Review Of The Boston Acoustics i-DS3 Plus iPod Speaker System
Gadgets — on September 7, 2009 at 11:15 pm | 16 CommentsSum ‘n’ substance:
Thumbs up: Mind-blowing sound quality; wireless sub-woofer; shipped with a remote; optional grilles available at $15.
Thumbs down: So-so design; highly priced; the AM/FM tuner and the clock absent.
Inside the trunk: Two-piece system; iPod/iPhone dock; Dual tweeters; Dual 3-1/2-inch woofers; BassTrac audio processing wireless subwoofer equipped with a 6-inch woofer; 100 watts total system power; Composite/S-video outputs for video-capable iPhone/iPod models; Auxiliary inputs for additional media players; Remote control included; Price :$500.
The Whiz- kid speaks: Boston has not failed to impress the audio-fanatics with the i-DS3.but being priced at an astonishing $500, Boston have really not packed a feature-list that could justify the sky- high price of the i-DS3. The only ace in its pack is the outstanding sound- quality.
Razzle-Dazzle: There’s not much Boston have done on the design front. The iDS3 Plus is a two-piece system that comes with an iPod/iPhone dock with dual midranges and tweeters and a wireless subwoofer decked with a 6-inch woofer. The I DS3 is average in size and is adorned with a row of buttons on it that include the power button, a volume control, and the “wide stereo” button that turns to a dynamic listening mode.
The woofer system may look like a toaster, but that it can really pound out bass lines. Both the base speaker and subwoofer have standby switches that will need to be flipped on to power them and also have an auto-switch-off function, so that you do not waste power when it’s not in use. The entire speaker system and subwoofer come in a glossy black or white coating. And to add flavor to your room, Boston offers a choice of nine grille colors for the speaker system at a price of $14.99.
Inside dope
Installing the iDS3 was a no- brainer. The ipod was easily able to sync with the iDS3. the remote of the Boston was sleek and easy to navigate. There aren’t many functions provided on it, but it serves the basic purpose of play/ pause like functions. at the back of the iDS3 there are two video-out options. Ifthere are videos loaded on the ipod, you’ll be able to output via S-Video or composite via the two interfaces. All you have to do is set the iPod to the “TV-out” mode when doing so. It also features a slot for the line-in auxiliary device.
During testing, the iDS3 was way above the average-line. The main speaker base combined with the mighty six-inch subwoofer delivered a crisp and clear sound along with a huge amount of range. The subwoofer packs in a lot of energy amd intensity behind it and you can also customize the power via the rear volume knob.
Boston acoustics have also included another feature called the ‘Wide Stereo’, which provides the listener with a dynamic surround sound, giving the impression of a live show. But during our tests there wasn’t much of a difference except a glowing orange light when that mode was active. The BassTrac feature avoids jarring giving the bass a clean sound, even at high listening levels.
Nitty gritty: The boston acoustic iDS3 brings out the best in the ipod and iphone tunes. It privdes a live and dynamic sound that enhances your entire listening experience. The only downfall is the ratio of the feature to price list. But then again adding a clock and the radio wont help the prices reduce. The iDS3 is easy to set up and also blends in with your surroundings. It is ideal for bedrooms, small offices, caves etc. So start saving up if you really set your sights on one.
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16 Comments
Tell me something, isn’t it worth my money to have a speaker system that looks like what it is worth rather than a toaster?
I would be confident that with Dual 3-1/2-inch woofers & 100 watts performance, it’s a kinda volume, range & presence, it’s gonna be a rocking party time for my friends. I am ready or rather I was waiting for something like this.
It seems like I would to compromise on looks for the 100 W. performance of Dual woofers. Why the hell should I go for it, if its just a compromise? What say, guys?
I really enjoyed your review for 2 purposes.
1. Quick snap to tell you enough details.
2. Some simple suggestions that might help reader to make well informed decision.
For eg: I would have never bought i-DS3 Plus, had it not been for your suggestion of using it in right place; bedroom.
Thanks! Adios!
I am already having this speaker system. I must say great sound quality. There are a number of good features like included remote, video out (for iPods) and replaceable grille, as well as powerful wireless subwoofer. I am really happy with this product.
Though Boston Acoustics is quite expensive but its mind blowing sound quality amaze the buyer and it is definitely worth its cost. Thanks Ricky for telling some new things about this system which I didn’t know. I appreciate your review. Keep it up.
Your review seems interesting. I guess the Wide Stereo feature is quite unique as it makes the impression of a LIVE show. I am surely going to enhance my Ipod listening experience. Thanks for posting this review and increasing my excitement.
I am very satisfied. It is a nice design…very sleek and modern. The sound is absolutely great. You have perfectly mentioned all features of Boston Acoustics i-DS3. Looking forward to read more on coming products.
I bought this product few days back and I’m quite satisfied with its performance and quality of sound. You will never be disappointed with the sound quality coming from a Boston Acoustics ipod speaker as this company provides some of the best-sounding iPod devices out there in the market.
I am planning to gift this to my boyfriend on his birthday. Thanks a lot for this review….it has really helped me in understanding the product and comparing it with other products available in the market. I am sure he will love it. Thanks once again.
I have been using Boston Acoustics for a long time now and found them very useful as far as sound system is concerned. A bit pricey but once you make them to use, you will surely be impressed. Do post more reviews on coming up IPod products.
Based heavily upon the prior i-DS2, Boston Acoustics’ new i-DS3 plus is a whopper of an iPod and iPhone audio system, adding a massive wireless subwoofer with a six-inch driver to the prior multi-driver tabletop audio system. Btw…nice review.
Here is a new speaker system from Boston Acoustics. Interesting Product…..!! It’s perfect for all those who love best surrounding sound system. Though it is little expensive but you will never regret your investment. Even I like the design…!!
Much… much better than i-DS2…both look wise as well as quality wise. Is there any way where I can get discount on my online purchase?
I had a listen to the ids3 as well as the Bose SoundDock and a system called Kicker at a retail store yesterday.
I was really surprised and impressed at how good all of them sounded, especially given there compact frames, but the ids3′s sub-woofer allows for a really extended bass range that the other units just don’t have. Fact is, you can’t get extended low frequency from a 3-4 inch woofer, although both Bose & Kicker seem to be getting close to achieving that.
I really don’t mind that there are limited features on the ids3. I think it’s simplicity is great and that for $500, it’s aimed at people who are looking for great sound, not a clock or AM/FM receiver. The market is already saturated with docking stations that have lots of features. There are very few that deliver high quality sound. This is one of them. The Bose systems are another.
These are great speakers. They are in line with the more high end sound systems you find from Bose and the like. I have a set of Bose Speakers that was much more expensive, but it is impossible to hear the difference between these speakers and the Bose.