- Compatible with all iPod products with a 30-pin connector (except iPod shuffle)--this includes the newest iPod nano and touch models; also compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G and 3GS, and iPhone 4
- Advanced PureDigital sound processing technology offers vastly superior sound performance; higher signal-to-noise ratio
- Smart sound design brings you the best bass reproduction possible
- Acoustic volume allocated to each mid-range driver perfectly matches its acoustic requirements; low tones come out deep and tight, delivering strong and rich bass
- Most top-grade audiophile appliances allow the display to be turned off for absolute enjoyment of music, and for power to be focused on sound reproduction; with the proximity sensor feature, you can enjoy that, too
So this is my first video review I have ever done so please excuse the "ummms" LOL.
----Side by Side sound comparison -----
I thought I would give a video review a shot to present the sound quality of the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock as well as compare it to the BOSE sound dock which I already own.
From what I understand the quality of BOSE is considered to be one of the best so someone out there might find value from a side by side comparison between the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock against a BOSE sound dock.
Over all the sound is very, very good to even great. In the video I am playing a song ("Space Lord" by Monster Magnet) which has a good amount of bass in the song. At the volume I am playing the song on the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock the bass notes end slightly distorted. The best way I can explain "notes end slightly distorted" is if one note of bass is 2 seconds long the sound doesn't start with a distortion but rather when the sound of the bass ends you can hear a bit of static or distortion.
In the video review I say "You are not going to be able to compare this to a BOSE" .
And what I am referring to is the bass sound between the BOSE and the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock. The bass produced by the BOSE is cleaner and BOSE is able to handle bass at a greater volume.
To be fair the base static/distortion is slight and nothing I may have noticed easily if I wasn't looking for problems and comparing the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock to another quality sound dock. This may not bother the average user but someone who is connoisseur of sound, bass and /or music and is critical of these faults may not be able to easily look over this.
The PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock has great projection and full sound which can be heard across the house. The sound quality comes extremely close to the quality of my BOSE sound dock which cost about $200.00 -$300.00 more.
Good Points:
* Sound quality is closely comparable to a unit which costs $200.00 $300.00 or more
* Great sound projection
* Full sound
Bad Points:
Nothing really "Bad" but a few note worthy.. not "perfect" items to list are
* Bass notes end with a slight static/distortion
----USE WITH APPLE IPHONE -------
I own the Apple Iphone 3G.
Good Points:
* No static / feedback when playing music on the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock
* Able to still receive phone calls when Iphone is docked and playing music
* PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock remote is able to control (Volume, Rewind, FastForward, Pause/Play ) using both the Iphone's Ipod application and Fidelio application
* Fidelio application is NOT required
Bad Points:
* Fidelio application is NOT required but must be installed to resolve the message "Application Not Installed ...."
* Incoming and exiting phone calls cause music to strongly distort.
When I first docked my Apple Iphone I received the error message
"Application Not Installed
This application requires an application you do not have installed. Would you like to install it from the App store?"
I chose "No" and it played just fine using the Iphone's Ipod application.
I found until you install the application "Fidelio" you will receive this message but it does not interfere with the Iphone's ability to play music through the Ipod application and the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock remote is able to control the Ipod application (rewind, fastforward, play and pause).
So if you have a guest using your PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock there is no need for them to install this application on their Iphone.
Incoming and exiting phone calls caused some problems for the Iphone. When the call first comes in and after the call hangs up the music becomes distorted for a few seconds. This distortion occurred 8 out of 10 different phone calls using both the Iphone's Ipod application and the Fidelios application.
Just a note I was making these calls a good 15 feet away from the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock so the distortion shouldn't come from the phone I was using to make the calls with.
--- Regarding the PHILIPS Fidelio Application ------
This is a free application which you will be asked if you want to install when you dock your Iphone.
Without the PHILIPS Fidelio Application the error message about "Application Not Installed" came up each time I docked my Iphone.
After installing the application "Fidelio" I received another error message that went something like
"This accessory is not optimized for this iPhone"
After I installed the application "Fidelio" I clicked on it and found it to be a player similar to the Ipod player except with a picture of a blue note against a background which changes colors (I uploaded a photo if you are curious). I did test whether the Iphone's Ipod application still worked with the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock and it does so the Fidelio application in my opinion is optional and only if you get tired of seeing the error "Application Not Installed".
The Fidelio application is described as
"Fidelio is a suite of applications that brings cool, new features to your Philips Fidelio docking speaker. With Fidelio, you can easily browse and play your music collection, control your speakers acoustic properties, and check your docking speakers battery health from your iPhone or iPod.
Fidelio also has a clock feature with multiple music alarms. Now you can set your docking speaker to wake you up playing your favorite music and displaying your favorite photo.
Fidelio is a free app created by Philips exclusively for use with Philips Fidelio docking speakers and the iPhone or iPod. It is not compatible with any other docking speakers.
FEATURES
Playback mode:
-Album/ Music navigation
-Playback controls
-Sound setting controls* (e.g. DBB, Treble, Bass)
-5-Band equaliser
"
Source: CNET Downloads
The clock feature on the Fidelio application can be found at the bottom of the screen where there are two little dots, similar to when your Iphone has multiple pages. Click on the dots and the next "page" is your clock option.
Sound setting controls can be found by touching the little "i" (as in info) found on the bottom right hand corner.
--- Physical Attributes ------
Physical specs of the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock here on the Amazon product page says it is 9 x 6 x 19 inches but I measured it to be 16.5" in length x 7" height and about 3.5" in depth. Perhaps they are referring to the box it comes in.
The PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock package came with a remote, CR2032 3v lithium battery for the remote, power cord, brick, instruction book and a line in cord so you can connect the PHILIPS Fidelio Sound Dock to other music sources.
In the video I reference the CR2032 3v lithium battery which is a type of battery I have only found to be purchasable over the internet or occasionally in stores which carry specialty battery types such as battery displays for hearing aids.
--Remote Control ---
After I created this review I noticed a few people here say the remote does not work with the Iphone which worked for me.
So I tested the remote out again to be sure I did not miss something. This time when I used the remote it moved back and forth between two songs. I checked the playlist and placed it on "Shuffle" and was able to FastForward and Rewind between different songs.
Buy Philips Fidelio DS8500 Speaker Dock with Remote for iPod/iPhone (White/Silver) Now
I had been looking for a iPod docking station/speaker for some time before I finally settled on the Philips Fidelio DS8500, mainly because I no longer use CDs (I buy music as downloads or copy the CDs onto my computer) and that I didn't (and still do not) wish to have a big hi-fi system with massive speakers and so on in my (not so terribly large) living room.
I tried out different speakers side by side, and I came to the conclusion that the Fidelio 8500 is the best overall speaker for the money. The Zeppelin, the Bose Sounddock 10, and the Fidelio 9500 are all better speakers, but they are more expensive. Quite a lot more. The Sounddock 10 (which I had originally wanted to buy) is 400 dollars more expensive, but to my ears, it is only between 50 and 100 dollars better as a speaker. The same could be said about the other speakers. The Fidelio 8500 has pleasant, full bass tones (which makes sure you don't get that 'tinny' sound so often found in small speakers), good mid and high tones, and it can play quite loudly distortion-free. Even at low volume levels it fills small rooms rather nicely, and if need be, it can fill larger rooms quite easily. I, for one, was surprised at the sound quality of this little speaker. In addition to its capabilities as a speaker, it also looks very smartly. It is definitely well-designed, and quite pleasing to the eye, making it a good alternative to massive speakers, which so often seem unattractive (if mostly to girlfriends or wives).
The speaker also comes with an aux cable, so you can hook up other devices as well, which is nice.
There is, however, a small thing, which I find rather odd and a bit annoying. I have a Samsung TV and DVD-player, and for some odd reason, Philips and Samsung have chosen the same wavelength to control their devices remotely, which means that whenever I adjust the volume on my TV or pause my DVD-player, it wakes up my Philips speaker (when an iPod or iPhone is connected, that is). To fix this, I only have to turn off the speakers (pull the plug), which makes it easily fixable, but still a bit annoying.
4.5 stars, with .5 subtracted for the remote interference. The best speakers you can buy for your iPod in that pricerange, and in fact very good speakers, period. Highly recommendable.
Read Best Reviews of Philips Fidelio DS8500 Speaker Dock with Remote for iPod/iPhone (White/Silver) Here
Let's get to the point
PROS
Awesome design
Great sound/bass quality
Not too expensive
Nice remote
CONS
It says it's "Compatible with all iPod products with a 30-pin connector" but it's not.
I have a 4th gen Ipod touch. At first, there was some noise from time to time when playing music, sounded like some kind of interference, I contacted the Philips people and said my ipod wasnt compatible.
I don't know why or how, but it stopped, and now it sounds perfect. The only thing is the remote functions doesn't work with my 4th gen, just the basics; play/pause, control the volume and move to the next or last song. But the menu button doesn't work so, I cant use many features.
If you have an previous compatible model I highly recommend it. If you have a 4th gen ipod touch like me.... keep looking
Want Philips Fidelio DS8500 Speaker Dock with Remote for iPod/iPhone (White/Silver) Discount?
Please scroll down for my original review.
**********************************UPDATE: Jan 29, 2011*********************************
Although I have returned this dock, I have yet to ship it back because I purchased the Soundfreaq Sound Platform last week. (Details Soundfreaq Sound Platform for iPad and Smart Mobiles). I decided to compare the 2 systems before I shipped the Phillips. Here are my conclusions:
1. Sound: Phillips wins hands down. The bass is fuller and it can be played at a higher volume. Having said that, the Soundfreaq is no laggard. The bass isn't as deep but the sound over all is excellent. My wife listens mostly to older Indian songs and podcasts, neither of which requires big thumping bass. Both genres are more vocal oriented and the Soundfreaq does a good job. I have a different system for my periodic dose of classic rock/metal and any sound dock in this price range will most likely not do the trick anyways.
2. Connectivity and convenience: The Soundfreaq is the outright winner. The iPhone4 connects without any adapters even with the bumper case. No problems! Even better, I don't need to actually mount the iPhone on the dock because of bluetooth connectivity. It took 5 7 minutes from the moment I signed the UPS receipt for the box to having a song from the iPhone 4 playing through this dock via bluetooth. It works like a charm. Setup is a breeze and the convenience of bluetooth is a HUGE plus. Similarly, I was able to connect my Blackberry via bluetooth, so I no longer need to use the AUX input for my BB. Also, the AUX input works perfectly with no background hum like the Phillips.
3. FM radio: Works fine on the Soundfreaq. Not present on the Phillips. This isn't a very big differentiator but since i'm spending more for the Soundfreaq, its nice to get more too.
4. Looks/aesthetics: both systems look pretty good. I liked the Phillips but the retro, vacuum-tube radio like design of the Soundfreaq is very nice.
5. iPhone app: Phillips' app is buggy, clunky and is more of a hindrance. Soundfreq app does what it is supposed to and stays out of the way. Neither app needs to be used but the Soundfreq app doesn't irritate like the Phillips.
Conclusions:
1. If you want deeper bass and all round better sound, go with the Phillips.
2. The convenience of the Soundfreaq cannot be matched by the Phillips. I really like the fact that I can switch on bluetooth on my phone (I don't have it running all the time to conserve battery), connect and I'm in business from anywhere in the room. No wires. No need to even get close to the actual dock.
3. Soundfreaq is more expensive, and more than what I was planning to spend but I think I'm getting decent value for the extra money.
I'm happy with my purchase of the Soundfreaq and more important, the wife loves it. I'm keeping it and will ship back the Phillips.
******************************Original Review from Jan 24, 2011**********************************
I was pretty excited about this product. It looked good and the reviews were positive. I did however, have 2 mandatory requirements other than good sound quality:
1. It should work with an iPhone 4 in a bumper case.
2: I should be able to use it with non-Apple devices using the AUX input.
I decided to check it out at the Apple store before buying it on Amazon to make sure it works with the iPhone 4 with a bumper case. The sales clerk at the Apple store mounted an iPhone 4 in a bumper case and it seemed to fit fine. For some reason they refused to plug it in and actually play it with the iPhone 4. They said that I'd have to purchase it, test it and could return it if it didn't work. Strange! I couldn't do that then because I was buying this for my wife who has an iPhone 4 and I didn't have her phone with me. Well, now I think I know the reason why they wouldn't let me try it out. It doesn't work with an iPhone 4 in a bumper case! The input prongs do not go all the way into the iPhone 4 because of the bumper case. Remove the bumper case and it works fine, but I don't want to have to do that every time. I don't profess to be an audiophile, so to my lay ears, it sounded great. But the reality is that after the whole antenna thing, a bumper case is almost mandatory on an iPhone 4, and in any case, I use a bumper case for added protection. Phillips should've designed this system taking that into account.
My other issue was that I decided to plug in my non-Apple MP3 player using the AUX input and I kept getting a hum. I moved the set away from possible electronic interference but the hum wouldn't go away.
Net, net: much as I liked the sound quality and the aesthetics, I had to return it because both my 2 mandatory requirements weren't met. I could maybe excuse Phillips for the bumper case thing but the hum with the AUX input is inexcusable.
Very disappointing.
Save 51% Off
I have been purchasing from Amazon for years with many pleasant experiences but have never felt compelled to leave a review before now. This unit so thoroughly filled all of my expectations that I just have to let others know. I purchased a refurbished unit that arrived in two days (two days!) and that was just the beginning of my love affair with this unit. I adore the sound and kick that comes out of this small, elegant egg. this unit is not to be confused with all those cheap, tinny sounding units out there posing as Ipod speakers. The speakers may be too close to get good stereophonic sound, but there is no compromise in fidelity. I read a review that suggested the Bose might be better for classical music and the Fidelio for Rock and there may be some truth in that but as far as I am concerned that is just splitting hairs. This unit sounds great! Plus, I always have a fully charged Touch 4gen when I leave the house.
PROS: I always compare conventional non-digital scanners with the Granddaddy of them all, the old Realistic Pro-2006. Surprisingly this Uniden holds its own in the side to side comparison and is a bargain and can easily be picked up on sale (as I did at Farm and Fleet) for about $110. I was surprised to find out that the BC370CRS has triple conversion and does a decent job of close channel rejection even on a base antenna near several broadcast radio towers not quite as good as the Pro-2006, but considering how inexpensive the BC370CRS is, it does a GREAT job. I would say that average effective range using a cheap base antenna to be between 75-90 miles and even farther when atmospheric conditions are perfect. The speaker quality is also pretty good and I elected not to use an external speaker as I do with some other models I use. Programming is straight forward and uses the same method that dates all the way back to the 70s, so ANYONE should be able to program and use this without even reading the manual. If you do need to read the manual, it too is pretty straight forward. In reality, when compared to all available scanners, it is probably only a 4-star, but for the money it's a 5-star as you can't get anything even close to it in this price range. The battery backup is both a positive and negative as you will read in my "cons" section. I'm not aware of another scanner that offers battery backup during power outages.
