Sony introduces Bravia TDM-IP1 iPod dock

These days, it seems like no home theater is complete without an iPod accessory of some sort, so why should your new Sony Bravia LCD HDTV be any different? Now you can officially get your groove on with the TDM-IP1 Digital Media Port dock, which unlike Sony's other stab at iPod docking, connects your compatible Bravia set with your iPod and charges it while playing back your music. It retails for $99, which is way overpriced for a video iPod dock, but this is Sony after all.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:03PM]

Nice, I wonder if it will be compatible with future iPods though?

It seems every time you finally get all your technology to connect with one another, there's always an upgrade that leaves the other equipment obsolete.

Apple's been pretty quiet about the 6G iPod lately.. I even inquired Engadget about any new scoops. A lil' off topic I know, but it's been nearly two years now without the hint of a new model. Wonder what they're up to..

[kingofwale @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:10PM]

Ok, here's my question, is there an engadget writer who DOESN'T bash Sony senselessly in ever post? I mean, it's getting tiring after a while.

Sony dock, 99 bucks, black and glassy finish. Apple's official Dock, 99 bucks..

so, what's the problem??? What's with the "but this is Sony after all".. get with the problem, ALL IPod products are overpriced. it's not SOny

[diulei @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:24PM]

Um, I don't think anyone was taking a stab at Sony. Everyone knows their prices are high, and usually for no reason other than that of the brand name.

And yes, exact same goes for Apple. The two are the BMW and MB of the gadget industry.

[Steve @ Apr 3rd 2007 8:10PM]

The Apple dock definitely doesn't cost $99. I'm on Apple's site right now and I'm seeing $39 for the Universal dock and $29 for the Nano and Shuffle docks.

[Erik Hanson @ Apr 4th 2007 3:07PM]

I'll admit, on a second reading, it does appear a bit harsh, and I totally agree that all iPod accessories seem to be overpriced, but I think my intent was to highlight the difference in price between it and other competing docks. No one could ever call me a Sony fanboy -- my home theater is full of Pioneer, Panasonic, Samsung, and Toshiba! -- but I am a big fan of my PS3, so I can't be a total hater, right? Thanks for your comments though, we do try not to hate (or love) too much on any one product or company (not that we succeed every time, heh).

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:17PM]

How do we know it's truly an anti-Sony remark?

"it is Sony after all.." could mean that since it's Sony, its price reflects its quality. Just my two cents.

[js @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:31PM]

MB doesn't outsource their production to Chinese sweatshops.

[Matt @ Apr 3rd 2007 7:25PM]

Well I think sony makes high quality goods. Their TVs are amazing.. in design and quality same with their camcorders and car audio stuff. If I really needed a dock for my ipod I would probably get this one over apples just cause it looks cool. Even though I'm not a PS3 fan I still think sony makes some pretty damn good products.

[zargon @ Apr 3rd 2007 10:00PM]

I wouldn't consider Sony products high quality. The name carries a prestige, that isn't so much deserved anymore really. Kind are still riding on their coat tails from the 80s and early 90s.

Sure, their high end TVs and projectors are nice. In fact they do have a winner right now with the Bravia LCD TVs and their SXRD (LCoS) TVs. Other then that, their products are pretty run of the mill at slightly over priced prices for what you actually get. A great example of this are their receivers. They use rating systems the great benifit their specs, when time and time again they have been proven to be way off when compared to other companies like Onkyo, Denon, H/K, marantz that have been running circles around their receivers for years and actually using pretty close to true specs with H/K being the best usually undershooting their specs. This type of practice is just typical of Sony for some time now.

[kingofwale @ Apr 3rd 2007 8:26PM]

>The Apple dock definitely doesn't cost $99. I'm on Apple's site right now and I'm seeing $39 for the Universal dock and $29 for the Nano and Shuffle docks.


The dock for video and audio output??? check again.

[Steve @ Apr 3rd 2007 8:46PM]

The $39 Universal Dock has Line Out *and* S-Video Out...

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=EF6079DF&nplm=MA045G%2FC

...are you convinced now?

[kingofwale @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:04PM]

why would I be convinced when you're showing me something that's not even comparable?

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=6653A28F&nplm=MA242LL%2FC

better?

[Bloobie @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:28PM]

Yes, the Sony dock is not even comparable to the Apple one. From the limited information available on both the SonyStyle and iLounge site, this Sony dock can only do two things: play audio from the iPod through a compatible Bravia home theater (with Digital Media Port), and charge the iPod. Nothing about video or connecting to a Bravia LCD TV, as indicated by the Engadget article.

[jimbo @ Jan 23rd 2008 12:28PM]

I have a bravia tv and home theater w/the sony dock $99. If the audio(home theater) is hooked up with a hdmi cable to the tv you need to use the video cable supplied w/ the dock, to get the controls shown on the tv. I have not figured out how to get music videos from the ipod to be shown on the tv. Any help??

[Bloobie @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:40PM]

Engadget, please correct this article as the Sony dock, like the other Digital Media Port accessories announced by Sony, do not stream or transmit video. The iPod Dock, Walkman Cradle, WiFi Client, and Bluetooth Interface transmit audio only, and only connect to home theater and audio receivers, not LCD TVs.

[Erik Hanson @ Apr 4th 2007 3:02PM]

I did some digging, and not only does the Sony store claim it has composite out, a Sony press release mentions video. So, perhaps one of our readers needs to grab one out of the box and confirm?

http://news.sel.sony.com/en/press_room/consumer/home_audio_video/home_theater/release/28544.html

"Also debuting are four accessories for the Digital Media Port, including a Bluetooth audio adapter to accept audio from enabled devices, a wireless network audio adapter for wireless streaming of music from a PC, and cradles for select Network Walkman® and iPod® digital music players.

The cradle supports the system’s audio and video playback capabilities with on-screen navigation."

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/%3EINTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?CategoryName=tv_TVDepartmentAccessories_DMPaccessories&ProductSKU=TDMIP1&TabName=specs&var2=

"Input Output
Output--Composite Video Output"

[kingofwale @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:40PM]

it did mention connecting to Bravia TV, which probably means it will have a HDMI port, or else why would it call it Bravia?

[Bloobie @ Apr 3rd 2007 9:44PM]

Again, Engadget has it wrong.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/%3EINTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start?ProductSKU=TDMIP1&Dept=tvvideo&CategoryName=tv_TVDepartmentAccessories_DMPaccessories

[PreGHz @ Apr 3rd 2007 11:41PM]

As with most companies, they have some products that aren't worth the packaging that they came in. With Sony though, it's as much style as it is function. They are the Banana Republic of the electronics world. Better than Gap/RCA, but not as good as Armani/Bang & Olufsen.

I happen to like Banana Republic. Sure, a Gap shirt would be cheaper, but a BR shirt has (usually) a better cut, therefore a better fit. Their wallets might be overpriced and not worth the BR name, but it doesn't mean that their pants suck. And it certainly doesn't mean that they're riding on the coattails of some lucky fashion line years ago.

[Jean-Michel Decombe @ Apr 4th 2007 12:00AM]

Can you see the UI on screen when you connect an iPod dock with through A/V, and control it using the remote control? I would love to have that. If it was a Front Row like experience, that would be even better. Does the Sony do that? Does any Apple dock do that?

[AA @ Apr 4th 2007 1:41AM]

Saw the TDM-IP1 in the latest issue of Sony's PULSE catalogue-here in Australia it's $249-and only has the DMPort for products like the DAV-HDX series for instance .

Apple's docks sells for less than that and it's not comparable.

[dorghus @ Apr 4th 2007 1:49AM]

This thing looks like an old IBM Selectric.

[Eric @ Apr 4th 2007 10:02AM]

I have an Apple Universal Dock sitting right next to me that I paid $39 for. All you need to connect to the TV is $10 worth of S-Video and audio cables.

The $99 kit includes:
Univeral Dock ($39 value)
iPod AV Cable ($19 value)
Apple Remote ($29 value)
USB Power Adapter ($29 value)
Dock Connector-USB Cable ($19 value)

That's about $140 worth of stuff- everything you need to connect your iPod to your TV, charge it, and have a remote control.

[Rick Lyon @ Apr 4th 2007 10:49AM]

Must have been a difficult product to make. They are basically admitting their MP3 players are failures and producing products to the player they tried to kill.

Sony doesn't make great products across the board, that's blind ignorant faith. Most of the earlier LCDs have in-correctable red push. Their 5.1 amps rated at 100w only output 20w per channel when using all 5.1 channels! THey were affected by the blown bulbbs int heir LCDs and they made exploding batteries, their car audio line is a joke. Their current HDTVs are much better but marked up at a ridiculous premium. BRD players are retarded-ly expensive, the PS3 is about to become a past it's time product, over priced and under featured with no games to play. Too much proprietary crap with Sony prevents them from really meshing with other techs and products, so, it's buy all their stuff, or buy competing products from everyone else which are usually much cheaper for the same performance.

And Engadget bashes Sony? Ah yea, they deserve it sometimes.