MP3 speaker docks: How to buy an MP3 speaker dock

Test potential docks for portability

How portable is it? 

If you plan on buying a speaker dock to take travelling, or plan on lugging it around the house or down the garden, it is worth making a quick portability assessment.

Many of the docks that we test may be OK for use in different rooms round the house, but are far too heavy and cumbersome to be carried around when travelling.

Models with a battery option and a mains power option are clearly more versatile.

Check your MP3 player compatibility

Virtually all the speaker docks we tested (and available on the high street) are primarily designed for use with Apple's ubiquitous iPod. 

Many come with numerous adaptors to ensure they are compatible with older models but it’s worth checking in store whether your model actually fits, especially if it’s not one of the latest generation.

It should say on the packaging of the accessory which players they will work with. But beware, iPod compatible gadgets often work with most of the iPod stable (Classic, Touch and Nano) but not the Shuffle.

Owners of alternative branded MP3 players don't despair. Most speaker docks designed for use with iPods will work with any MP3 player. But instead of nestling neatly in the specially designed dock they are typically connected via a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Mini hi-fi systems offer superior sound

Consider using a hi-fi

If you want a speaker dock to use in the house, most of us have a much cheaper and higher quality alternative already sitting in the front room. 

Any half decent hi-fi system with a pair of average bookshelf speakers will deliver considerably better sound quality than a typical speaker dock.

For around £10, you can buy a cable that connects the headphones socket on the player to an input socket, usually the aux socket, on your home hi-fi system. 

On the downside, a hi-fi is not a compact or portable option, and there’s little chance of being able to use the remote control to access the iPod menu system.

Check the Which? reviews of micro hi-fi systems to see which ones will best do justice to your music collection.

Buying online

You'll find that many MP3 player accessories are only available online. You can search for the best prices using our compare MP3 speaker docks tool.

When shopping online, you have from the day you order until seven working days from the day after you receive goods to change your mind and return them. 

For more on your online shopping rights, see our guide to online shopping problems.