MP3 speaker dock reviews: Features explained
Some docks connect to a PC with USB
USB connection
You can connect some speaker docks to a computer using either a USB or, less commonly, a Firewire connection. This useful feature allows easy connection of the iPod to a desktop computer or laptop for updating music content without disconnecting it from the speaker dock.
A Firewire connection will transfer music to your MP3 player at about twice the speed of a standard USB connection. However, the newer USB 2.0 standard is almost the same speed as the far less common Firewire connection.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth uses radio frequencies to transmit information, and it works if the compatible devices are within around 10 metres of each other, though they don’t have to be in line of sight. The latest version of Bluetooth – also known as A2DP – can transfer stereo music files between two compatible devices.
3.5mm mini-jack
This audio line-in, found on most speaker docks, allows connection of any type of portable audio device.
Some docks loop video output through to a TV
Video output
If the speaker dock features a video output then any video content on your iPod could be looped through and viewed on a TV or monitor.
Magnetic shielding
Most speaker docks have magnetic shielding. If placed too close to a traditional TV, models without magnetic shielding can distort the picture.
Hi-fi cables
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.
MP3 player
Generic name for a portable audio device that can play back compressed digital audio files that are downloaded from a PC.
The Apple iPod Classic plays video
MP4 player
An MP3 player that features a colour screen and the ability to playback video formats. Most speaker docks are primarily designed to work with the most famous and best-selling MP4 player, Apple’s ubiquitous iPod.
MP3 player memory
MP3 players store songs, video and photos on an internal memory – much like a computer’s hard drive. There are two types: hard-disk and solid state.
Hard-disk models tend to have bigger memory capacities, allowing you to store more audio files, but also making the player bulkier and heavier.
Solid state (or flash memory) devices are typically smaller and lighter, but have smaller memory sizes.
GB (gigabytes)
This is a unit of measurement for memory size. 1GB is equivalent to 1,000MB. A typical pop audio track uses about 4.5MB of memory, so 1GB can store around 220 songs, which is equal to about 20 music albums.
Audio formats
Confusingly, digital music is available in different formats. MP3 is simply the best known and most flexible. You can play MP3 files on most players, and copy MP3 files as many times as you like.
Other formats include AAC from Apple, WMA from Microsoft, and Flac and Ogg, which are free, ‘open’ formats.
Video formats
Like audio files, video files are available in different formats. The most common are DivX, Xvid, Mpeg WMV and the newer H.264, all of which are usually labelled with the generic term MP4.