Intempo IDS-05 review

This compact, seemingly portable system is a bit of a odd one in that it only runs on mains power - that apart, it does a good job for its size and pr Tested at £60.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Lack of battery power will reduce appeal to some - pity as it's a useful, little piece of kit

Pros

  • +

    Good detail levels

  • +

    price

  • +

    very decent performance throughout the frequency range

Cons

  • -

    No battery power

  • -

    sounds a bit congested

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We see a lot of accessories for iPods, the quality of which varies wildly, so it's always a pleasure for us to test a decent one.

At £60 the Intempo IDS-05 is cheaper than most docks, but the overall quality is high. It feels more solid and looks more stylish than you might expect. It even features a fully functioning remote and a USB socket for connecting to iTunes without removing your iPod.

Works well for a wee 'un
The Intempo continues to impress in action. The midrange is well represented, with vocalists detailed and clear, treble avoids harshness, and even the bass is reasonable thanks to the (comparatively) large driver on the back.

The tiny size of the Intempo does hold it back a little though. It's not loud enough to fill anything more than a small room, and separation and dynamics are limited. And it seems to us that the purpose of having such a small dock is portability, so why can't it run on batteries? If it could, this would be a fantastic holiday solution. As it is, we're looking at four stars.

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.


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