Buy Now...

When on your travels, by whatever means, your iPod acts not only as a status symbol but also the means of providing music on the move.  With the white device snug in a pocket, attached to your belt or gripped firmly in the hand and earphones blocking out the traffic noise and other folks' chatter, you can be in a world of your own as your favourite tracks take away all cares and worries - and with a little practice you can ignore the disapproving stares of those around you.  But why should this deliverer of personal entertainment be restricted to locations away from the home.  Why not add the iPod to your home-based Hi-Fi set up.

Aimed at providing this functionality is the Kensington Stereo Dock for iPod. This device has been designed to double as the linking device between your iPod and stereo systems while providing recharging facilities for your mobile device.  Measuring 90 x 75 x 49mm (L x W x H), the Kensington unit consists of a weighed base that is home to the docking socket and has chrome-finished metal piping rising from both sides of the base to form what could be mistaken for a carrying handle - more of this piping a little later.

See also: iPod docking stations

more

The base has that all-to-familiar iPod white colour while the docking socket is compatible with all the generations of the iPod although Shuffle users will need some form of adapter.  Connections at the rear of the base provide sockets for mains power and a mini-jack plug for linking to your Hi-Fi system.  Mains power is a requisite for supplying the recharging functionality built-in to this device and Kensington supply the necessary lead and plug.  You also get a 1.7 metre gold plated Y audio cable for linking the Stereo Dock to a Hi-Fi system.  Naturally both leads are coloured white.

Connecting the Stereo Dock is just a matter of attaching the supplied lead to the auxiliary sockets of your home Hi-Fi system.  Rather than control output from your iPod by using its built-in controls, Kensington include in the box a remote control unit.  This is an infrared unit that measures 75 x 43 x 13mm.  It communicates with the Stereo Dock via a receiver panel located on the front of the unit's base, and is powered by two AA batteries that are supplied as part of the package.  As this is an infrared device, line-of-sight is required for any successful communication.  The remote has five buttons, which light up when pressed, and these provide volume, play, and the ability to cycle backwards and forwards through tracks.

One problem with a small remote like this one is the possibility of it being easily misplaced.  Kensington has tried to alleviate this problem with the metal piping mentioned earlier.  Rather than a carrying handle, this piping has been designed to form a home for the remote when it is not in use.

I was pleasantly surprised by the audio quality achieved by the combination of the Stereo Dock, iPod and a Hi-Fi system.  While it would probably not satisfy those who had invested in a high-end system, the casual user should be more than satisfied with the audio output achieved when using the Stereo Dock.  Owners of other types of MP3 players can only look on with envy.  This product should cost around £45.00.

http://uk.kensington.com/html/9614.html