Bose SoundDock 10 weighs in with $599 of iPod amplification
By Paul Miller 
posted Sep 15th 2009 2:20PM
posted Sep 15th 2009 2:20PM
So Bose is back to the iPod dock scene a big way -- and we do mean big. The new SoundDock 10 weighs in at 19 pounds and measure 10-inches deep, leaving room for a good-sized woofer, 52-inches of winding, integrated waveguide channels and a pair of Bose "Twiddlers" up top. The Twiddlers are apparently a patented combination of highs and mids, and the new waveguide is an effort to shrink existing Bose tech down to size. The results are positively Bose-ey: not a precise or flat reproduction of music, but usually pretty pleasing to our untrained ears, with enough volume to fill a big room. The SoundDock 10 sounds "large" in some ways for its size, but at the same time you can still hear the limitations of the boxed-in form factor. Just as interesting is Bose's interchangeable dock: the standard iPhone / iPod dock can be switched out for a $149 A2DP Bluetooth receiver -- and docks supporting other audio players could be forthcoming based on market demand. The unit hits the streets on September 21 with a Bose-esque $599 pricetag. Check out a virtual teardown of the dock after the break.
Friends don't let friends buy Bose...
Seriously. Is this really "breaking" news?
i think i'd rather have the kicker dock...
http://www.kicker.com/iK501
it's half the price and more than likely sounds twice as good
ahh i still remember quote from Click
annoying kid: "My dad's car stereo's Bose!"
Sandler: "You dad's stereo blows? That's too bad!"
haha classic.. and so true
@dogears
Ever honourable enemies wouldn't allow their enemies to be humiliated such.
@elijahblake:
Completely agree, while I would prefer a separate dock n klipsh promedia setup, this IS a far better choice over anything Bose.
Well, there are few iPod docks out there that sound better. That's especially true for the SoundDock Portable.
How big was the check, Engadget? Inquiring minds want to know....
No highs and lows? It must be Bose!
All in all I think it looks better than most of the other alternatives, although the zeppelin looks quite stylish.
Oh my God, Bose hate! I totally didn't expect to see any of that! So hip and edgy!
Bose really knows their demographic. Don't think a $599 dock for anything but an Apple product would ever sell.
For 599 and Bose can't even put a visual remote? I imagine that it would look like the ipod interface so people could control their ipod in the intended way, instead of just going forward or backward.
F you all. None of you know sound. Bose is top notch and they know what they're doing.
That thing should had cost $60. Bose never release their specs try to avoid the shame.
I'm guessing somewhere like 20 full bandwidth Watts @ 0.04% THD.
Don't forget to mention their bandpass porting design and resonance that takes a LITERAL dump on the whatever it's playing. It is surprising they could get so much sound of these small devices, but when you lack lows and mids outside of the bandpass of the port design, its not the same song anymore that only idiots could love.
Is Harman Kardon the only widely available brand out there to follow the strict rule of full bandwidth at a low rated total harmonic distortion level? I know denon and yamaha do it for their receivers above $500.
Denon and Yamaha used to do it on all receivers. Sometimes (perhaps not in stores, but available online) they will list dual sets of specs, one at 1kHz with a high distortion and one full-bandwidth with low THD. At least I know Denon does this. However, still only H/K of this group rates with all channels driven - the others are only with one channel driven at either spec until ultra-high-level models.
I believe some Onkyo receivers are rated similarly to the better Denon or Yamahas, but I don't think they rate all channels driven either. Integra may be similar.
The best other brand I know of (other than really good equipment) that rates honestly like H/K is NAD and perhaps Marantz. There aren't exactly Best Buy fare, however.
Well... it looks like you get a little more for your money than you do when you buy $599 "reference interconnects" (gag)... but it's still overpriced.
Regardless if it's BOSE or not buying audio gear with proprietary inputs is never a good long term solution, and when it comes to buying audio gear, you want to think long term and pay some money up front. It's really the only technology that doesn't become obsolete in 6 months or even 50 years.
From what I could tell, it looks like it has a Bluetooth wireless connect to the dock. I'm assuming you could use any Bluetooth devices you want with it in the future. Lets be clear though, I would never advise anyone to buy a Bose product.
*facepalm* ...because Bluetooth is a great hi-fi audio delivery system...
It's still better to buy a regular Bose radio and connect the ipod with a 1/8th headphone to red and white component cables. At least then you can still play CDs from it if your mp3 player breaks.
There's a certain price point when it comes to sounddocks when I might as well purchase an actual stereo system instead. $600 is just too much.
Which is why they cleverly priced it exactly $1 under that.
I have a question that's only slightly related to this article. Since the ipod is located in front of the speakers, wouldn't it cause some damage if it's turned all the way up?
Not nearly as much damage as the wife will do once she finds out how much it cost!
@ Chad
I didn't know you knew my wife!
@murmerer
We all do.
why is this breaking?
This is a great solution for somebody that wants to pay $600 for speakers that sound worse than $50 speakers from any other manufacturer.
All Bose-bashing aside, would it kill these guys to put in an FM tuner? Every time I look at a decent dock/speaker system, it's iPod/iPhone only. Sometimes you want/need to hear the radio.
I've had this same thought -- is it so hard to have FM, internet radio, an ipod dock (if you're into that kind of thing), a full suite of inputs, and decent sound? >_
How about an HD radio? That would have set this apart. Better only make 4 of these units, who is going to pay $600 for a single use device that amplifies loss format mp3s?
Or just get a Zune HD and a nice 2.1 system and save $200+.
Before you buy this, just buy the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin for the same price instead.
Just do it. Do it.
DO IT.
I find it funny that this post gets a "Breaking" and "Featured" but the update to the B&W Zeppelin gets neither even though it is without a doubt the better iPod dock.
Its funny how many people think that a ipod is a hi-fi system.
Sorry but no.
exactly
You mean 256kbps isn't lossless audio?
The people that are going to buy this are the same guys that buy the Ram 3500 big horn edition, and they wonder why the pool boy comes over 3 times a week
Dear editors of Engadget, please recheck your source on this post. You state that this unit costs $599. Surely that must be incorrect. Sincerely, Galley
Bose blows.
What? Seriously, spend 600 DOLLARS on a decent pair of speaks and amplifier. Then buy a 20c phono cable.
Bose FAIL.
but, that would make sense and allow you to hook any device up to it from any era! How un-American. Of course a single-use device that is inferior in every way to your proposed idea is way cooler and hip. Fools and money.
I'm pracically a socilaist.
I'm British anyway, so I'm utterly un-Americn, damn rebels.
I knew you couldn't be from the good 'ole U.S. of A. and have insight/logic like that... well and the 20c reference. Sadly, I do reside here.
This news to be compared to the B&W Zeppelin ($599 also). That would be an article in which I would be interested.
Anyone who spends more than $100-200 tops to amplify a lossy format is a moron. "Man, you can really hear all the clipping and compression!" Awesome!
No Highs, No Lows, must be Bose....
Bose, Better Sound through Marketing
.
All it needs now is the addition of some monster cable products (maybe a surge protector?) to score the trifecta of overpriced and over-hyped consumer electronics.
.
i like these
http://www.audioengineusa.com/a5_home.php
$349 list price
.
They spend a lot of money on marketing. I have a QVC-a-holic friend who loves Bose, but he's obivously not much of an audio phile, those things just sound like crap, all of them, and yes you can get a comprible iPod dock for under $100. with remote.
any suggestions, then?
I'd prefer the B&W Zeppelin over this since it has most likely a better sound quality and build quality.
Bose:
Buy
Other
Sound
Equipment
Bose - Brings Out Suckers Egos
God, I'm so sick of Bose crap. Like those demos. Real-world performance is no where near the demo as those demos are specially engineered.
I love all the idiots who buy the Vizio TV then they have to get the Bose speakers. -facepalm-
I also love all the idiots who think Vizio is made by Sony or Samsung.
What was Bose thinking? They are marketing a system to the 90% of the population that aren't audiophiles. Silly Bose.
bose is absolutely insane... $600?!
No, the many people that buy Bose and make them hugely successful are insane.
It's not the BOSE customer's sanity that matters... Just the available credit on the Visa.
Is $600 dollars really that much to you? For what it's worth, this will probably cost the same times ten in Sweden, i.e. somewhere between $800 and $900 USD. The SoundDock Portable is $720 USD as of today.
A lot of money, for sure, but a lot of well-sounding product as well.
Bose has lost it. $149 for a bluetooth adapter ??!??
You can buy a bluetooth adapter that sits in any ipod dock (in lieu of ipod) for ~$30 or less. Heck, Sprint sells one called a "FIPO" for just $10 + shipping on their website and it works great.
$599.00 is that dollars or Francs? either way too expensive for my blood
Why don't you go and at least listen to one of these before you pass your judgment? Not all equipment sounds the same. Also, I would guess that it is considered "Breaking" because it was just announced. Just a thought.
So Bose has the balls to charge more than Bang & Olufsen? hahaha
If you're referring to the BeoSound 1... http://bit.ly/HDiCY Then price wise you are mistaken, 1,420 USDs my friend. Bose and B&O shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence. (I know I just broke that rule.) :P
So....
It does what now for $600?!
Bose Metal Cap?
Sold...
I've heard it and it sounds amazing. Way better than the Zeppelin (of which I own).
Yes you can get better sounds with separate speakers. But it's a f**king all in one unit you bufoons.
Seriously do not knock it until you hear it.
I bet it'll sound as muddy and bad as the other SoundDocks, which have Bose patented technology that turns multiple singers and instruments into one. Besides, for this price you could get a B&W Zeppelin.
600 + 200 for the speaker and iphone for a giant expensive 8gb music player? couldnt you get a decent or at least decent to normal people hifi for that amount? heck you could probably buy a budget HTIB setup and a netbook for similar pricing and it would do more than play music
I paid less than half that total cost for a Yamaha B-2 power amp and a pair of Bozak B-305s. Having $400 left over to spend on a source isn't too shabby...
Just $649. Audio with amazingly higher level of sound and functionality. And yes, it's a dock too.
Sony Muteki™ Hi-Fi Music System
Just $649. Audio with amazingly higher level of sound and functionality. And yes, it's a dock too.
Sony Muteki™ Hi-Fi Music System
No highs
No Lows
Must be Bose
Overpriced like the other Bose docks... maybe it sounds better? I personally took a liking to the Altec Lansing docks at 1/6 the price and with comparable quality (less volume, but better clarity... good for close range listening).
Bose is the Monster Cable of the loudspeaker world.
I may be one of the few but I actually really like my Apple HiFi. Great to bring on trips (but pushing the limit for plane travel- don't want to pay the new heavy bag fees) and it can fill a room with decent sound when you're in a rental house or your buddy who thinks a clock radio is s stereo...
However, good things don't last forever and eventually this thing will either break or have one too many beers spilled on it.
Any suggestions for a good sounding, sorta portable boombox that works with an iPhone or iPod? Come on now, favorites please!
I'll give it to em' in that it looks a bit sleek...B-U-T...NOTHING...NOT ONE PRODUCT will outdo my B&W Zeppelin...if any of you want anything that kicks absolute ass, buy that elongated lookin' football speaker...it soooo kicks anythings ass out there! IT IS THE BEST!!! I don't work for Bowers...buy the ZEPPELIN, people!!!
Mike
Triple double that - The B&W Zeppelin is the same price and is awesome. It is built like a tank, with real alloy tweeters, mids and a sub, DSP and 5 amps, an aluminum body, made by a great speaker company and looks to die for. Sounds bloody brilliant too, for $599 in one swooshy box.
http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2466
I haven't heard this Bose yet, but I've heard the others, know how they are made and its not even gonna be close. Oh yeah, does anyone over 13 years old actually bother with 128k music...? Really? It sound like caca.
Jesus you're a dumbfuck. You really think iPods all only have AAC protected files encoded at 128kbps on them?
Bose=overpriced
This blog post has more shithead commenters than the avarage Mac/Windows post.
While I enjoy the sound of Bose, I would recommend people read about the latest B&W iPod dock before adding the bose to their cart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPrGf3S7auY
I love that you can wrap your hand around the iPod while it's docked!
The B&W Zeppelin is MUCH better then this Bose Sound Dock 10 system. I just listened to it, and not too impressed for the $$.
I just sold my Bose Companion 5 on craigslist. I had enough of its overly bright & compressed sound.
It was impressive at first, not over time it gets very annoying.
The small mini speakers inside, simply 'do not' produce a mellow natural sound.
No real mid-range details.
So this new system is decent, but still have a 'bose type' of sound. For $600, the Zeppelin b l o w s it away.
It sounds like it should be 300-350 not the inflated price of $600 that it can not produce a great sonic quality.
I think u should just listen to the new B&W Zeppelin Mini first, before buying anything.
(comes out Nov 15th)
Think the Meridian is the best for $$$, but go with Bowers&Wilkins.
Bose spends millions on advertising.
But not millions to locate and hire top R&D people, to create the best sound for consumers.
It almost seemed to me when I had the Companion 5, that the digital amp inside and sub was quite decent, though not high end.
BUT that the heart of the system, the mini speakers were almost like toy speakers.