Speaker System

The fact is: No light and portable speaker system is going to sound as good a larger plug-in-the-wall-unit. The laws of physics are simply too stacked against small, power-efficient speakers. But the JBL On Tour Portable Speaker System comes as close to breaking the laws of physics as possible. Newton himself would be amazed at the big sound that comes out of these little speakers. Then consider the current deal Amazon has on this JBL model ($50!!!!) and you can't go wrong.

Special features: Plug it in or run on 4 AAA batteries. The design includes a built-in sliding cover—no carrying bag is needed.

Works with: The JBL On Tour doesn't have a docking station, so any MP3 player can be connected via a standard audio cord (included).

Yamaha YHT Series

OK, we are cheating a bit with this selection—the Yamaha YHT home theater speaker systems don't come with an iPod dock. You'll have to buy a dock separately that fits your particular iPod. But if you were to hear the sound produced by these Yamaha speakers you would forgive this technically. For the money, there is no speaker system that sounds as good as the Yamaha YHTs! We would literally choose the a Yamaha YHT series over many speakers systems that cost $1,000~$2,000 more. The 390-BL model is a particularly good value, easy to set up and superb quality. If you are hooking these speakers up to your television we would suggest the 590BL for its superior surround sound. Unless you are an extreme audiophile we see no need to upgrade all the way to the 690BLs. No matter which Yamaha YHT series you select your ears will thank you. 

Special feature: Bluetooth and XM compatible.

Works with: Any iPod model (since you must buy a dock separately) 

^{Do you have one of the iPod speakers we reviewed? Or is there an iPod speaker you think we should have included? Let us know in a comment below:} 

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