Ears-on with the Edifier iF500 iPod dock

I typically don't even try keeping up with the dozens and dozens of iPod docks that come out each year, but when I laid my eyes on the 18-inch-tall, all-in-one Edifier iF500, I just had to give it a listen.

Be warned: with a lofty retail price of $249, the iF500 ain't cheap, so if you're looking for bargains, look elsewhere. But if you're on the prowl for an iPod dock with punchy sound and eye-catching looks, this is it.

The 2.1 sound system packs five drivers (including a five-inch subwoofer) into its single, shell-shaped speaker, with an iPod/iPhone dock connector (adapters for a variety of models and generations come in the box) and LED volume and function controls embedded in the base. There's also a 3.5mm jack in the back for plugging in an auxiliary audio source, like a non-iPod MP3 player or a DVD deck. (Cables with stereo RCA-style connectors are also included.)

Setup is as simple as can be: Just plug the iF500 into an AC outlet, attach your iPhone or iPod, and crank the volume. There's also an FM receiver with 18 presets and a remote that lets you pause or skip tunes, change the FM station, or tweak the bass and treble settings.

Now, I'm no audiophile, but I was pretty happy with the Edifier iF500's warm, detailed sound. The deep, dark strains of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" packed plenty of punch, with impressive stereo separation despite the Edifier's single-speaker design. (The iF500 doesn't bother with phony simulated-surround modes, which is fine by me.) The tight, high-end beeps and blips on Gary Numan's "Metal" contrasted nicely with the crisp, spacious drums and cymbals, while the luscious strings and bright, brassy horns on Antonin Dvorak's Slavonic Dances sounded, well ... warm, luscious, bright and brassy, as they should. Oh, and cranking the volume on the iF500 was no problem. Just ask my neighbors.

Of course, sound is only half the deal with the Edifier. With its killer looks, the iF500 is one dock that you don't want to stuff in the corner; even its domed, high-gloss back, complete with a small glowing circle in the center, looks great.

That leaves us with the $249 price tag (or $178 on Amazon, for now)—steep if you're looking for the cheapest iPod dock you can find, but pretty reasonable if you're in the market for a system that actually puts out decent sound.

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