Review: Arcam Rdock iPod speakers

A heavy-duty way to plug your iPod into a high-end hi-fi

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Price: £130

Manufacturer: Arcam 01223 203 200

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Verdict

Pros: Robust build and non-slip base; clean signal path to the audio system; intelligent charging a bonus
Cons: iPod appears precarious when sited in the dock; no audio, S-video or composite cables bundled; no remote as standard
Overall: A tough unit comprising quality components and with crystal output, but it’s a niche product and only for those who populate their iPod drive with uncompressed audio

Karl Foster, Personal Computer World 14 May 2007

Judging by the plethora of dock-plus-speaker systems on the market, numerous iPod owners like to inflict their musical tastes on others.

However, most iPod-friendly stereos are little more than ghetto blasters or mini hi-fis and hardly the stuff of high-end audio.

Arcam aims to address this by marketing what is claimed to be the first 'audiophile' dock. The company’s Rdock promises to deliver audio worthy of reproduction through posh stereo systems thanks to a built-in pre-amp, use of the line output of the iPod and buffered RCA outs that suit audiophile cables. The unit will also charge an iPod, but in a clever way.

The Rdock is solid, cast in aluminium and with a rubberised base to prevent slippage. At the rear, there's stereo out, plus composite and S-video outputs for those with iPod Videos and TVs to feed. You also get a power adaptor to juice the pre-amp and iPod, when charging is switched on.

Arcam gives the option to switch charging off, however. Reason being, it cycles the battery and, supposedly, the iPod sounds better running off battery than mains. There’s logic in that since mains power can induce interference in audio devices.

Hooked up and routed through studio amplification and reference monitors, playback sounds as good as you’d expect from a device loaded with compressed audio files. The only worry is that the iPod looks precarious in the dock, even though its rear is supported by a spring-loaded backrest.

Nevertheless, if you’re accustomed to docks with integrated speakers, or have been feeding the headphone output into a stereo system, you’ll be pleased with the sound quality available from the Rdock. There's no remote as standard, but you will find a socket for the Arc am Solo amplifier, which comes with a remote.

As for audiophiles, they now have an excuse to rip CDs as Wav or Aiff, both of which are supported by the iPod. And that’s the only way to appreciate this audio adaptor’s true capabilities.

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