Alarm clocks and speakers

OK, so the name of the Sony RDP-XF100iP actually conveys nothing about the product. Let's look past Sony's hideous naming schemes for a minute and just appreciate the fact that the company still knows how to make a fine portable speaker system.

There have been a rash of surprisingly good and affordable iPhone speaker docks crossing our desk of late. The Sony RDP-XF100iP ($249) is one of the more recent additions. It has the power and detail of the recently reviewed Philips Fidelio, with the portability of the Logitech S715i, and the FM radio of the Altec Lansing inMotion Classic. … Read more

Update: CNET's full, rated review of the Jawbone Jambox is now available.

One of the most overlooked features in any laptop, iPad, smartphone, or iPod Touch, is Bluetooth music streaming. Sure, everybody loves the idea of music without wires, but in reality, stereo headsets are either bulky or messy, and Bluetooth speakers are generally wimpy and ugly.

Enter Jambox--a rechargeable speaker that breaks our preconceptions for what a Bluetooth can do (and how good it can look doing it). Priced on the high end at $199, this little speaker bar uses two 1.25-inch drivers on the front … Read more

Anyone who has ever shopped for an iPod speaker knows that there is no shortage of models from which to choose; options range from giant party speakers in the form of old-school ghetto blasters to tiny units about the size--and shape--of a goose egg. Indeed, you can even find portable device cases with speakers built right in.

Portable Sound Laboratories started cranking out its original iMainGo speaker case back in 2007 and followed it up about a year and a half later with the impressive--and cheap--iMainGo 2. Since reviewing that unit, I've been eagerly awaiting the next offering from the company. It arrived not long ago in the form of the iMainGo X, which offers more features--and a noticeably higher price tag--than its sibling.

In fact, the X isn't a replacement for the iMainGo 2 but an addition to the line. While not entirely unwelcome, the iMainGo X is tougher to recommend at its current price of $69.95, since you get the same volume boost, audio quality, and case enclosure as the 2. However, there are a smattering of useful extras that some users might find compelling enough to warrant the $30 jump in price.… Read more

The JBL On Stage series of iPod speaker docks are practically an institution at this point. We have On Stage reviews dating back to 2005.

This year, JBL is doing something a little different with its iPod-amplifying staple, offering a new design that looks like it's been crushed by an elephant and artfully glued back together.

All kidding aside, the daring design of the newest On Stage systems is available on two models. The On Stage IV ($179) is the larger of the two, with a total of four JBL Odyssey transducers, battery power up to 16 hours, and … Read more

Sony may have lost the MP3 player battle, but it still knows a thing or two about making small, powerful speaker systems.

As evidence, we have the newly announced iRDP-X50iP, a portable speaker dock made for the Apple iPhone and iPod that boasts 40 watts of power in an elegant, minimal design.

With an asking price of $199, the iRDP-X50iP includes a bass reflex speaker design, aux input, remote control with full iPod control functionality, Mega Bass audio enhancement circuitry, soft-touch controls, and certified compatibility with the iPhone and recent iPods.

Sony's press release for the iRDP-X50iP emphasizes its … Read more

A few weeks ago, a friend asked me to recommend a good battery-powered or rechargeable speaker for their iPhone that they could bring on a camping trip. It seemed like a simple request, but finding solid recommendations turned out to be harder than I expected.

Maybe I'm just a sound snob, but to my ears, most portable speakers sound pretty bad. To be fair, it isn't easy to coax great sound out of a speaker system that fits in a backpack. Even with the best audio engineering money can buy, when you factor in concerns over battery life, … Read more

Logitech has pulled back the curtain on a new portable speaker system for the iPhone and iPod, and we gotta say--the company has outdone itself. Due out in a few weeks at $149 list, and packed with a total of eight drivers, the S715i hits a sweet spot of price and sonic performance we've never seen before.

The tradeoff is that you don't get bells and whistles, such as Bluetooth audio streaming, alarm clock, EQ, or FM radio--which is already mostly covered by the iPhone, anyhow. Ultimately, what the S715i offers is a big sound in a relatively … Read more

Peruse any electronics store, whether virtual or brick-and-mortar, and you'll be overwhelmed by the breadth of choices offered in the iPod speaker category. As such, it is of the utmost importance that manufacturers of such goods make their products not just stand but jump out from the crowd. Taking an otherwise fairly standard iPod-ready AM/FM radio alarm clock and slapping a $250 price tag on it is surely one way of doing this; we're just not sure it's the right way. This is what JBL has done with the latest addition to its On Time speaker … Read more

Finding portable speakers for your iPod or other MP3 player isn't much of a challenge. Manufacturers have made speakers ranging from the pocketable to the boomboxy in terms of size and design. However, if you want a tiny speaker with an MP3 player built right in, look no further than the X-Mini Happy, an itty-bitty portable music player with an all-in-one design. This little unit retails for about $100 and offers solid sound quality and an impressive array of features. If you're in the market for a simple way to share tunes on the go, this product is … Read more