Intempo IDS-01 Speakers and Docking Station for iPod and Other MP3 Players - White

They're obviously built to a price - they do look and feel a bit cheap and plasticky - but with other similar speaker systems at £100 or more, it's easy to get past this, and the unit is well built and feels solid. The sound quality is excellent, especially when you consider how much they cost. There's no way to alter the EQ, but it gives a good mix of bass, treble etc and if necessary you can use the equaliser on your music device to fine-tune it to your tastes.

Intempo quite cleverly give you various slot-in inserts to cater for the various sizes and shapes present in the iPod family and, if like me you use a non-Apple music player (I use the Creative Zen Touch), they also give you a blanking insert which covers up the dock connector and allows you to stand the player in the middle, as you would with the Apple player. However, whereas the iPods would be held safely in place by the dock connector, the blanking plate doesn't provide any way of securing your player, and the smooth finish to the plastic means the slightest knock can send your device flying - my Zen nearly took a nosedive from the mantelpiece! However, this was easily solved by a glob of blue-tack on the back of the player.

Playback for non-iPod devices is achieved by the use of a simple, but rather inelegant (though still iPod white) connector lead which runs from the headphone output of the player to a socket at the back of the unit which, while compromising the look slightly, does the job nicely and ensures compatibility with any device with a standard headphone jack (CD players, radios, heck even a cassette player - remember those?). The volume is controlled by a couple of nifty touch-sensitive silver dots (one either side of where the iPod sits), though there is a little distortion and even some vibration at higher volumes, especially in bass-heavy songs.

All in all an excellent buy, and they will definitely be accompanying me on holiday next year. Their only real down point is the fact that they don't take batteries, otherwise they'd be coming to the festivals with me next summer as well!


Amazing piece of kit....   November 21, 2005
38 out of 38 found this review helpful

having recently purchased the i-station from a large major retailer, and at the time of purchase was assured that it was Nano compatable, also somewhat ripped off as it was £15 more expensive than Amazon. (last minute purchase meant there was no time to order from Amazon) Gave the gift only to find a very dissapointed teenage daughter upset that her new present did not work with her Nano, and with minimal instructions could not work it out, took the item back to the store. Went straight onto Amazon site and ordered the Intempo, this arrived in three days, fabulous, clear easy instructions and WOW what sound quality, very pleased, absolute bargain at 29-99. Now happy to say my teenage daughter is blasting out her tunes through her Nano and shortly I will be hard of hearing..... Thankyou Amazon you saved the day AGAIN...
If you are thinking of purchasing this, don't think about it do it, you won't be dissapointed.


Brilliant Speakers - not too loud!!!   May 13, 2006
Milli Longden
26 out of 26 found this review helpful

Just to start off, if you want a set of speakers which leave you and your neighbours deaf, and your house shaking, these speakers are NOT for you. If, like me, you just want to listen to your iPod in your room, they are fantastic!! The volume controls are touch sensitive, and the nano fits perfectly. I tried it out with my brothers Sony Walkman A1000 (6gb) and the sound was the same, fab, - although it was connected round the back, and its obvious that they are meant for an iPod. Its also a charger, and as it connects to the mains, you won't be forking out thousands on batteries for it. My mum likes them too, she can't hear them when i've got my door shut!! They're tiny too, check the dimensions, and they fit on my bedroom table easily. Overall, definately a five-star product, and some of the best speakers i've seen, and perfect for the nano and mini, maybe even the 30gb video, but i couldn't be sure on that. Brill speakers - buy them now!


Wow   September 8, 2006
treacle chef (england)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

First of all these are the cheapest on the market currently that i have looked at that charge as well as play.
They are exellent light weight and big sound for such small speakers.I bought them for me to use when i go on holiday to charge my ipod and for at home to play my tunes,they work perfectly for both my brother tried his cd player on them and managed eminem and greenday easy.

If your thinking of getting these or something similar they're exellet they excell my expectations and even have better quality sound to some of those more expensive ones.

You get far more than your moneys worth


was never expecting something THIS good!   August 4, 2005
D. Lawrence (UK)
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

like many of the other reviews, people have said they were expecting something basic from a 6 watt speaker system. but what excellent sound quality it puts out! plus it even charges your ipod when the power is switched off, as the plug is still hooked up to the mains. this is a brilliant way to listen to tunes, but even better for charging up the ipod.

i really think i'll be using this more than my own stereo! especially when using the "on the go" list on the ipod!