PHILIPS DS8550/10 Fidelio Docking Speaker for iPad/iPhone/iPod with Bluetooth - Silver
Sound quality is exceptionally clear and free from noise, and there is a surprising amount of bass, which I assume is down to the ported speaker design. At high volume, you have plenty of room-filling sound from this compact and heavy dock, but as with all docks, do not expect hifi or much stereo effect. The appearance of the unit is neat and unobtrusive, with its concave, black, metal front and silvery back. The simple, illuminated control panel just has on/off, bluetooth, and volume +/-.
Bad points are:
1. sometimes it takes a couple of goes at Bluetooth pairing, after which it works perfectly playing every time.
2. The remote is not that powerful and needs to be pointed right at the dock to work.
3. The Fidelio App which it nags you to install is pretty rubbish I think. Yes you can control the iPod's sound via an equalizer and it gives you the Tune In radio app, but I installed it and barely used it as it only lets you control the selected album (already playing) or playlists on the iPod (you can create lists as well if you want), but that is it. Plus I think the Tune In feature actually works less well than the dedicated one installed separately.
Sound quality is exceptionally clear and free from noise, and there is a surprising amount of bass, which I assume is down to the ported speaker design. At high volume, you have plenty of room-filling sound from this compact and heavy dock, but as with all docks, do not expect hifi or much stereo effect. The appearance of the unit is neat and unobtrusive, with its concave, black, metal front and silvery back. The simple, illuminated control panel just has on/off, bluetooth, and volume +/-. Bad points are:
1. sometimes it takes a couple of goes at Bluetooth pairing, after which it works perfectly playing every time.
2. The remote is not that powerful and needs to be pointed right at the dock to work.
3. The Fidelio App which it nags you to install is pretty rubbish I think. Yes you can control the iPod's sound via an equalizer and it gives you the Tune In radio app, but I installed it and barely used it as it only lets you control the selected album (already playing) or playlists on the iPod (you can create lists as well if you want), but that is it. Plus I think the Tune In feature actually works less well than the dedicated one installed separately.
That is it. Otherwise the dock is one of the best things I have ever bought. I have not looked at another dock review since I got it, and have been playing more music that ever since I got it. If you are suffering with this terrible affliction, stop reading reviews like this, go and listen to the dock in a shop, or buy it and get on with your life.
