iLive cranks out iT188B iPod speaker bar

iPod surround bars are nothing new, but iLive's hoping to catch a few eyes that normally gloss over these type things by blessing its iT188B with an oh-so-attractive $99 price tag. This iteration sports "dual built-in subwoofers," an AM / FM radio, obligatory iPod dock and an on board clock to boot. It also comes bundled with a remote control and an auxiliary input to complement the twin video inputs, video output and subwoofer out for connecting an external thumper. As you'd expect, this one's built for use underneath a flat-panel HDTV, but it shouldn't have any problems perched up on a countertop, either. You already know how badly this one's gonna hurt your wallet, but at least you've got until April to save up.

[Ken @ Jan 28th 2008 9:53AM]

I believe I speak for all consumers when asking for an end to all products, services, and logos that are titled with a lower case vowel in front.

[Consumer @ Jan 28th 2008 10:10AM]

All consumers?

I'm a consumer who buys quite a lot... and I don't really care whether or not a product begins with a lower case letter.

I think/hope consumers should be bright enough to figure out whether a product is good or not regardless of its name.

[Chebwa @ Jan 28th 2008 10:13AM]

iAgree

[Tim Brown @ Jan 28th 2008 10:23AM]

aye aye

[Mobius_1 @ Jan 28th 2008 10:53AM]

Well it is getting annoying, but i guess it is a good way of showing it's something to do with Apple and iPods

[nd @ Jan 28th 2008 10:12AM]

"This iteration sports "dual built-in subwoofers" (yet strangely remains a 2.1 system)"


Not strange- it simply means that the sound info is being processed as 3 channels- a left, a right and a subwoofer. Also, it is likely powered by 3 amplifiers in the same configuration. If it had a separate left and right woofer channel, it would be a 2.2 system.

This is important to do with bass channels because they can easily cancel each other out if out of sync with each other, so the processors combine the information onto 1 sub-frequency channel and send that info to all woofers.

Now the real question...can this thing really produce low enough sound to warrant such a set up? Oh well...

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 28th 2008 10:25AM]

I'm getting kind of annoyed by all these proprietary docking station/stereo systems. I mean, once the player its made for is upgraded or revised, its obselete, and you're pretty much just wasting your money. Maybe if they had a removable dock that could be switched and replaced for newer more current media players as they are released?

There are many people getting raped by these products, I feel.

[nd @ Jan 28th 2008 10:32AM]

I dunno- I used to think the same thing, but I've had my 5G video iPod for over 2 years now. I don't have a ton of proprietary accessories, but I did buy th NHT flat panel speaker dock (on woot for $35 :-p). I have gotten so much use out of it in my kitchen that I would not feel even the slightest bit bad about no longer being able to use it when I decide to someday upgrade players.

However,I guess I'm not the guy that had a $150 iPod alarm clock, $300 iPod speaker system, $200 home theater iPod integration, $400 iPod car stereo....so maybe I'm not the type of person that this comment is targeted at :-p

This speaker bar is kind of cool tho- serves its purpose of upgrading your flat panel sound quality, while adding the iPod dock, and when your iPod dies close the iPod dock and keep using it as a flat panel speaker! Plus, $99 aint bad...assuming it actually sounds better than the speakers in the TV!

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 28th 2008 10:43AM]

I don't know... It just seems like such a rip off. I mean if you can get good use out of it, and its worth your money in your eyes, then go for it, but I don't see spending 150-200 bucks on a new speaker set for every new generation iPod you buy as being a very worthy investment, and there are people that buy every new generation iPod, just to have something new, so I suppose you could make the argument that they could easily spend that money on a new speaker/docking set as well...

Its just whatever to me... I feel its a waste.

[T-Bone @ Jan 28th 2008 1:56PM]

I didn't realize Apple changes the Dock connector with every new iPod product. It must be a fluke that my 1st generation Nano works in my iPhone dock AND my iPhone works in every docking station I've plugged it into.

[tpp @ Jan 28th 2008 10:51AM]

My, my, what big you have.

That thing MUST be compensating for something.

[ben @ Jan 28th 2008 2:19PM]

I want a good, portable, speaker for my ipod. I dont need a proprietary connection, but I dont mind one either. Any advice?

[CaptSaltyJack @ Jan 28th 2008 2:24PM]

Altec Lansing iM600. I bought one myself, works great, pretty good sound too, and it's very portable. Grab it for about $115 at Amazon.

[shoeshine @ Jan 29th 2008 2:24AM]

Huh, this is a maybe for me. My ipod speaker is starting to die out, and I'm getting a flat panel HDTV next month, so this could match with that pretty well. Of course, then I can't get a 5.1 bar because it'll look too weird.

[captain planet @ Jan 29th 2008 1:53PM]

I have untill april to save up $99 dollars? how is that even possible to do????