Boomboxes Best Price!

   

NAXA NX-249 Portable MP3/CD AM/FM Stereo Radio Cassette Player/Recorder w/ Subwoofer & Remote Control
From NAXA

   

New Portable MP3 CD Player Boombox USB SD MMC Input NR
From NAXA

The NX-250 is an easy affordable way to provide hours of music listening entertainment. It features a top loading programmable CD player (which is MP3/CD-R/CD-RW compatible), an AM FM stereo radio, and two high performance speakers. It is equipped with a USB port and SD/MMC card slot which allows you to use external memory devices which have audio files downloaded on to them. The auxiliary input jack allows you to connect and amplify iPods, MP3 players, DVD players (3.5mm to RCA cable required), or any other compatible audio device. Anti-shock protection guarantees your CD/MP3 disc won't skip when the player is subject to vibration. It has a 20 track programmable CD and MP3 file memory and has all major playback functions.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66987 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Naxa

NXP SD Boombox review
I'm always looking for SD chip player peripherals. This one has a nice feature set, and sounds pretty good as well in SD chip mode. FM radio mode doesn't sound as good. Cheap analog AM / FM tuner and volume, but that fits the price. The blue LCD display is a little hard to read.

Added annoyance: SD songs can end a few seconds early with a small "pop." Not sure why it happens to some songs and not others.

I'd be willing to pay more for more features, like better radio, better sound, and a dual alarm clock for travel. Add a weather radio band and it would be the perfect traveling companion. I'm hoping this technology takes off because carrying music in the SD format is very convenient, more convenient than fumbling with ipod peripherals.

A shoddy, ill-concieved piece of junk
This has been one of my most regretted purchases ever. The USB socket died after the first month. The MP3 decoder is incredibly buggy -- the many songs (even whole albums) it wouldn't play turned out to be the ones with album art embedded in the tags, and I suspect that the developer had never heard of VBR, either, because some of the songs are cut off and others continue silently long after they are done. Most songs begin with 2-second previews of music from the upcoming song, except in "random play" mode, where there are random chunks of the preceding song between songs. The "random play" mode, by the way, isn't very random; it mixes up the songs, yes, but in exactly the same order every time, and only for the entire CD -- there's no folder randomization.

All-in-all, this purchase was a huge mistake, and has just about convinced me to get an iPod and a dock, next time.

   

Sirius Radio Calypso Boom Box– CLBB
From Clarion

Clarion CLBB Calypso Boombox

• Brand: Clarion
• Model: CLBB
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds

From the home to the car to the family picnic, Clarion's Calypso plug 'n' play Sirius satellite radio receiver defines true portability. The receiver plays Sirius's 65 all-digital satellite radio music channels--including such genres as authentic country, bluegrass, Latin, reggae, and jazz--along with 55 sports, news, and entertainment streams like ESPN, Radio Disney, and E! Entertainment Radio. At the same time, the receiver is small enough to transport handily from the living room (where it can be paired with a Clarion home kit) to the car (via Clarion's car kit). Both kits (at least one of the two is required to use the Calypso) include docking cradles, power adapters, patch cables, and satellite radio antennas. Listeners can even enjoy the satellite streams at the park or beach with the Calypso boombox, which features a docking slot designed expressly for the Calypso receiver.

Navigating Sirius's digital streams is a breeze thanks to the Calypso's 30 station presets and intuitive rotary control knob. The Calypso also lets listeners scan by category, artist, and song title, depending on their mood or tastes. And should listeners want to hear a favorite song, they can activate the S-Seek function, which prompts users when a pre-selected title is playing on any of the stations. S-Seek stores up to 20 favorites at a time.

Cosmetically, the Calypso touts an attractive piano-like finish and a techno-blue dot matrix display. The illuminated display is not only easy to read (with a 128 x 48 resolution), but scrolls artist, song, and channel information across the screen while you listen. It also offers two selectable font sizes for increased visibility, along with auto dimming and adjustable contrast controls.

Adding to the convenience is a built-in FM transmitter with 10 selectable channels. The transmitter makes car connection easy, as all you have to do to enjoy the satellite channels is find an unused FM frequency on your existing car stereo. The Calypso then broadcasts the Sirius stations over the FM dial and through your speakers. If you'd prefer to connect the Calypso directly to a stereo system, simply use the RCA audio outputs on the back of the docking cradles.

Other features include a built-in clock, an adjustable audio output level, and an infrared remote control. The Calypso measures 4.33 by 2.87 by 1.10 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

Note: You must subscribe to Sirius satellite radio to receive the satellite radio signal.

What's in the Box
Calypso satellite radio receiver, wireless remote control, AAA batteries, user's manual.

Are these supposed to be disposable units?!?
I think the the Clarion Calypso is a nicely designed unit with a great menu system and wonderful features for a plug-and-play satellite receiver. I just wish I could listen to mine more. Like another reviewer here my unit suffers from a defect and getting it repaired is a frustrating affair. When my receiver gets warm it will throw up the "Acquiring signal" warning on the display. Sometimes after several minutes the unit will come back and play fine. Other times it will be out for the day. It is not an antenna problem or a signal problem. There is a defect within the unit itself. During the summer months it is pretty much dead all the time.

They should refer to this as a Sirius disposable radio.

Excellent satellite receiver!
I have to say I'm surprised by the negative reviews.... I have had my Clarion Calypso fo 14 months, and have not had one problem with it. Mine is on for an average of 12 hours a day too. I have been fairly rough with it as well. I start off by listening to it at home in the morning, then I take it into the car, drive to work while it is plugged into my car unit, and then I take it into my office, and plug it into my other home mount there. All in all, I have dropped it probably a dozen times,
but still no problems with it! I got another one for my brother for Christmas last year, and he has his for nearly a year now, and he has had no problems either, and he is a heavy listener of Sirius as well.

This system of buying a couple of different mounts (1 or 2 home mounts for your house and office, and 1 car mount for your vehicle) allows you to buy only one actual radio, thereby avoiding the costs of additional radios AND additional subscriptions. The Calypso has been a perfect fit for me.

One other good thing about this radio... the FM broadcasting of the unit is excellent, and has a very good range, letting me listen to Sirius on any stereo or radio throughout my decent sized home.

Service Great, Company the Worst
I'm now in my 4th year with Sirius. As far as the radio and the daily service, it is absolutely awesome. You will not want to return to regular radio again after a couple days of Sirius. The hardware and product they give you daily is phenomenal.

That being said, dealing with the company itself, specifically over the phone, is an absolute nightmare. The utter incompetence of most of the customer service people is staggering. I'd say the average I.Q. is around 25. Harsh, but it is what it is.

Three of my four years with Sirius, I have been lucky enough where I've had family/friends want to pay for my yearly subscription as a Birthday/Christmas present. The first time a family member called Sirius, paid for the year with his credit card, and we thought it was set. His credit card was double charged, and at the beginning of January when my plan renews, I was also charged. We both called Sirius and the issue was not resolved for more than a week.

The second issue was a similar issue. A family member called Sirius, provided a credit card, and paid for the year. Once again, a few days into January $150+ was withdrawn from my checking account (renewal price). Not happy again, we had to haggle over the phone for a few days to get it rectified.

This brings me to this year. A friend and a family member wanted to pay for my subscription. They both contacted Sirius and asked if there were Gift Cards or Certificates that could be used towards the subscription. Obviously b/c of past issues. Both were told by Sirius operators that the easiest way was to purchase Egift Certificates, which are sent directly to the recipients email with a code to redeem them. That was what they did.

On December 30th I went to redeem them. Problem is they are only good towards Sirius hardware and cannot be used for subscriptions. I called Sirius to take issue. I was disconnected by the first two associates, the third was yawning into the phone, and finally the fourth try I got someone who could help. The associate told me I could use the Egift credits and buy Gift Cards from the Sirius shop and have them sent to me. I stated that my account was set to renew in a few days and this would be a problem. He assured me it wouldn't be, and transferred me to customer care.

At customer care, I spoke with an associate who assured me my account would be frozen, it would go into invoice billing, and I simply had to just wait for the Gift Cards to arrive in the mail. I had a bad feeling but decided to go that route. A week later the Gift Cards arrived.

Before I called Sirius back to redeem them, I checked my checking account. Sure enough once again Sirius charged me already for the yearly renewal. Problem this time, I had just paid a bunch of bills out of my checking and it overdrafted my account. I was furious and called Sirius once again. They admitted fault initially, but then began to change their stance and stated that I never had the Sirius account frozen. Luckily I document everyone I speak to. Sirius even refused initially to refund the overdraft fees from the bank. I finally spoke with a supervisor who agreed to refund the fees and subscription price. To rub extra salt in the wounds, it will take 7-10 days, my checking account is now frozen, and I have no way to use it right now. To top it all off, I still never got an apology from Sirius. So to put it simply, don't ask for your subscription to be paid for as a gift, and avoid dealing with Sirius directly. It is nothing but a hassle that probably will cost you days of problems. This might actually be my last year with them because of this. Good luck if you have to deal with them.

   

Philips AZ1305 AM/FM/CD Boombox
From Philips

Whether in homes, factories, offices, airports, or on the street, it's hard to imagine a place where Philips is absent. What Philips wants is to make your life and work easier - and more fun! And Philips continuously explores new ways to improve products and to offer innovative products to its consumers. Philips. "Let's Make Things Better".PRODUCT FEATURES: Easy and precise control; Digital tuning with presets; Autostore programming; 14-key remote control; Impressive sound; Bass reflex speaker system; 2-way speaker system; Fully featured CD player; CD program/ shuffle/ repeat; CD-R/RW compatible.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92591 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Philips
• Model: AZ1305

The AZ1305 CD/radio boombox comes in stylish black with blue accents, helping you look cool as you enjoy your favorite music or other programming from CD and FM/AM radio. The AZ1305 comes with a remote control, too, so you'll be able to switch tracks or audio sources even after settling into your favorite listening position.

The unit's CD player is compatible with audio CD-R/CD-RWs, so the box will play your home-brewed music mixes as well as prerecorded CDs. The CD player also offers 20-track programming, random play, and repeat play. At 1 watt per channel x 2, this stereo won't be shaking any rafters, but its ported, 2-way speakers with inset tweeters use their power well, delivering rich, full-bodied sound at modest levels. The AZ1305's digital AM/FM stereo tuner boasts 30 station presets (20 FM, 10 AM) and auto station scanning.

A dynamic bass-boost circuit lets you tailor the sound for listening to various different types of music or in different environments. The AZ1305 offers portable entertainment using 6 C batteries for the boombox and, in home or without, you'll need 2 AAA batteries for the remote control (batteries not included).

What's in the Box
Boombox, an AC power cord, remote control, a user's manual, and warranty information.

Good quality, good sound
For a little boombox, the sound on this system is more than adequate. Like nearly any boombox, I wouldn't want this to be my main stereo for filling a house with sound unless I was in a studio or dorm room, but it's great as a supplemental radio in the bedroom, kitchen, etc. I have had mine for about a month, and it has been a perfect stero for my bedroom. Nice sound (even on low volume), and the remote is very nice to have for a boombox.

While not well known in the American market, Philips is known the world over for making very good products. I wouldn't let the reviewer below, who had a SINGLE bad experience (as could happen with any product), to dissuade people from buying very good products from this company.

THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME
The person who made the review about it being junk....they probably are not careful about electronics and ruined it right out of the box. THIS PRODUCT IS AWESOME! IT EVEN HAS A REMOTE! THE MOST EXPENSIVE SONYS DON'T HAVE THAT! EVERYONE SHOULD BUY ONE!

Piece of JUNK!
This device is flimsy and cheap. It broke within 1 hour of use. The sound is average at best. The error I got on this CD Player wasn't even listed in the troubleshooting guide.
STAY AWAY FROM PHILIPS MERCHANDISE.

   

Delphi Sa 10034 Skyfi Cd Audio System
From Delphi

The Delphi SA 10034 SKYFi CD Audio System is designed to dock your SKYFi XM receiver. It perfect for enjoying your XM radio at work, the beach, or just about anywhere you want. It also plays CD, CD-R/RW & MP3 and includes a AM/FM tuner.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1272 in Car Audio or Theater
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Delphi
• Model: SA 10034
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 8.50" h x 11.75" w x 21.75" l, 11.24 pounds

Offering surprisingly good sound for its diminutive size, the SA10034 portable audio system from Delphi is a terrific way to enjoy your XM satellite radio subscription and MP3 CDs at home or on the go. The system, just 20 inches across, is easy to carry, easy to position, and hard to turn off, thanks to its impressive abilities and engaging performance. The boombox is designed for use with Delphi's SA10000 XM SKYFi radio receiver, but it will operate independently of the receiver for CD playback or analog FM/AM radio reception.

Delphi uses a clever pivoting center unit that houses an XM receiver dock on one side and a CD transport/analog tuner on the flip side--just spin it backward or pull it forward to enjoy your desired source. As an XM radio interface, the boombox is first-rate. The XM SKYFi receiver locks in securely and the boombox carry handle is flexible but durable.

We were impressed with the bass output from the system's small, relatively flat speakers, and midrange and treble frequencies sounded smoother and more balanced than expected. We listened with ease for hours at a stretch. The system seems to process stereo signals to make them wider and more spacious than they'd otherwise sound from speakers fixed less than 10 inches apart, but the effect is not unpleasant.

Crucially, the boombox--unlike the XM receiver itself--offers a headphone jack, letting you plug the system into an integrated amplifier or surround receiver for listening through your usual speakers. (A minijack-to-stereo-RCA "Y" adapter cable is not included.) Sound from the headphone jack is not processed for wide stereo. XM navigation, wholly the province of the SA10000 receiver, is terrific, and the remote control supplied with the boombox operates both the boombox and your XM receiver, so you don't need both remotes on hand.

The CD transport appears to have been cheaply integrated, resulting in audible electrical noise whenever a disc is spinning or skipping to a new track. Luckily, discs spin only part of the time--just long enough to load the music into a memory buffer. With MP3 CDs, the buffer will hold a song or more. With audio CDs, however, discs will spin for about a minute, rest for 20 seconds, then commence spinning. If you're listening at a loud level to music that is fairly loud itself, you probably won't notice the noise. But with close or quiet listening to jazz, classical, or folk, the sputtering can be bothersome.

The CD player's LCD shows the number of directories (folders) and the number of tracks on a disc at startup. The display does not permit macro folder/file navigation, so if you don't know the folder and track numbers for the file you want to hear, you'll have to browse by ear or by specific file name as you skip through the tracks (folder names are not displayed).

We experienced occasional audio glitches during MP3 CD playback, even during stable indoor use. Still, it's nice to have the ability to listen to or shuffle through an MP3 CD, especially on the go: just load 6 D batteries, dock an XM receiver, and bring the included XM antenna and a single multihour MP3 CD for fail-safe musical enjoyment.

The boombox's XM's satellite reception is great. Outdoors, maintain clear overhead visibility (don't expect pristine reception under a massive bridge, for instance). Every location will be different, but it's worth noting that, indoors, we encountered no XM radio dropouts or service interruptions during our review period, either with the recommended south-facing antenna position or from an east-facing position used for much of our listening. The signal intensity varied, but reception was always solid. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Remote control operates both the boombox and your XM receiver
• Rugged design, truly portable
• Cool flip-around CD/XM receiver design
• Plays MP3 CDs, includes FM/AM radio
• Excellent tracking of disc playback while unit is in motion
• Surprising amount of bass from small speakers
• Natural-sounding vocals with clear treble reproduction
• Handle offers thermoplastic rubber grip
• Displays file names for MP3 tracks lacking ID3 tags
• Works with rechargeable batteries

Cons:

• Audio CDs are highly susceptible to electrical noise when disc is in motion or changing tracks
• Slow CD track changes while transport gets up to speed
• Occasional stuttering when playing MP3 tracks
• Does not display MP3 folder/directory names
• Volume up/down buttons rather than rotary knob for CD listening
• XM category up/down buttons hard to access on boombox remote

What's in the Box
Boombox, remote control, 2 AAA remote batteries, an XM satellite antenna, an AC power supply, a user's manual, and a quick-start guide.

Free your XM satellite radio from your car or home stereo with this unique, portable all-in-one boombox system. In addition to acting as a dock to the Delphi XM radio receiver (pictured, available separately), the Delphi SA10034 offers a built-in CD/MP3 player and AM/FM radio. This stylishly futuristic music machine is powered either via the included AC adapter or 6 D batteries, and it features two 2.3 watt stereo speakers with bass boost and an antenna with a 10-foot cord (which is required for receiving the XM radio signal).

Sitting between the two speakers is the SA10034 ingeniously designed audio engine, Just rotate this center component 180 degrees to access the XM radio dock on one side, or the CD player and AM/FM radio on the other. The SA10034's housing is constructed from durable ABS plastic, and it features an integrated rubber carrying handle.

The CD player offers random, programmed (30 tracks), and repeat play, and it is also compatible with CD-R/RW discs and MP3 audio files. The orange LCD will display song title, artist name, and folder number during MP3 playback. The AM/FM radio has a telescoping antenna, and it features a total of 30 presets (18 FM and 12 AM). Other features include a headphone jack, built-in clock, and a sleep and wake timer that can be set to either radio or CD.

What Is XM Satellite Radio?
XM Satellite Radio was the first satellite radio service to be offered in the U.S. It features a state-of-the art Broadcast Center in Washington, DC, two Boeing 702 satellites (providing 18 kW of power--the most powerful commercial satellites ever built), and approximately 800 terrestrial repeaters located throughout the continental United States for seamless transmission. Service is not available in Hawaii or Alaska.

XM Satellite Radio offers 100-plus channels, including 70 music channels, over 35 of them commercial-free, and 31 news, sports, talk and children's channels, broadcast coast-to-coast in digital quality. XM's programming partners include Sesame Workshop, NASCAR, Associated Press, ABC News, CNBC, CNET, BBC World Service and BBC Concerts, Radio One, CNN/Sports Illustrated, Hispanic Broadcast Corporation, Disney, and ESPN.

Nice theory, but don't bother
The mere thought of a combination satellite radio/cd/radio boombox delights the ears. I needed a CD player/radio AND wanted to be able to listen to my XM radio, so I gave this boombox a try. What a disappointment. The main problem is the background noise on the XM radio. The faint high-pitched hum only occurs when listening to the XML radio. The CD player and radio sound fine, however, CDs skip and sometimes hesitate to play. Removing the XM radio takes some practice. You snap the unit into the adapter, which is fine, but to remove it, you have to push on the radio until the unit slides forward. That was my experience.

If you don't already own a Delphi XM radio, consider the Audiophase satellite radio Skybox with AM/FM/CD/MP3 player. Or you could add a receiver to an XM radio family plan,[...].

Pros:
- Radio and cd player fidelity
- Intuitive buttons

Cons:
- Background noise
- Skipping CDs
- Awkward way to insert and remove XM radio
- Garish design

Multi-purpose unit that does it all
Very nice looking unit that plays satellite radio (XM), CD's (including ones you burn), and AM/FM radio. Highly recommended.

This one's going back.
When I hooked up my SkyFi radio in this device and turned on the unit, what I heard was a constant low frequency oscillating sound - the best I can describe it is a "motorboat" noise. I heard the satellite radio, but during quiet passages - especially on talk shows and interviews/comments on radio channels - it was extremely annoying. So, I tried muting the sound and the noise continued unabated at the same volume. You could mask it by turning up the volume, but on some jazz, classical, and talk channels it was always there, annoyingly so.

I tried using headphones, thinking it was a speaker problem, but it was still there. Then, I figured it might be a bad power supply and tried batteries - annoying background sound was still there. So this item is going back - it's a real shame because it's a nice device, but fails miserably in it's intended purpose (at least for me) and that is making satellite radio portable.

I tried AM and FM radio and the performance is surprisingly good. But, the manual is completely wrong as to how to store presets for these modes. The manual says that in order to choose what preset number under which to store the station you should hit the "tune" button. In fact, you hit the "seek" button. Until I stumbled on this, I was going crazy trying to get the manual's instructions to work on my device. Also, the "Menu" button on the remote control does NOT put the satellite SkyFi into menu mode as the instructions say it should. As it turns out I found about a half dozen places where the manual is dead wrong.

I did not try the device with playing a CD - audio or mp3. When I realized the device was useless to me for playing satellite radio, I gave up and decided to use my SkyFi home kit with cheap powered speakers.

A real shame - this had the promise of being a really nice device. By the way, Delphi "tech support" never responded to my inquiries. I understand by looking at other reviews that this is not unusual.

   

Barbie Bloombox BAR201 Portable CD Boombox with AM/FM Radio
From Emerson Radio

Barbie Bloombox ¿ Portable CD-R/RW Boombox. The Barbie Bloombox features an eye-catching pink design with flower petal speakers. The portable CD (CD-R/RW) player with AM/FM radio includes an LED track display, programmable memory, high-speed track searching and wide-range 3-inch dynamic speakers. The Barbie Bloombox gemstone fun button also activates a groovy color-changing Barbie silhouette on top of the boombox.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1097 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Pink
• Brand: Emerson
• Model: BAR201
• Dimensions: 6.30" h x 7.70" w x 12.10" l, 4.55 pounds

Really nice
The boombox is great. Works easy; my four year-old has no trouble operating the cd player. Sound quality really good.

Nice little "boombox"
I bought this radio/cd player for my 4 yr old daughter. Although she's not a "Barbie" fanatic, she loves the colour and the appearance of the radio. The barbie button that lights up on the top of the cd player is a nice touch too. The sound is a little on the "tinny" side, but still quite good, especially considering the small size and price of the boombox. Most surprising is the impressive sound clarity at higher volumes. Both the cd player and the radio are fairly easy to navigate. The boombox does not have station display, but instead uses a tiny indentation on the tuner dial that you rotate to select stations, which makes it a bit more difficult for youngsters to tune in a station. However, an LED will light up when a station is properly tuned in. The cd player will only play regularly formatted cd's (not mp3 or other formats). However, there is an auxilary jack that allows you to plug in other music players such as an mp3 player or Ipod. (This is a great feature for my daughter, who has hundreds of songs loaded onto her mp3 player).

Overall, a great product and highly recommended.

Perfect little girl boombox
I bought this for my 6-year old daughter, who is very "girly". She absolutely loves it! Its not the perfect sound quality that I would prefer, but for the cost and since it is for a child, it is just right! It is easy for her to use. It was a good purchase - I recommend it!

   

Gpx CD Boom Box
From GPX

BC118B is a portable CD player with AM / FM radio.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4686 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: GPX
• Model: BC118B
• Dimensions: 3.70 pounds

Extremely bad product!
First, I took it out of box and I could sense something was wrong with the power cord. It jiggles where it plugs into machine, which causes machine to turn off. Could not get it right. I held the cord in place while I tried radio which is VERY poor quality: static, stations shift. I switched it to CD player (button felt like it might fall off!), it made a buzzing noise, displayed 1, blinked allot, then stopped itself. It never played. I tried this several times. No go. With the way the power cord was, I felt like I was doing a juggling act! I gave it one star only because I had to. I really give it NO STARS! So I packed it up and it's on its way back to Amazon. DON'T BUY THIS PRODUCT!!!!

Great for work!
I needed a small boom box for my desk that had an extednable attentea so I could get radio signal. This works perfectly! Small enough, has Ipod hook-up, plays CDS - for what I needed, this fit the bill perfectly. I originally found this by a co-worker who already owned one. She said she got hers off of QVC for about $5 more plus shipping then Amazon sold it for.

worth it's money
This is a decent product; it has good sound quality, easy controls. But it doesn't have a digital scanner for the radio and we already lost the wires for the mp3 player hookup. But other than that I'm not that totally disappointed.

   

Hello Kitty CD Boombox - White/pink (KT2028A)
From Spectra Merchandising International

Jam to your favorite tunes and add Hello Kitty style to any room with this pink and white CD Boombox. With tons of cool features and the classic Hello Kitty logo in the design, this boombox will have you singing in no time.

• Brand: Hello Kitty

Excellent value! A must for 'Hello Kitty' music fans!
We bought this at Target for our 3 1/2 year old 'little lady', and she loves it! It works flawlessly, seems fairly well built, and it actually sounds very good for the price! The sound is surprisingly full with good detail for a thirty dollar boom box. It also has a CD player, cassette player, AM and FM, which makes the unit very functional. Needless to say, if your child is a 'Hello Kitty' fan, she will LOVE this 'boom box'!

UPDATE: June 1, 2009 - DO NOT BUY THIS BOOMBOX!!! FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL, THIS STARTED SMOKING... YES, SMOKING, AND SEVERAL OF OUR SMOKE DETECTORS WENT OFF!!! A FEW HOURS LATER, MY HOUSE STILL REEKS OF BURNT ELECTRONICS, WHICH I'M SURE IS HAZARDOUS. I HAVE ALL THE WINDOWS OPEN, AND MY A/C UNIT ON FULL. BUYER BEWARE!!!

Already broken! It's a piece of junk.
My daughter received this as a holiday present this past December. It's *already* broken. And, we had it up on a shelf where she couldn't get to it so we're sure it wasn't her fault. It won't play CDs anymore. We just get an error message. Beware of this product! It's cute, but won't last.

Disappointed
Within 6 months of purchasing it, the CD player started acting up. Sometimes it would play a CD, other times it wouldn't. After pressing the play button, it seemed not to recognize that a CD was in place, because the CD wouldn't even be spinning. I just put up with it. Six months after that, the CD player stopped working completely. Fortunately, it does have a radio and cassette player function. Cute design, but disappointing function.

   

Insignia NS-B3113 - Boombox with iPod cradle - radio / CD / MP3
From Insignia

Ready to play your favorite tunes from your iPod, off the radio or from CD, CD-R and CD-RW discs, this boombox is an ideal musical companion wherever you go.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45660 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Black
• Brand: Insignia
• Model: NS-B3113
• Dimensions: 8.26" h x 7.26" w x 16.53" l, 6.00 pounds

Great deal!
After trying out a couple of the big name brands like Sony, and not being happy with one thing or another, I opted for this Insignia portable combination ipod/cd/radio. And, it's GREAT! The sound is good and it's just loud enough to rock out without bothering neighboring tentants too much. The remote control is super handy. The bright blue digital clock/display is nice. The controls are all easy to use and figure out, no instructions needed with this one. Easily switches from cd, radio, or ipod. The one thing I don't love about this model is that the cds load in the back. However, if it wasn't designed this way, it would be bigger and bulkier and not as slim as it is now. Overall, this is a great product and, an even better value.

Cheap store brand quality
This piece of cheap store brand crap started skipping my cds and making a bunch of loud, thumping sounds within a year of moderate playing. I don't know how much it costs b/c it was bought for my b-day, but it doesn't seem name-brand, so it most likely was not high-quality and must've been cheaper than the others.

Stops playing discs in a few minutes
This boombox stops playing discs after a few minuts and displays an error.
I tried different discs, including brand new studio-recorded ones.
I am returning this product to the seller.

   

Audiovox XMB-10 XM Boom Box for Xpress XM7 Satellite Radio Receiver
From AudioVox

Audiovox became a pioneer in the wireless industry, selling its first vehicle-installed wireless telephones in 1984 as a natural expansion of its automotive aftermarket business. Its extensive distribution network and its long-standing industry relationships have allowed Audiovox to benefit from growing market opportunities in the wireless industry and to exploit niches in the consumer electronics business.PRODUCT FEATURES:Enhanced Sound Reproduction;4 Way Speaker System;Works as a portable on batteries;Antenna is integrated;Aux-Input.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2346 in Car Audio or Theater
• Color: Black& Silver
• Brand: Audiovox
• Model: XMB-10
• Dimensions: 8.93" h x 19.09" w x 7.71" l, 13.00 pounds

With the Audiovox XMB-10 XM Boom Box for Xpress XM7 Satellite Radio Receiver you can bring your Audiovox Xpress XM7 receiver with you and share your satellite radio with friends and family wherever you go. This sleek boom box provides big stereo sound in a compact and lightweight body.

The Audiovox XMB-10 has a built-in dock for the Audiovox Xpress XM7 receiver, and requires this receiver (purchased separately) in order to provide you with XM satellite radio. The XMB-10 features enhanced sound reproduction from its high-quality 4-way speaker system, and an integrated XM satellite antenna that removes the hassle of attaching an external antenna and fumbling with it to achieve the best signal. This boom box features a stylish black and silver body, a digital volume control, and separate remote volume control capabilities.

The Xpress XM7 receiver has the primary controls for your XMB-10 boom box, with its own buttons, including display, search, menu, rotary/select knob, power/IR eye, memory, preset/direct, jump, and 10 presets/numbers. The display button lets you choose between artist, song, title and data service info, while memory lets you store up to 20 song/title/artist combinations so that later you can look at something that caught your interest. Not only does this receiver provide plenty of music and radio stations with dynamic means of searching for desired content by artist, genre, or others, but it can provide you with a stock ticker that allows you to monitor up to 20 stocks, plus it offers information extras so you can follow things like the scores for your favorite sports teams. Furthermore, you can set your XM7 receiver to automatically turn on and off when power comes on or goes off, and can have it turn off via a sleep timer that can be set to 15, 30 or 45 minutes, or even 1, 2 or 3 hours. For added convenience, the XM7 has an IR remote control that can operate most of its features, with buttons that act the same as those on the receiver.

The Audiovox XMB-10 Boom Box includes an auxiliary input connector that allows you to hook up an MP3 player or other peripheral audio device, and headphone output jack so you can listen to your XM7 satellite receiver without disturbing those around you. The XMB-10 runs from its included AC power adapter, or can be made portable via eight D-cell batteries, which can also be recharged while your boom box is plugged in if they are appropriately rechargeable batteries. This unit weighs only 6.8 pounds, measures approximately 19 x 8.5 x 7.5 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's limited 12-month warranty.

What's in the Box
The Audiovox XMB-10 boom box, an AC power adapter, an integrated indoor/outdoor XM satellite antenna, and a user's manual.

No boombox for Satellite Receivers sound better than this one
There was a time you couldn't have given me for free anything manufactured by Audiovox, but this unit has completely changed my mind with regards to the quality of their products. This boombox has a deep, rich, loud sound without distortion and I have absolutely no reception problems.

Updated September 12, 2007

I've owned it now for about 20 months and couldn't be more pleased.
If you own the XM Xpress, you need this boombox! Every other boom box pales by comparision. It was actually the quality of this unit that was the reason I chose the Xpress in the first place because a quality boombox for me was a necessity. I use the Xpress unit indoors and outdoors in the boombox much more than I ever use it in my car.

Updated June 29, 2008

2 1/2 years of ownership now and still going strong! Looking forward to the future merger with Sirius and will hopefully be able to pick up the NFL broadcasts- the only thing Sirius carries that I'd like to have.

Loving my XMB-10
The XMB-10 is a great way to listen to my XM Audiovox receiver at home. The boombox is slightly larger than I desired, but the sound is great, it's easy to use, lightweight, very portable and nice looking.

Excellent sound, great unit
I am using this with the xpress EZ model, and as far as I know, all three of the audiovox xpress line will work with this. I can not tell you how pleased I was to find this unit and that it worked witht he inexpensive Xpress EZ unit. I purchased this boombox at a large chain retail store for about half the amazon price on clearance, and it is quite possibly the best value I have ever scored. I am now able to have portable XM at home, office, or even the beach and campground. It uses 8 c batteries or a cord that is included. The reception works as well as any other portable unit. I have used portable delphi units also, this is equivelant to that in reception and portability, but the sound on this boombox is better to me. Richer bass and treble mix. Finally, this has an auxilliary input that will allow you to utilize these speakers for an MP3 Player also, another nice feature for those on the go. A well rounded value.

   

Sirius Slbb1 Sirius Stiletto Boombox
From Sirius Satellite Radio

This powerful, portable boom box lets you rock your Stiletto live personal satellite radio wherever life takes you. Compatible with Stiletto 10 and Stiletto 100.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2350 in Car Audio or Theater
• Brand: Sirius Satellite Radio
• Model: SLBB1
• Dimensions: 8.80" h x 8.40" w x 22.80" l, 1.00 pounds

GET THE Slbb2 INSTEAD
THis is a nice boombox for the Stiletto, looks cool, sounds good and is very loud with good bass. If you have a Stiletto1 do yourself a favor get the Slbb2 boombox for a couple extra bucks. You can use both the Stiletto1 and Stiletto2 with it, so when your SL1 kicks the bucket and they stop making it, you upgrade to the SL2 you can still use your boombox.

GREAT UNITAND PRICE
LOOKS GOOD AND WORKS GREAT IN THE HOUSE OR OUTSIDE. YOU DON'T NEED A HOME UNIT IF YOU HAVE THIS UNIT. NO REMOTE WITH THIS UNIT BUT THE REMOTE WITH THE VEHICLE ADAPTER WORKS WITH THIS BOX.

WOW! I love it!
I was a little put off by the word "boombox." The last boombox that I bought had a dorky plastic handle and a dual cassette deck. Needless to say, things have changed. I listen to my Stiletto constantly and keeping the batteries charged has been an issue. The boombox charges the battery as I listen. The other big advantage to this product is that it is light and easy to carry to the area of the house where I plan to listen. There are recessed spaces that function as handles on either side of the speakers.

I was worried about the controls because I couldn't find a picture of the buttons on top before I bought it. The buttons are very small and all of the functions that I need are there. If you love your Stiletto, this is a must have.

   

Hummer HBB1000Y Music CD Boombox
From Conair

• Amazon Sales Rank: #202725 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Conair

Big Hummer Boom box is Macho
We all know that boom boxes and stereo components are getting smaller and smaller. It's the magic of miniaturization. But remember the good ol' days when you dragged huge speakers into your dorm room. Back then big speakers meant great sound. The Hummer may not be as big as some of those speakers, but it's styling harkens back to those days. The sound on the Hummer boom box is fantastic and it comes with a sub-woofer.

The Hummer box is not really portable. If you're shopping for some small box that'll fit in your backpack, then this isn't for you. But what is really appealing about this box is the unique Hummer styling. It's a big, heavy boom box that's built to last. It even has a rubberized bottom to prevent sliding. The styling is very cool. It resembles the front grill of a Hummer. It's nothing like those petite boxes that look like a Walkman with speakers. It looks great as part of a man's décor, whether in the office or the workshop. And the remote control means you can easily cut the sound when your phone rings - or change the radio station.

The price on the Hummer boom box has come down significantly from its original $200. This is a good value if you have a man on your Christmas gift list this year that would appreciate a macho looking boom box. You need to act fast, because I don't think macho is fashionable these days and this box will probably be discontinued soon.

   

Sony ZS-SN10SILVER Compact MP3/CD Boombox with 10-key Direct Access remote control
From Sony

Plays Back CD-R/RW Discs with MP3/ATRAC3®/ATRAC3plus¿ Audio --- For customers who already have extensive music libraries, use the included software and hardware to manage, burn and playback their collection of MP3s. ATRAC3plus is an advanced audio compression technology offering multiple bit rates, allowing you to create music compilations tailored to your listening preference with the ability to get up to 490 songs on 1 CD-R/RW disc @ 48kbps.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29560 in Consumer Electronics
• Color: Silver
• Brand: Sony
• Model: ZS-SN10SILVER
• Dimensions: 14.00 pounds

Combining topnotch sound quality with a slim, subtle design, the Sony ZS- SN10 CD boombox excels in the house or on the back patio. The boombox is outfitted with a robust CD player that supports CD, CD-R, and CD-RW playback, along with digital MP3, ATRAC3, and ATRAC3plus formats stored on a CD-R/RW. ATRAC3plus is an advanced audio compression technology that offers multiple bit rates, letting you create music compilations tailored to your listening preference. Even better, you can store up to 490 ATRAC3plus tracks on a single CD-R/RW disc at 48 kbps, reducing the number of discs you need to maintain a diverse music collection. And file management is a snap thanks to Sony's SonicStage software (included), which helps you manage, burn, and play back your digital music collection.

The ZS-SN10 offers a number of CD playback modes, ranging from track programming to repeat play (one or all tracks) to shuffle play. Should you tire of listening to CDs, you can turn to the digital AM/FM tuner, which includes 30 station presets (20 FM and 10 AM). And the boombox's quartet of personalized sound modes--jack, rock, pop, and vocal--let you customize the overall audio to meet your taste.

Other details include a pair of 4-inch speakers; a two-line dot matrix display that supports ID3 tagging; a PC/audio input that offers plug-and-play integration with a digital music device (like an iPod or MP3 player) or PC; an easy-to-use jog lever; a 10- key Direct Access remote control; and compatibility with Sony's Connect music store. The ZS-SN10, which runs for up to 25 hours on six D-size batteries, measures 19.69 by 5.71 by 9.06 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty on parts (90 days labor).

What's in the Box
ZS-SN10 boombox, remote control, software CD-ROM, user's manual.

Small Box, Big Boom
I purchased the so called "Boombox" as a small CD player for my office. It works great. There were two specific features I was looking for in a CD player. First, I have Sony's Sonicstage software. Although the software is quirky at times, the best feature is the ATRAC compression. I've created CD's using this compression that can hold 20 full CD's on one CD! Because this compression is proprietary, only specific Sony CD players (including car stereos) can playback a ATRAC CD.

The second feature that I wanted was an aux input for my MP3 player. It's easy to hook up and the sound is awesome.

This boombox worked out perfectly and the price was great.

Sony MP3/CD Boombox
I had originally seen the Sony MP3/CD Boombox (ZS-SN10SILVER) on the Sony webpage. I liked what the webpage had to say about it and the functionality. The only problem with the CD player was the availability. I searched high and low and no one had stock. I finally found some available from Amazon and I was able to purchase it right away. I had had a previous experience with a different manufacturer of a CD boombox and that other brand was the worst sounding player I had ever heard. So when we received this Sony product, it was great to hear such rich sound. This was for my 10 year old son and it sounds great at a low volume and at a high volume. He was also able to use the remote control and figure out all the functionality. It is really easy to switch radio stations and set things up. Other systems are not nearly as easy. We have not used the MP3 functionality yet. We have to purchase a cable in order to hook his MP3 up. We are thrilled with his boombox and would highly recommend it over any system that you see in the local stores in your neighborhood. It offers alot and I am the most impressed with the great sound that it has to offer.

Amazing sound quality!
WOW! For under $100, this little gem serves well for a picnic, or a (small) home stereo...and the sound quality is REMARKABLE! I've lived with roommates with high end audio systems, and needed something that didn't disappoint now that I don't have access to that equipment. I can't get over the sound quality at this price.

And, it has a line-in for all your digital music needs.

   

Altec Lansing inMotion iM600 Firewire-Charging Portable Audio System for iPod (Black)
From Altec Lansing Technologies

• Brand: Altec Lansing
• Model: iM600
• Dimensions: 6.00" h x 2.00" w x 11.00" l, 3.35 pounds

--Posted October 14, 2008
--Posted October 14, 2008 With its well-regarded inMotion system, Altec Lansing has raised the bar again with the iM600. Featuring a myriad of new technologies, the iM600 offers big, crystal-clear sound, and it folds up compactly for easy portability.

The Altec Lansing inMotion iM600: offers incredible musicality and clarity with deep bass; folds up compactly to offer great portability; provides a dock for your iPod, charging it while playing music; and features a built-in FM tuner.

With Expanded Sound Stage technology, the speakers sound further apart than they really are for a bigger soundstage. View larger. View Remote.

Superior Sound in a Small Package
Employing dual two-inch neodymium drivers that are optimized for high-frequency sound, the iM600 offers unmatched musicality and clarity. Despite its compact size, the bass is punchy and has good extension, and with Altec Lansing's Expanded Sound Stage (ESS) technology, the speakers will sound further apart than they actually are, for a greater stereophonic image.

Elegant Design Matches the iPod
The iM600 sports a distinctive thin and elegant glossy-black look. A spring-loaded button deploys the speaker's stand and reveals the iPod dock, power button, and volume controls.

Your iPod perches front and center, resting at an angle to display the current track information and album art while recharging. If your iPod model has the alarm clock and sleep timer features, they will work seamlessly with the iM600.

Various docking adapters are included, making the iM600 compatible with most iPods. Also, an auxiliary input lets you connect any CD, DVD, or MP3 player using a stereo mini-plug.

Built-in FM Tuner
If you get bored with the songs on your iPod, the iM600 has a built-in FM tuner, letting you listen to your favorite music and talk radio. Near the top of the unit is an LCD that displays the current FM frequency; buttons on top provide tuning controls. The tuner also features a memory for four presets and a telescoping antenna for better reception.

Change the Music from Across the Room
A small remote control is included, letting you change the musical selection from across the room. A storage slot built into the system itself makes it easy to store the remote, preventing you from losing it behind couch cushions and other inconvenient places.

Take Your Music To-Go
With a compact size that folds closed to a mere 11 x 1.7 x 6 inches (W x D x H), and weighing only 2.1 pounds, the iM600 is easy to take with you to the beach, on vacation, or wherever you else you're going. The built-in rechargeable Li-Ion battery lets you listen to more than 7 hours of continuous play. An AC adapter is included for connected listening and recharging the battery.

The Altec Lansing iM600 is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
iM600 speaker system, wireless remote, iPod docking adapters, power supply, user's guide and quick connect instructions.

The iM600 will provide enough big sound to keep your party rocking.

The Beat of a Different Drummer: 3 Way Ipod Dock Comparison
Three Way Comparison, Bose SoundDock vs. Griffin Amplifi vs. Altec Lansing IM600:
Design and Features:
Bose Sound Dock: Cabinet made of plastic. Appears to have two 2.5" acoustic suspension (enclosed) drivers under a metallic grill, with a whole bunch of added physical structures that look to be waveguides and / or signal processors. Bose keeps details on this pretty much obscured, but wattage estimates I've seen on the net put power output at roughly 50-60 watts and based on my own comparative experience, I would agree. Some commentators think the unit has four drivers rather than two, but I see only two beneath the grill and I am not going to disassemble the unit. Some Bose haters on the net claim frequency response on the SD is capped at a mere 10,000 kHz, which I personally doubt, as treble rich music I've played on this sounds fine, and no reliable net source makes this claim. Ipod docks in a front-mounted bay. My 5.5 G 30 GB feels rather loosely supported, but no major issues.
No line-in or out. Indeed, no console controls at all except a volume up and volume down button. Simple remote, though very reliable and with good range. The power wart is bizarrely large and bulky, plus is also in two sections, making it seem like you're going to be powering up a railgun or supercollider rather than a relatively low powered music player. The design is sturdy and attractive overall, but the lack of any special features whatsoever is dismaying, perhaps symptomatic of Bose's condescending "electronics for idiots" philosophy. Charges Ipod as long as it is docked, when playing or when off.
Griffin Amplifi: Cabinet made of wood, looks like small shoebox. Has two 2.75" drivers front mounted and a bottom mounted 5" woofer with a bass port. Griffin in the worst Bose tradition refuses to disclose many tech statistics on their unit, but my power estimate puts this at about 30-40 watts, not really much different from the Bose. (To sound twice as loud needs a 10 times (1000%) increase in wattage, so the Bose advantage of maybe 33% more power should not really give much real world benefit.) Frequency response per mfgr is 50-16,000 kHz which seems a bit unbelievable on the low end, but feasible enough on the higher end. Ipod docks on top and sticks awkwardly out of the unit like a control tower, but fit is snugger than on Sound Dock which makes me feel more reassured.
There is a line-in and not much more. Big blue-lit knob controls on-off and volume. Remote is a copy of the Bose's with the same simple functions. Range and aiming tolerance is inferior to both the Bose and the Altec, but certainly adequate. Annoyingly, the Amplifi only charges an Ipod docked in it when the Amplifi is on; if the Ipod is docked and the Griffin is turned off, no charging. Either Griffin's engineers are idiots, or they decided to save a few pennies in the design.
Altec Lansing IM600: Smallest unit, with plastic cabinet and cool fold up dock that also has on / off switch. Has two 2" acoustic suspension drivers, and a separate subwoofer out line that I did not use. Also has video out and line-in ports, plus a decent FM tuner and telescoping antenna. Tons and tons of features in comparison to our other competitors. Plus unit has an internal rechargeable battery which lasts for roughly 7 hours, and an "SFX" stereo expander DSP switch. Altec is honest enough to give the power stats on the unit of 14 watts. Though this is less than either other dock, as stated above the actual volume difference is not reflected in the numbers. Frequency range is not specified, but it seems to go as high as either of the other competitors, with perhaps less bass extension. Front mounted dock that gently leans the Ipod against a reinforced acoustically neutralized spot on the unit so vibrations will not affect the Ipod during playback.
IM600 also has a beautiful backlit display which stays lit while the unit is plugged in to AC power. The Altec charges Ipods as long as there is an AC connection, whether or not the Altec is turned on. The IM600 does not charge Ipods when the dock is running on its own rechargeable battery. The remote is also IR like the others in the test, and is somewhere between the Bose and Griffin in terms of range and responsiveness. Remote lets you control SFX mode and access four radio presets. (Though if you lose the remote, you will have no preset control at all, so try not to do that.)
Sound:
Bose: Excellent deep bass, controlled and accurate, never boomy. Mid-range is emphasized, so guitars and vocals sound especially fine. Treble appears a bit less impressive, but trebly stuff like Vivaldi and Tallis sounds just fine. The Bose sounds better with rock and jazz than with classical, but not dramatically so. The Bose sounds equally good at both low and high end, and the unit can be played at max volume with no distortion, probably due to Bose's manipulation of the source signal. Nevertheless, the Bose sounds very good at all volumes and with virtually any type of music. The Bose can also fill up any small or medium room with sound, and can even be a decent sound system for a reasonably quiet large room. Stereo separation was the best of all three speakers, unimpressive when compared to a formal stereo with speakers a couple of yards apart, but certainly very much a feat from speakers separated from each other by less than a foot. Detail is excellent with many-layered music like works by Nine Inch Nails and Dead Can Dance being expertly and precisely performed.
I am no fan of Bose, finding the sound from their home theater systems to be artificial, inaccurate, compromised, pricey, and over-hyped. However, in the case of the SoundDock, with the goal of creating generally acceptable sound from lossy sources, Bose has executed the concept impeccably well. The music as played may not be dead-on accurate, but it is not noticeably deficient and sounds loud, detailed, and clear at any volume. Kind of like McDonald's fries, the SoundDock is by far the jewel in the rather uneven portfolio of Bose equipment. Even if you hate the idea of Bose, or have disliked their other audio products, the SoundDock may well amaze you.
Griffin: Bass is about as good as the SoundDock, maybe lower extension, but roughly the same precision and balance. Griffin is to be commended for not going crazy and letting the big 5" woofer run roughshod over the sound of the Amplifi. The big woofer does not make the Amplifi sound better than the Bose at the low end, but on the other hand it doesn't sound worse, and it is also much cheaper. Griffin was not aiming to beat the Bose here, but rather to equal it with a lower price and simpler design. Mid-range is another strong point here, and treble is also a bit lacking, like in the Bose, but not too much so. Classical pieces still sound very good on the Griffin.
Where the Amplifi does lose ground to Bose is in the fancy stuff. Stereo separation is non-existent, and detail is nowhere near as precise as on the Bose. This sounds like a big loud mono speaker. Low volumes especially lose a lot of fine subtlety, and distortion is heard at the very highest volumes (though to be fair, no one would really play this unit that loud, as it is probably 100 dB or more.) The acoustically tuned all wood cabinet adds little to the sound signature of the Amplif vis a vis the plastic cabinet of the Bose. The lack of stereo separation, detail, and full clarity throughout all volume ranges is where the added cost of the Bose is most evident and justifiable. Most users will like the Griffin though; it mimics the sound signature of the Bose convincingly, has a retro wood cabinet design, and has at least one important feature that the Bose lacks, a line-in, all of this at a street value of 1/3rd of what the Bose goes for. This will make the Amplif a great solution for most users, especially those on a budget. However, the added price of the Bose does create a noticeably superior sound in at least some aspects.
Altec Lansing: The IM600 takes a different path than its rivals, aiming for a more treble oriented sound, with adequate bass and very good mids. The IM600 sounds crisp and detailed, but lacks the low end punch of the Bose or Griffin. The 600 has a separate subwoofer out line and a 3" sub is available separately from Altec Lansing for $50. No idea how it sounds. This is the best of these three units for classical music reproduction, but most music sounds fine on it. Even bass heavy music is more than acceptable for most listeners; you just don't feel the low end as prominently as you do with the other two docks, but depending on your expectations, this may be just fine.
Stereo separation is not especially strong on the Altec, to be expected when the drivers are all of 7" apart. The SFX mode is helpful in this regard, and does give some stereo sound effect, and really does not hurt sound reproduction in any way, so I normally leave the effect on. Stereo is far more noticeable than the Griffin, but less pronounced than the Bose. (However, even the Bose offers far less stereo than one might get from properly placed PC satellite speakers, let alone a true home stereo system...) Clarity and detail on the IM600 is excellent, rivaling the Bose in many cases. Brass and drums sound a bit more real and crisp on the Bose, and this plus the better low end will give the nod to the SoundDock over the IM600 for most listeners, unless you listen to nothing but classical. The IM600 distorts a bit at maximum volume, but not terribly so. It sounds as good at low volumes as it does at normal (medium level) settings.
Value:
Bose: Normally listed at $300 and almost never discounted. The new "portable" SoundDock just came out as of this writing and sells for $400. If Bose can maintain this exceptionally high price for the newer model, SoundDock prices may stay at $300, but if the newer unit needs some price adjustment, the original SoundDock may fall in price (or even be discontinued.). I purchased my Bose as a reconditioned by the factory model for $250 and then caught a sale at the Bose store for an added 10% off, $225 total. I think Bose stores are the only place where you can get the "factory renewed" models for the lower price.

[...]

Summary:
Bose: Probably not worth $300, the price I paid of $225 feels like about what the SoundDock is worth. The sound is audibly better quality here, though probably not two to three times better than the Griffin or the Altec, which is what the pricing would indicate. The lack of a decent feature set makes the Bose seem like even less of a value. Again though, if style, quality, simplicity, and excellent sound is your goal, and price does not matter that much, the Bose is a fine choice. Special note to all the Bose haters: take a listen to this before lumping it in with such atrocities as the Acoustimass and StereoEverywhere technology. The SoundDock sounds unusually good, does not mangle realism of the sound unpleasantly, and is really the cutting edge of what can be done with reproducing Ipod sound from a small one-piece unit.
Griffin: Aims for the SoundDock's sound signature, and generally succeeds. Lacks a bit of polish in both physical and sonic characteristics, but overall is an excellent value. If you want Bose, but can't afford it, the Amplifi will not leave you with many regrets. The wooden cabinet and big bass driver are not utilized very distinctively, but there are no glaring missteps here either. However, if you can afford the SoundDock, the Griffin has no real advantages as its clone philosophy and minimal feature set offer no advantage over Bose except cost. The bigger and better sound of the SoundDock justifies the added cost as long as price is not the main consideration.
Altec Lansing: The excellent design, wonderful feature set, and portability of this unit distinguishes and separates it from the other two. Sound is generally well done, crisp and appealing, and the treble emphasis gives the Altec its own sonic niche. The power difference in watts is not really noticeable except if you are trying to fill up a big room with sound, and why would you be doing that with a wee tiny Ipod dock anyway? Most users will be very happy with the IM600's sound and the quality FM tuner is just the icing on the cake. If you are on a budget, I would say get the Altec as it sells for roughly the same price as the Amplifi, and has many more features including portability. The IM600 has somewhat less bass than the Griffin, but better stereo sound and detail clarity.

fits the bill perfectly
Like others, I looked at many models. I bought this unit along with IPod for traveling to my weekend cabin, hoping to replace the bulkiness of my SONY CD player and three cases of disks. It is exceptionally portable, plugs into wall or goes outside on battery, has FM receiver so my wife can listen to college football on weekends, and we attach it to her computer/DVD to watch movies in the evening. The sound quality is excellent, filling the living/dining area for movies or music. Definitely competes with the old bulky system with no compromise. Plus Amazon price was incredible. For our needs, this could not be better. I am planning to take it on vacation with us this winter.

Great Sound, Light, Folds Up Nicely
I tested about 8 different brands and models of these type of systems in a store at high volume. For its size and price, this one got the loudest before distorting, with excellent sound balance. The FM receiver is handy. It is very lightweight and folds up into a convenient carrying shape. Highly recommended.