The iP1 is visually striking, and its digital enhancement of compressed music is helpful with some genres. But there are other speaker docks that produce a more natural sound.

Striking design; good voicing; enhancement sounds good with rock and pop music

Music is sometimes unnatural and harsh; consistent fuzzy sound below music

iHome says that the iP1 uses “a complex chip-based algorithm” developed by Bongiovi Acoustics to restore “harmonics, brightness, clarity and presence” while also boosting the bass. How well does the technology work? To my ears, it sometimes works a ...

Altec Lansing's affordable Expressionist Plus gives you a 2.1 speaker system that provides decent performance, an impressive-for-the-money design, and some nice features.

On the top of the subwoofer is a large, matte-rubber-coated knob for adjusting the subwoofer's output level. For most music, I found setting this knob at approximately the midpoint provided decent tonal balance. The knob also acts as a power switch: ...

If you've got room on your desk (or bookshelf), the AV 40 is an excellent set of compact studio monitors that out-performs the traditional 2.0 computer speakers we've tested, and even bests many 2.1 systems when it comes to overall sound quality.

But there's another type of 2.0 system out there: studio monitors, which are essentially powered bookshelf speakers designed for use in recording and production studios. Studio monitors tend to be bulkier than traditional 2.0 computer speakers—and ...

Creative's top-of-the-line 2.0 speaker system offers good sound quality, attractive appearance, and varied listening options.

Each of the T40 II's black-plastic speakers stands 12.5 inches tall when placed on the included screw-on base—quite tall for desktop computer speakers. Each is 3.5 inches wide and 5.5 inches deep, although because each speaker is angled upwards ...

Logitech's latest two-piece computer speaker system offers convenient features and a unique design for listening from anywhere in the room.

The speakers' plastic cabinets sport a matte, dark-gray finish in back and on the sides, with a glossy-black front. Silver accents around the speaker drivers are visible only if you remove the system's black, metal grilles. Behind each grille sit a 0 ...

Orbitsound's approach to stereo is refreshing and the T6 is a lovely sounding unit.

Lush sound; sturdy build; cool glowing valves

Unconventional look; stereo sound not as striking as on larger speakers

There's a switch on the back of the speaker unit for flicking the AirSound effect to Off, Mid, or Max. The Mid setting is fine for smallish rooms, while the Max setting can sound a bit full-on with music that has a lot going on

There are times when you don't want to don your headphones, and you want your music (or audiobook, podcast, recorded lecture, etc.) fill the air in your general vicinity. For that, you need a mini speaker.

The iMainGo 2 has everything we liked about the iMainGo. It's sturdy and provides iPod protection, and the speakers are quite good-there's a surprising amount of bass thump, and midrange audio has good warmth. On the other hand, the iMainGo 2 can't ...

DLO's iBoom and Ewoo's eFizz are iPod speaker systems that aim to stand out from the pack by providing large LCD-equipped remote controls that let you browse your iPod's menus and content from across the room.

The iBoom JukeBox is a compact system measuring 11 inches wide by 7 inches deep by 9.5 inches high; it weighs 4.5 pounds. The attractive JukeBox is encased in black plastic with a stylish, matte-silver trim. Sitting atop the hemispherical case are ...

Focal's XS is high-performance audio system that works with both iPods and your computer's digital-audio signal. Although it's expensive, you're paying for that flexibility as well as an attractive, iMac-matching design.

Attractive, Mac-matching design ; excellent sound quality ; built-in DAC for USB audio ; Sync/Audio setting lets you easily switch between iPod-audio and iPod-sync modes ; can listen to multiple audio sources simultaneously

Basic remote ; iPod audio considerably louder than USB audio if both are playing at the same time ; no headphone jack ; no visible volume level

It's obvious that the XS's design was inspired by the look of Apple's current iMac. The two satellite speakers each feature a weighted base finished in glossy black; an angled, brushed-metal stand that echoes those on the iMac and Apple's Cinema ...

Focal's XS is high-performance audio system that works with both iPods and your computer's digital-audio signal. Although it's expensive, you're paying for that flexibility as well as an attractive, iMac-matching design.

Attractive, Mac-matching design ; excellent sound quality ; built-in DAC for USB audio ; Sync/Audio setting lets you easily switch between iPod-audio and iPod-sync modes ; can listen to multiple audio sources simultaneously

Basic remote ; iPod audio considerably louder than USB audio if both are playing at the same time ; no headphone jack ; no visible volume level

It's obvious that the XS's design was inspired by the look of Apple's current iMac. The two satellite speakers each feature a weighted base finished in glossy black; an angled, brushed-metal stand that echoes those on the iMac and Apple's Cinema ...