Reviews for Bose® SoundDock® Series II Digital Music System

WARNING:
SUDDEN SURGE OF ELECTRICITY TURNS BOSE SOUNDDOCK, II ON—RENDERS iPHONE 3G TEMPORALLY USELESS:
I purchased a Bose SoundDock, II at Best Buy on 10/16/08. On two occasions, I docked my iPhone 3G (while in the non-music playing mode) on the SoundDock. After about 10 minutes, the iPhone and SoundDock suddenly turned on (into lock/slide-open position) as electrical surges pulsated through the speakers. The surges were so loud and strong that it caused the SoundDock to vibrate on the nightstand, until I removed the iPhone. The next day, while playing music (using my iPhone 3G), a sudden electrical burst/surge occurred, drowning out the music for a few seconds. This time, it caused my iPhone 3G to be nonfunctional for about 30 minutes (displaying only the Apple icon). I called Bose and reported the issue to them and a supervisor was summoned to the phone. I was issued a RMA # (Return Merchandise Authorization Number) and asked to return the unit to them. Bose is sending me a new unit, to replace my defective one. I guess the question is, “is it just my unit that is defective, or the overall design?” You be the judge.

I don't actually own this sounddock but I had the opportunity to use it while I was staying at the Royalton. The sound was anything but hifi. The sounddock itself vibrates too much, creating tons of awful resonances. It kinda sounds like an average clock radio to me. With that being said, I do like the portability of it and the design maybe because it is hardly original. Nothing about it speaks high quality or hifi. It's kinda cheap and nasty for what you get at this price.

Fuller sound than the first version. It's worth the price.

I bought myself a pretty nice computer stereo a few months before my last birthday. I was pleased with it. And then I got this beastly amazing Bose for my birthday and I realized that my computer stereo wasn't as cool as I had previously thought. Now I use this.

So if you're not sure whether or not to buy this, let this review stop your qualms. Don't buy that Sony or Panasonic or what-have-you...

This Bose is the shiz.

Beautiful to look at and listen to but still some of that 3G noise coming through when the unit is otherwise off.

This is my first Bose product and so am a bit disappointed to have paid a premium price and still have that irritating noise.

I've wanted this since It came out because all of the other sounddocks I've had did not messure up to Bose. You can't blare your speakers out, but, I don't think that's the point of a Bose sounddock. You will be very shocked for how awesome it sounds considering it is so small.

I also had trouble with the remote and Bose was very nice and sent me a new one in the mail next day delivery.

I'm very happy and would recommend it my friends and family.

For it's size, this thing sounds fantastic. Obviously you won't get booming bass, but you'll be surprised how much you do get from such a small set of speakers. The design is easy on the eyes and I thought it'd look great on my bedside table. Sadly, I noticed that my iPhone 3G made a horribly loud noise about every 10 minutes. It sounded like a loose wire being wiggled. I'm going to take it back and try another one, but possibly it's my phone. Otherwise I'd give this 5 stars.

By now it should be no surprise that the Bose sounds real good. Unlike other speakers I tested, the vocals and instruments sound full and alive. It can play quite loud without distortion. The original SoundDock has many reviews if you can find them.

This is the new model (Series II) of the SoundDock and, contrary to what the previous reviewer wrote, it does not run on batteries. For portability you must shell out another $100 for the model with the word "Portable" in its name. The Series II has a new slimmer profile, an input for other audio devices, and a slightly more functional remote. It now lets you switch playlists like the remote on the Portable. I'm not sure why they didn't go all the way and give the remote the ability to fully navigate the iPod menu and list system. You must still have physical access to the iPod or iPhone to select artists or albums which makes the remote a bit disappointing if you listen to music in full albums instead of via playlists.

If, like me, you care about subtle qualities in the sound or if you want to be able to play loud without distortion, by all means the Bose delivers compared to its competition. You will not get booming bass out of a speaker this size, but you will be impressed with the bass you do get.

It loses a star for the lack of full functionality in the remote and because it is expensive (like all Bose products). If you are not an especially critical listener, the Logitech Pure-Fi sounds very good for less than half the price and provides portability at no extra charge.