GINI iTube

CNET Editors' Rating 7.0/10 Very good Editorial policies >>

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Product Summary

The good: The GINI iTube has excellent sound quality; adds warmth to compressed files; can be used with non-iPods.

The bad: The GINI iTube is bulky and to some eyes, ugly; must add iConec (or equivalent) dock accessory for ultimate iPod integration.

The bottom line: The vacuum tube-equipped GINI iTube speaker system may not not be beautiful nor is it a household name, but its sounds great.

Specs: Type of speaker: speaker system; Amplification type: Active; Power output: 18 Watt=16 Watt See full specs >>

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: James Kim
Reviewed on: 08/23/2006

Looking for a different kind of iPod speaker system? GINI's iTube not only looks different, it's got remarkably decent sound quality thanks in part to its vacuum tube amplifier system. It's true that this $349 system brings out the warmth often missing from digital music, but we must admit that this three-piece speaker system isn't the prettiest thing we've seen.

GINI Systems is known for producing pricey tube amplifiers (such as the $20,000 Audio Space Reference One). Tube amplification is generally known to produce warmer and more natural sounds than the smaller, more typical, and more cost-effective solid-state transistor. Here's GINI's explanation with diagrams.

Made in China, the iTube (not to be confused with the i-Steroid) features a vacuum tube meshed with solid-state electronics and the results are pretty nice. The system includes the odd-looking main amplifier unit, which measures about 12 by 9 by 7.5 inches. A solid piece of white, laquered wood surrounds the vacuum tube, which juts out of the top section of the iTube (which is covered by a plastic roof). Incidentally, the tube lights up with a cool, white color when powered. The 18-watt subwoofer is also integrated (More specs here).

Strangely enough, the front controller panel looks just like an iPod Click Wheel. But, the wheel is a tactile five-way controller and is not touch sensitive. Press up and down for bass, left and right for volume, and the center button to mute the system.

Two solid-sounding satellite speakers (16 watts each, 4.5 by 5.5 by 7 inches) with gold-plated binding posts, and an exposed driver (the tweeter is housed behind metal mesh) come bundled with the iTube. The back of the iTube includes an attached power cord, a power switch, and stereo RCA inputs and outputs. Though the system is marketed and designed for a white iPod, it'll work with any audio device via the RCA line input. The iTube is bundled with two sets of RCA-to-speaker wire cables and an RCA-to-1/8th-inch cable. You also get an infrared remote control that mimics the front panel controller.

If you want slicker iPod integration, you can add the iConec ($69), a decent iPod dock with its own remote control. The circular dock ships with a variety of dock modules and it includes a stereo RCA output, power input, USB out (dock connector style), and an S-video output. The front of the unit features line-level volume up and down. We really like the puffy-buttoned remote control because it lets you skip through playlists and albums. You can also use your own dock and remote control system.

The $79 iConec is a pretty decent iPod dock

While the iTube has been compared to a trash can and generally is considered "big," "ugly", and/or "too much of an iPod ripoff," it does sound spectacular. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? There's enough power to fill a room with sound that is (again) warm, smooth, and balanced. Bass is tight but not overpowering (even at the highest bass setting), and the mids and highs mesh very well with the whole. The system added presence to Regina Spektor's voice in Dusseldorf while each strum of the guitar in U2's Stuck in a Moment sounded amazingly live. Electronic music was equally impressive. The tube amp's ability to smooth out the "rough edges" of a compressed file is definitely noticeable, and the soundstage is certainly wide. We did, however, detect a slight electronic buzz when we operated either remote control.

If you can get past the looks and lack of out-of-the-box iPod integration, the iTube will definitely impress even the pickiest listener, though we're still big fans of the more attractive and powerful Klipsch iFi.