3. Performance Tests

Measured under our usual test conditions, the iPod Hi-Fi performed well. The midrange was a little out front, and the upper midrange showed a few spikes (invisible on our curve), but overall performance was very good for a system like this.

As for the bass, response went down to around 50 Hz after a bump at around 100 Hz - a classic technique for masking the thinner bass of small systems. On the other hand, we didn't find anything like the 108 dB SPL Apple claims. It's true that our measurement is of continuous equivalent Leq level over 10 seconds, and not of peak value. In absolute terms, it's a satisfactory output level, but much less powerful than what multimedia systems available for a fraction of the price of the iPod Hi-Fi.

Maximum output: 99.3 dB SPL

The iPod hi-fi emphasized the midrange, which is clearly forward.

Bass reproduction hasn't been forgotten. The iPod hi-fi covered the lower frequencies well for a unit this size, though obviously the sub-bass was attenuated.

The iPod Hi-Fii was fairly impressive at first. Apple has managed to put fairly decent sound in this (relatively) small package. The midrange was powerful and cranked out decibels without harshness, which is a strong point in its favor. On the other hand, the upper part of the spectrum alternated - depending on what we were asking it to reproduce - between no reproduction at all and a fairly violent assault on the ears. Better performance than this can be found. It's not impossible that the sound processing (for reproduction of the stereo effect) is partly responsible for this phenomenon. The bass was fairly good, keeping in mind that the woofer is only 5" (13 cm) in diameter. Apple is obviously aware of its limited capabilities, since it seems to have used a fairly strong limiter - no matter how you set the equalization from the source, you won't be able to get stronger bass at higher volume levels. The downward extension of the bass response is also limited. The bass guitar's 40 Hz is just not there. So it's a question of balancing the unit's qualities and its limitations related to its small size and its design.

As for reproduction of the stereo image, Apple has obviously used sound processing to try to get the sound to extend beyond the limits of the box. Like all similar systems, such an approach works well with some types of music and much less well with others - and sometimes not at all. That means that possible reactions to the results will range from enthusiasm to sniggering... The system seems to work on phase and the reverberation existing in the original signal, but Apple's documentation is purely commercial, with no technical explanation. One thing is sure: This is not a "real" solution, but a compromise that you may or may not find acceptable. Whether you like it or not will depend on your ears and your demands.

The Bottom Line

As is often the case with Apple products, there's a good deal of debate over the iPod Hi-Fi. Obviously some people find it nirvana-inducing, while others consider it just another fashionable product with a high price tag that can be replaced by more traditional equipment at a much lower cost. In any case, for the price, you can certainly find better musical performance.

Pros

Design Ease of use Operates on batteries

Cons

Iffy stereo image Sound quality / price ratio