Best Docking Station for Android Phones?

[TRB]

Was in Currys (or similar, one of those retail park type places) and nosing at the docking stations. I have a 4g Galaxy S3 thing (not that I pay for 4g) and was pleasantly surprised by the number of android docking stations.

Saw the Sonos which looks decent, but most work with Bluetooth these days which would do me and, on the little Philips one I tried (£80ish), sounded ok (for a 10w speaker).

Wanted to try the Bose one with bluetooth but had no power adaptor (yes I asked). I previously had the Bose Sounddock and it was faulty on arrival, then got it replaced, then broke the circuit board the receiver thing sits on - bought a 3rd-party replacement circuit board which has subsequently broken as well - BUT the sound was good.

I like the idea of the Bose soundlink as can run for approx 8 hours on batteries and, being an events person, could be handy during set-up and breakdown - while still keeping my phone on me.

BUT... I appreciate the range in store may be limited. Anyone got any good suggestions for android docking stations? I'd happily spend £50 if there was something decent for that money, or will spend up to around £200 (soundlink was £220 in store).

Edited by TRB on Sunday 23 December 16:59

[Teddye4687]

TRB said:

Was in Currys (or similar, one of those retail park type places) and nosing at the docking stations. I have a 4g Galaxy S3 thing (not that I pay for 4g) and was pleasantly surprised by the number of android docking stations.

Saw the Sonos which looks decent, but most work with Bluetooth these days which would do me and, on the little Philips one I tried (£80ish), sounded ok (for a 10w speaker).

Wanted to try the Bose one with bluetooth but had no power adaptor (yes I asked). I previously had the Bose Sounddock and it was faulty on arrival, then got it replaced, then broke the circuit board the receiver thing sits on - bought a 3rd-party replacement circuit board which has subsequently broken as well - BUT the sound was good.

I like the idea of the Bose soundlink as can run for approx 8 hours on batteries and, being an events person, could be handy during set-up and breakdown - while still keeping my phone on me.

BUT... I appreciate the range in store may be limited. Anyone got any good suggestions for android docking stations? I'd happily spend £50 if there was something decent for that money, or will spend up to around £200 (soundlink was £220 in store).

Edited by TRB on Sunday 23 December 16:59

I've just ordered a Bluetooth adapter for my bose sounddock 2 (smaller than a usb stick which sits on the apple 30pin fitment), I'll let you know how I get on with it when it arrives. I like the idea of not having to dock it. 10m range which is sufficient

[scottri]

Teddye4687 said:

I've just ordered a Bluetooth adapter for my bose sounddock 2 (smaller than a usb stick which sits on the apple 30pin fitment), I'll let you know how I get on with it when it arrives. I like the idea of not having to dock it. 10m range which is sufficient

Have you got a link for that please? Sounds good.

[TheHeretic]

Just remember that Bluetooth could munch your battery fairly quick.

[Richyvrlimited]

I think this is stunning in piano black.

http://www.whathifi.com/review/samsung-da-e750

I have a FatMan valve dock, but it has an Apple interface so no good for you, but I love it

Edited by Richyvrlimited on Sunday 23 December 22:48

[ZesPak]

TheHeretic said:

Just remember that Bluetooth could munch your battery fairly quick.

Hmm, for audio-only (A2DP) I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I use it daily on my bike (helmet headset, about 2 hours/day) to play my music library and it drains just about 7%/hour on my SGS2.

[TRB]

Richyvrlimited said:

I think this is stunning in piano black.

http://www.whathifi.com/review/samsung-da-e750

I have a FatMan valve dock, but it has an Apple interface so no good for you, but I love it

Edited by Richyvrlimited on Sunday 23 December 22:48

Better not spend £600 on something the kids (or me) will break.

Those FatMan things look pretty funky!

[Teddye4687]

scottri said:

Have you got a link for that please? Sounds good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bose-SoundDock-Portable-Bluetooth-Wireless-30pin-Dock-Adapter-Kitsound-Dock-Air-/140882572865?pt=UK_MP3_Player_Accessories_AudioDocks_Speakers&hash=item20cd417641

Looks like I'll be getting it in the New Year then (cheers RM), if it can wait until then, I'll let you know how I get on as it might not even work!

Direct link, suggests its compatible but you never know

http://kitsound.co.uk/product/KSDKAIR/

Edited by Teddye4687 on Monday 24th December 18:05

[sgrimshaw]

I bought a Bose Soundlink speaker whilst working in th US.

It's heavier than you might expect, but the sound is amazing.

Bose do 30 day free trial, get them to send you one.

[sgrimshaw]

At the other end of the spectrum from the Bose, I picked up one of these for use with a Denon Mini Hi-Fi.

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/logitech-wireless-bl...

It's brilliant!

Great sound from iPod, iPad and HTC phone

[AudiSport]

I've got a KitSound BoomDoc. I paid less that one hundred pounds for it online and the sound is amazing. I've also got a Bose Doc too for comparison. The KS BoomDoc also has an alarm, radio and you can adjust the base and treble etc which is a nice touch too. KS also sell a product called DocAir which enables android or Apple users to operate the Dc remotely. Check out the reviews and awards its got, it's also just won this years Which? Best buy.

[Teddye4687]

Forgot to update this!

Bluetooth adapter works a treat, works for iPhone/iPad/Galaxy.