Marantz IS301 iPod dock & Wireless Hi-fi Interface

Connecting your iPod to your hi-fi installation is tempting of course. You get your whole CD library at the tip of your fingers, with enough hi-fi power to make your windows vibrate. But so far most solutions haven't been as convenient as this wireless IS301 iPod docking station from Marantz. Read on to see why.

Why It’s Clever

When I bought a new amplifier recently, the brochure said "iPod interface + control your iPod via the amplifier's remote control." Sounded absolutely great, but as usual I didn't read the small print. When I got the thing, it turned out that I needed to buy an iPod docking unit from Apple and connect it to the amplifier so that the amp's remote could function as a kind of "universal remote control" to start/stop playback and to skip songs. And if I should want to select a new artist or album? Well, you've probably guessed – I need to get up, walk over to the iPod and look at the screen to select something new. Don't try to be smart and suggest that I could also stay seated and skip some 2000 songs to find what I'm looking for!
The solution that Marantz has developed with the IS301 seems to be the best of both worlds. Your iPod actually is your remote control! That means that you can keep it in your hands, use the screen and the touch wheel as you're used to, and the music is wirelessly transferred to the amplifier. No more getting up, no more blind skipping back and forward – this is iPod convenience with hi-fi power.
And Marantz doesn't seem to want to compromise on the level of quality either – they transmit the audio via a digital Bluetooth wireless interface, so it doesn't add noise or distortion.

Summary

Interfaces your iPod with your hi-fi installation
Wireless Bluetooth connection with digital quality
Your iPod remains with you, so you can use the standard user interface and see the screen.

Tips

This seems like a great solution, but if you like the convenience of having all your music at your fingertips and at the same time pure, uncompressed CD/DVD quality, you might consider an alternative in the shape of a CD/DVD jukebox.

Yet another approach to the same problem is the Bexy iMirror docking station.

Here you can see the alternatives in a comparison.

Once you have your iPod hooked-up to your stereo, you're going to want the same in your car. The Scosche interference-free FM modulator looks quite interesting to us.