Review: Denon ASD-3W iPod Dock peripheral

While some people know that an iPod can quite easily be hooked up to an audio system using a single cable, the player can also be quickly added to a hi-fi using a docking station.

The ASD-3W is such a docking station but it goes one step further, allowing complete control of the contents of the iPod using a television screen and the supplied remote control.

You are able to browse the entire music and video collection on the iPod from the comfort of an armchair and play it all back in full-screen, surround sound glory on a home cinema system.

The dock's Wifi capability adds several useful features. It makes it possible to browse and play music from a PC in another room. Once we had selected our wireless network connection from the on-screen menu we had access to internet radio stations and podcasts from around the world, all logically and effectively organised by country, type and genre. If you don't have a wireless network, the dock can also be connected to the internet using a standard network cable.

The ASD-3W is substantially chunkier than the standard Apple iPod dock and is circular in shape with a built-in remote control slot, all of which point to its extra features. The glossy black or white plastic finish lends it a premium feel and matches the iPod well. As we would expect from a high-end audio manufacturer such as Denon, the supplied cables are gold-plated to improve sound quality.

We were not disappointed with any aspect of the dock's performance. Browsing and accessing a vast iPod music library of over 5,500 tracks posed it no difficulty. The device's menus were instantly responsive and the small, logically designed remote control allows access to every function with ease. Sound quality from most of the internet radio stations we tried was excellent - comparable to a strong FM signal with a notable absence of the long pauses usually associated with internet broadcasts.

The ASD-3W is an accomplished, complete way to fully integrate an iPod into a home audio setup, and its extra features are genuinely useful, making it worth the asking price.

Vista compatible: Yes