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[Mejilan]

Alright. So, starting in a few weeks, I'll be on my own for the first time in my life. I'm moving out of my current apartment, and into a nice 400 square foot studio, going stag.

Since I won't have to be concerned about roommates and whatnot, I'm looking into getting one of the mid-high range speakers for the iPod.

I'm currently eyeballing some JBL or Altec Lansing dealies. I don't want to spend TOO much, but am somewhat interested in high quality speakers.

So, what does GAF recommend?

I've got a 4g 60gb iPod photo, btw...

ZANKS!

 

[imastalker co.]

straight up. i used to work for apple. i know those speakers inside out. if anyone gives you advice different from the one im about to give you, they're simply wrong.

in any case, those official ipod speakers are garbage, and the only ones that are decent are the bose ones. but even then, they're not worth $200. even if your life depended on it.

use the AV cables that came with your ipod, and plug it into your stereo, or, just buy some awesome PC speakers, and plug them into the ipod.

in any case, i'll put it to you this way. i got fired from apple for constantly talking people out of buying the speakers, and minis.

 

[vatstep]

The little proprietary speaker/dock things are a bit overpriced for what they do, I agree. If I were you, I'd just get a dock, and use the line-out to connect to a set of computer speakers - Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s would probably be your best bet.

 

[Mejilan]

I have a set of Logitech 5.1 speakers for my computer. Would I be able to connect the iPod to those?

 

[vatstep]

Yes, considering that they use a standard stereo-mini plug like most computer speakers (same as with a pair of headphones, etc). You could actually just plug the speakers into the headphone jack of the iPod. But a dock is certainly recommended, as the iPod's internal amp is bypassed with this method and you'll get MUCH better sound quality. The iPod's pretty average SQ is definitely exploited when you connect a pair of good speakers directly to it.

 

[Pochacco]

I have a set of Logitech 5.1 speakers for my computer. Would I be able to connect the iPod to those?

Why not just connect your iPod to your computer (via USB/Firewire) then play songs off your iPod via iTunes?

That's what I do.

 

[Jewbacca]

http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details.asp?pID=IM7


I was at work and we got these as a demo and I thought they fucking rocked.. They are about 50 dollars less then the Bose Speakers and I think it sounds great. =D

Your Ipod slides right in and you lock it into the speaker system... then you can control it with a slimline remote.. Its quite nice it and it has great bump... but I do think the bose speakers did sound a bit richer.

 

[Meier]

I have the $100 ones from JBL that you have to have the dock separate for and I've been very happy with them. I also have the audio out cable from Circuit City so I can just plug em into a regular stereo which works qutie well also.

These:

 

[imastalker co.]

once again, i can not stress this enough,

people who spent....let me correct myself... WASTED monety on "official" ipod speaker have well.....wasted money.

either buy the proper equipment to hook up you ipod to your (what im assuming is adequate stereo), or, get some good PC speakers and go from there.

please, for the love of anything that you have ever loved in your life, do no buy any "official" ipod speakers.

 

[imastalker co.]

I have the $100 ones from JBL that you have to have the dock separate for and I've been very happy with them. I also have the audio out cable from Circuit City so I can just plug em into a regular stereo which works qutie well also.

These:

p.s.

for half that price, you could buy PC speakers that would rock those like no tomorrow. Meirer, we've met in person, and no offense, but those JBL speaker are the most saddest miserable joke in the history of everything.

 

[DECK'ARD]

These sound amazing, and you can pick them up at a good price on Amazon at the moment - $118.95 (52% off). I use them on my Cube when I had to move it into the other room from my amp. They use a standard headphone jack, so would connect fine to the line-out on the iPod dock.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001DBEM4/?tag=neogaf0e-20

 

[Mejilan]

Thank you so much for the help, folks. You've convinced me against wasting my money.

What provides superior sound?

1.) Speakers directly connected to a docked iPod
2.) iPod mounted via USB2/Firewire and played through iTunes?

Thanks!!

 

[Mr Gump]

in any case, i'll put it to you this way. i got fired from apple for constantly talking people out of buying the speakers, and minis.

Well no shit. I hope you werent suprised in the slightest..

 

[Miroku]

Thank you so much for the help, folks. You've convinced me against wasting my money.

What provides superior sound?

1.) Speakers directly connected to a docked iPod
2.) iPod mounted via USB2/Firewire and played through iTunes?

Thanks!!

2. Because you can plug your computers sound output into something worthwhile. But it depends how much money you have. I have a friend who recently bought one of those speaker docks all in one type thingies that have been discussed here already. For $100, it supposedly does OK. But after taking my friend to an audio store where we demo'ed a $100,000 stereo (wilson watt/puppies/levinson electronics/transparent cables) he heard for the first time in his life what music is acutally supposed to sound like.

Now since most people dont have $100k to spend on a stereo, we ended up looking at some more modestly priced equipment. He ended up buying a stereo receiver and a pair of bookshelf speakers. (Arcam A65, and B&W 601s3) Since almost all of his music is on his iTunes/iPod he typically plays everything off his hard drive or docked ipod. The PC outputs sound to his stereo receiver with an 1/8th" jack to RCA plug audio cable.

Another option you have is to get a surround receiver that has digital inputs and use a fiber optic cable from your sound cards SPDIF out. This will use the DACs in your receiver so the quality of your sound card is negligible, if not meaningless.

All in all you can set something up like this for under $1000 which will destroy the sound of any "computer speaker" setup, or any ipod dock/speaker combo. Another thing to consider, is that high quality audio components can last you upwards of 20+ years before they break or degrade. If 1-2-3000 $ seems like a kick in the pants for a stereo, well it may be, but its an investment, and one you will enjoy much more so than shitty computer speakers.

Good luck!

 

[Mejilan]

I was willing to spend up to $150 only, but if my PC speakers (only about 6 months old) can cut it, then I'll be more than satisfied with that.

Thanks though.

 

[Doth Togo]

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=27&product=4913

I got these as a gift for my ex when she started law school. The speakers/sub have received very good reviews. Costs less than $80 if you shop online. A bargain, IMO.

 

[Meier]

p.s.

for half that price, you could buy PC speakers that would rock those like no tomorrow. Meirer, we've met in person, and no offense, but those JBL speaker are the most saddest miserable joke in the history of everything.

They were a graduation present from my brother. I dunno, they work okay for me, but so do 128 kbps mp3s so I guess it depends on the person. The speakers are nice and portable though which I appreciate.