Review: Intempo iDS-02 iPod speaker system

Making your mark on the over-saturated iPod accessory market is tough unless you've got an innovative or eye-catching product.

Intempo's iDS-02B may not be that groundbreaking but it will certainly turn heads.

Shaped like a bowling ball, it has two curved speakers positioned on the front with a subwoofer at the back. All three hide behind a black cloth that wraps around the unit.

On the top of the iDS-02B is a docking port that supports four types of iPod (Nano, 20GB, 40GB, Mini). Individual dock cradles are supplied and there's a dust guard that can be used when an iPod isn't connected.

Having the dock on top means you have a front-on view of the iPod screen, which is handy if you're sitting close to the iDS-02B. However, walk a few feet away and the iPod screen becomes hard to read, especially when using the Nano.

The annoyance of not being able to read the display is tempered by the fact that the only options the remote control allows are to change volume, bass and treble settings, pausing and skipping to the next track.

Sound quality is very good and, while it suffers slight crunching and distortion at high volumes, it generally maintains a good balance of sound. The ability to adjust bass and treble is a boon too.

The two 7.5W speakers and 15W subwoofer aren't powerful enough to host a party, but for the kitchen, bedroom or study space it creates an impressive, immersive sound, especially considering its small size.

It's mains powered and will charge any docked iPod; both Firewire and mini USB ports for transferring music from a computer are also available. However, only a USB cable is supplied in the package. A line-in socket lets you hook up non-iPod music sources.

As an iPod speaker system for a small room, the iDS-02 is a great-looking device that performs well acoustically.

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