Can anyone recommend a (non-iPod) MP3 dock/speaker thingy?

[VoziKaoFangio]

I am a dedicated Apple refusnik, and use a Nokia N8 phone for my music playing needs. I would like to get a dock/speaker system which has an aux-in input so that I can connect this phone to it. This will be for use in my dining room to give background music (so not a main hi-fi for the house), but I would like the unit to have reasonable ability so I can turn it up a bit louder on lads' nights.

Ideally it would be something which will be compact and neat/modern looking, no permanent digital display showing the time on it (this discounts most units with built in Radio, which I don't want or need on this device), which won't leave me with an ugly, empty, redundant sticky-out connector place to balance an over priced, over rated and overly fashionable Apple device on it.

Budget will ideally be under £100 as I'm asking Father Christmas for this item.

I can't seem to find much which fits the bill.

Any recommendations?

[StuH]

VoziKaoFangio said:

I am a dedicated Apple refusnik, and use a Nokia N8 phone for my music playing needs. I would like to get a dock/speaker system which has an aux-in input so that I can connect this phone to it. This will be for use in my dining room to give background music (so not a main hi-fi for the house), but I would like the unit to have reasonable ability so I can turn it up a bit louder on lads' nights.

Ideally it would be something which will be compact and neat/modern looking, no permanent digital display showing the time on it (this discounts most units with built in Radio, which I don't want or need on this device), which won't leave me with an ugly, empty, redundant sticky-out connector place to balance an over priced, over rated and overly fashionable Apple device on it.

Budget will ideally be under £100 as I'm asking Father Christmas for this item.

I can't seem to find much which fits the bill.

Any recommendations?

The iDeck 100 (or 200) at Richer Sounds offer superb sound quality for the money and have an aux input. You'd have to put up with an iPod dock - useless for non iPhone luddites - But handy if one your mates with better taste in gear pitches up.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/ipod-iphone-sp...

[VoziKaoFangio]

Right kind of thing, StuH, but it will look a bit of a lemon without the iPod mounted on it. Which I'm trying to avoid as Mrs Voz is somewhat sensitive to aesthetics.

[arun1uk]

Get this:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/3129...

Don't even bother looking at the rest. For this price, it's actually unbeatable. Sound quality is amazing (Q-Acoustics tech), build is solid and it looks quite nice too. Think they do a white version as well...

Bluetooth and 3.5mm aux in for other devices, so you can use you Nokia just fine.

[VoziKaoFangio]

Thanks, arun, I'm sure it's an excellent unit, but again it's going to look crap without an iPthing in it. The fact it would sit there empty forever, with a big hole that would never get used, would drive me to distraction. I'm after something which will look neat and won't constantly be screaming "Put a flipping iPain in me!".

[StuH]

arun1uk said:

Get this:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/3129...

Don't even bother looking at the rest. For this price, it's actually unbeatable. Sound quality is amazing (Q-Acoustics tech), build is solid and it looks quite nice too. Think they do a white version as well...

Bluetooth and 3.5mm aux in for other devices, so you can use you Nokia just fine.

I like Q Acoustics but that's not at the same level of quality as the iDeck and it's got the dock which the OP is averse to (or at least his Mrs is )

[StuH]

VoziKaoFangio said:

Right kind of thing, StuH, but it will look a bit of a lemon without the iPod mounted on it. Which I'm trying to avoid as Mrs Voz is somewhat sensitive to aesthetics.

What about the Jawbone Jambox if you can increase your budget a little?

https://jawbone.com/speakers/jambox/overview

[N Dentressangle]

I've got a similar requirement, wanting something which will run off a Lumia 800 and with no interest in inferior Apple nonsense.

How about a basic micro hifi system like this one:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/3168...

As long as it has some kind of aux input (which that one does, on the front) it should fit the bill nicely. No?

[VoziKaoFangio]

StuH said:

What about the Jawbone Jambox if you can increase your budget a little?

https://jawbone.com/speakers/jambox/overview

Ooo, that's nice. Price is in dollars though, are they available in the UK?

[StuH]

VoziKaoFangio said:

Ooo, that's nice. Price is in dollars though, are they available in the UK?

Yep. Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004L4EDGS/ref=...

[StuH]

N Dentressangle said:

I've got a similar requirement, wanting something which will run off a Lumia 800 and with no interest in inferior Apple nonsense.

How about a basic micro hifi system like this one:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/3168...

As long as it has some kind of aux input (which that one does, on the front) it should fit the bill nicely. No?

Lol - Because that PoS is going to sound better than a direct digital signal into the DAC of an iDeck

If you want to go the mini-system route at lease pick a decent one.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hifi-syst...

[phil_cardiff]

StuH said:

N Dentressangle said:

I've got a similar requirement, wanting something which will run off a Lumia 800 and with no interest in inferior Apple nonsense.

How about a basic micro hifi system like this one:

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/-/3168...

As long as it has some kind of aux input (which that one does, on the front) it should fit the bill nicely. No?

Lol - Because that PoS is going to sound better than a direct digital signal into the DAC of an iDeck

If you want to go the mini-system route at lease pick a decent one.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/mini-hifi-syst...

I've often found that speakers increase my enjoyment of a music system...

[VoziKaoFangio]

Mini Hi-FI with external speakers will have Mrs Voz clutching at her heart as it goes into arrest. The aesthetics/size of this thing are as important as the sound quality. Remember, I'm just looking for something discreet, which can give background music for a dining room, I'm not after the Last Word in sound quality.

The Jawbox Jambone (or wotevs it's called) looks the winner at the moment, but with slight reservations about ugliness. Something sleeker, which looks like it's come out of the FT Weekend's "How To Spend It" magazine (without the dizzying price tag), would be more the thing.

[StuH]

There's the Braven - along similar lines to the Jawbone.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Braven-600-Portable-Wirele...

I thought my other half was tough to please on getting gadgets in the house!

Philips unit is quite stylish?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Fidelio-AD7000W-So...

[VoziKaoFangio]

StuH said:

Philips unit is quite stylish?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Fidelio-AD7000W-So...

We have a winner. Thank you.

[StuH]

VoziKaoFangio said:

StuH said:

Philips unit is quite stylish?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Fidelio-AD7000W-So...

We have a winner. Thank you.

Cool. I've seen them in John Lewis so you can take the Mrs for a look if need be

[VoziKaoFangio]

StuH said:

VoziKaoFangio said:

StuH said:

Philips unit is quite stylish?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Fidelio-AD7000W-So...

We have a winner. Thank you.

Cool. I've seen them in John Lewis so you can take the Mrs for a look if need be

Good this, isn't it? She asks me what I want for Christmas, I tell her, she says "OK, but so long as I like it enough". Mental thread candidate?