Would you like to find out what those-in-the-know have to say about Audio Speaker System for iPod ? The information in the article below comes straight from well-informed experts with special knowledge about Audio Speaker System for iPod .50% Off** Today!
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Chestnut Hill Sound CHS40001 Speaker System for iPod
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Buy.com price: $249.99
List price: $499.99
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Product summary
The good: High-end iPod speaker system/radio; detachable front panel that doubles as an advanced iPod remote; remote has a range of 25 feet; RF Zigbee transmission eliminates line-of-sight limitations; rich, detailed sound; relatively sleek design; upgradeable firmware; AM/FM clock radio with dual alarms and 24 presets; interchangeable side panels and speaker grilles; includes separate remote charger.
The bad: It's expensive, there's no video output, and it doesn't handle heavy bass all that well.
The bottom line: In addition to its upgradeablility and customizable colors, the George sets itself apart from other upscale iPod tabletop radios with a unique and useful visual wireless remote.
One of the major drawbacks of most home iPod speaker systems is that the remote control that comes with the unit offers only limited control of your iPod. You stick the iPod in the speaker's dock and you can do little more than skip forward and back through tracks (and possibly playlists), raise and lower the volume, and pause and play audio. If you're lucky, the speaker has a display that's big enough for you to be able see what track is playing from more than a few feet away. Most don't, as they rely on the iPod's screen to display the relevant track and navigation info. Which brings us to George, the high-end iPod music system from start-up Chestnut Hill Sound. The George solves the interface problem in much the same way that Sonos does for media-streaming devices: it builds a remote into the system that essentially mirrors the display of the iPod. But the smart usability solution will cost you a pretty penny--the George retails for $500. That's a lot, to be sure, but--when you consider that it now includes the once optional external remote charger--it represents $100 savings off the George's original list price.
The Apple interface isn't the only thing that Chestnut Hill emulates. Like Sonos, the company's packaging is very iPod-like, so you feel as if you could be opening an Apple product--or at least a close cousin of one (the Apple iPod Hi-Fi comes to mind). Cosmetically speaking, George's appearance is pretty polished. Weighing 10 pounds and measuring 4.5x14.1x8.6 inches (HWD), it's slightly bigger than your average table-top radio and features removable speaker grilles, as well as interchangeable side panels that allow you to customize the look of your unit. The company says it will begin offering different "skins" (in cherry, walnut, or black oak) in October for around $99 each. Colorful speaker grilles will also be available for $29.
Like many iPod music systems, there's a dock built into the top of the unit that recharges your iPod when it's inserted (and George is plugged in). The system comes with the typical assortment of plastic sleeves or universal adapters that are designed to make your particular iPod model fit snugly in the dock. But what's unusual about the George is that the dock module itself is removable, and Chestnut Hill has said that it will eventually offer an optional HD Radio module that includes a new iPod dock and a small accessory that will clip onto the back of the unit. It's unclear how much the new module will cost, but it appears it'll be easy enough to install. And the modular design also opens the way to other expansion possibilities in the future.
The remote
George has a few additional features that set it apart from other iPod speaker systems. The standout feature, of course, is the detachable front panel that doubles as the aforementioned advanced iPod remote. The screen isn't color and a rubberized knob substitutes for a touch pad scroll-wheel. But in most other respects, the remote does a fine job of emulating the iPod experience, even if the remote does feel a little big in your hand in comparison to an iPod.
Initially, the only trouble we had was raising and lowering the volume while navigating through the remote's menu system. Since the knob controls both navigation and volume just like an iPod's scroll-wheel, you have to either wait for the menu to toggle back to the track that's playing or remember to press and hold the menu button to get to back to the home screen (the clock). After consulting the company's Web site, we also discovered you can shorten the time it takes for the system to "time-out" to the play screen if no buttons are pressed.
The remote uses the Zigbee communications standard to communicate with the main unit from as far as 25 feet away. Because Zigbee is RF-based (radio frequency), there's no line of sight required as there would be with a standard infrared remote. We didn't experience any problems with the remote--it uses the same crowded 2.4GHz frequency range shared by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices as well as many cordless phones--but you can change "channels" if you find that something is interfering with the remote's signal. The remote's removable lithium-ion battery recharges when you have the remote docked in the main unit, or in the included outboard recharging stand. (The system comes with an extra grill piece that covers the space where the remote normally sits when docked.) When updating the system's firmware, you do, however, have to dock the remote in the main unit because the firmware needs to be applied to both the main unit and the remote. It's also worth noting that, depending on the number of songs you have stored in your iPod, it can take more than a minute for your iPod to initially sync with the remote. The good news is that the system remembers or caches your iPod's contents, so it doesn't have to completely resync everything each time you dock your iPod. However, if you dock a friend's iPod, you'll have to resync your iPod the next time you place it in the dock.
Product Summary
Manufacturer: Chestnut Hill
Mfg Part#: CHS40001
UPC: 00898420001031
Buy.com Sku: 210251970
Item#: E4K6KJ
Buy.com Sales Rank: 19
REMOTE
Office Productivity
# Keep GEORGE in the office and create a soundtrack to your workday from the comfort of your desk. Ease into the morning with some classical tracks from your iPod, catch up on sports radio over lunch, then pump up the volume with some rock and roll to get you through that late afternoon slump. All without having to leave your seat.
Sacrifice nothing
# All of GEORGE’s functions are controlled from the remote, meaning you can set an alarm, pick a song, or turn on the radio within a thirty-foot radius of the base unit. Great for desktop or bedside control, GEORGE fits anywhere.
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Feel the difference
# All of the critical controls on GEORGE are distinct in feel and location, optimized for ergonomics as well as function. Spend a few minutes with it and you’ll feel as if you’ve had it for years, it’s that intuitive. Click here for a demonstration.
A sight for sore eyes
# The iPod has a great display for the palm of your hand. However, when you’re across the room relaxing that display is little more than a nightlight. GEORGE’s remote uses a high-resolution, backlit graphic display so you can see every preset, every song title, everything you need to maximize your listening experience.
iPod
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Out with the old...
# With other iPod speaker systems you're forced to use the iPod itself to pick a song. You’ll do as much walking as listening, unless you're satisfied with hitting “next track” a few hundred times.
In with the new
# GEORGE’s remote reconnects you to your iPod, giving you full access to your music library. Navigate your music library as if your iPod was in the palm of your hand.
Built for speed
# Searching for that perfect song? Only GEORGE has Jump Buttons, a short cut to any letter of the alphabet, ideal for navigating small to medium sized music libraries. For larger libraries, GEORGE lets you search by spelling the title of that artist, album, or song.
Hey DJ!
# Show off your mixing skills using GEORGE’s Jukebox feature, take requests and build a playlist, without ever leaving the party.
RADIO
BANDLESS™ and Boundless
# With the worlds only BANDLESS tuning system, GEORGE has no AM/FM button. Spin the knob from FM to AM and back again.
Mix and Match
# With 24 presets spread across four pages, you can mix your AM and FM presets and organize them by interest or genre.
Presets that work, period
# Every radio has presets, but who remembers which one is 101.7? GEORGE’s presets are self-labeling, meaning you’ll never have to guess again.
RDS Technology
# GEORGE comes equipped with the Radio Data System, so now you can see artist and show information when tuned in to participating stations.
SOUND
Five speakers, one outcome, brilliant sound
# Most tabletop systems deliver audio through a single set of small-sized speakers, resulting in artificial high notes and muddy bass. GEORGE uses coaxial (2-way) speakers that outperform highly equalized single cone speaker designs, resulting in greater detail and accuracy. These stereo coaxial speakers are paired with a dedicated down-firing 4” subwoofer that is optimized for low frequency reproduction without excessive EQ or resonant ducts. The five speaker system is then bi-amplified for tonal balance.
True to life sound reproduction
# Voiced by audio professionals to more closely approximate the way music was originally recorded, GEORGE emulates the multi-amped 2.1 systems that are now used to make professional recordings. The bottom line: your music sounds more like the way the artist intended.
Location, Location, Location
# Optimum position for listening is in front of the speakers, not next to them. As such, we offer the Charging Stand (3.75” x 4.4” x 2.6”) for GEORGE’s remote, allowing you to place the speakers anywhere in the room that sounds the best while keeping full control of GEORGE at arms reach.
Size Matters
# Great sound doesn’t come from full-range 1" and 2" speakers, nor does it come from small boxes. GEORGE’s size (14.25” x 5” x 8.6”) was determined as much by its internal components as acoustic optimization. Giving the speakers room to breathe is what gives GEORGE the ‘big system’ sound in a compact tabletop size.
ALARMS
Music in the morning, no queuing required
# Pick the perfect song from your library to get going in the morning and let GEORGE do the rest. GEORGE is the only iPod music system on the market smart enough to actually find your selection on the iPod, regardless of what you last listened to.
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At arms reach
# Resting in the charging stand, you can keep GEORGE’s remote on your bedside table while the speakers stay across the room where they sound best. Since the remote gives full control of the system in a footprint the size of a deck of cards, it’s essentially the smallest and most powerful alarm clock your nightstand will ever see.
Plan ahead
# Does your wake up schedule vary from day to day? GEORGE is up to the task. Program the alarms to go off only on the days you need them. Staying away from that snooze button is another issue all together.
Some like it loud, some like it louder
# Separate source and volume settings for each alarm ensure you wake up on the right side of the bed. With visual confirmation, headphone bypass, and independent system volume, GEORGE is smart enough to overcome common user errors. Time to come up with some new excuses for being late.
Tech Specs
- Total System Power: 45 Watts
- RMS System Power: 20 Watts
- Frequency Response: 60 - 20K
- Total Harmonic Distortion: 1%
- Signal to Noise Ratio: 80db
- Speaker Driver Size: 3" coaxial with center; mounted 1" domed tweeter
- Subwoofer Driver Size: 4" down firing
- Video Shielded Speakers: Yes
- Tuner Type: Digital AM/FM with BANDLESS tuning
- Station Presents: 24
- Remote Type: 2.4 Ghz RF with 240 x 128 pixel monochrome display
- Audio Controls: Bass/Treble Control, Rear panel sub-level control
- Inputs: Aux in, USB (Software Updates), F-Connector FM antenna, AM antenna
- Outputs: Pre-out, Headphone out
This article's coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.
50% Off** Today!
FREE BUDGET SHIPPING
Top Seller
Chestnut Hill Sound CHS40001 Speaker System for iPod
Ships from and Sold by Buy.com Marketplace
Buy.com price: $249.99
List price: $499.99
50% Off** Today! + FREE BUDGET SHIPPING on the Chestnut Hill Sound Speaker System for iPod
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