IPod Hi-Fi

iPod Hi-Fi

Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Type	stereo speaker system
Lifespan	February 28, 2006 to September 5, 2007.
Connectivity	Dock connector, Auxiliary Input

iPod Hi-Fi is a speaker system developed and manufactured by Apple Inc. that was released on February 28, 2006, for use with any iPod digital music player. The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at the Apple Store for US$349 until its discontinuation on September 5, 2007.

Reaction

At launch

The iPod Hi-Fi was announced by Steve Jobs on February 28, 2006, alongside the first Intel-based Mac mini. Many Apple users and bloggers were expecting to see other new products, such as a tablet PC or an iPod dedicated to video.

Criticisms

• High price, more expensive than other similar products such as the iBoom and Bose's SoundDock.
• Lack of an AM/FM radio.
• Placement of the iPod itself in a vulnerable location compared to other similar devices such as the Bose SoundDock. This is due to the iPod device sitting atop the unit, with no other method of securing the player to the dock besides the 30-pin dock connector.
• The supplied remote control has limited functionality. The remote can only skip between tracks within the selected playlist. The menu button switches between the dock and the audio-in port; it cannot assume the function of the menu button on the docked iPod itself.
• iPod compatibility: Only some iPod models can use the iPod Hi-Fi dock. The stereo comes with adapters for third generation (20 GB, 40 GB, U2 special edition), fourth generation (20 GB, 30 GB, 40 GB, 60 GB) and fifth generation (30 GB, 60 GB, 80 GB) iPods, and the first and second generations of the iPod nano. The iPod shuffle does not have a dock connector, and so can only connect to the audio-in port and cannot be recharged by the stereo.
• Newer iPod models and the iPhone 3G and 3GS cannot be charged because they require a lover voltage – the iPod Hi-Fi supplies 12v (FireWire) while the newer devices expect 5v (USB).

Sound quality

Reviews on the iPod Hi-Fi's sound quality have been mixed. A clear trend in these reviews is based on how the reviewer classes the iPod Hi-Fi: will it be a replacement for a high-quality hi-fi system or is it simply a boom-box for the iPod? The true hi-fi enthusiast tends to be critical, while the home user is likely to be more positive about it.

The iPod Hi-Fi has a warmer sound and bigger bass than other iPod and MP3 player speaker systems. It also plays noticeably louder than its competitors. However, some of its competitors fare better in the treble range.

Specific technical criticisms of the iPod Hi-Fi include:

• Frequency Response: the system loses clarity and depth with frequencies higher than ~17 kHz due to the lack of a proper high frequency driver. This is believed to be the fault of Apple's decision to use polypropylene cones in their wide-range drivers.
• Stereo quality: the placement of the two stereo drivers results in a loss of stereo depth and imaging due to their close proximity to each other. Also sound quality suffers because of the linear arrangement of the drivers on the front panel.

Marketing perspective

Apple's marketing of the iPod Hi-Fi has been the subject of criticism since its release. These criticisms include:

• Audiophile quality claims: The iPod Hi-Fi initially met with harsh criticism by the Audiophile community, due to Apple's claims of the system delivering audiophile quality sound. Many audiophiles feel that Apple has started using this term incorrectly, due to the sound quality issues noted above.

• Home Stereo, Re-invented? Apple's use of the slogan Home Stereo, Re-invented for the iPod Hi-Fi has also been the subject of some rather harsh criticism, notwithstanding that other similar speaker systems for the iPod and other MP3 players have been around for some years. Another criticism is that while the iPod Hi-Fi is only capable of playing back audio from the iPod itself plus one other external source, home stereo systems are often much more multi-purpose; they can play back audio from multiple component pieces such as CD decks, DVD players, AM/FM tuners, and multimedia sources such as computers and television sound in one complete system. Also, the iPod Hi-Fi as stated by Apple, was never intended to replace a complete home stereo system, going against their marketing.

Discontinuation

On September 5, 2007, the iPod Hi-Fi was discontinued by Apple, and disappeared from Apple's online store. While no reason was given, one can presume it was due to poor sales, contributed to by the relatively high price, tepid consumer reaction to the device upon its introduction, and the myriad competing "speaker dock" systems on the market.

Engadget received an official statement from Apple:

Apple has decided to focus priorities on the iPod and iPhone and will not be making more iPod Hi-Fi units. There are over 4,000 accessories in the iPod ecosystem and hundreds of speakers systems designed specifically for the iPod, which provide customers with a wide variety of options.

External links

• Consumer Reports Review
• CNET Review
• PC Magazine Review
• Dunhill Alligator Skin iPod Hi-Fi