Alarm clocks and speakers

iPod speakers are a dime a dozen. There are big ones and small ones; black ones and red ones; some with alarm clocks, and many with built-in docks. As one might expect, you don't have to look hard to find models with integrated FM--and even AM--radios, but if you must have cutting-edge tech, HD radio with iTunes Tagging is where it's at. Among the handful of models offering this feature is the JBL On Time 400iHD, a tabletop speaker dock with JBL's signature space-age design. At $300, the On Time is anything but cheap, but the plethora … Read more

Speaker systems for the iPod are a dime a dozen, but a few of them stand out from the rest. Altec Lansing has built a solid reputation for building affordable iPod speaker systems with above-average sound quality, and its latest inMotion Max portable speaker system is no exception.

The Max is compatible with both the iPod and iPhone, and comes stocked with an FM radio, charging dock, aux input, and an internal rechargeable battery good for about 3.5 hours of iPod playback. We're not bowled over with the Max's unique industrial design and touch-sensitive controls, but at $… Read more

The world is overrun with bookshelf speaker systems for the iPod, but finding a powerful, portable iPod boom box is surprisingly tough. The Ion Block Rocker isn't the prettiest thing we've seen, but it is one of the most practical and affordable ways to blast your music outdoors.

For better or worse, the Block Rocker also does a damn fine job as a mobile karaoke machine (as I skillfully demonstrate in this video). Along with a few pints of liquid courage and an iPod stocked with pop music, this thing is humiliation on wheels.

To learn more, check … Read more

Though they are portable devices, the iPod and the iPhone can make a wonderful source for headphone-free music when connected to a speaker--if you have a player full of great music and personalized playlists, you might as well play it out loud every once in a while. Unfortunately, several of the made-for-iPod systems that have come out in the past few years don't work well with the iPhone, presenting a problem for those with multiple devices.

The upshot is that manufacturers have started to address this issue with iPhone-friendly speaker systems, which are shielded against cell phone interference and … Read more

The digital-audio market is not hurting for portable iPod speakers, which can make sorting through the choices a bit of a hassle. One way to narrow the playing field is to look for models that match the hue of your iPod. Whether you have a black or silver iPod Classic, or a colorful Nano, JBL's On Stage Micro has a paint job to match. This $99 speaker may not pack the low-end wallop of the big boys, but it's cute, compact, and suitable for a bedroom, office, or hotel room. Read the JBL On Stage Micro review.

(Note: … Read more

Sony on Thursday announced the S-Airplay AIR-SA20PK, a multi-room wireless audio system for listening to iPod (including iPhone, Touch, Nano, Mini, and all versions of Classic).

Once you have your iPod connected to the system's main docking station, you can listen to audio from your iPod up to 164 feet away. This is accomplished through S-Air's wireless speakers that plug into power outlets.

According to Sony, the S-Air technology delivers audio wirelessly to the two included speakers without interfering with other household devices. However, the company did not make it clear how exactly it would achieve this. The … Read more

If you're an iPod owner searching for a way to share tunes, there's no shortage of iPod speakers from which to choose. The problem is distinguishing them from one another, and one of the easiest ways is to look for something with a unique or innovative design. Creative Labs manages to do both with the TravelSound i50 for Shuffle, an ultracompact speaker that sells for $60 and gets surprisingly loud. It's only compatible with second- and third-generation iPod Shuffles and it doesn't sound great, but it's cute and travel-friendly, so it's still a solid … Read more

Altec Lansing has had its fingers in the iPod speaker business for several years now, which may explain why the company has been one of the most innovative when it comes to design; the retro-slick iM7 boombox and the ultrathin iM600 provide some excellent evidence of that. Further proof has now materialized in the form of the Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3, an ultracompact speaker that connects to any MP3 player or audio source. The MSRP for this speaker is only $40, but it can be found online for less than $30--an exceptional value given its versatility and passable sound quality. Read the full review.… Read more

Soundcast Systems focuses its efforts on a very limited line of wireless audio products and it shows: the company consistently earns praise for its top-notch wireless sound quality. Competitive pricing, however, is not Soundcast's strong suit, and the OutCast is no exception.

This $700 weatherproof, wireless speaker setup is definitely not your average iPod speaker, but that's a good thing. It's innovative, extremely easy to use, and offers great sound quality. It could use some help in the looks department, though. Read the full review.