Gear4 Duo review

Two iPod docks in one here, but we think it's at a cost Tested at £150

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Credit for thinking out of the box but the basics – price and performance – seem to have been neglected

Pros

  • +

    Twin docks is a clever idea

  • +

    rechargeable battery

  • +

    plenty of bass as one unit

Cons

  • -

    Lacks clarity and edgy

  • -

    portable unit sounds thin.

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

In a saturated market, Gear4 has attempted to make its Duo iPod dock stand out from the crowd. The Duo's USP is that it's not just one dock, it's two.

Pull the dock part away from the bulky main unit and it becomes a portable iPod dock that works from a rechargeable battery.

As one unit, it's fairly bulky and the sub unit feels heavy on plastic and light on style. The front half sits fairly loosely when attached to the unit, but otherwise the dock is, as promised, fairly portable.

The Duo has a remote control, the rear sub unit packs 20 watts of power, while another 18 watts of power are split across the stereo speakers.

There's also an aux line-in input for other MP3 players. In 'large' form, with both units attached and mains powered, the instantly noticeable facet of the sound is the bright treble.

Edgy listen
Cymbals and snares don't quite have us wincing, but it's certainly an edgy listen that becomes tiring. There's decent weight and punch, and vocals are open and clear, but the Gear4 Duo lacks cohesion.

Detach the dock unit and you're left with a slab of portable speaker that plays music on the move thanks to its rechargeable battery, which will play for up to eight hours at 60 per cent volume.

The portable version doesn't sound as bright and edgy as we'd feared, but it is lacking in bass and solidity.

This dock is left in no man's land, held back by its comparatively poor sound quality and high price tag. We fear the Gear4 Duo, while innovative in design, may struggle to find one home, let alone two.

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test