Griffin has had its hands in Mac accessories for well over a decade, so it's only natural that the company turn out a slew of iPod accessories as well. One of the latest products to hit the shelves is the TuneCenter, a low-profile iPod add-on that lets you integrate your player into your home theater setup and control its audio and video content from the comfort of your couch. The $130 accessory wins points for ease of use and an innovative extra, but the remote needs work.
With its 3.7x4-inch base and slanted silver back, the TuneCenter offers a small footprint and a sleek, understated design that should mesh with many home entertainment setups. The back of the unit houses all the clearly labeled ports you'll need: S-Video (cable not included), A/V out (RCA cable included), DC in (it charges your iPod, too), and even an Ethernet port, which allows you to pick up Internet radio. There's also a switch for choosing between NTSC (for the U.S. and Japan) and PAL (for most of Europe) modes. Griffin also includes a remote with various well-placed, tactile buttons, which we'll discuss further as it pertains to the use of the TuneCenter.
Connecting the unit to the TV couldn't be easier--we simply used the supplied A/V cable and attached it to our TV's RCA jacks. However, if you're using the TuneCenter with both your audio and visual systems, it's best to use an S-Video cable to connect to your television, and the RCA cable to attach to your stereo unit. And always remember to turn on the TV Out feature under the video settings on your iPod.
