Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers high-end Bluetooth music streaming for your phone

It's not every day our interest is piqued by an iPhone / iPod speaker dock, but when the folks at Audyssey told us they were entering the space with their new South of Market Edition, our ears perked up. You're probably familiar with Audyssey if you're into home theater at all -- the company's automatic EQ system is in all sorts of receivers -- and the SOM dock promises the same sort of tuned audio performance you'd expect from the company. It also offers a little twist: you can pair your phone or computer via Bluetooth for both streaming music and making speakerphone calls with the built-in mic. Neat -- although at $399 it's definitely pricey.

We spent a few minutes playing with a review sample, and it certainly does what's promised, although we were told our voices sounded quite muddled when we made a speakerphone call. Music-wise, the SOM gets quite loud and the two large bass drivers certainly offered plenty of punch; audio quality over Bluetooth was definitely passable, and we managed a pretty respectable 30-foot line-of-sight range when streaming music, although plugging directly in definitely improved the sound. Of course, spending $399 on a Bluetooth speaker dock for your iPhone right now when AirPlay-compatible devices are right around the corner definitely seems like a bad idea, but if you're just looking for an attractive and great-sounding speaker dock to charge your iPhone in the office and you can swing the price, the SOM is well worth a look. More images in the gallery and PR after the break.

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Audyssey Introduces New Premium iPhone Audio Dock

The Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition Leverages the Company's Audio Expertise for an Unparalleled Sound Experience

LOS ANGELES, CA – (Marketwire – September 15, 2010) – Audyssey, a leader in audio
technology for the home, automotive and theater markets, today introduced the Audyssey
Audio Dock: South of Market Edition. The dock represents a breakthrough in the design of
audio products by using Audyssey's expertise in combining digital signal processing and
electro-acoustic design for a truly innovative listening experience.

"We have a passion for great sound and innovation-it is our foundation," said Neal Osterhaus,
Audyssey's COO. "The Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition looks amazing,
complements today's mobile lifestyle and sets the bar for audio performance. This showcase of
our technologies is a great thing for us, the consumer and our partners."

UnDock
The Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition offers Bluetooth connectivity, enabling
audio streaming not just from the iPhone, but from any Bluetooth-enabled device.
Microphones mounted in the front and back turn any Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone into a
high-quality speakerphone. Audyssey's expertise in software-based audio correction ensures
strikingly clear, noise-free phone calls. With the included remote control, calls can be
answered from across the room with just the push of a button.

Live + Work
One look at the audio dock sparks a conversation. At just five inches wide and nine inches
deep, the dock fits next to any laptop or desktop computer in the office or on any small table
in the home. This flexibility of placement is important, as many other docks in the market are
best suited for bookshelf use. This slender dock gives users the option of placing the unit
virtually anywhere in the home or office. It connects to any Mac or PC to stream audio, sync to
iTunes, charge the iPhone or iPod and make VoIP calls.

Listen Up
Audyssey's new audio dock is small in size but delivers amazing sound as a result of the
company's innovative audio technology. Nestled behind the grills are a pair of four-inch
woofers and a pair of 3⁄4-inch tweeters. The system is bi-amplified like a professional studio
monitor and the sound quality is delivered by five of Audyssey's proprietary technologies:
Audyssey Dynamic Voice, Audyssey EQ, Audyssey Dynamic EQ, Audyssey BassXT and
Audyssey Dynamic Volume. Audyssey's technologies work in concert to produce great-
sounding music and crystal-clear phone calls by overcoming the problems found in many
desktop devices.

Delivering Superior Sound through Software
Audyssey takes a software-based approach to improving sound. Based on a deep
understanding of psychoacoustics and years of research, Audyssey's proprietary software
solves a wide range of audio problems to deliver listening experiences that are virtually
identical to the mastered original. This software-based approach is something that sets
Audyssey apart from others in the audio space.

What's in a Name?
The audio dock's namesake is the South of Market area of San Francisco. South of Market
(SoMa) is home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, nightclubs, start-ups and artist lofts. The
neighborhood has a culture and a vibe all its own and it's evolved as a result of the people
who live and work in SoMa. The neighborhood is a great source of inspiration for our new
audio dock.

Pricing and Availability
The Audyssey Audio Dock: South of Market Edition will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of
this year and will have a street price of $399.