Bose SoundDock Portable Reviews?

ssipes · 12-19-2007, 08:30 AM

Anyone picked up the Bose SoundDock Portable yet?

I am thinking it would be great for small gigs. I hate showing up to do a belly gram at a small party and being subject to whatever crap is passing as a "sound system". The last time it was a $10 piece of sh!t CD player that I wouldn't even use in my garage.

It would be nice to plunk down such a small unit, not worry about cords or outlets, and fill the room with clear crisp music. It would also be nice to not worry about CDs possibly not playing on a strange system.

Sedonia

*maria* · 12-19-2007, 08:44 AM

I was just thinking about it too! I saw it advertised and was wondering about it also.

steffib · 12-19-2007, 09:04 AM

This looks like a dream come true device (apart from the price, of course) - Bose sound, portable, and a remote. If I could reasonably justify the expense, I'd get it without batting an eye.

anala · 12-19-2007, 10:01 AM

Just do it, I have had mine for 2 years, I take it in a small bag with my pod to private parties. I did use it a few times at the coffee house we dance at once a month, but it was a bit underpowered for the 900 sq. ft. room. About 20 - 4 seat tables. While the base came thru well enough to keep time, the complexities of the subtler music was lost. I then bought 2 Audio Engine speakers (they were designed by Apple renegades for pod use) but much more high powered than the Bose. That was better...but not good due to the pod itself not cranking enopugh wattage into those kick ass speakers. Final solution, notebook computer pluged into wall attached to 2 Audio Engine speakers. One speaker is powered, the other is a slave to it without power, and a really long speaker cable for good seperation. These speakers are about the size of a cookie jar each, but heavy for their size! The only way this setup could be better...wireless!!! To sum it up, get the Bose if you do a lot of bellygrams, use the Audio Engine for bigger gigs that do not have a sound system you can use. My place uses sirius radio, so I have this traveling circus set up once a month. Rug...2 poles with 4 small spotlights and the sound system. My troupe has been doing this for 4 years now and it's been worth all the trouble. It feels like a real performance instead of "dancing by the deli case"

anala · 12-19-2007, 10:04 AM

PS...Ebay...I picked up the pod/doc/and audio engines there in 2 seperate purchases, Half price.

kina · 12-19-2007, 11:44 AM

I have the sound-dock that I take with me to classes, and am lusting after the portable version.

I love love love my sound-dock! It's bose and the same exact model as the portable, except it doesn't have a handle or the swivel bit, charges my ipod and is so very easy to use, even has a little remote I tuck into my hip belt, can raise and lower the volume and switch tracks.

anala · 12-19-2007, 11:57 AM

So...is the portable cordless? I guess I havent seen it. Mine has no handle or swivel either, but is so small that I consider it to be portable.

kina · 12-19-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anala

So...is the portable cordless? I guess I havent seen it. Mine has no handle or swivel either, but is so small that I consider it to be portable.

I consider mine portable as well, but worry that I'm gonna drop it. My only issue with it, and I like that the portable has the swivel thing

ssipes · 12-19-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anala

So...is the portable cordless? I guess I havent seen it. Mine has no handle or swivel either, but is so small that I consider it to be portable.

Yes, it has a lithium ion rechargeable battery, and is supposed to give several hours of play per charge. And it's $100 more than the regular bose sounddock.

Sedonia

kina · 12-19-2007, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Yes, it has a lithium ion rechargeable battery, and is supposed to give several hours of play per charge. And it's $100 more than the regular bose sounddock.

Sedonia

If I could keep myself from buying costumes, i would buy it, and use my other one only at home. Alas, i have NO self control

anala · 12-19-2007, 01:08 PM

hmmm... cordless. I know my computer screen is dimmer on battery power, so it make me wonder if the sound quality will be as crisp and loud on when the bose is on battery....

ssipes · 12-19-2007, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anala

hmmm... cordless. I know my computer screen is dimmer on battery power, so it make me wonder if the sound quality will be as crisp and loud on when the bose is on battery....

FYI Your computer screen is dimmer on battery because the system settings include energy saving options to conserve the battery. You can change those settings if you want.

anala · 12-20-2007, 10:16 AM

Thats what I meant...perhaps the bose will do that sort of thing by default? Dunno? My typing sucks...so my thoughts are incomplete many times due to lack of skill at the keyboard...so just read my mind will ya!

ssipes · 12-20-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anala

Thats what I meant...perhaps the bose will do that sort of thing by default?

Hmm...I doubt that purely on the basis that bose seems to occupy the market niche geared towards people who are really picky about sound quality.

Although the pickiest of the picky wouldn't use mp3's or iPods at all and would still prefer vinyl over anything digital...

rickfink · 12-20-2007, 12:56 PM

Dear Sedonia,

I carry an Ipod mini when we have performances with recorded music as a backup to a cd. You can just run a jack from it to the sound system and it works great. Just remember to pick it up when you're done!

If you record your music onto cd I suggest using Itunes because it seems to be the new standard. I remember being at a show where a dancers first two songs on her cd played but the last one wouldn't. I think it might have been a different file format which some of the older cd players could not read or it might have been something as simple as the sound man screwing up and then playing dumb!

It's always best when you take control by bringing your own music and boombox though. Nothing is as frustrating as having your music screw up, especially if someone screws it up for you!

Take care, Rick

steffib · 12-20-2007, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssipes

Hmm...I doubt that purely on the basis that bose seems to occupy the market niche geared towards people who are really picky about sound quality.

Although the pickiest of the picky wouldn't use mp3's or iPods at all and would still prefer vinyl over anything digital...

I agree on (not) having a difference between the sounds quality when running on battery vs. from the outlet (unless of course the batteries are about to fizzle out - but that's the equivalent to a costume malfunction anyways).

As for the differences in sound quality between an iPod and CD: People argue that they hear vast differences, including between iPod models - I haven't noticed myself, my husband says he notices a difference. Given that the iPod does some default sound balance, that is not completely inconceivable, but will be less noticable when somebody knowledgeable manually adjusts the sound levels on an iPod.

Bose SoundDock Portable Reviews?

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