The Kicker IK500 really does kick!

I’ve been enthusiastic about popular music since the late fifties and I grew up listening to the Carter Family, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, and Sam Cooke. I don’t have an iPod - I have an Insignia Sport 2GB Video MP3 Player, so when I was offered the opportunity to try the Kicker IK500 Powered iPod speaker system I asked a guitarist friend who has a 30GB video iPod if we could use his Apple MP3 player to check out this new product. He agreed to help me assess the performance of the IK500 and pointed out that since he has more than twenty years of experience playing music that his aural acuity was probably superior to mine, anyway.

Functionality, Design, Construction, & Ergonomics

The Kicker IK500 is a powered auxiliary speaker system and charging dock for iPod MP3 players - there is also a Zune Kicker (ZK500) for Microsoft fans. The IK500 is attractive in basic black with a futuristic "industro-chic" sloping front look that would be right at home in the bat cave. My wife was impressed that the top of the unit is much narrower than the base of the unit – "…so nobody is going to be setting (and then spilling) a drink on top of the Kicker".

The Kicker’s construction is robust (heavy duty plastic) and its fit and finish are consistently first rate. Front and center is the player slot - where the iPod goes – any and all iPods (the Kicker also works with Apple’s iPhone) via a selection of (included) adapters matched to specific iPod models. The controls are limited to a single push/twist type button that turns the Kicker on/off and adjusts Volume, Treble, and Bass - the iK500's LCD screen is easy to read. More complex functions specific to the iPod are controlled via the Kicker’s tiny remote control. The IK500’s super thin credit card sized remote provides full entrée to the menus and all operations normally conducted with the iPod’s dedicated on-board controls - so you don't have to touch the iPod once you've slotted it into the iK500. The iK500 features an auxiliary input (for connecting other audio devices) and an RCA (stereo) output.

The iK500 features a rather unique angled (sloping) face that directs the sound toward the listening area with better accuracy and that results in an increase in the direct-to-reverberant sound ratio, reduced sidewall reflection, and a noticeably cleaner and smoother mid-level response. The offset tweeters deliver relatively distortion free high frequency output (even at relatively high volume levels) and the sturdy woofers exhibit very precise roll-off and radiation performance. Even though the speakers are very close to each other the iK500’s innovative design provides very good separation. The mirror image slope at the rear of this wedge shaped unit provides for vibration free omni-directional bass from the Kicker's passive radiator. There is a built-in carrying handle to facilitate portability, but no batteries – so you can’t take the iK500 to the beach or on camping trips.

Set-Up

Set-up is dead easy – simply slot an iPod into the charging cradle, plug the unit in (after assembling the two-part power cord) and push the single button on the unit’s face to turn it on. Kicker recommends turning off the iPod's built-in equalizer before playing any tunes through the iK500.

Technical Specifications

Speaker Design - 2-way
Woofer - 5 in/127mm
Tweeter - 3/4in/20mm
Square Reflex Passive Radiator 6 in/152mm x 6 in/152mm
Frequency Response - 50hz-20khz
Output Power - 20 watts x2
Dimensions - 8.5 in/216mm x 19.2 in/488mm x 8.4 in/214mm
Weight - 9.2 lbs/4.2 kg
MSRP - $349.95

Performance

Assessing speaker performance can be a very difficult and challenging experience, since the criteria for what constitutes excellent audio is actually fairly subjective. I’ve found that the best way, for me, is to audition the speakers by listening to several of my favorite tunes and my friend agreed that assessing speaker performance by listening to long time favorite tunes was the surest test. We listened to a combination playlist that consisted of some his favorites and some of mine including - Ry Cooder’s "Bop ‘til you Drop", Paul Carrack’s "When we’re hungry love will keep us alive", Chris Isaak’s "Somebody’s Crying", the RHCP’s "Snow", Matchbox Twenty’s "Mad Season", Delbert McClinton’s "Everytime I roll the dice", and Texas’ "You can say what you want".

Sound quality was noticeably better than expected – equal to or superior to the iK500’s competition. Higher frequencies have a slightly brittle and just barely tinny tonality. Mid-range frequencies are reproduced very nicely. In the bass range - the iK500’s car audio pedigree is clearly evident – bass is slightly heavy and even a bit boomy at times. The iK500 delivers smooth crisp transitions and the overall listening impression is one of very good aural imaging with clean precise highs, a very vibrant mid-range, and somewhat over solid bass. I didn't turn the iK500's volume up too high - I don't really like my music loud, but at the highest output level I tried (about 1/2 power) there was no distortion at all.

Conclusion

Many consumers regard the iPod as the pinnacle of portable audio design - that truly rare product that perfectly balances form and function. If the iPod is the ultimate portable audio device, the Kicker Audio IK500 Powered iPod Speaker System is the perfect match for Apple’s innovative and ultra-modern MP3 player. Once you get home, simply remove your iPod from your shirt pocket and plug it into the iK500 and your little Apple MP3 player converts seamlessly into the heart and soul of a credible and capable home audio system. I’ve heard several other powered iPod speaker systems and the iK500 simply stands head and shoulders above all of them.

Disclosure: I received the Kicker IK500 Powered iPod Speaker System from SCC Grossman (a public relations firm) in return for providing a fair and objective Epinions.com review.