Apple Hi-Fi: Good Handles, Bad Sound
Posted on Oct 23, 06 04:00 PM PDT
Last week, I was looking for a speaker system for my iPod, so I walked to the Apple Store on University Avenue and got an Apple Hi-Fi. I was looking for something with a clean design and sound quality. The Apple Hi-Fi seemed like the perfect candidate. I even tried it a little in the store, but the environment was too noisy and I didn’t want to be a jerk and crank the sound up too much. Well, as the title says, the sound is bad, more details below…
The design and size was exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the audio quality is just not good enough for the price. It sounds worse than my $100 Hi-Fi system bought at Costco a couple of years ago. What I did love, however, was the handles: they will provide a 100% customer satisfaction for the 3.76 seconds during which they will be used to get the unit from its box to the shelve. I don’t recommend the Apple Hi-Fi to anyone unless you’re in need of a white, boxy speaker. Now that i think about it, the weight of this unit, combined with the excellent handles represents a clear threat to Bowflex®…
By the way, it seems really weird that no-one came with a similar design. I guess that audio companies with the know-how are reluctant to create one because of the (expensive) iPod license fee (due to the presence of an iPod connector). So what about this?
Instead of embedding the iPod connector in a speaker system (with real audio), why not build a system with a “Universal Connector”, and sell a “Universal Connector Adapter for iPod” separately? The “Universal Connector Adapter” would be subject to the iPod license fee, but not the speaker system… Anyway, I have no idea about how the iPod license work, but someone out there might care to comment. We just need more competition in that space.
Who (the hell) at Apple let this thing out the door?
Update: Apple is helping settling this discussion: they discontinued the product. Would they do this if it was a winner?
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Legacy Comments
By fire , 22/10/07 3:35 PM (CommentID #343283)
hey guys! it seems you are fighting with brands. I suggest you buy the two systems, put it in a dark room and ask someone to play it one after the other without you knowing what is being played. With this, Im sure you'll get the right one. Mental pre conditioning sometimes impairs our good judgment on sounds. Let your ears be the judge. thanks guys!
By Anonymous , 09/07/07 10:24 AM (CommentID #237110)
How did you manage to connect two apple hifis and a sub?? #19
By Andersson , 05/07/07 2:33 AM (CommentID #232306)
I have two Apple Hi-Fi connected too eachother and a sub from B&o and it is absolutly the most pure sound from the tribble you can imagin.
APPLE HI-FI ROCKS BEST VALUE FOR MONEY EVER.
By the way everything Apple touches is the best quality on the market sofar.
That just how it is boys and girls face it (-;
By Victor Mazo , 16/06/07 7:53 PM (CommentID #208934)
ok i dont see any "apple fan boys" saying that apple "ruleZ"
anyways it is a great system and while im sure there are better sounding docks out there this one is simplistic and mobile enough for me. yes i own one. and i did test it at an apple store in salt lake city. even in that "noisy environment" i could tell it was superior to the bose sound deck, or as a matter of opinion, it was better than any other sound system in the store!
By *** , 16/06/07 7:47 PM (CommentID #208933)
dude, you need to clean out your ears. my friend has one of these, and omfg this is the best thing next to sleep. the sound quality is incredible for being in such a small package. i have been an audiofile for many years and would like to hear a speaker system in the same category as the ipod hi-fi, that sounds just as good or better, and i will buy you that speaker system. peace.
By Brad , 15/06/07 5:38 AM (CommentID #207255)
I'm not an audiophile, but want good sound for a cheap price. After listening to all the other iPod docking systems for under $400 I went with the Apple hi-fi and am very satisfied. Calling the sound "bad" is like calling a Ponderosa steak "bad." Of course it's not Ruth Cris or wasn't prepared by some elite chef, but it still tastes pretty damn good.
By Josef , 31/03/07 5:48 AM (CommentID #126610)
I purchased a Bose SoundDock a few weeks ago and i am very impressed with it despite the fact i had reservations as to how good it was going to sound... i was very pleasantly surprised and it left me with a big smile on my face and i did not regret my purchase one bit. The Apple Hi Fi i would not know about and (Bose haters will love this bit) i hated the "look" of the Apple version and in my opinion i thought the Bose would be better sounding anyways... Bottom line is that i think the Bose version is very impressive and i do not regret parting with a bit more cash as i have a good sound... it sounds better than my 600 euro Hi Fi... I am now considering buying a Bose lifestyle system... although i will be listening before i buy.
By No Name , 29/12/06 4:22 PM (CommentID #078306)
THE QUESTION IS.... IS IT BETTER THAN BOSE SOUND DOCK???? How are people wieghing in on this?
By Joey , 15/12/06 7:21 AM (CommentID #074580)
man you guys are retarded.. the apple hi-fi is incredible.. and the sound is perfect.. the only complaint i had was that it didnt come with an audio cable to plug it into a computer.
By unbeliever , 03/11/06 6:16 AM (CommentID #060293)
I am an ipod fan, they are great for tooling around. however, for listening at home get a decent second hand amp. ($100, get some advice on condition perhaps an older cambridge or Nad, remember, the amp was perfected in the 70's, what we have now is essentially the same) Buy a pair of Omage av21's, ($150, the best deal I have found, yes there are better things around, but we are trying to save money) Now, get a stereo minijack to RCA adaptor and voila, good sound for around $300 after tax. don't waste time with bose and the rest as there are far cheaper ways to get better sound, and this is what it is about is it not? sound? just couldn't resist as I see people throwing money away on bad sounding speaker units that are more about look than sound.
By FiCelle , 01/11/06 3:08 PM (CommentID #059822)
lol... how to compare an iPod hifi with a Pal ?
By andy , 28/10/06 7:41 AM (CommentID #058194)
Hey, #3, you spent that much money for BOSE quality and you can't even read the 4-letter manufacturer is not named "Boose"?
By Rony / Brazil , 26/10/06 6:48 AM (CommentID #057658)
Come on guys...!
Using the same iPod, with same song from iTunes (128AAC), I took just 2 (two) minutes to compare and confirm that the Boose Sound Dock is clearly the #1 !!!
Excellent design (far from iPod Hi Fi), powerfull, very good Bass and fantastic Stereo separation...
By the way, I bought my Boose to enjoy music not to use like a portable sound machine!
BRGDS!
By CorDon , 24/10/06 4:23 PM (CommentID #057254)
Try the Tivoli Audio PAL (or iPAL for iPeople;), it really sounds great ! and it's really mobile !
By Editor , 23/10/06 10:13 PM (CommentID #057044)
Being “the best” in a bunch of below-average sound systems still doesn’t make it “good”. I think that adjectives like “brilliant” or “great” just don’t apply to the Apple Hi-Fi.
There’s no need to look for system that cost “thousands”: the little Miuro kick the Apple Hi-Hi between the tweeters every day of the week. Granted, it costs almost $1000 (because of the robotics), but it is worth its price because it has a kick-tweeters (ouch) sound quality (thanks to Kenwood).
I still think that the sound coming from the Apple Hi-Fi isn’t worth $349+tax, sorry.
By dave , 23/10/06 7:42 PM (CommentID #057023)
are you serious?????? Bad sound? This unit has the most amazing stereo imaging that rivals some low end audiophile equipment costing thousands!!!!! You obviously either had it setup wrong, or don't have an ear for good sounding audio. I lost much respect for ANY opinions you post on this site. Wow.
By Anonymous , 23/10/06 2:38 PM (CommentID #056969)
oh my god. stop, you Apple fanboys.
then again.. keep bickering and please don't ever stop telling us (the general public) that apple ruleZ
By Sluggo , 23/10/06 7:26 AM (CommentID #056876)
Yup, yer on drugs. The iPod Hi-FI rocks. I also own a Bose Soundock and have tried many others. The Hi-Fi has great sound.
One thing I've noticed is that if you're looking for the best sound, make sure it's against a wall or on a bookshelf where the bass can shine.
By marco , 23/10/06 7:09 AM (CommentID #056870)
I would have to agree with #1. I compared the iPod Hi-Fi to a lot of systems in parallel. I bought several systems at the same time from BestBuy (including the Hi-Fi) and the Hi-Fi clearly came out on top (returning everything else).
You, my **** loving friend, need to get those ears checked.
By Bag of **** , 23/10/06 6:27 AM (CommentID #056861)
Are you mental? The Apple Hi-fi is brilliant and certainly stands up as one of the best iPod docks around.
By Milo , 23/10/06 4:34 AM (CommentID #056837)
I have one myself and before buying it, I tested it against a Bose SoundDock and found that the iPod Hi-Fi is much better. Was it the quality of the mp3 you chose? I was using my iPod with tracks I bought from the iTunes store, which is only 128 AACs, and found the Hi-Fi to have great separation given its single box approach.
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