Bose SoundDock (white)
Manufacturer: Bose Corp. Part number: 35703
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- If you don't mind the high price and lack of an auxiliary input, the Bose SoundDock will turn your iPod into a nice bedroom or office stereo system.
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CNET editors' review
Bose SoundDock (white) price range: $269.00 - $398.00
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Reviewed on: 10/13/2004
- Updated on:08/09/2006
- Released on: 09/15/2004
The good: The Bose SoundDock is simple to set up and use: attractive design; sounds good compared to other iPod speakers; charges iPod while docked; includes basic remote.
The bad: Expensive; works only with iPods (and iPod Minis) equipped with a docking connector.
The bottom line: If you don't mind the high price and lack of an auxiliary input, the Bose SoundDock will turn your iPod into a nice bedroom or office stereo system.
Originally available only in white, the SoundDock has since been released in black as well. The speaker ships with adapters for various generations of iPods (the only incompatible models are the first two iPods, which lack the dock connector on the underside). You simply pop the adapter in the SoundDock's cradle, plug in the power cord, drop your iPod in the cradle, and you're good to go. Also included in the box is a small, very basic, credit card-style remote that allows you to advance and rewind tracks on your iPod, control its volume, and shut off the unit (the iPod automatically turns on and the battery charges when you dock it).
The SoundDock performed better than we expected. It easily filled our 10-by-18-foot room with a big sound, but stereo separation was nada until we moved to a position within three feet of the speaker. The near-field sound also enhanced the little system's bass and treble definition.
A series of duets between jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter and drummer Bobby Previte on their Come in Red Dog CD sounded surprisingly live. Previte's bass drum had lots of kick, and his cymbals' crisp detail added to the realism of the sound. Hunter plays bass and guitar simultaneously on his eight-string instrument, and the SoundDock delineated every note. The Bose's richly balanced bass goes a long way toward mimicking the weighty presence of a larger speaker.
Rocking out with John Mellencamp's greatest hits once again proved the little system's stamina. Yes, a decent home-theater system will deliver even more satisfying sound and real stereo separation, but it will take up a lot more space than the little SoundDock. If you're considering Altec Lansing's InMotion microspeaker set, which also hosts iPods, that travel-friendly unit is half the price ($150), but the Bose plays louder and has deeper bass and clearer treble.
Our biggest gripe with the SoundDock is its lack of inputs, which means that you can't connect anything to it besides a dock-equipped iPod. Ideally, a speaker accessory costing $300 would be a little more flexible. Also, it'd be nice if the SoundDock, like Tivoli Audio's iPAL, had a built-in rechargeable battery, making it a truly cordless speaker that you could place anywhere.
When we first reviewed the SoundDock in 2004, it was one of the first dedicated iPod speakers available. In the years since, the the market's been flooded with competing models offering more features and decent (if not better) sound quality. The SoundDock remains well suited for use in an office, a bedroom, or a small living room--especially for those for whom the Bose name is worth paying a premium. But we'd like to see the SoundDock at a slightly lower price and--at the very least--with an auxiliary line-in port.
Editors' note: Freelancer Steve Guttenberg contributed to this review.
User reviews
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Absolute waste of money at 300 dollars!!!!!
by remotia on July 26, 2005
Pros: It can be returned
Cons: Where do I start?
Summary: Let me just say, for those know think Bose is high quality and fine audio, I will tell you that I don?t and most audiophiles (people who know a ...
Summary: Let me just say, for those know think Bose is high quality and fine audio, I will tell you that I don?t and most audiophiles (people who know a lot about speaker) don?t either. But let?s not lay on assumptions about before giving this product a real evaluation. By itself, it?s not half bad. It makes adequate sound to fill a mid sized room (provided people are not yelling as in a party situation) It?s easy to use, simple, and elegant. It even comes with its own remote and a Bose logo slapped on the front, but that?s about where it ends because the way I review products is how they compare to other products in either their same respective class or appropriate price range. The fact is you would not have a hard time finding a $50 pair of PC multimedia speakers that would not outperform this system in SPL (loudness) frequency range, distortion, bass, midrange and treble. In fact, basically what I saying is, for 50 bucks you can have a superior audio system. Well then, what about comparing a 300 dollar product? I propose this: I give anyone a chance to find a 300 dollar product that is inferior in sound to the SoundDock in any possible way! I claim it can NOT be done! For 300 bucks you can have a multimedia system that will blast sound in your room with far more clarity and far less distortion than this little SoundDock. There is nothing magical about the "Bose" name. The only difference with other audio products is you don?t have to pay for name brand markup. Furthermore, most any other audio brand relates to far higher quality standards than Bose. I?m not saying a multimedia system is high quality, but for 300 dollars, there is not one that I know of that can?t blow this Bose clean out of the water. Sure there is not much to choose from if you want an iPod exclusive speaker system with a dock, but you can still spend your money on a better speaker system and have more then enough left over for an iDock.
There are many shortcomings to the SoundDock. For starters it doest even offer stereo soundstage. For a system that claims to be a ?stereo,? this is borderline fraudulent. The left and right speakers are stuck together, so how can this be true stereo imaging? The fact is, the SoundDock is mono. You can buy yourself an inexpensive pair of Klispch 2.0s?s ($100) which give you stereo soundstage, four midrange drivers that provide far more accurate sound midrange and deeper bass, and two 1? tweeters than actually give you frequency response up to 20,000 Hz. The Bose speakers only go up to 10,000Hz. That?s literally 1/2 the actual sound that is stripped out of your recordings by the Bose SoundDock. It?s unacceptable for a 300 dollar product to represent only 1/2 the human hearing frequency range! This is why the Bose soudndock is dull and lifeless next any other speaker for its price, and even ones 1/3 of its price as I just demonstrated.
If you have an urge to spend a lot of money on an ipod system (ie such as 300 bucks), go with the Klipsch iFi, its so far superior to the Bose, I can?t even begin compare them. Just go ask or a side by side demo in your local apple or shaper image store. Other that that, you can find 150 dollar solution from Altec, Cambridge Soundworks or Swans that could all make the SoundDock sound like a pair of tin cans getting kicked around.
The SoundDock is a fine system by itself. Take it home in your own bedroom and it will sound even better due to room acoustics. There is really nothing wrong with it other than the fact, that everyone else makes a superior system for less money! If you can live with that fact, and you really must have the Bose, then I?m sure you?ll love this system. Just don?t ever listen to anything else or else you?ll regret wasting your money. If the SoundDock was less than 100 dollars, I would say it?s a good product, but for 300, it?s a bloody rip-off and don?t let any armature who owns it convince you otherwise. Would you pay $75,000 for a Honda Accord? If you bought the SoundDock, you already did. (metaphorically speaking)
For most inside about Bose, please read this thorough article.
http://www.intellexual.net/bose.html29 out of 36 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Never buy Bose
by tbcass on June 9, 2005
Pros: sounds OK but
Cons: grosely Over Priced
Summary: Bose is a bad company. They sell average products, advertise heavily while lying about it's capabilities and sue reviewers who critize their products (look it up!). I will never ...
Summary: Bose is a bad company. They sell average products, advertise heavily while lying about it's capabilities and sue reviewers who critize their products (look it up!). I will never buy any product made by Bose. Hook your iPod (or any player) up the Klipsch 2.1's for less than $200 and it will offer VASTLY superior sound quality for a lot less money (I am an audiophile).
16 out of 27 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Muddy Sound, Cabinet Vibrates
by BllyShears on April 6, 2005
Pros: Convenient way to play iPod music quickly.
Cons: The sound was extremely disappointing. There was no detail to the midrange and it seemed as thought the bass had been boosted so much that it drowned out the clarity of the highs.
Summary: Terrible performance for the money. Sound is distorted with no means of adjusting bass or treble. Low end has been boosted so much that the cabinet vibrates. I also had ...
Summary: Terrible performance for the money. Sound is distorted with no means of adjusting bass or treble. Low end has been boosted so much that the cabinet vibrates. I also had to unplug the system twice to "reboot" (as Bose tech calls it) because a glitch in the SoundDock was randomly advancing tracks on the iPod in the middle of the selection I was trying to listen to.
11 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Zvox 315 Is Better According To CNET
by audioman777 on June 8, 2005
Pros: sounds decent
Cons: costs 299, 100 more than Zvox 315 and Zvox sounds better
Summary: Cnet thinks the Zvox 315 is a better performer and i agree look up the review on cnet heres a quote.
" and it surely sounds richer and more substantial than ...Summary: Cnet thinks the Zvox 315 is a better performer and i agree look up the review on cnet heres a quote.
" and it surely sounds richer and more substantial than Bose's iPod-only SoundDock while listening to music."Updated
coming out soon and will probably follow zvox 315 in terms of performance.5 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fine if your not an Audiophile
by Estilo64 on July 24, 2005
Pros: it's for an ipod, looks okay....,hides bad encoding
Cons: Sound Quality,construction, remote
Summary: Bose, everyones perspective of "Top of the line". BS, I debuted this Speaker at Conns, and I'm pretty unimpressed. The sound quality sounds very bloated, has no soundstage, treble ...
Summary: Bose, everyones perspective of "Top of the line". BS, I debuted this Speaker at Conns, and I'm pretty unimpressed. The sound quality sounds very bloated, has no soundstage, treble is very rolled off, no overall balance. People's idea of good sound quality is bloated bass, and screeching high trebles. I admit that It would be good to purchase this item if it was $70 dollars, but $300, no. Audiophiles, stay away. Look into Klipsch for a better balance of sound.
Updated
I'd like to correct myself after reading obnoxious comments, I know it doesn't take an audiophile to know that bose is crap, but after spending time at Conns, Best Buy, Compusa, it appears that marketing on this shoddy product works on this product.4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Don't even consider the other contenders
by MPD on April 27, 2005
Pros: Superb sound from a single speaker unit
Cons: Build quality could be better
Summary: First impressions out of the box...the unit could be better constructed. The lip that holds the Ipod could be sturdier.
Set it up on a desktop, dropped my 60GB ...Summary: First impressions out of the box...the unit could be better constructed. The lip that holds the Ipod could be sturdier.
Set it up on a desktop, dropped my 60GB Ipod Photo into the cradle and was amazed at the sound reproduction. Bose have done an outstanding job!
Thought that the cheaper units would probably not be too far away in sound quality. So I bought the i-Station...to leave in work for when I was working in the evenings. Well...
The sound doesn't even come close to the Bose unit. It is like comparing the sound of a F1 car to a compact car.
Yes the Bose unit is expensive.
Yes the Bose unit is not portable.
Yes the Bose unit is built only for the ipod (btw it works with all the units including the 60GB photo...only the shuffle misses out).
Yes the Bose unit isn't the most sturdy product.
BUT...and it is a BIG BIG BUT...
The Bose speaker is the best sounding unit on the market...if in doubt...go and listen to the sound in the shop and take in any of the competitors to compare...if you have the money...you'll walk out with the Bose under your arm!
Wow!4 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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lacks battery power and remote storage
by wifier on January 21, 2006
Pros: great sound
Cons: no batttery power no remote storage
Summary: i bought it, it is a great speaker system for the ipod but the lack of place to store the remote could lead to it being lost and it is ...
Summary: i bought it, it is a great speaker system for the ipod but the lack of place to store the remote could lead to it being lost and it is not mobile (can`t work it with batteries
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Bose has done better!
by pelikan3 on July 30, 2005
Pros: Compact, definitely more powerful than most Ipod systems
Cons: Expensive, limited sound quality
Summary: My wife and I are dance instructors and we needed a VERY powerful (fill a room with a 100+ people powerful), portable system to play our Ipod through. We compared ...
Summary: My wife and I are dance instructors and we needed a VERY powerful (fill a room with a 100+ people powerful), portable system to play our Ipod through. We compared the Altec Lansing IM 7 and the Bose SoundDock. Now, I will not claim to be an audiophile, but I did study music and sing for most of my life (Chorale, chamber, classical etc.) and I have a pretty good ear for detail without being so picky that I complain about every little thing.
That said the biggest problem with the Bose is the sound. Or, lack of it. It is noticably "tinny" at lower volumes with limited Bass register. At higher volumes, the "tinniness" becomes even more prominent. It also starts to develop some hiss.
Now, it certainly has some serious firepower in the volume arena, but it's seriously lacking in overall sound quality. Now I am one of those people that doesn't discount Bose as a player in the speaker arena, and I have found their Wave radio to be as pleasant, in its own way, as some Polk Audios, Kefs, and Martin Logans I have enjoyed. Each speaker set had it's own completely different personality and so did the Bose. But, whatever Bose puts into its $400-$800 Wave Radio, it took out of the Sound Dock to bring it down to $300.
For the money, the portability, the power and the sound, the Altec Lansing IM7 is, by far the best machine on the market.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing sound reproduction
by spits on April 21, 2005
Pros: Bose quality, exceptional sound.
Cons: High price for great quality
Summary: From the first song, the SoundDock was plain unbelievable. All the subtleties of the music are revealed. Even though it is in one piece, it separates the stereo sound. It ...
Summary: From the first song, the SoundDock was plain unbelievable. All the subtleties of the music are revealed. Even though it is in one piece, it separates the stereo sound. It has enough power to play at any party, or fill up your house. Just don't think about the price, and go buy it. You'll have it forever, and you'll be glad you do.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Just AMAZING
by toronto_guy on December 18, 2006
Pros: Worth every dollars.
Cons: The constant bashing on BOSE product.
Summary: Just be aware of the bashing on "bose" product. In my opinion, the competition is trying to tarnish the image of the best speaker company in the world, BOSE.
I ...Summary: Just be aware of the bashing on "bose" product. In my opinion, the competition is trying to tarnish the image of the best speaker company in the world, BOSE.
I spend the weekend in the best speakers shop in my Town listening to the top speakers company selling their product for thousands of dollars, and really,nothing compares to the sound quality of BOSE speakers.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
- Part number: 35703
- Description: The Bose SoundDock digital music system was specifically designed to expand and enhance your enjoyment of the music stored on your iPod or iPod mini. Just slip it into the docking cradle for the Bose sound your favorite songs deserve. The iPod charges as it plays, so you enjoy music without interruption. Its sleek, slender design fits almost any room's décor. And the included remote lets you control the SoundDock system from across the room. Enjoy the songs on your iPod or iPod mini like never before. The SoundDock system is designed to play your favorite tracks with crisp clarity - allowing you to discover subtleties in your music that used to simmer beneath the surface. A host of proprietary technologies adds vitality and realism to your tracks. With Bose proprietary acoustic design, you enjoy a full, rich sound that's greater than you'd expect from a system this small. The SoundDock system is easy to operate. Just plug it in, pop in your iPod and play. Your iPod works as long as it has a dock connector on the bottom. There are no extra wires or adapters. The included remote allows you to control your music at the push of a button. And a stylish, sophisticated look means it can be the center of attention or blend in wherever you place it. The SoundDock system and your iPod share a commitment to simplicity, quality and above all, music. Now just introduce them and watch this pair becomes best friends.
General
- Product Type Speaker system
- Width 11.9 in
- Depth 6.5 in
- Height 6.7 in
- Weight 4.6 lbs
Speaker System
- Speaker Type Active
- Magnetic Shield Yes
- Audio Amplifier Integrated
- Connectivity Technology Wired
Speaker System Details
- Speakers Included Right/left channel speaker - Wired
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Docking station
Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Docking station insert
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
- Power AC 120/230 V
Product series
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Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Specs: speaker system, 11.9 in x 6.5 in x 6.7 in, Active
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Manufacturer: Bose Corp.
Specs: portable speakers with digital player dock, 11.9 in x 6.5 in x 6.7 in, Black, Active
Manufacturer info
- Bose Corp.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Bose Corp. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.bose.com/
- Address:
The Mountain, Framingham, MA 01701 - Phone: 1-800-999-2673
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