Oh behave.......It's Groovey Baby Yeah! (Klipsch iGroove)

Member Name: yackers1

Product:	Klipsch iGroove
Date:	24/11/08 (268 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Accepts all music players with a head phone socket and not just iPods

Disadvantages: Doesn't accept batteries, therefore not a fully portable solution

****The I-Groove unit****

The I-groove uses a wall of sound with the I-pod stuck in a docking cradle just in front of the speaker grill. The docking cradle contains a rubber backing and side grips to ensure that the I-pod stays in place and does not jump around from the vibrations created by the speakers. The rubber backing can be moved to get an even tighter fit regardless of which model of I-pod is used.

It should be noted that this system is designed for I-pods with a docking port, however, the nano can also be used with this speaker system via a 3.5mm stereo audio lead.

This audio lead allows any MP3 player, mini disc player or personal CD players (does anyone still have one of these?) to be hooked up to the speakers. When using a nano or other MP3 player a J-cup adaptor is used to hold it in place, although being a universal item it does not hold the device as tightly as the docking cradle holds an I-pod.

The system is a modern and funky design with an enclosure made from tough and durable ABS plastic and a black finish. This compliments my black I-pod classic perfectly.

The I-Groove charges the I-pod while it is docked ensuring it is always fully charged so you can take it on the move whenever you want in the knowledge the battery won't suddenly die. I believe this is the same with all other docking speakers.

The front panel contains a power button and volume button only. It does not include a button allowing you to skip tracks, repeat tracks or go back to previous tracks.

The speakers come with a remote control that has buttons to change track, change the volume, play/pause and turn the speakers off or on. The remote, like the speakers, is a modern design. It should be noted that the remote only really works at close distance and you have to make sure that the remote is pointing directly at the speaker system.

****How does it sound?****

The I-Groove sounds absolutely fantastic. It produces a crisp, complete and quality sound and is louder than the smaller fold up speaker solutions but this is to be expected due to the physical size of the speakers and the power supply.

The unit contains a pair of 1" tractrix hom loaded tweeter and a pair of 2.5" woofers (for bass). They have a cross over at 2.9kHz and are a true two-way speaker design. This set up allows for all round music and doesn't concentrate on one aspect, such as bass, so it won't shake your desk to pieces.

It is not exceptionally loud but then do you really need a unit that is going to kick out 200db? I would prefer something that is a bit quieter but produces good all round quality sound.

****Is it portable?****

The I-Groove is not the smallest speaker solution out there but it it's not massive either. Weighing in at just over 2.2kg The I-groove can be moved from room to room without too much trouble.

It is not portable in the sense that it can be used any where since the unit needs an electricity supply to work and does not accept batteries. Whilst this may be seen as a limitation I don't see this as much of a problem since it means that I can't take an expensive speaker solution out where it can get damaged. In instances where I want to use my I-Pod out of the house I use much cheaper speakers (the 3 legged ones from Boysstuff.com) so it doesn't matter as much if these get damaged.

****How much is it and where can I get it from?****

The price of the I-Groove appears to vary greatly. A quick look on the internet has shown that it is available from the Ipodspeakerstore.uk for £99.99 and Amazon for £69.99.

If you're thinking about buying the I-Groove then I would recommend shopping around as you may be able to get it even cheaper, especially if there are discount voucher codes available.

****Would I recommend it?****

I think the I-Groove is brilliant. It does everything I want and the sound is clear and crisp. If you want extra bass, or at the other extreme, want extra higher pitched sounds then this speaker unit probably won't suit your needs.

I bought my I-Groove speakers nearly a year ago when the only competition was the Bose Sound dock. Since I bought my I-Groove technology has moved on and the popularity of the I-Pod has continued to increase. As a result there are loads of speaker solutions out there, and the I-Groove may now be obsolete compared to the newer speaker solutions in the market place. I would not discount it though and still have a look to see if it is what you're after. You may just be surprised.

Summary: a funky, stylish and great sounding set of speakers for your personal music system

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