Logic3 i-Station8 review

A weird, though only slightly wonderful design: one an inviting array of speakers, but hampered by a rather indistinct and unsinpiring sound Tested at £100.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Bold design, with a big sound, but one that doesn't really thrill

Pros

  • +

    Big, room-filling sound

  • +

    happy at loud volume

  • +

    LCD display

  • +

    remote control included

Cons

  • -

    Bass is boomy and lacks precision

  • -

    muffled overall sound

  • -

    styling might not be for everyone

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What a beast of an iPod dock this is. Comprising eight 30mm full-range drivers and a centrally mounted larger unit to boost bass, there's also a large LCD display and a fold-down docking station. Not the most compact solution, then?

Driven by six AA batteries or via mains power, Logic3's latest system is compatible with all iPods, thanks to the inclusion of various interchangeable docks. A remote control gives you basic functionality, while the LCD will show song titles. There's also a line out and a sync input for connecting iPods.

Large-scale sonics
The payback for the size comes in the form of a big sound that will fill a decent-sized room. The i-Station8 goes quite loud, and retains its composure fairly well.

Sonically, it certainly isn't lightweight or bright, even at loud volume. But while the presence of lower frequencies is welcome, it's not the cleanest, punchiest delivery, and the sound lacks clarity.

While its features are good, the i-Station 8's muffled sound quality irritates compared to more musical docks. You can buy better.

What Hi-Fi?

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