Apple competitor Creative gets deeper into the iPod business with three new sets of docking speakers.
Creative seems to have overcome any animosity which may be lingering from its patent dispute with Apple (we imagine $100 million settlements heal many wounds) and is embracing the iPod add-on business with three new sets of docking speakers made exclusively for Apple’s ever-popular portable media players. The units will be available online an in Singapore in early May; although there’s no word yet, they should reach the North American market shortly thereafter.
The X-Fi Sound System i600 is designed to be a high-performance, high fidelity stereo music system, offering two 35 watt satellite speakers and a 130 watt subwoofer with an 8-inch driver, along with Creative’s X-Fi Crystalizer audio enhancement technology which is designed to bring back some of the detail and vibrancy often lost in compressed digital music formats. The system also touts Creative’s X-Fi CMSS-3D technology which tries to bring surround sound over headphones or stereo speakers—your mileage may vary. The i600 offers a remote control, and works with Dock Connector iPods, including the iPod nano, 4th and 5th generation iPods, and the iPod mini. The i600′s estimated retail price will be S$599.99, or just under US $400.
The PlayDock i500 is designed to be a portable docking speaker system with two 12-watt drivers and a 24-watt subwoofer. The unit claims to offer up to 16 hours of music playback on eight C batteries, although of course users can run it off an AC adapter, and a wireless remote gives users access to key functions. The i500 will carry a retail price of $$299.99, or just under US$200.
If the i500 isn’t portable enough for you, the TravelSound i might fit the bill, offering two 4 watt speakers in a compact 1.7 pound package which can run off four AA batteries for up to 25 hours. The TravelSound i comes with an IR remote, and sports both a subwoofer out (for connecting to a beefier system) and a line in for connecting non-iPod devices. It’ll carry a price of S$199.99, or about US$132.
