Sony hasn't made a splash with a high-end iPod dock thus far, but the new RDP-X500IP Personal Audio Docking System changes that. This $299.95 (direct) speaker dock looks and sounds great, considering its size and price. Whereas past Sony products, like the RDP-XF100iP?($249.95, 3.5 stars) suffered from bass distortion at high volumes, the RDP-X500IP pumps out tremendous, thunderous bass response that remains very clear. Sony has also emulated the competition's features; like Altec Lansing's Octiv 650 ($199.95, 4 stars), the system comes with a free alarm clock app for your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.? A couple of design flaws keep the RDP-X500IP from true greatness, but overall, this system delivers in the sound department.
Design and Features
Like two recent Editors' Choice speakers, the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air ($599.95, 4 stars) and the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker ($299.95, 4 stars), the RDP-X500IP is wearing the required speaker dock uniform?black cloth speaker grilles and silver-colored metallic accents. A rounded trapezoid,? the dock features a thin, stainless steel top panel that houses minimal controls: Power, Audio In (for switching audio sources), Play/Pause, and Volume Up/Down. Your iPad, Pod, or iPhone sits in a retractable tray, also stainless steel, emblazoned with the Sony logo.? When pressed, the tray extends from the base slowly and gracefully?it's just a little detail that clues you in that this speaker is well made. The back panel, also all black cloth, has a small connection area for the included power adapter, as well as a 3.5mm aux input for non-Apple sound sources.
By far the biggest shortcoming of the design, however, is the lack of a fully rubberized bottom. Instead, the RDP-X500IP has a tiny, round rubber feet. When you play a song with deep bass at high volumes, despite the fact that the system sounds fantastic, those feet will do some walking. On a glossy surface, the system might crash to the ground before your song is over. On a more coarse surface, like a weathered wood finish, the movement is less dramatic, but it's still a problem.
It's s a shame, because despite the lackluster remote and the stability problem, the RDP-X500IP is a good-looking, otherwise well-designed system that keeps things visually and functionally simple.
The first time you dock your iOS device, you're prompted to download the free app, D-Sappli. The simple app has four different clock screen styles to choose from, and very few settings: Music Play Timer, Sleep Timer, and Brightness control. That's all you need. Music Play Timer is basically just an alarm clock that lets you choose what song will play at what time, and when it will stop playing. The Sleep Timer is equally simplistic, but the free app is a nice touch that allows you to use the system as your main alarm clock while it charges your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.
Performance
In a frame that's smaller, the Sony packs enough power into the RDP-X500IP to compete with large iPod docks like the Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster ($449.95, 4 stars). It doesn't have quite the same heavy duty bass response you'll get with the Beatbox, but it does fill a room easily and would be ideal for parties?as long as you get the movement problem under control. On The Knife's "Silent Shout"?our deep bass test track, the RDP-X500IP had no issues with distortion, even at maximum volume. In fact, it sounded great?and loud enough that I was worried about annoying the neighbors. It's not all about low-end and volume, however. John Adams's "Short Ride in a Fast Machine" sounds bright and full at both moderate and high volumes. The bass performance does pleasantly enhance the massive drum hits on that track, but this is a system that doesn't ignore the midrange frequencies, which makes brass and orchestral instruments sound more powerful and present. Rock, pop, hip-hop, and acoustic music all sound exciting on the RDP-X500IP; This could easily be your primary home audio system, though using it for television might be less rewarding because of the lack of wide stereo separation.
The RDP-X500IP packs more power and bass response than the Bose SoundLink Wireless Mobile Speaker, but the Bose dock has the advantage of being both wireless and portable. Other recent offerings in the wireless realm include the iHome iW1 ($299.99, 3.5 stars), a system that costs as much as the RDP-X500IP, but trades in the stellar audio quality of the Sony system for wireless Apple AirPlay functionality. The most impressive comparison is to the much larger, much-more-expensive $600 Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air, which is yet another AirPlay dock but also features a docking arm. The Zeppelin Air offers better overall sonic performance, with a more nuanced low-frequency response, but given the high price difference, that's expected. The surprise is that the RDP-X500IP can even compete with far more expensive docks like Zeppelin Air and the Beatbox. For significantly less than both systems, it's worth your attention if you want to save some money without sacrificing power and bass response. Just be prepared to rig the system so it doesn't bounce off its perch. That detrimental design problem prevents this Sony speaker system from winning our Editors' Choice?just barely.
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