Griffin's Evolve wireless iPod speakers start shipping

We first saw Griffin's Evolve wireless iPod speakers way back in January at CES, and it looks like they're finally shipping. The detachable speakers each contain a battery with enough juice to last 10 hours, and the Evolve base can charge both the speaker cubes and a docked iPod. Apparently Best Buy is getting the exclusive here -- the system costs $299 at ol' Blue, but those of you morally opposed to bricks and mortar can cough up an extra $50 and buy direct from Griffin for $350.

[Via Macworld]

[mushrooshi @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:30PM]

Paris Hilton: Thats Hot.

[John @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:34PM]

is it possible to have the speakers be externally powered, so you don't have to recharge them?

[madmax @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:54PM]

do they work with the iPhone? please say yes

[Haxxy @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:21PM]

I don't think so. The iPhone doesn't support stereo Bluetooth.

[JackOLantern @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:33AM]

What does stereo bluetooth have to to with these speakers?? - iPods dont support stereo bluetooth either and they work

[Cagrino @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:07PM]

It looks like crap.

[Reader @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:20PM]

That's probably the only iPod dock I have ever looked at and though it was a good idea. If it was cheaper (and I had an iPod, not a Gigabeat) I would consider buying it.

[Quinn English @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:09PM]

Can you buy additional speakers and get a surround sound going?

[PK @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:15PM]

iLounge just posted their in-depth review and gave it an "A-", but didn't mention anything about iPhone functionality.

More here:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/ipod/review/griffin-evolve-wireless-sound-system-for-ipod/

[max andrews @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:44AM]

The actual speaker drivers they use cost less than $7.50 a pop, meaning with a few hours worth of your time and about 40 bucks you can build something that sounds exactly as good (or bad). http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=297-428

[equalizer @ Oct 23rd 2007 12:52AM]

All these custom/foripodonly docks are ridiculous...give me an optical in: coaxial or toslink. If ipod doesn't have this jack...then too bad.

I buy an amplification/speaker system to actually amplify a line level signal...not be a cutesy holder for proprietary devices...

[Marino @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:23AM]

1. Looks like crap
2. The base station transmitter needs to be plugged to AC power
3. When are they going to get it through their thick skulls that "portable" should not mean "from the living room to the kitchen" it should mean:
- walk with it down the street
- strap it on your bike
- take it to the park
- take it on a hike

In other words it should be one piece, scratch resistant, with a handle.
Long and skinny instead of square and boxy.

The boomtube would almost do the job except when you assemble it as one piece the speakers face each other inside instead of outside.

[Kizorblade @ Oct 23rd 2007 3:52AM]

@Marino:
"1. Looks like crap
2. The base station transmitter needs to be plugged to AC power
3. When are they going to get it through their thick skulls that "portable" should not mean "from the living room to the kitchen" it should mean:
- walk with it down the street
- strap it on your bike
- take it to the park
- take it on a hike"

1) Your opinion. I like it though.
2) You need to plug it into something? Like every other electronic gadget?
3) Portable - Sure. It can't be moved around that far. But it's getting there!

[that_guy @ Oct 24th 2007 9:48PM]

Are you kidding pal?

You want an optical connection to play... mp3!!! Yeah, give me that crystal clean audiophile quality of heavily compressed audio. I want it in it's full unadulterated high fidelity.

Yep, you my friend are a douchebag.

[Galley @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:38AM]

You can use a $99 AirPort Express to stream your lossless audio files to your home theater, and yes, it has an optical output.

[equalizer @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:29PM]

Providing optical input/output is like

[equalizer @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:37PM]

@that_gal: Great first post! You obviously will be a great contributor to engadget community. Believe it or not you fit in perfectly.

[equalizer @ Oct 23rd 2007 1:30PM]

less than $10.

Does your mommy know your using her computer?

[that_guy @ Oct 26th 2007 9:50PM]

Oh, you got me there!

I don't mind if you want to insult me but please could you at least be relevant and/or funny?

I must agree you can get such great quality optical connections for $10, top of the line obviously at that price point. Definitely worth it to keep the signal to noise ratio down on route to those $7.50 speaker drivers....

My original point:

Don't be a snob about audio gear. (particularly if you don't know what you're talking about) I have some very high quality equipment at my house but what is any of it worth if the original source (or any step in the chain really) is of a lower quality?

I work in pro audio, but when it comes to consumer gear, I love the convenience of an iPod dock connection.

Yes ladies and gentleman, eq is still a douchebag :)

[equalizer @ Oct 25th 2007 5:03AM]

A d-bag because I want my equipment to be as versatile as possible? Guilty as charged. As soon as your ipod battery dies and you find the newest model has a different jack you'll be talking a different story. Do you understand standards at all and the value they offer? Guess not.

Believe it or not...unlike you I don't go to Engadget for humor...I prefer Comedy Central/etc. for these sorts of things.

What amazes me is the # of dolts/trolls (yourself included) that pollute what is otherwise an excellent source of information on the web.

Only a fool would think that adding digital inputs in a mass-marketed product would add more than a few dollars to the cost...learn economy of scale man. But when you get into high school I'm sure you'll find out soon enough.

Too many trolls...not enough time...sigh.

[that_guy @ Oct 29th 2007 12:37AM]

You're right, this is a great place for gadget enthusiasts to learn about bleeding edge technology and the latest in consumer electronics.

My point is not whether it is financially feasible to put in an optical input/output . I just can't see why you would want to do that. You will not gain any sonic advantages on a consumer device at this price point, particularly with portable mp3 devices (iPod or not) that hold highly compressed mp3 audio.

My original goal was to scold you for being a snob, for confusing others who come here for well informed opinion (god help us all!) You need to compare apples with apples (no iPod pun intended) and realize that although you might prefer high end audiophile equipment in your home, for most of us there is plenty of room for portable products at differing ends of the scale.

As for your views and opinions (assumptions) about my age background and motivations... it would appear that perhaps you are the troll.... no?

In regards to the douche bag comment... you are correct that is off topic and irrelevant to my point. Perhaps childish?

No I don't take it back either :-p

[Dean @ Oct 26th 2007 9:43AM]

Got one last night- they work great. I used them with my iPhone, and while not rated for use with the iPhone, once hooked up, no feedback or interference sounds. Also hooked up to my Airport Express for a test run- worked great.