Buy Now...

click image to enlarge

Moving this around is something you think about before you do it, not simply because its not light but also because it has no handle and so unless you are a skilled waiter you will need two hands as there are no grip points.

Recently –around four weeks ago - I reviewed the more normal size Pure One Flow that does much the same as the Contour. However the larger size means that of course you have larger speakers and of course a fuller sound.

The one thing that the Pure One Flow does not have is an iPod/iPhone dock with the Contour this is in a push in/out movement for the surround of the screen that is mounted in the centre of the front of the unit, all the controls around this are soft and work if the iPod dock is in the ‘in or out’ position. However there are four touch controls on the top edge, on/off, volume up, volume down and mute. When I say touch perhaps ‘hover near’ is a better explanation. Certainly if you push hard you get no response so hovering above the lighted section is the answer.

See also: iPod docking stations

more

The screen is 6.5x2.5 and has yellow digits the intensity of the display can be independently adjusted for both standby and in use environment. To the right of the screen there are illuminated controls for up and down with select between them, to the right is a ‘back one step’ control, to the left of the display is the ‘Home’ button which always takes you to the top menu. Below the display are three illuminated bar buttons whose jobs vary. When in use there is a five line display, the text from the iPod display is transferred to the Contour display. The iPod of course is recharged while docked into the Contour.

Just about the only thing missing here is a CD Player and with 20watts of sound output and bass and treble in plenty the sound output is excellent. Should you wish to operate it from a distance a small remote control is supplied.

The size is all important at 26x15x23cm and it has a ten piece 60cm tall - fully extended – rod aerial to give good DAB and FM reception.

Internet radio is available via the ‘Pure Lounge’ and this has other features as well, however searching though thousand of radio stations using ‘up and down’ is not easy so the free Pure Lounge app that sits on your PC enables easy searching and once you enter a code into your radio your PC links to it allowing your favourites to become instantly available. Download another small applet to your PC and its media content can be streamed to your Contour. Should you like anything you listen to you can let it be identified and if commercially available you can buy it in high quality MP3 (normally 320kbps) for either 79p or 99p. You can them immediately stream it to your Contour. You can also download it at anytime to your PC and even download it again should you lose or corrupt your copy as Pure keeps a full list of the items you have purchased.

For a while they have had an iPhone/iPod app (also works on the iPod Touch) but just recently they launched an App for Android and at the time of writing this is Free. Again you can stream your purchases via Wi-Fi to the App.

The Contour certainly gives a decent sound with down facing horns to accentuate the base, however certainly not something to move around the house. This is a mains only unit, the fabric that covers the front gives the feel of one large speaker.

There are a line of six connections on the back, Mini USB, Component, S-Video, Auxiliary in, Headphones and DC input. The power lead is 1.9metres and just a little short.

Doing my searches found the Contour at a best price of £134.99 with free delivery from the first link below.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004I8W3R8?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634

http://www.pure.com/products/product.asp?Product=VL-61385&Category