Bose Soundock Portable Reviewed

By Rob Reger

Most audio enthusiasts agree that the original Bose soundock is the best set of iPod speakers you can buy. The only problem I had with the first generation model is that it isn't portable because you have to lug around the boxy power supply and power cord. This is no longer the casethe new Bose soundock portable is very similar to the first generation model in power and sound quality with a twist. It's the best sounding and most powerful speakers available for your iPod and it's portable. This comes with a premium price tag; with a retail price tag of $399 you're paying not only for quality but the Bose brand name.

The sound dock portable comes in two colors: glossy white and black. The speakers have a compact design that measures 12" x 6" x 5" and weighs just over 5 pounds. The new portable soundock is very similar to the original model. One difference is the swiveling dock that rotates into the sound dock body for protection when traveling.

The portable model has a simple design just like the original sound dock and lacks physical controls aside from the two volume controls. The infrared remote include has eight rubber buttons that control volume, playback, play lists, and power. The included remote control is small and simple, but it's rubber buttons are easy to operate. The remote control works by infrared light; however it works well enough to control your iPod from nearly any angle in a large room.

The back of the sound dock portable has only two connectors. There is an analog input and a plug for the unit's charger. It would be nice to have USB ports or video outputs on the speaker system. The sound dock portable is charged by a lithium-ion battery and holds a charge for about eight hours of normal use. If you crank the volume up you'll get about three hours use which is pretty good considering the volume and amount of Bass the speakers produce.

The only downside of the sound dock's design are the clumsy volume controls. You can easily overcome this limitation with the included remote control. The speakers charge your iPod whenever it's plugged in; however, this will deplete the lithium battery faster if not plugged into the charger. The speaker's bass port also serves as a carrying handle which is one of the features that makes it portable. Bose refers to the Bass Port as the speaker's Wave Guide Exit.

Bose hid an LED light behind the speaker grill that flashes when you use the included remote control and flashes to let you know when the battery needs charging. If you forget to charge the unit for fourteen days the only way to turn it on again is by plugging the charger in...this feature probably generates a lot of support calls for Bose. There are no dock inserts included in the box. If you lost the inserts that came with your iPod you can buy replacements from your local Apple store. The sound dock has a power cord winder that makes it easy travel with your speakers; however, the plug is a tad large and bulky. With it's $399 retail price tag the soundock portable is a tad expensive; however, you can find better prices shopping online with free shipping. There is an optional carrying case for the portable sound dock but you'll have to shell out sixty dollars more if you want one.

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