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Bose Soundock Portable Reviewed

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Written by Rob Reger

Sunday, 23 March 2008

by RobReger

Ask nearly any iPod enthusiast and you'll find that the Bose sound dock is the best speaker system you can buy. The only limitation is that the speakers aren't portable with a large power supply and cord. The new Bose soundock portable solves this problem with all of the power and punchy sound of the original model. This is simply the best sounding speaker system available for your IPod and it's portable. These speakers come with a high price tag; at $399 retail you're not only paying for great sound but the Bose name at the same time.

The sound dock portable comes in two colors: glossy white and black. The speakers have a compact design that measures 12" x 6" x 5" and weighs just over 5 pounds. The new portable soundock is very similar to the original model. One difference is the swiveling dock that rotates into the sound dock body for protection when traveling.

The Bose sound dock portable shares a simplistic design with the original model and has no physical controls except for the volume controls. The included remote has eight buttons used to operate playback, volume controls, your play lists, and the unit's power. The remote is small and simplistic; however, its rubberized buttons have a slight lip making them easy to operate by touch. This infrared remote allows you to control your iPod from nearly angle in the room.

The back of the sound dock portable has only two connectors. There is an analog input and a plug for the unit's charger. It would be nice to have USB ports or video outputs on the speaker system. The sound dock portable is charged by a lithium-ion battery and holds a charge for about eight hours of normal use. If you crank the volume up you'll get about three hours use which is pretty good considering the volume and amount of Bass the speakers produce.

The only thing I don't like about the sound dock's design are the built-in volume controls. They are clumsy and not very sensitive to the touch. When your iPod is plugged into the dock the batteries are charged at the expense of play time if your charger is not plugged in. The carrying handle also serves as the speaker's Bass port which Bose cleverly calls the wave guide exit.

Bose hid an LED light behind the speaker grill that flashes when you use the included remote control and flashes to let you know when the battery needs charging. If you forget to charge the unit for fourteen days the only way to turn it on again is by plugging the charger in...this feature probably generates a lot of support calls for Bose. There are no dock inserts included in the box. If you lost the inserts that came with your iPod you can buy replacements from your local Apple store. The sound dock has a power cord winder that makes it easy travel with your speakers; however, the plug is a tad large and bulky. With it's $399 retail price tag the soundock portable is a tad expensive; however, you can find better prices shopping online with free shipping. There is an optional carrying case for the portable sound dock but you'll have to shell out sixty dollars more if you want one.

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