Kicker iK500 Transforms your iPod into the Incredible Hulk!

It seems that everyone has iPods now. When I was a kid, it was the Sony Walkman which played Cassettes! Back in that day, if you wanted your sound to boom, you just took your cassette out of your Sony Walkman and popped it into a boom box or your home stereo systems tape player. Even when CD's came out the process was the same.

A brief history of MP3s

Along came the MP3, and the way music was listened to and even acquired underwent a radical change. In many ways MP3s were easier. Kids who didn't grow up on album rock could just buy the individual songs they wanted all in digital.

Apple's iPod made sure that MP3's were everywhere. Yet, something was missing. It was hard to share your tunes with friends with the iPod. To get sound out to more than just headphones, you had to plug it into your computer and use your computer speakers. Eventually small portable speaker sets came along that iPods could be played over, but the music still sounded a bit tinny and unimpressive.

Finally some companies have come out with iPod Docks that truly unleash the songs trapped in your iPod. The Kicker iK500 is one such system.

What is the Kicker iK500 iPod Speaker System?

The easiest way for me to describe the Kicker iK500 is that it is a boom box for your iPod. If your iPod was Bill Bixby, the Kicker transforms it into the Incredible Hulk. It is incredibly simple to use, just plug the Kicker in, and place your iPod right onto the docking station in the front middle of the Kicker. The computer like slot accepts most iPods, and my iPod Nano plugged right in. One big knob above surrounded by a blue ring of light turns the machine on and adjusts the volume, bass and treble.

You can select your songs via your iPod, or easier yet, use the credit card size remote control to navigate through your song list.

The unit is easy enough to carry and it has a built in handle. In front are two medium sized speakers with 5" woofer/midranges and small tweeters. On the back is a six inch square reflex subwoofer to assist with deep bass response.

The PROS

Sound I have to hand it to Kicker, this produces a nice clear sound from MP3s that has full sounding bass. For clarity, I listened to some YES music. Steve Howe's complex acoustic guitar solos sounded clear and natural on the Kicker. For low bass and volume, I tried out Metallica's ..and Justice for All. Bass was rich and powerful, and the Kicker did not crack under the drumming of Lars Urich or the heavy power chords of Kirk Hammett. To complete testing, I scrolled through to some Eric Clapton. The rich blues tone of his Fender Stratocaster was pure and smooth.

In short, I was very impressed with the way this Kicker delivers music from the iPod. It really does sound impressive.

I read the specs for the Kicker, it delivers 20 watts a channel with less than 1% Total Harmonic Distortion. For a boom box sized system 40 watts is more than enough to deliver great sound even at fairly high volumes. My ears easily confirmed the specs! From blues, to progressive to heavy metal, the Kicker rocks!

Portability This unit is about ten pounds or so, its easy to carry. All you need is an electrical outlet to plug it in, and you are good to go.

Functionality This has analog inputs for another source and 1/8 mini jacks for additional plug ins such as portable CD players. The remote or the Big Single Button also allow you to adjust bass and treble. This unit even RECHARGES your iPod!

The CONS

Read Out At age 43, I still have excellent vision and don't require any eyeglasses. I loved the feature of the credit card sized remote that comes with the Kicker. However, the read out on the menu isn't on the display screen of the Kicker. The Kicker's display only shows volume or bass/treble adjustments, it does not show your music menu. You still have to be able to read your iPod Menu to scroll through your music menu. Although the remote easily selects a song from across the room, you still have to stand pretty close to the iPod to read the menu. From a distance, only functions like On off or volume adjustment are useful.

What .. no Batteries? Maybe this is an unfair complaint, because when I was a kid and had a boom box, the thing would eat through 8 D cell batteries in an afternoon at the beach. However, the sound on this was so good, that I would really love to bring it with me when I go to the beach or the basketball court. However, unless I get a really long extension cord that can't happen.

Stereo Separation Because of the basic design of this unit, stereo separation is rather poor. Since the left and right speaker are literally only a few inches from each other, you don't get a real sense of stereo.

Summary

My minor complaints aside, the most important quality of an audio product is the sound quality. I was amazed by the sound that this bookshelf speaker size iPod Dock delivered. Deep bass, no breakup, and clarity of sound even at loud volumes makes the Kicker IK500 an idea companion for your iPod. I gave it four and a half stars, which I rounded up to 5.

Disclaimer I received this Kicker iK500 free of charge from Grossman Public Relations in exchange for my fair and unbiased review of the product.