So the IMV712 begged for another fight, requesting the biggest, baddest dock we could throw at him. And it just so happened we had one dock we couldn't include in the competition due to rumored steroid use inflating the price, the $499 Chestnut Hill Sound George.

It was the perfect unfair match-up to please our underappreciated IMV712, which is the entire reason we're not doing a head to head. Hit the jump for a more standard review of the Chestnut Hill Sound George. And we'll give you some impressions of how it stacks up to the IMV712.

DESIGN
The George...I'm sorry...the GEORGE is Chestnut Hill Sound's only product. And it's clear that there has been enough intent behind the design to base a company. It starts with a gorgeous remote based upon the Zigbee standard (think Wi-Fi with lower bandwidth). The dock downloads your entire tracklist from your iPod and sends it wirelessly to the remote. I didn't notice a delay, but a full iPod can take up to one minute to sync.
From here, the interface is flawless, as long as you like the standard iPod menus. Because the layout is copied near verbatim, the differences which include a few convenient quicktabs on the "Now Playing" screen. A clickable wheel has a solid rubbery feel, and works just like Apple's trademark minus the touch sensitivity.

The result is zero learning curve.

Plus you can scan radio, set the alarm, or activate the line in from the remote. But our favorite part? A snoozesque button on top mutes the sound. The backlit remote is good for about four hours of use, and automatically recharges on the base station.

SOUND
If the Bose Sound Dock was able to deliver on all its promises, it might be called the George. Beucase you get that Bose feeling of balance, cleanliness and resonance, but with a pile of bass that accompanies the high and mids with precision.
Listening to folk gave us guitars that could sparkle with vocals that flowed like silk. We appreciated the Griffin despite its over-performing extremes, and there may be similar element of the midrange that seems missing from the George's pop music repertoire, but when listening to classical, these tendencies pay off, offering us clean instrumentation that makes you wish some of your music was recorded at a higher bitrate.

To compare the sound quality directly to the excellent IMV712, we'd call it a hair less metallic, and much richer in the lowest ranges (tubas really hit your gut nicely). And the IMV712 is not very good at playing at the most quiet volumes, which is a non-issue for the George.

Does it sound light years ($150), better than the IMV712? In the audio world, yes. Most ears will notice a difference in that the George has a real element of sharpness and another finish of finesse in every range.

I've had both the IMV712 and the George hooked up for the past week. And I've found myself not only listening to the George more, but listening to music more because of the extreme convenience of the remote.

Call it a rich man's iPod dock, or a poor man's Sonos. But I think the George is worth its steep $499 pricetag for those looking for a compact system that can rock a room. Now if only more of us had the money lying around.

It's been what feels like three years in the making, but the final fight in our iPod Dock Battlemodo begins now. The $150 Griffin Amplifi is our budget contender, going face to face against the posh $350 Altec Lansing IMV712. And with that long of a model number, you know it's gotta be good.

But only one will leave this ring coffee table alive.

Feature Test

The Amplifi has nothing extra. There are two ports on the back: one for power, one for a line-in. That's it. The lack of features will be argued as a good thing to some, who want the simplest experience whatsoever. And while it's true that not dealing with inputs is convenient, we would love to see a simple video out tuner, or a more advanced system with the volume

The Altec Lansing IMV712 is the exact opposite of the Amplifi, having the largest feature set of any dock we tested. It starts with a massive 8.5" screen. As we've complained before, it's put to poor use while listening to music, unless you enjoy watching the Altec Lansing hypnotic logo for hours on end.

But video playback is pretty decent. There is an aspect ratio issue that is tough to ignore, but other than that, it's a solid viewing experience.

You also get left and right audio inputs, RCA video in and S-Video out. Surprisingly, there's no radio, and alarm integration would have given the IMV712 and unbeatable feature set.

FEATURE WINNER: IMV712

The Bass Test
We busted out the Dr. Dre, a scene that closely resembled the opening scene in Office Space, we're sure.

And the Griffin comes to fight. Its low range swings for the fence, and the effect is low, loud and a bit sloppy. But the thing can thump. We're talking tubas. We're talking synth.

The IMV712 has clean bass, and you can certainly hear it, but it won't shake your guts. And sometimes we all could use our guts shaken. The IMV712 has a built-in subwoofer, otherwise it would have no bass, or faux bass. But we wish it had a bit more...balls.

The Griffin's underside "bass port" may look like a gimmick, but it's an excellent design...and it leads this category upset.

BASS WINNER: AMPLIFI

Sound Test
To many, even most, the Amplifi will pass as great audio. And for a selling price of about $130, it's gonna make a lot of people happy. But while the highs and lows are both very strong, there's a distinct lack of midrange balance. It's like eating great turkey and cranberry sauce, and then realizing, "Shit! We forgot the stuffing."

The result is that certain voices or instruments can either become harsh without solid grounding, or just be lost in the spectrum. But the Amplifi plays its game well, fooling my ear with its strong extreme ranges. And in that respect, it's very much doing its job. Enigma Variations sounds surprisingly brilliant, still respectable even when played side-by-side with the IMV712. That's a feat.

The IMV712, on the other hand, just has well-crafted audio—an iPod dock poster boy if you will. Despite a lack of EQ adjustments, the system is quite satisfying. Multiple genres of music, from folk to rap, have an excellent balance. I probably say it a bit better in my last review of the unit, but the entire gamut of instrumentation shows up, no matter what the song. It's tough to find any real weaknesses with the sound—other than maybe what we already talked about in the bass portion: an adjustable bass knob with a bit more kick would be the cherry on top here.

One complaint: When switching inputs or tracks, there's a semi-loud static in the speaker. We don't know what Altec Lansing can do to fix the problem—we're no engineers—but it must be fixable, and it's the only real thorn in the entire listening experience.

SOUND WINNER: IMV712

So the Altec Lansing should win, right? It took two of our three categories. Case closed.

Not quite.

To us, there is still the outstanding question of value and overall function. It's a decision we've known was coming from day one when I balanced the bracket to have a budget and premium winner, so we're not going to cry about it or anything. But it's not an issue that we ever necessarily resolved.

As reviewers, the choice could be very easy. We can tell you all that $350 is the price you should pay to have a good iPod dock.

But let's be honest. Most people will never watch video on the IMV712's screen.

And in most listening situations, the average consumer will not hear a massive difference between the docks. But that's the battle of buying audio: It's a game of diminishing returns. It's a question you need to be honest with yourself when answering: Do you need the Passat, or will the Jetta treat you just as well? Do you need the $20 brick of cheese, or will your crackers taste as good spending half that?

OVERALL WINNER: GRIFFIN AMPLIFI

For a shelf price of about $130, the Griffin Amplifi is a steal in the world of iPod Docks. Its worthy competition, the IMV712, is an excellent choice for those who plan on a close listening to their system. But for the many who are just looking for a decent-sounding box to pump out their tunes in an extra room, the Amplifi is the dock for you.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The end.

Read all the chapters of the battle here.

FIGHT!

DESIGN
We were afraid to leave the Eton Sound 100 iPod alone with the Altec Lansing IMV712. The big boy looked hungry, and the Eton is just so delicate...possibly tasty...

Eton Sound 100 iPod
The Eton is a cute system. It's very small, yet has a feel of a bigger unit through its solid buttons and knobs. But we'd like to have seen video out along with the radio and line in/out options. And it's tough to look past the fact that the Eton Sound 100 iPod is just Eton's Sound 100 model with an external iPod dock. Is that bitchy of me? Maybe a little.

Altec Lansing IMV712
The IMV712 is more like a big SUV than a sleek Jeep. We're not crazy about its appearance, even though a diagonally arching top spruces up the boxy form. We've already gushed over the massive screen, etc, but we wish that the screen could be put to better use than movies or the Altec Lansing logo. A little visualization could go a long way here.

AUDIO
Once again, we did extensive audio testing. Sure, we knew (as you should expect) that the IMV712 would take the sound category. But just how much better is Altec Lansing's heavyweight than the little Eton...that's the big question.

Eton Sound 100 iPod
This is a big stage in the competition, so it's time to put away the baby music. We started out with the Boss, Springsteen himself. Human Touch sounded pretty solid. I can't help but to underestimate the output of this little unit, only to be surprised each time I put it on. It actually hits a pretty high frequency range. Vocals are clear, while the highest range instrumentation can thin out (cymbals can get a bit tinny). Lows...I can't quite explain. They hit without resonance, popping in an unnatural way in which a bass drum can resemble a snare hit. The sound is almost low enough, but it's sterile.

Nonetheless, I'm impressed by this little machine.

Altec Lansing IMV712
Of course the IMV712 is more open, reproduces sweeter bass and...well, you get the point. But the even bigger difference between the two units, however, is distinction. Layers of sound, no matter the genre, can be appreciated in full. In Outkast's Ms. Jackson, it's absurdly easy to pick out the tracks and dissect the subtle complexities that make the song so freakin' good. You won't get that with the Eton. And the tendency only gets more obvious when venturing into classical.

Strings and horns are both brilliant on the IMV712. And the Eton, the excellent little BSer that it is, can't begin to keep up.

I always separate sound quality in tiers, and maybe that's completely unfair since it's arbitrary and a bit meaningless in comparisons outside this battle. But you will hear a massive difference between the two units (or at least two tiers of quality). And it's not because the Eton is a disappointment, because I don't see many turning up their noses at the Sound 100's audio quality given the form—it's that the IMV712 transcends iPod docks and gives you a product that can be more of a home stereo than just a backup dock. It might not be perfect sound, sure, but it's fairly luxurious for MP3 playback—a bit of caviar on your Ritz cracker.

WINNER: IMV712

Like its competition in the finals, the Griffin Amplifi, the IMV712 is a bit on the big and ugly. But it sounds good and is feature-rich. Would we give up the IMV712's video for its audio in Eton's form factor? Of course. We just aren't there yet from a technological standpoint.

Who will win?

DESIGN
In terms of design, the two docks have a similar, simplistic HAL-knob design. The Express is tiny, like a sporty scooter that can hook to your TV through video out. The Amplifi is much bigger, heavier and...dare we say...meaner, but there are no extras other than standard audio input. So while the Amplifi is well-built (the knob clicks like a receiver, wooden construction is a bonus), this round easily goes to the Express since it's smaller and slightly more feature-driven.

AUDIO
For the budget audio showdown, I went through multiple genres, and multiple songs within each genre.

Griffin Amplifi
I still appreciate the low range of this system. It's not necessarily real bass, but it almost fools you into thinking it's there. Take your average bass line. It's strongly present, even if not necessarily completely honest in its represented range.

Highs are well-represented with a tendency to blend a bit, missing some of the higher instrument textures.

Logitech
If I could describe the experience in one word, it would be "tasteful." But the Logitech is easily a tier, or even two, below the Griffin. The Express has no mid to low range fullness, making the entire sound field narrower than the Amplifi's. Surprisingly, regular rock performs poorly compared with other genres of music, such as solo acoustic, if only because of the disappointing low response that frequently grows muddy. High frequencies are actually pretty decent, with budget considerations taken into account.

Every genre, from rock to classical, goes to the Amplifi. With the Grffin's product, even though I am still compromising on perfect audio, it's just so much more fulfilling to listen to than the Logitech AudioStation Express.

SO...

Who wins? This is a tough call—probably the toughest of the competition. Sure, the Griffin sounds better. But it's almost three times the size of the inconspicuous Express. And the Amplifi's price runs $50 more than the $80 Express, which is quite a bit on the budget system scale. It took some honest soul-searching, a dramatic walk on the beach and 3/4 of a Michael Bolton album accompanied by 4/4 of a bottle of wine. But I came to a difficult one-man consensus.

WINNER: GRIFFIN AMPLIFI
It's no frills, and it's big. But at $130, you won't find a better sounding dock. For those who are looking to save money and space, we still heartily recommend the AudioStation Express. But the extra $50 is well worth the improved sound.

Today is a sound match only, as we listen to Sufijan Stevens' Decatur, and I realize that, yes, I need to put more songs on the iPod for the finals.

Bose Sound Dock
The Bose didn't fail to surprise me with the size of its sound. It's a master of midrange, with excellent clarity. It's incredibly easy to distinguish the Stevens' two separate vocal tracks, layered for harmony. Many speaker systems nearly lose this subtlety, and its presence adds a dimension to the sound otherwise not appreciated.

Altec Lansing IM7
The IM7's range is pretty decent, with a strong mid to lower midrange. But everything is metallic. As if ever tone is finished in brass, frequency response loses out to a general harshness. It's easily in third place of the three docks.

Altec Lansing IMV712
I guess the two extra numbers and one extra number in "IMV712" count for something, because the IMV712 sounds way beyond its IM7 sibling. And if the big brother shows anything, it's that while Bose makes a great product, the product is not an infallible provider of "perfect sound"— $100 extra bucks can be a lot in audio.

The IMV712 just has...bigger balls. It's like when you've been eating low-fat sour cream for a long time. It tastes pretty good, and you think, not much missing here. Why would I ever eat the real thing? And then you do, appreciating the more opulent texture and more richer flavor.

The IMV712 has a richer sound beyond its ability to limbo down to lower frequencies than the Sound Dock. It's present and filling, from the plucking banjos to the soft hint of breath at the end of vocal phrases.

WINNER: IMV712
On sound alone, the IMV712 takes this round of face-offs. Its closest competition, the Bose Sound Dock, is admittedly cheaper than the IMV712. But since we can easily hear the difference and the Sound Dock is lacking any practical extras, we're going with the IMV712. This result brings a close to the second round of competition. Only three matches are left from here to decide a winner.

For testing we listened to Emiliana Torrini's Sunny Road, light acoustic rock that builds into deeper instrumentation.

iHome iH52
All the ranges are well represented, with plenty of bass available. The guitar sounds pleasant, and the voice is OK, but not stellar. Nothing here will completely blow you away as no particular range really shines, but there's nothing blatantly broken, either.

XtremeMac Tango
In the quiet opening, there is a noticeable buzz. It's a high and faint, an almost digital-sounding overtone. And once you hear that, it sours the whole package. The lows seem to keep up with the iHome's, though sounds sometimes become murky from lower ranges to the mids—it's lacking control in its resonance. But the vocal track is actually surprisingly quite strong.

Eton Sound 100 iPod
The Sound 100 surprised me, nearly keeping up with its competitors in its overall frequency range. But overall, the experience is a little thinner than offerings from either the iHome or Tango. Still...

WINNER: Eton Sound 100 iPod
Admittedly, the Eton comes in third place regarding sound. The iHome takes that category. But this is the second round, and I refuse to put through a computer speaker system with a dock attachment and a big iHome slapped on the front.

iPod docks are superfluous tech, meant to have a level of sexiness that's superior to our existing computer or surround sound system (and besides, could you imagine if Logitech and Altec Lansing entered their computer systems in the competition). Meanwhile, the Tango just doesn't sound as good as its footprint would suggest. The bottom line: if we were choosing one dock of the three for our home, it would be the Eton. And even if we bitched a little about the sound, at least we wouldn't have to look at another ugly pile of cords.

If you want more on either unit, check the first-round battles here and here. Today is a sound grudge match. I listened to Beverly Hills by Weezer. Strong guitars and some challenging frequencies on the high side make this a fun test song.



The Altec Lansing puts out more sound that you'd expect from its small profile, and the guitars are the first thing that you notice. That tenor vocal to guitar range is a real sweet spot for the system, even though the sound never has that singing in your ear presence. And the stereo effects many be the most prominent of any dock in the competition. It's one of the few systems that I actually enjoy the SFX mode.
The Amplifi kicked some butt in our first round of testing, and though we may have remembered it a bit better than it actually sounds, it still holds its own. From the mids to the highs, this unit is very warm and scores incredibly well on general listenability. Cymbals ring metallic while vocals carry with an impressive amount of fidelity. I just wish wish wish wish it had more bass given its size.

While testing, I accidentally unplugged the IM600 and it kept running, a gentle reminder that this little machine has its own built-in battery. But the Amplifi sounds better enough for me to ignore the convenience...besides, I never leave the house anyway.
WINNER: Griffin Amplifi

Since its initial review, I've been a little infatuated with the AudioStation Express. So it's almost unfair for the well-crafted IM3 to enter the ring today.

While the IM3 may have clearer highs, it's tinny...and a bit tiny. The entire sound experience is more rounded on the Logitech while listening to Sufijan Stevens' Chicago, and the battle isn't even close. Because as far as I'm concerned, the IM3's sleeker form is canceled out by the AudioStation's video-out and still-diminutive size.

WINNER: Logitech AudioStation Express

BATTLE 1 RESULT
BATTLE 2 RESULT
BATTLE 3 RESULT
BATTLE 4 RESULT
BATTLE 5 RESULT
BATTLE 6 RESULT
BATTLE 7 RESULT
BATTLE 8 RESULT
BATTLE 9 RESULT
BATTLE 10 RESULT

Design/Features
Hi-Fi
The Hi-Fi's design is as minimal as anything we've come to expect from Apple. The volume buttons directly control the iPod, as opposed to most players that adjust the amplification within the unit. Handles allow for easy carrying, but that's a feature you forget about once you take it out of the box. But where are the extras? The second clickwheel? The video out? Anything? You can take the Hi-Fi on the road with D batteries, which is worth something, I guess.

IMV712
The IMV712 is a dock in a class of its own. Not only does it feature video out—it has a 8.5-inch screen. How does it look? While not the best LCD we've ever seen, it's bright, sharp and colorful enough for us. What we don't like, however, is that the screen stretches the image wider than it was intended...and it's not fixable when playing with the iPod's video out. Why would Altec Lansing engineer the product this way when iTunes doesn't support widescreen programming?

Sound
For sound testing we listened to Edward Elgar's Enigma Variations: Nimrod as directed by Sir Georg Solti. Because we were feeling pretentious.

Hi-Fi
Right off the bat we enjoy the sound of the Hi-Fi. It's not a bargain bin dock, and you can hear it. The balance is superb, with no real quality falloff high or low. And the bass gets really deep.

IMV712
The IMV712 sounds remarkably similar to the HiFi, as if they are long lost cousins, or even brothers. And of all our side-by-sides thus far, they are most similar in sound style. But all is not equal.

The IMV712 does have a small speaker hiss that the Hi-Fi does not. Otherwise the IMV712 has more presence, which you notice in the high ranges. Trumpets sound like they are made of metal, and strings have that extra scrape to them. Texture is the difference here, allowing listeners to point out when during a phrase, a warm piccolo becomes a flute, for example.

The Hi-Fi sounds nice, but it sterilizes the sound into something less real and more speakerlike, and that effect is especially noticeable when instrumentation is layered during Nimrod's most dramatic moments. Still, the phonic experience is an admittedly close matchup, and we're exaggerating the differences here for review purposes. Most ears will agree that the IMV712 isn't light years ahead of the Hi-Fi, if ahead at all.

WINNER: Altec Lansing IMV712
The IMV712 has some real problems with aspect ratio, and the screen is wasted with the Altec Lansing logo when music is being played (visualization would have been nice). But considering that its sound quality is on par with Apple's Hi-fi, and maybe even a little better, we can't justify the purchase of a Hi-Fi over the IMV712...even if buying the Hi-Fi would further annoy our PC-using brethren.

Design/Features

Bose
The SoundDock is as minimal as it gets. Volume up. Volume Down. The end. Considering that the SoundDock was around before iPod video, we're thinking that it's time to update the components with richer features that don't need to detract from the unit's simplicity.

Logitech
You can tell that the AudioStation is a newer product just by looking at it. A sleek display features touch-sensitive controls (I personally consider them a novelty here and on the PS3, but a nice-looking novelty at that.) While a bit heftier than the SoundDock, Logitech's AudioStation gives you two choices of video out and an AM/FM radio with RDS (telling you track names). An alarm would have been nice considering the large clock, but the removable speaker grills are a sweet touch.

Sound
I returned to the Blast! Soundtrack for the famous brass fiesta, Malaguena.

Bose
For the first time in my iPod tests, my wife walked into the room. "That sounds really good," she said. And she was right. The Soundock played brass with rich vibrance, but managed respectable bass at the same time. When cranking the small unit to higher volumes, it performed with equal fidelity. The Soundock isn't just a bunch of yuppie bullshit—this system is the real deal.

Logitech
When the low brass comes in for the first time in a chorale-like moment, you feel the colors of the notes. Then you hear the air pulsating through the tubas. And for the first time in any of the docks yet tested, I notice the actual strike of the bass drum with precision.

But the Logitech's high ranges grow less tangible where the Bose delivers with absolute precision. Then again, the Logitech undoubtedly dominates on the low end, making the Bose look like a teenager still waiting for puberty to arrive.

Winner: Bose SoundDock
In interest of full disclosure, having been disappointed with some of my past Bose experiences, I didn't expect this result. But the Bose just sounds better, especially when you head into another room. One caveat, however, is that Bose owes it to their loyal customers (who will buy the brand no matter what I say here) to update their SoundDock with video functionality and figure out how to cram some more bass into the package. Because the AudioStation shows all the consumer concern that's important in a product—and honestly—many top 40 listeners will prefer the AudioStation for its low end umph alone. That said, this match goes to Bose.

Design/Functions

IM7
The IM7 goes for that soup can on its side boombox look, which...works? Its most notable feature is that your iPod snaps recessed into the dock, though since the controls remain uncovered for iPod navigation, your precious music collection still isn't bomb proof. The s-video out is a nice bonus.

Playdock i
The Playdock i is almost a third less wide than the IM7, making it a better squeeze on to your shelf. And the build quality is excellent. The volume wheel offers a fulfilling tactile click and a knob on the back allows easy bass adjustment—I don't understand why more docks don't have simple EQ options. To finish it off, a single button allows toggle of their Wide Stereo Effect.

Sound
I tested this round with Rodrigo Y Gabriela's Tamacun, because my wife is listening to it nonstop so I am listening to it nonstop.
IM7
The IM7 has a rounded sound, not just in its excellent low to high balance, but the roundness of each note. The guitars, in any range, sounded almost wet in texture. The lows don't go quite the that guttural range that shakes the tummy, but they are about as well as one can expect without a sub.

Playdock i
The highest ranges play back with slap-you-in-the-face presence. But the listening experience degrades through the midranges and lower. "Wide Stereo Effect" sound enhancement cuts the lows too much for my taste. And cranking the bass adds false colors to the sound.

The companies are clearly taking different approaches to sound: Altec Lansing is trying to offer a solid stereo performance with their IM7, while Cambridge Soundworks' Playdock i attempts to offer a sound that emulates the live experience. But to pull off that live sound, the speakers have to be amazing.

WINNER: Altec Lansing IM7
Even with a retail of $50 more, we're giving the victory to the IM7. If we could only combine the two units: Playdock i build combined with the IM7 sound would be a force to reckon with. We'll see if Bose can fill that gap...

Who will win the battle?

Design/Functionality

Sonic Impact

The T24's design is stereotypical, so we'll save you clichéd descriptions of symmetry and my takes on the finer distinctions of silver and gunmetal. The T24 has video out and is generally streamlined for ease of use.

Eton

Internet shots of Eton's Sound 100 iPod (essentially their Sound 100 with iPod dock) never impressed me much, but the in-person effect is much less retro-wannabe and far more small and indiscrete. Plus, you get a radio, alarm with sleep timer and an LCD that has plenty of room for the song titles but doesn't display them. Oh, well.

Sound
We just haven't been able to shake Journey's Don't Stop Believing after watching the incredible Sopranos finale. So we looped that for a while.

Sonic Impact

The entire sound has a bit of an echo, but not obnoxiously so. On the contrary, it rounds out the sound. The vocals are very strong and, once again I'm left with that car stereo effect: strong mids with highs that that blend into an indefinable but palatable mixture. But there's not much of going on the lowest ranges.

Eton

The sound feels more contained, but the highest ranges feel truer...if occasionally metallic. And believe it or not, this little machine performs better at the lowest ranges. It's weird, the Eton's downfall is its lackluster midrange playback.

WINNER: Eton Sound 100 iPod

We choose the Eton, not because of the sound (which is admittedly a half step better on the Sonic Impact), but for the small stature that still manages to keep up that is packed with practical features. Neither of these units should be chosen based upon their fidelity alone, so with a width of roughly half its competitor's size, Eton's Sound 100 iPod takes this round.

How will this fight end? Only one can win!

Design/Function

On Time
You're gonna love or hate the circular design, so we're claiming no comment. And the auto dimming display is pretty sweet. But we were excited about the On Time for its promise to be a great alarm that can double as a small bedroom stereo. The technology delivers, but the UI is utter garbage. The button layout resembles a Playstation controller on crack: X, up arrow, return symbol, power....niner. And there is no excuse for a product of any sort to have such horrid button mapping tied to a display that should be bigger for the click-heavy menu system. Buyers will certainly "learn" how to use the On Time, but why should they have to? We'd like to see a video out and remote (first unit we've reviewed without it) as well—more than the computer hookup. Most people will use an alarm clock in their bedroom, where a TV could really benefit from easy iPod support.

Tango
The Tango doesn't try for the alarm clock identity, so it skirts out of our On Time criticism. It does have s-video out, audio in and out, and a...blue/red light that says whether or not your iPod is hooked up. We're partial to literally turning our volume up and down, but the volume buttons work fine.

Sound
For our testing we listened to Hold on Loosely by .38 special. And it rocked.

On TimeOur initial impression was that the On Time sounds like a good, packaged car stereo. There's balance, a certain pleasant ring of the high hat and a midrange vocalist that really rocks. There isn't a lot of bass, but the strong mid to highs can make you forget. The optional sub out could beef up the sound for those willing.

That circular design is the real deal, though, launching sound in all directions evenly.

Tango
But the sound field on the Tango is simply more open. The system emotes, so to speak, not falling back on acoustic trickery as much as raw speaker power and quality. It makes you realize that the only reason you dig your car stereo is that it's in your car.

The highest registers manage to cut through, but mid range vocals can become lost in the loud but often clumsy bass. Still, we liked the sound in a variety of listening scenarios, though some acoustic presents would have been a preferred solution to fixing settings in iPod.

WINNER: XtremeMac Tango

We try to remain objective, but going into the match, we couldn't avoid predicting that the On Time's feature set would make a killer combination with their strong reputation for sound quality. But what is function without the form to follow? Do any non-phone gadgets really need 11 buttons?

Obviously the XtremeMac Tango is trying to do far less, but it's doing so far better.

– Mark Wilson

The neat thing? We've expanded the bracket because more companies wanted in on the fight...even after watching us rip some competitors to shreds. Hit the jump for a CliffsNotes version of the first five matches.

Round 1 involved the iHome iH8 vs. the Logitech Audiostation Express. Logitech wins by a landslide on superior sound.
BATTLE 1 RESULT

Round 2 pitted the Altec Lansing iM3 vs.the Griffin Journi. The Griffin has some good ideas, but is bested by the smaller, clearer iM3.
BATTLE 2 RESULT

In battle 3, Griffin returns with their Amplifi to face the Logitech mm50. And the Amplifi's large, wooden construction is the key to victory.
BATTLE 3 RESULT

In the fourth battle, the Kensington SX3000R fights the Altec Lansing iM600. The iM600 wins on all accounts, then gives Kensington a cookie because they are good people.
BATTLE 4 RESULT

For battle 5, iHome requests a rematch. So we pit the iLive Studio vs. their iHome iH52. And vengeance is sweet—a dish best served with massive amounts of bass.
BATTLE 5 RESULT

Don't forget that the best way to stay updated is to bookmark this page and/or reading Giz absolutely every day at least 20-30 times. See you next round. – Mark Wilson

The iHome Studio ($179.99) and the iLive iH52 ($200, a price increase for the second "i") battle it out after the jump for your iLove.

And the iHome wins. So don't bet against it in the next few seconds before you hit the jump.

Design

iLive
The iLive has a retractable docking system. You push a button and it ejects á la CD tray. It's neat, until you realize that the tray is flimsy to the touch. We dig the piano black finish, which classes up the unit while promising to become every bit as dusty as our PS3. And the remote is large, which is both overkill and refreshing in a world of Front Row wannabes.

iHome
I'm not going to bullshit you—the iHome is not an iPod speaker system. It's a computer speaker system with a hefty iPod dock attached. However, real speaker wires attach to the sub, which means that if you are willing to hide some cords (and dismiss the GIANT iHOME GRAPHIC), the system offers some level of flexibility. Our other impression: too many buttons with inefficient mapping. Tools like EQ require two button presses where one could do.

Functionality
Both units feature video out, including S-video. Sure, they've also got AM/FM, will sync with your computer, wake you up, and...uhh...amplify your iPod.

iLive
The iLive is one of the only docks we've tested that allows full iPod navigation from the remote, which beats most setups that limit you to playlist support only. The Studio is also very good at leaving rubber smudges on your kitchen table that can't be cleaned entirely.

iHome
The display shows the artist and song if you opt not to know the time. It's big enough to see, too, but we wish we could crank the contrast a bit higher.

Sound
We listened to Beck's Clap Hands. And then we danced around like Beck because no one was watching/grading us.

iLive
The iLive really has some kick to it. The system can thump—but there's a caveat. The thumping simply isn't very good. It sounds a bit synthetic and significantly garbled. And the rest of the sound isn't much different. While the mids and highs certainly fair better than the bass, there aren't any moments in particular where any range shines.

iHome
If the iLive has "some kick," then the iHome is Jackie Chan. Because the iHome puts out so much bass between its EQ and extra tweaks on the stand-alone sub that you will need to consciously crank down the lows to find balance.

The real issue with the iHome—which by all accounts sounds good—is that the mids and highs don't sparkle. I kept thinking, "more cowbell," literally. The system is solid, but it left me craving something even better. Because the woofer delivers in ways the speakers don't.

Winner: iHome iH52

The iHome iH52 wins by cheating—it ignores the rules of simplicity of setup and navigation. But in doing so, the iH52 follows a successful model already pioneered by computer audio enthusiasts.

The iHome fills an odd niche that I'm not sure actually exists (do I want computer-style speakers in my living room, or iPod speakers on my computer?), but it sounds a lot better than its competitor. So the iH52 moves on!

– Mark Wilson

So who will win the battle?

The iM600. Oops. Was that out loud?

Design
The SX3000R is a rarity among iPod docks. Instead of opting for the parallel, iPod blocks the speaker format, the SX3000R stores the iPod on the side. And it's a refreshing effect in person.

The iM600 is understated minus the bright blue display that really spices up the design in the dark. And it has a real deal antenna, 1980s style, that stores away within the dock neatly.

Functions
Radio: Having no display, Kensington made a smart choice in displaying radio stations through the iPod itself. The iM600 uses its built-in display, but why not double the information as large as possible on the iPod?
The iM600 also features a built-in battery rated at 7 hours, TV out, USB in, and subwoofer out—meanwhile, the Kensington skimped on these extras.

Both docks will function as an alarm clock using the iPod's clock.

Sound

The Kensington SX3000R got our hopes up. Why? They put the iPod off to the side where it wouldn't block sound. But while playing the Barenaked Ladies song Pinch Me, we realized that the iPod's position was motivated by aesthetics, not audio.

Because the SX3000R, quite simply, doesn't sound very good. A balance of frequencies might be somewhere within sound field, but everything is so muffled that it can be tough to tell. The listening experience makes you wonder if an object is blocking the speaker, flattening the sound into something that doesn't warrant deep analysis.

The iM600 is not perfect, but definitely sounds a tier above the Kensington. The dock undoubtedly has more bass response that any portable system we've reviewed yet, even if it won't shake the floor. And most of all, the guitars, vocals and drums blend into a harmonious package. Acoustic was solid; electric shined. Yes, there is a faint static that audiophiles will notice during some songs (couldn't find the correlation here), and we wouldn't call the IM600's sound "crisp." But it's a solid performance nonetheless.

WINNER: Altec Lansing iM600
Maybe it's unfair to check street prices as opposed to retail, but given that both units can move for $135, this battle turned out to be a slaughter. The iM600 packs almost every feature was could ask for in a docking system, and its audio is decent to boot. The Kensington SX3000R loses in every category that counts, and simply is not the dock you want to buy when there are a slew of better options available for the money. – Mark Wilson

Are you a company who thinks their iPod dock is tough enough to compete in our iPod Dock Bracket? Are you a dirty-playing company who will stop at nothing to win, Cobra Kai, "Sweep the leg, Johnny!" style? Then let us know (my email is on the side of the page).

Because you officially have 24 hours to enter the tournament before the bracket is...rebracketized, and closed for good...again. – Mark Wilson

If we were betting men, we'd give this round to the Amplifi. Why? Because we sorta know the reviewer.

Design
The mm50 is a nice piece of eye candy. You don't get the entire effect in press shots, but it's very thin and sits at an angle that, at first, seems impossible given the laws of gravity. Cool stuff.
The Amplifi's design is the antithesis of the mm50. Instead of diagonal flourish, the Amplifi has a functional box structure. But it's well-constructed out of matte-finished wood. And it includes a large volume wheel that clicks when rotated, just like your heavy-duty receiver.

Features

Neither dock has any additional functions, though it's worth mentioning that both docks have line-in. The mm50 features a 3D stereo button. Yes, it sounds like a gimmick (no pun intended). But when listening head-on, the sound field does grow. It's just too bad this effect doesn't transcend to other listening angles. Plus, there is a lithium ion in this badboy, rated for 10 hours of use. The Amplifi comes with world plug adapters...we're guessing for production issues rather than portability...as well as the most iPod adapters we've seen with any unit yet. It's literally compatible with all models of iPod.

Sound

We started our testing with Aimee by Pure Prairie League. The mm50 was has a reasonable mid to high range, with guitars coming through with presence, be it slightly metallic. Given the thin form factor, performance was within our quality standards. But we wished the mm50 took a lesson from it's younger brother, the Audiostation Express, and added an acoustic chamber for some resonance—since engineers could probably add one without changing the system's footprint.

But the Griffin has no limitations of form, and easily featured the best bass of any model tested yet. I mean, that should be the case, considering the unit's size. But there's a pleasant thump and a really strong midrange going on through the song. Vocals occasionally approach brilliance, though fidelity is lost on the highest-end sounds (stuff like chimes, etc).

Testing multiple genres, especially with R&B, the Griffin was consistently the more balanced sound.

WINNER: Griffin Amplifi

The mm50 sounds good and looks even better. But while finishing this review, it was the Amplifi that we chose to play in the background. Ultimately, the Amplifi's sound is good enough to overlook the unapologetic size difference. Though given that both models sell for well under their $150 retail, we can't say that you're going wrong either way. – Mark Wilson

Today we have two $129 challengers, the Altec Lansing inMotion iM3 and the Grffin Journi. They are both portable units, meant to pack up at a moments notice to provide melodies as you jet to lunch in Paris or dinner in McDonald's.

So who wins the battle? It's a close competition, but we're handing this round to the inMotion iM3.

Design
Both companies really considered the consumer in the design here. Think of it as a gentleman's match.

inMotion iM3: The iM3 takes the cake for being the smaller of the two units, by about 30% if I had to guess. It uses a pull and flip-out design, snapping into standup position like an LD transformer (we mean that in a good way).

Journi: This unit takes a completely different approach. Instead of just including a carrying case, the leather padding is fully attached to the unit, making it feel a lot like an oversized journal in your hand. Unwrap the dock, and the case folds to support Journi upright. Rubber buttons built into the sides gives the unit a rugged feel, and make the unit near waterproof as they are the only extrusions not covered by the case. And last, a spot for the remote is built right into the speakers.


Features/More on Design:

inMotion: As a portable unit, you don't get much in terms of extras. But we appreciated that the power plug comes with multiple country adapters. It's a classy move that makes you feel like James Bond or something better...like David Hasselhoff touring when he was big in Europe. Yeah, we freakin' love adapters.

Journi: There's a built-in lithium ion battery, and that's huge in a portable anything. Plus, you can charge this 10-hour battery and/or power the unit through a standard iPod cable that's included with the unit (along with USB powerbrick). The iM3 has a similar port, but it doesn't come with a cable, nor can that plug power the speakers (only charge your iPod).

Sound
For testing the sound, we emo'd out to Sufjan Stevens' Casimir Pulaski Day, which offers a wide range of instrumentation, from acoustic guitar to flute to organ to banjo. And lyrics about a dead girl.

Without even listening, we could have predicted exactly how the iM3 would sound. All the small speaker stereotypes were in full form: good highs, passable to mediocre mids and completely nonexistent lows...which are all exaggerated when the volume goes up. That being said, the sound was especially crisp, with the flute and banjo coming through with valid presence. Sufjan's voice also shined, but as soon as the frequencies reached standard acoustic range, we were already hearing the system's limitations. Overall, a buyer would be pleased if they had reasonable expectations for $129 speakers of this size.

Unfortunately, the larger Journi sounded fuller but not better. The trumpets, especially, had a few nice moments during Casimir Pulaski Day. But everything that came out of the Journi, even during other test tracks, was riddled with faint gravel in the lower midrange. If the distortion were louder, ew'd think there was something wrong with the speakers. A built-in equalizer might rid listeners of the annoyance, but we could do nothing to eliminate it within the iPod itself.

WINNER: Altec Lansing inMotion iM3

Griffin has some fantastic ideas going on in their Journi—and a number of those ideas will be reason enough for plenty to consider this product. But especially given the unit's thicker figure, we just can't excuse the sound glitch that we heard.

Besides, the iM3 is no slouch. The dock is small, reproduces sharp, clean audio and folds flat for easy packing. But Altec Lansing, take a lesson from Griffin and throw a battery in the mix. Then, let us run the unit with our iPod connectors—so maybe next time this battle won't be so close. – Mark Wilson

Design
Both units are similarly sized, fitting on a shelf with ease. And they are each attractive enough in their own way.

iHome: we like the orange glowing lights are a clever throwback to older iPods, and a snooze button is incorporated on the remote.

Audiostation Express: the HAL-like (also orange) glowing button is attractive even if unnerving. When you push it to turn on the unit, the button pops out and becomes a volume wheel. The premise works, but were there no more functions engineers could squeeze into that button/knob/thingie?


Features
iHome: alarm clock functions operate flawlessly, and even if the iPod is removed before you wake, a separate ringer alarm will still go off. You can change time zones with a designated button, too. But really, this dock is too large for most jet-setters.

Audiostation Express: Logitech offers no frills here, but we don't mind. The one extra feature included is something we really appreciate: video out. (Why is this small touch absent from the iHome even though it makes room for multiple audio outputs?) Video docking is practical in a bedroom television setup where you don't want a lot of components or a more expensive Apple TV.

Sound
The sound tests are where things became one-sided...

First we listened to Bolero as performed from the musical Blast!. (Think gentle solo trumpets countered by loud brass ensembles and strong percussion.) The iHome failed miserably, falling into the clock radio stereotype. The sound was thin, often shrill and constantly accompanied by a hissing when high frequencies like tambourines were in the mix.

The same song on the Audiostation almost sounded like a different band altogether. The brass was warmer and the instrumentation was generally more balanced. Overall, there was a feeling of roundness to the music that was enjoyable even at louder volumes. Sure, the bass is still in the toilet and few sounds were carved with perfect distinction, but we were actually able to enjoy Bolero on the Audiostation. Plus, the Audiostation Express sounded better than the iHome from any listening position, and it filled the room with more confidence than I'd anticipated.

To put it simply, the iHome is to the Audiostation Express as radio is to CD. And while Logitech's cheapo model will fall short for the audiophiles (and even amateur audiophiles), I just can't imagine anyone wanting to listen to the iHome for an extended period of time. We won't go through all our tests, but let's say that the results were no different with other genres.

WINNER: Logitech Audiostation Express
While the iHome may be a nice alarm clock, it's a crappy music player. We're not claiming the Audiostation Express will blow you away Memorex-commercial style, but for $100 it's not an unreasonable compromise with sound quality and it meets an unquantifiable yet critical threshold of general listenability. – Mark Wilson