Philips DS3205 Docking Speakers - Return of the Dock?

Are Docks Dead?

Looking back, the introduction of the iconic iPhone that led the smartphone revolution and its apps ecosystem, coupled with the evolving and expanding iPod range of products meant that an Apple device was the masses' choice for a portable music player. And it has been a very decent choice for most people as far as sound quality and audio reproduction is concerned from a mobile device. Add to this, Apple has also persisted in maintaining that classic Apple 30-pin connector throughout various product iterations. All these factors combined with the stable connectivity choice meant an explosion of 'iDevice' supported audio peripherals such as speakers and docks of all sizes, shapes and colors. Many of them even focused their attention on making the best docking speakers possible for Apple products.

In more recent times, the landscape is very different. Android powered phones came to the fore to give the iPhone a strong challenge in the smartphone realm. The micro-USB connection used ubiquitously by Android devices meant that pure iPod docks would alienate a large and growing audience who're not on the Apple camp. This fact, coupled with Apple’s decision to implement the new "Lightning connector" with the iPhone 5 meant that a lot of speaker manufacturers have switched to using Bluetooth to provide wireless connectivity. Sure Bluetooth is a lossy transmission format, but it allowed the audio manufacturers to sell speakers which were compatible with both Android-based and Apple devices via the A2DP profile without concerns of their physical connection options.

Since there is still no reliable way to transmit audio over micro-USB, Android users will have to be content with using line-in via 3.5mm port for playback or be satisfied with lossy, wireless transmission through Bluetooth. But with the launch of the iPhone 5 and the coming of the Lightning connector, some audio dock vendors decided to revisit the concept of an Apple dock. The Philips DS3205 is one of the first docks for the iPhone 5 to enter in the market and we take a closer look at it in this review.

Hardware and Design

The Philips DS3205 comes with a Lightning connector and hence is compatible with Apple’s iPhone 5, seventh generation iPod Nano and the fifth generation iPod Touch. The product comes with a 3.5mm port for line-in connectivity which means other devices such as Android phones or notebooks can also be used as the content source. Important to note, this docking speaker has no wireless playback capabilities.

The speakers themselves follow the classic Philips design evidenced with the Fidelio range of products. You will find a recessed center, backward slant and a curved back. The front of the speakers is covered with a cloth grill, while the back panels are glossy and black. If you put the DS3205 face down, it resembles an upturned bowl. While there is nothing eye catching about the design, we were put off slightly by the fact that the glossy rear of the speakers was prone to finger prints and smudges.

In terms of hardware the Philips DS3205 is specified as a stereo sound system, which suggests the presence of two drivers. While the size of the drivers is not given, it is specified that they use neodymium magnets for operation. The speakers are capable of delivering a total of 10W RMS power output. From the size and the specifications, it seems like the Philips DS3205 is meant for a personal listening experience. It has the capability to fill a small to medium sized room with audio easily but may struggle to deliver ample volume for larger spaces. We will definitely gauge its volume capabilities in our testing section on the following page.

Philips has equipped their speakers to be portable to a certain degree. The device does not weigh much, just 1.1kg, and is capable of operating on four AA batteries for up to eight hours. We would have preferred a built-in, rechargeable lithium ion battery but regular cells do have their advantages as well. Besides being easily purchasable and available, they are a more cost-conscious design aspect to implement.

MP3 Performance

As evidenced in the picture below, we tested out the Philips DS3205 with our standard MP3 tracks loaded onto a 7th generation iPod Nano. Since the speaker dock possess a Lightning connector dock, we plugged our player directly. The choice of MP3 tracks also mirrors the intended, to address common everyday usage of the masses that the device was targeted at.

Starting off with Melt My Heart To Stone by Adele, first impressions of the DS3205 were not stellar. The audio from the speakers sounded middling and decidedly average. The warmth of the tone, especially when focusing on the reverb organ used in the track, was missing. Neither are the trebles especially bright or clear. In fact when Adele proceeded into her high vocal register, slight distortion from the speakers was audible even though we had the volume level set to 50 percent.

Moving on to Sail On Soothsayer, we found the distortion to be too loose and undefined. Proper control over the levels of guitar distortion is essential for the enjoyment of this instrumental piece from Buckethead and it was unfortunately missing in this play. On the bright side, the DS3205 was able to deliver the sharp attack of the chiming guitar notes which helped bring forth the aggressive nature of the composition. However, we were left wanting more clarity from the trebles which sounded slightly clipped in our opinion.

To check out the low frequency performance of the DS3205 we played Elements of Life by Tiesto. Philips has equipped their speakers with Dynamic Bass Boost software which is intended to help emphasize bass content of music across the entire volume range. In practice though, the little speakers try their best to deliver the deepest lows but fall short. The bass notes are buried in the mix and can only be heard when specific attention is paid to look out for them. The algorithm trickery of Philips’ Dynamic Bass Boost seems unable to overcome the inherent restrictions placed on sound output by the choice of the DS3205’s hardware and its small stature.

The last stop on our MP3 Test Suite was Hotel California by The Eagles. This song served as a good way to figure out the overall sound quality of the DS3205. Once again trebles sounded clipped and the mids lacked the vibrancy required. Transient response was also subpar as the bongos and alternate percussion instruments sounded far from life-like. While the speakers may promise stereo sound, this live rendition was delivered with strong central projection.

It is safe to say that the Philips DS3205 is not targeted at audiophiles. But our harsh critique is based on our exacting standards. From a regular user’s point of view there are quite a few things the speakers get right. Volume levels are quite good considering the 10W power output of the device. And as long as the track is not extremely taxing, a category within which most popular songs fall, the DS3205 does an acceptable job of reproducing the mix.

Final Thoughts

The Philips DS3205 speakers are a perfect illustration of how the docking station has fallen from its heydays. Philips’ own docking speaker range was once exemplified by the Fidelio DS9/10. Priced close to the S$500 mark, it was intended to be a premium product which was meant to take center stage in your living area and home. Compared to that, the Philips DS3205 is a much more affordable product costing only S$219. Its small stature and portability also indicate that it is targeted at a more niche market, such as those who want an easy charging and audio playback option on their bedside table.

Keeping in mind of its price point, the Philips DS3205 will actually be going head to head against several other wireless, portable Bluetooth speakers in the market that are priced in the same S$150 to S$250 bracket. Many of these are slickly designed wireless speakers that come with all the bells and whistles such as companion apps and may even offer the latest features such as NFC pairing. Add in the convenience of wireless playback and compatibility with all sorts of devices and you get a very potent, attractive mix. Unfortunately, the Philips DS3205 isn't a wireless speaker and is squarely a docking speaker.

However, docking stations offer a completely different proposition. They bring charging and lossless transmission of audio to the table. It goes without saying that the Philips DS3205 provides these same features. But when compared to its Bluetooth counterparts, the DS3205 loses out on portability and convenience. With regards to performance, even though the DS3205 is not the best sounding docking station, we would still give it a slight edge over the lossy Bluetooth wireless speakers in the same price range on the market. Choosing an ideal device is then only possible if you can narrow down your desired features.

As stated in our performance section, the Philips DS3205 will not please any audiophiles. And for the S$219 it is commanding, there are other avenues for ardent music lovers to spend their well-earned dough (such as the newly launched Bose Companion 2 SIII Speakers). The DS3205 is essentially targeting consumers who would want a convenient table-top or bed-side audio dock solution that can also charge your Lightning connector equipped device. However, do note that we've noticed online feedback that devices with certain covers (the thicker ones) might face some difficulty in getting a good contact with the docking connector. As such, we highly recommend trying it at a store front before parting with your cash.

If you expect speakers of better audio capabilities, or provide hassle-free wireless playback, then there are other options in the market (and at different price points too).

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