Great Sound Comes in Small Packages

This Bose SoundDock was not the first sound system I purchased for my Ipod but it will be the last.

I wanted something for my office that would allow me to fill my office with sufficient sound to enjoy (and to provide some sound masking) but not overwhelm my neighbors with heavy bass.

I was delighted with the clean look and the solid feel of the unit, once I unpacked it. It also comes with a remote, so I could put it on a shelf across the room and control it from my desk. Very handy, and very nice, considering it sounds better within a 10 foot space than it does right on your desk.

Having the unit charge my Ipod is a plus, so worrying about the Ipod running low while it's playing is not an issue.

But what really got me was the rich, full sound. I've had many office stereo systems over the years that don't sound nearly as good. It's hard to believe this is just a single unit, similar to the 'boombox' styles we had years ago. The sound is wonderful, with great highs and impressive bass, even without any type of subwoofer.

Fortunately, the sound fills my office nicely, with little overflow to the adjoining rooms. We are an 'open door' set of offices, so this is important to me. In the past, I've been able to hear my coworker typing quite clearly on quiet days, so sound masking is a priority. This does the trick. She can hear my music, but only if she listens, allowing us both to feel as if we have some privacy.

Setup was extremely easy--just plug it in and place your Ipod in the slot. Bose was smart enough to include multiple little plastic inserts so that your Ipod can stand more securely, depending on which unit you own. (We had a similarly styled unit in my daughter's room but never used the inserts. Though it was not a Bose, we learned why it's important to use the inserts. After a few months of play, the unit became 'wiggly' inside and started to short out. Use the inserts, even if you don't think you need them.)

The only thing I felt that could be improved upon would be an extra measure of portability. If I could plug batteries in it and use it elsewhere once in a while, or if I could actually tune in radio stations, that would have made it complete.

Overall, this is an outstanding upscale unit for the price. Don't worry about getting your money's worth out of Bose. I have several of their products and have yet to be anything but delighted!