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$350? Yeah Right

Have to say, I hate the ipod sticking out the top. It just doesn't look good.

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I has only a measly 108 db at one meter, so don't expect to get "room filling sound" unless it's a library or something. Expect the speakers to get blown early.

This thing is a Bose Wave Radio without all the extra's (cd player, radio etc.) I had a Wave Radio and it's nice, but it's no "Boombox", you want serious sound you can do to part with a few hundred more and get plenty in exchange.

I get 150 db in the center of my 5.1 surround sound system with each speaker at a least 20 feet away.

I only paid a few hundred more than the iPodHiFi for a quality 7.1 reciever and 5.1 speakers with all sorts of inputs, FM/AM, remote control etc.

For instance Google for surround sound and you'll see a bunch of decent recievers for $300, then all you need is good speakers for $250 more or so.

Once you go surround sound with a quality reciever, you won't go back to a iPod or a iPod HiFi.


Oh by the way

Seems my "source" was right about the iPod HiFi being like a "Bose Wave Radio"

thanks KC ;0

Mike,

BTW, Apple does have DVR-like software already. It's called AVCBrowser and VirtualDVHS. You can check out more details here: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040426151111599
Also check out iRecord: http://www.ammesset.com/software/irecord/
It actually works pretty well. I've recorded several HD programs this way. It's awesome.

I don't believe Apple sells HD content for the iPod, either.

Frankly, I don't think Apple would be shooting themselves in the foot at all. I know quite a few people who are waiting for the new mini for precisely DVR functionality. They're tired of Tivo. They want real HD. Remember, this is supposedly the year of HD (or was that last year?).

Here is a back image of a real machine.

http://www.harmankardon.com/images/product_large/DPR2005B.jpg

Hook up just about anything, get way better sound and portability for only a few hundred $$ more.

Apple's box is overpriced for what you get, it should be around $149.

The Bose Wave Radio is overpriced too, but at least you get a clock/radio, cd player etc.


Shesh Apple!!! :(


MacDude

That is one butt ugly plastic box. A box made of maple, cherry, or even pine would have been much more aesthetically pleasing.

For instance, I have found a complete quality Harmon/Kardon 6.1 system for $650.

http://www.streetprices.com/Electronics/Consumer/Home_Theater/Systems/SP2949898.html

This is a above average system, with metal sheilded speakers (not cheap fabric) and will last 10x longer than a Wave Radio or Apples Box.

My leather TONINO LAMBORGHINI iPod Video case $19.99

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4072634

I have this myself and it's sweet, with a nice finish, cool logo, engraved fabic inside, detachable cover with magnet to keep the cover closed.

There is also a 60GB version.

Too large to be really portable and too damn expensive. I just bought a Altec Lansing iM5. To get a rich sound I have to adjust the ipod's EQ settings but it's petite and heaps cheaper than the Apple's behemoth.

In our living room the ipods go into a dock (supplied by Apple) which then connects to our hi-fi system. Maybe in future versions this sound system will get cheaper and smaller; and D cell batteries will be replaced by AA's. At the moment this doesn't cut the mustard. Anyway that's just my opinion.

I gather that on stage today, Mr. Jobs freely flung about the word “audiophile” while pitching the new iPod Hi-Fi.

Well, I’m one of those: wrote for the mags, have gear from obscure British manufacturers, turn off a fridge thirty feet away to listen. I’ll look forward to giving the Hi-Fi a listen. It seems fantastically dubious that something 43 cm wide, with a listed bass floor of 53Hz (the bottom string on a bass is 42Hz), weighing 6.6kg, and costing $349, could actually produce “audiophile” sound. But you know, it’s not impossible; if they design for truth and accuracy as opposed to fake-bass thump and scary volume, it could turn out to be pretty useful.

In which case, it’d be a complete waste to play your average iTunes-store-sourced lo-rez lossy-compressed MP3 through it. But you can get audiophile sound out of your iPod, and for quite a bit less than $349.

Go out and buy one of the good in-ear headphones from Etymotics or one of their competitors (I use the Shure 3C) and, most important of all, get your music off CDs and use lossless compression.

The D/A in an iPod is really not bad at all; if you send all of the music through it and play it through first-class transducers, you’ll be happy.

(By the way, is it just me or is this thing butt-ugly?)

that Apple was going to phase out these sort of 'events', and after the black eye he's in for from the press and the a$$ whipping AAPL going to take after this mess, that's exactly what's going to happen.

Talk about a white elephant - now here it is for all to see.

Come to think of it, weren't all my stereo systems also "Hi Fi".

As an Apple fan and an Apple stockholder - what a big let down. I haven't been this let down since January.

"Apple has always been happy with 2-3 percent of the market."

Way to reach for the gold...no...silver...no...brass...no... zinc plated ring.

Peace.

A friend of my wife's, who does not live and breath MDN, MacRumors, etc., saw the new Hi-Fi and was pissed off!! Because she just bought something similar from Bose for $50 more!! She would have much rather had this.
I think the general public will clamour for these things. It is just us, who live and breath rumors, who are upset.

And, I don't like the iPod sticking out the top. Looks flimsy. However, I guess it is just a dock with big speakers.

WHAT NO MDN TAKE? COWARDS... THEY AS MUCH AS ANYONE ELSE HELPED BUILD UP THE HYPE.

I'm getting one. Every other boom box on the market looks like it belong in a college dorm, especially that Altec Lansing log. This looks like it belongs in my living room. And no stupid LOGO polluting the grill. very nice.

Man, you can take this iPod Hi-Fi thing to the beach and rock out. As Apple sez: "... take your show on the road courtesy of D-cell battery power."
Kow-a-bunga!
"...using just six D-cell batteries*" to make it portable (which probably last about 15 minutes)
Heck, with batteries it only weighs 16.7 lbs / 7.6 kg. (Now my Panasonic boom box only weighs 7.5 lbs, but this iPod Hi-Fi will help me bulk up my pecs.)
Lug that (L x D x H): 17 x 6.9 x 6.6 inches / 431.8 x 175.3 x 167.6 mm (including grille) iPod Hi-Fi around with the two hands (no single handle in the middle on this iPod Hi-Fi) or put it on your shoulder for ghetto-blasting iTunes fun!
Just hope your $500 iPod doesn´t fall out of your $350 iPod Hi-Fi as you are skateboarding down beach boulevard!

---------
*six D-Cell batteries cost approximately $20 (rechargeable). You got a recharger that can recharge SIX (6) D-Cell batteries at one time, right?
If not they start at around $90+...

Personally I have no use for the Hi-Fi, but it's fair enough as a product. Personally though I think it looks stupid with the iPod sticking out the top like that, I'd rather just stick it into a regular dock and have a cable then you can have it sitting in front or to the side and not taking up space above.

$99 for a few square inches of cow leather.

Those are some expensive cows. I hear if you buy a steak that comes from the same cows it costs $15,000...but you get fries with it.

I'll reserve judgement on the iPod HiFi until I hear it with my iPod plugged into the top and my songs playing.

As for the cases, they must be very nice, indeed.

One question, how do you listen to the iPod nano if it's in the case? I didn't see a hole for the headphone plug on the bottom.


~M

I'm sure it sounds pretty good and will please a lot of people, but if its frequency response only goes up to 16kHz (and not the industry-standard 20kHz) then it ain't 'audiophile', and, yes, given loudspeakers that can reproduce those highs, folks with normal hearing WILL hear the difference. The iPod 5G is specced at 20Hz-20kHz! OK, few speakers (and fewer headphones) will sound those ultra-low notes, but they sure can play the high ones.

I won't be throwing my stereo system out just yet.

Anyone else notice the subdued presentation SJ made? Looks and sounds like he's embarrased to launch something for so much that is so... um... basic.

OK, it looks consistent with Apple designs, probably sounds OK too - but wheres the features? Wi-Fi, remote, and how about a radio built in like that new(ish) accessory for the iPod?

And it's portable - And here's me thinking iPods came with headphones...

As for an outside boom box say for a party? in the UK there's rarely a day when we can have a social gathering outside that would justify the cost of this thing - even with an Apple logo on it.

Sorry Apple, I'm not impressed this time round.

Please try harder to make me drool.

Ooops, misread and noticed it does have a remote!