03-28-2012, 04:05 PM
zach, you may also want to make sure you get one that is forward-compatible with AirPlay. AirPlay is what Apple now calls wireless streaming for music/video. A few models have come out over the past several months; I've tested some at BB but was not overly impressed with sound quality.
I'm waiting on Logitech to come out with their AP version which was announced last October or so but to my knowledge has not been released. EDIT: lo and behold, it was released apparently just now! The great thing about AirPlay is you don't even have to dock to play your music...but you can if you want to stay charged or whatever. AirPlay will be all over the place soon enough.
FWIW, I can second the Altec Lansing recommendation. I have the im600 or 700 (I forget, had it about 5 years now) and it's got an FM tuner and a couple of aux/sub ports on the back. It folds into itself for easy transport and it's rechargeable and the battery lasts far longer than I ever need it while unplugged. Really, the best of all worlds. Sound is good but not as good as a boombox (but that's the small footprint tradeoff). I compared it to Logitech's latest dock (sans AirPlay one) and the Logitech blew it away in sound quality, but not sure if the LT has FM. Keep in mind my AL is 5 years old, though. I'd imagine the new ones sound a lot better.
If you can live without the FM tuner, your iDevice can pull in radio via TuneIn app or others. The sound quality can greatly vary, though. And I've found that it's impossible to get NCAA sports via web radio (even on those stations that carry it on their terrestrial signal) unless you pay a premium which I think is just stupid and ridiculous. They have ads running all through the game to pay for the broadcast. Greedy SOB's./rant
I'm waiting on Logitech to come out with their AP version which was announced last October or so but to my knowledge has not been released. EDIT: lo and behold, it was released apparently just now! The great thing about AirPlay is you don't even have to dock to play your music...but you can if you want to stay charged or whatever. AirPlay will be all over the place soon enough.
FWIW, I can second the Altec Lansing recommendation. I have the im600 or 700 (I forget, had it about 5 years now) and it's got an FM tuner and a couple of aux/sub ports on the back. It folds into itself for easy transport and it's rechargeable and the battery lasts far longer than I ever need it while unplugged. Really, the best of all worlds. Sound is good but not as good as a boombox (but that's the small footprint tradeoff). I compared it to Logitech's latest dock (sans AirPlay one) and the Logitech blew it away in sound quality, but not sure if the LT has FM. Keep in mind my AL is 5 years old, though. I'd imagine the new ones sound a lot better.
If you can live without the FM tuner, your iDevice can pull in radio via TuneIn app or others. The sound quality can greatly vary, though. And I've found that it's impossible to get NCAA sports via web radio (even on those stations that carry it on their terrestrial signal) unless you pay a premium which I think is just stupid and ridiculous. They have ads running all through the game to pay for the broadcast. Greedy SOB's./rant