Event Coverage

HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2012: Editor's Choice - Part 1

By Team HardwareZone - 29 Feb 2012

Best Speaker Docking System

Best Speaker Docking System

With the Apple juggernaut showing no signs of slowing down, the portable music player market was dominated once again by the iPod and the iPhone. Audio device manufacturers realizing the preferences of the public released a slew of speaker docking systems to enhance the audio performance of these devices.

Though docking stations for the iPhone and iPod come in a variety of shapes, sizes and prices, we restricted ourselves to contenders that can be labeled as mid-range sound docks and cost around S$500 to S$600. The devices must also feature a physical cradle or connector so as to allow connection with your iOS device. Provision of AirPlay or wireless connectivity was a bonus but not essential for being considered in this year's Tech Awards.

Nominees:

  • Geneva GSS Model S
  • iHome IW1
  • Philips Fidelio Primo DS9/10
  • Yamaha TSX-140

And the Winner Is...

The Philips Fidelio Primo DS9/10 is our best speaker docking system. 

A speaker docking system's primary function is to deliver quality audio. On this count, the Philips Fidelio Primo DS9/10 cannot be faulted. Regardless of the genre or type of music we threw at it, the Fidelio Primo DS9/10 consistently impressed us with its warm, natural tone, precise bass and attention to detail. For its category, the docking station also displayed an impressively wide soundstage.Great performance coupled with its wood grain finish make it a device we would be easily willing to display proudly in our home. Though the DS9/10 might lack features, it still has its own unique selling point in the form of docking compatibility with the iPad. Once its price was also taken into consideration, declaring the Philips Fidelio Primo DS9/10 the winner of this year's Tech Awards was a relatively easy decision.

Scoring Breakdown
Criteria/Model Philips Fidelio Primo DS9/10 Yamaha TSX-140 Geneva GSS Model S iHome IW1
Design 9.5 8.5 8.0 7.5
Features 7.5 8.5 8.0 8.5
Performance 9.5 8.5 8.5 7.0
Value 9.0 7.5 7.5 8.0
Overall 9.0 8.5 8.0 7.5
Price S$459 S$639 S$599 S$599

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.

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