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iPod HiFi...?

R

RocksInMySocks

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 24, 2004
13
0
My Pioneer cabinet-speakers finally gave up the ghost after 20+ years of service, so now I'm considering the HiFi for my Mac Mini-based entertainment center. I've downscaled and I don't want to go the home theater in a box route or have equipment that is essentially furniture (like my Pioneers). Both of these would be overkill for my tiny living room anyway. The HiFi looks to be the most suitable solution for me... then again I haven't bought speakers in over 20 years. I'm also having a tough time parsing the signal from the noise as far as a real recommendation goes for this thing.

So, let me ask, is this a good solution and what are the alternatives?

Here are my requirements:

1) one piece (no satellites, and few cables)
2) one function and no fluff (no radio, no clock, no cd player)
3) no -obvious- dock (won't ever be connected to an iPod)
4) built-in amp
5) unobtrusive (can fit on a shelf)
6) good range (good for watching movies)
7) less than $400

Thoughts and suggestions?
 
The iPod HiFi is amazing. I'd love to have one myself. I have not heard it with movies or anything like that though. I wonder what they would sound like with movies . . .
 
I think you should also consider the Bose SoundDock and Klipsch iGroove.
You mentioned no "obvious" dock - I'm not sure whether you think the dock on these two are obvious, so that's why I listed them.
At my local Apple store (Houston), the Bose, Klipsch and Hi-Fi are all on the same shelf, so you can test their sound side-by-side.
I would suggest doing that to make your final decision.

Good luck!

Edit: Just found this review on Consumer Reports - they actually were not very impressed with the sound quality on the Hi-Fi for the price. If you're considering buying one, it's probably worth a read.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/the-ipod-hifi-306.htm
 
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. :)

Yeah, the dock thing is a problem and eliminates the SoundDock and iGroove. When looking at these devices, I imagine a guest asking, "So where's your iPod?" The other aspect of this is that some of the all-in-ones have no "line in," they work strictly off the iPod. Not viable for my purposes.

Like sixstorm, I would like to hear from someone who has connected the HiFi to their system for watching movies. Other than an hour-plus drive to the nearest Apple Store, -that-, I think, would cinch it for me.
 
Although iPod Hi-Fi is suitable for music, I am not sure if I would consider it for home theater application. I understand your desire to have cleaner one-box speaker system, but you really can't replicate surround sound experience that way. It sounds like you've already set your mind on such solution, but just understand that it takes 6 speakers (left, center, right, left rear, right rear, subwoofer) to experience home theater. So my personal recommendation would be Logitech Z-5450 with wireless rear speakers.
 
Hi FI is a waste of money

Get a regular stereo that can do more!
And get a cord and hook your pod up to that when you want to blast it. For the life of me I dont understand who would spend over 300 bucks for a set of speakers marketed as some kind of home music solution when you can get more options for that money adn run a cord to a real stereo and your ipod.
 
or even your computer!


HiFi are definately NOT worth it. If it was say, 200 bucks I would consider it. If it was able to connect with iTunes on my PB via WiFi, then I would definately get it. However the HiFi is just simply EXTREMELY overpriced speakers.
 
I think the HiFi would be good for what you need it to do. The quality is remarkable, and I consider myself to be rather picky with my audio. As far as the line-in goes, I doubt it has the ability to simulate surround, but that's the price you pay for that sort of audio solution. It will still sound great on movies, you just won't be able to hear a door open behind you and to the left. ;)

A lot of people here are saying that it's just not worth the money, yadda yadda yadda. But these people aren't in the market for such a device, so they think it's worthless. If you want a one box setup then this is definitely the way to go. It meets every one of your requirements and it looks and sounds great. Definitely top of the line for it's genre.

I say just go for it, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
 
Again, thanks for all of the feedback!

So that discussion stays on track...

To the issue of surround sound: My living room is a meager 77 sq-ft and most polyphonic effects are lost by reflection. Also, given that 2/3 of this space is seating, it would invariably be the case that someone would be unpleasantly dominated by a single, disintegrated channel of sound. My reasoning, perhaps flawed, is that a single source-point would provide an equitable experience for my viewers/listeners.

To the issue of cost: $350 is -a lot- of money. It's more than an iPod! Yet, the HiFi is within the price range of audio units that it competes with. Is the whole category overpriced? That I can't answer, but in my research it looks to be fair, the next echelon up is more than twice as much. Nevertheless, the cost is not an argument as much as is the appropriateness of the unit.

Perhaps, I could buy a cheap boombox. My assumption is that it would also sound like a cheap boombox. That is just my assumption, and if someone knows different and can steer me to a quality unit, please comment -- I mean, that is the reason for me posting and asking for help. I have to say, though, as far as boomboxes or component systems go, it's a lot of wasted electronics for my purposes, and I'd rather have that space dedicated to moving air.

I've had someone recommend to me off-line the Audioengine 5 speakers, and I see it is also recommended in another HiFi thread here at MacRumors. Has anyone had experience with these who could compare them to the HiFi?
 
technicolor said:
Hi FI is a waste of money

Get a regular stereo that can do more!
And get a cord and hook your pod up to that when you want to blast it. For the life of me I dont understand who would spend over 300 bucks for a set of speakers marketed as some kind of home music solution when you can get more options for that money adn run a cord to a real stereo and your ipod.
Click to expand...

Did you even read the post....one piece, no chords ???
 
i was going to go ahead & recommend the hi-fi until i saw those Audioengine speakers. although i haven't heard them, they have good specs, a clean design, they sound like they meet your needs and the extra power plug for an airport express is sweet.

i have a hi-fi and i like it a lot. i don't LOVE it, but it serves [most] of its purpose. i have it upstairs in my bedroom and stream music from my computer. i never use the dock. however, i was bummed that i can't control iTunes via the remote (no USB out), which was a stupid oversight on my part. i have to stick w/ my keyspan remote for that function.

the sound is very nice and probably well suited for movies. there's no dedicated tweeter, so the highs aren't spectacular, but since a majority of the sound in movies is voices, i think it would work well.

good luck!

that said, i would seriously consider those Audioengines...
 
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