Entered CNET Catalog: 07/22/2008
SKU: DESKROCKER
Manufacturer: ION Audio
Manufacturer description
ION's DESK ROCKER USB speakers are ready for anything. Upgrade your system with speakers that double as a convenient digital audio interface. Easily connect a guitar, keyboard, CD player or other devices directly to the DESK ROCKER speakers and record them directly into your computer. The DESK ROCKER USB audio system goes beyond standard USB computer speakers. Designed by professional studio musicians, they deliver premium clarity and audio performance. Enjoy great sounding audio from your computer, or record any external audio source directly to your computer. It's plug-and-play - no special drivers required. Listen to your music with full range and superb sound quality for accurate audio reproduction. The "Bass Boost" switch enhances low frequencies - great for situations where you want to hear more bottom end.Product summary
The good: The Ion Desk Rocker speaker system offers a direct USB audio connection to your PC or Mac. The system has line-input recording, a headphone output, volume control, bass boost, and RCA and minijack auxiliary inputs, as well as bundled recording software, a gutsy sound, and an affordable price.
The bad: The Ion Desk Rocker's design isn't very portable or pretty, and its sound quality is blunt.
The bottom line: Ion's Desk Rocker speaker system is an inexpensive way to add recording inputs and powerful sound to your computer system.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/30/2008
The Ion Desk Rocker USB speaker system makes short work of getting impressive sound both in and out of your computer. It's not the most attractive or best-sounding system we've tested, but at an affordable $99, the Desk Rocker delivers big sound with an extensive set of features.
The Ion Desk Rocker system comes with two speakers, a power adapter, a standard USB cable, a detachable speaker link, and a CD of bundled recording software. Since each speaker measures 7.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide by 6 inches deep, the system isn't low profile, and neither is its sound. Each speaker includes a 3-inch woofer and a 1-inch tweeter, and both are covered with a sturdy metal grille and are powered by 10 watts per channel.
The Desk Rocker's recording inputs and bundled audio software distinguish it from conventional PC speaker systems such as the Creative GigaWorks T40. Built-in universal hardware drivers allowed our Mac and PC computers to treat the Desk Rocker as a USB sound card, and within minutes we were playing back music from iTunes and making digital recordings from our old, beat-up cassette deck.
During informal recording quality testing, the Desk Rocker captured clean, distortion-free recordings, without any hiccups or dropouts. We were disappointed to see that the Desk Rocker lacks a grounding jack for connecting older turntables, though, and a recording input gain control knob would have been handy. The default recording resolution of the Desk Rocker is 16-bit, 44.1kHz (CD quality); however, a maximum resolution of 16-bit, 48kHz is possible using the included Audacity recording software.
Just because the Desk Rocker includes a USB input doesn't mean it has to be used with a computer. In fact, the easiest way to set up the Desk Rocker is to simply run an external audio source such as an MP3 player, game console, or pro-audio mixer directly into the 3.5mm or RCA inputs located on the back of the system. If the audio source connected to the Desk Rocker lacks volume control, the front panel's headphone jack and volume knob can help keep things quiet.
The Desk Rocker's sound won't fuel your next house party, but it's far from wimpy. With the volume cranked on both our PC and the speakers, the Desk Rocker's built-in amplifier was obscenely loud for its size, reminding us of the Griffin Amplifi. At full blast, we did experience a noticeable amount of low-frequency distortion, and the Desk Rocker's lack of isolating rubber feet made our desk rattle at times.
While listening to The Doors "L.A. Woman," bass guitar and vocals took a front seat, and the fuzzed-out guitar and ride cymbal felt rounded off and dull. But the overdriven drum machines and synthesizers of The Faint's "Glass Danse" were a perfect match for the Desk Rocker's punchy, bass-heavy sound. However, we noticed that classical and acoustic rock songs lacked high-frequency detail.
Overall, the Ion Desk Rocker USB speaker system's affordable price and loud, bass-heavy performance make it ideal for dorm rooms and PC gamers. Its USB recording feature is an attractive option for aspiring music producers and turntablists. For an extra $25 to $50, though, there are several PC speaker systems that trump the Ion Desk Rocker's design and sound quality.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1out of 1 user reviews
Fife star studio monitor
Pros: There are no analogical speakers in the market. These are the bests in their category. Crisp and clean natural sound, flat response. They completely replace my Sony headphones. Bass is well balanced. These are the smallest in the market.
Cons: -------N/A
I recommend these to everyone who wants a pair of excellent speakers for computer.
Updated on Jan 24, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
