DLO HomeDock links iPods to stereo, TV

Are there enough ways to blast your iPod's music throughout the house? Apparently not, according to DLO. The company's forthcoming HomeDock is a $99 docking station that can connect an iPod to either a home stereo system or TV, allowing full control of all functions via the included remote. This one's definitely designed for simplicity; no wireless options, no configuration. Just connect it to your stereo via the included RCA cable, or to the TV via composite or S-Video and you're in business. And, yes, it supports the iPod nano.

[Poolshark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

RCA Cable? What about Toslink ...doesn't the airport extremem utilize toslink?

[iGuy Adventures @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Nice to see more control from the remote other than just volume and track skip.

[Zymonk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I think a smaller footprint without a space for the remote and the logo on the back would look infinitly better. Glad it's black and has RCA's though.

[Jacob Varghese @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

I'm surprised there isn't some cable that can connect the nano to TVs by using the dock connector. I'm sure it'll come out soon enough.

[coolkamio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The question is..
Can i watch photos/slideshows in a tv with an iPod Nano and this dock?

Or is photo/slideshow function only supported with iPod Color & Photo?

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

1. I've often raged about the limited optical options for iPod connectivity, but concluded after a lot first-hand experience connecting iPods to the gamut of audio equipment that RCA is just fine for a stereo digital music player intended to playback lossy files.

I also firmly believe people who rail against AAC VBR files for 99% of entertainment audio use are that special breed of elitist idiot that understands little of real-world audio listening experience. An iTMS download, while not ideal, has sufficed quite well in an auditorium sized output, as they do quite well on my home system.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Sounds good. Now I just need to get a Nano and a stereo along with this thing...

[Eddy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

maybe they should add more buttons that are all the same size and color to allow no resemblance of order to the remote. Because from the looks of it... having 12 already doesn't seem confusing and ugly enough

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Looks pretty sweet to me, especially in that pic they've got of it sitting on top of a bunch of black a/v gear.

One thing a lot of docks don't provide is the ability to dock with the iPod in a case. This one does. I've got a clear "shell" case for my 20GB iPod (not one of those horrible silicone "skin" cases, a hard plastic one) and while it's not huge, it does make it so the iPod won't fit in a regular dock. So right there, that's an advantage for this, and plus it's got the remote and what looks like a USB port right there on the front (not the back!).

I'm interested. Not sure I'll buy yet ($100 is pretty steep), but I'm interested.

[Jay Kay @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Costco had a similar one from Kensington [URL below] for $49.99

http://www.kensignton.com/html/6529.html

Why would I pay $50 more for something with a similar functionality. Only differences are more remote option....surely not worth the $50 difference ?

[DaveH @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Kensington won't do slide shows.

Both seem to be nice options though. Would be more interested in this for a lower price, though.

[Craig M @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

waaaitaminute - isn't that dock mac mini shaped? stackable with the tiny tearaway perhaps?

[JR @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Add Video capability to the iPod and this device would be perfect for the living room.

Why buy another PC for the living room or a Media Center entender when this $100 adapter will do? Plus I get all my media to go.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"Why would I pay $50 more for something with a similar functionality. Only differences are more remote option....surely not worth the $50 difference ?"

Plus your membership fees to Costco.

I don't understand it whenever people bring up Costco prices in any conversation like this. Most of us aren't Costco members and we don't want to pay dues to be able to buy stuff.

The list price of the Kensington thing you linked is $10 more than the list price of this. So it's a $10 difference for most of us, and again it does not look like the Kensington dock will allow you to use an iPod with a case on it.

Depending on your taste, the Kensington may be more attractive (I kinda think it is). But I think the extra functionality of this DLO model may actually be worth $10.

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

"The list price of the Kensington thing you linked is $10 more than the list price of this."

Er, I meant $10 LESS...

[Dan F. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Zymonk: I believe the main reason it's so wide is to accommodate all the ports on the back: left/right RCA, composite video, S-Video, USB, and AC.

coolkamio: The ability to project photo slideshows to a TV is indeed restricted to full-size color/photo iPods; the nano can't do it (at least not yet).

Eddy: After using the HomeDock for a while, I can tell you that the buttons are actually arranged fairly well considering there are 12 of them ;-) The previous/play/next buttons are larger and in a line, with volume up/down in a pair above them and previous/next playlist in a pair below them. The power button is off by itself, which leaves the other four (shuffle, repeat, mute, and backlight) at the bottom -- these aren't really conducive to any sort of logical arrangement, so you just have to look at them when you want to use them. The only other iPod remote with a similar amount of functionality, Ten Technology's naviPro eX, has a similar layout. My complaint about the remote is that it's not RF, but in a home entertainment system, IR probably isn't a big drawback.

Jeff: The "dock without removing your iPod case" feature is great -- I hope more vendors take this approach.

Jay Kay: Then Kensington Stereo Dock is a great accessory, but its street price outside of Costco is around $70. The HomeDock gives you video output, USB syncing, standard RCA left/right audio outputs, and a much more functional remote for $30 more. (We've compared the two in our review of the HomeDock, linked below.) Which is a better value? It comes down to which features you actually need.

We've got a full review of the HomeDock over at Playlist:
http://playlistmag.com/reviews/2005/09/homedock/index.php
(Linkage approved by the friendly Engadget folks :-) )

[MrFloppy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

Perfect for iPod Video.
It would be interesting to see something like this for PSP.

[Mongo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:37AM]

The HomeDock is great but is there a way to project what's on the IPod's screen to the TV? I would love to be able to flip though songs from across the room but have the songs viewable on a TV. Not just advancing through playlists where you might not remember the songs.

Thanks!