Wasn't sure where to post this one - could be filed under computer-based music, wifi, or whatever. Anyway here goes.
My wife would like a set of speakers for listening to the iTunes library on her Mac. She'd also like to replace her deceased "ghetto blaster", or in other words have an all-in-one self contained unit (this is for her home office where space is at a premium) with its own CD player and radio - something that would work without the computer being switched on.
I know CDs seem like something from the past these days, but although she has an iTunes library she also has a lot of CDs and I suspect prefers to use the physical CDs sometimes.
Sound quality is important - but convenience, versatility and compactness are as important.
Rather than buying separate computer speakers (was looking at either the £300 Bose ones or the £400 B&Ws) it seemed to make more sense to look for a decent all in one system that could be used as wireless computer speakers, eg by connecting its AUX input to an AirPort Express.
Have looked at the BeoSound 1, which is a really nice quality product and the sound isn't terrible, but doesn't have a DAB radio so will presumably be useless in a couple of years when they switch off normal radio??
There's also the Bose Wave - but although the B&O justifies its price to some extent with build quality (and to a lesser degree, sound quality) the Bose seems ridiculously expensive for a shoddy plastic box. Plus you have to add DAB with a separate external lump, ditto wireless.
The Meridian M80 seems like an obvious choice, but it looks like a toaster(!), and at £1,500 is a bit more than we'd like to spend. And a lot more than the B&O which in sound terms is good enough, so basically we'd be paying £500 just to get DAB?
Are there any other options out there?
My wife would like a set of speakers for listening to the iTunes library on her Mac. She'd also like to replace her deceased "ghetto blaster", or in other words have an all-in-one self contained unit (this is for her home office where space is at a premium) with its own CD player and radio - something that would work without the computer being switched on.
I know CDs seem like something from the past these days, but although she has an iTunes library she also has a lot of CDs and I suspect prefers to use the physical CDs sometimes.
Sound quality is important - but convenience, versatility and compactness are as important.
Rather than buying separate computer speakers (was looking at either the £300 Bose ones or the £400 B&Ws) it seemed to make more sense to look for a decent all in one system that could be used as wireless computer speakers, eg by connecting its AUX input to an AirPort Express.
Have looked at the BeoSound 1, which is a really nice quality product and the sound isn't terrible, but doesn't have a DAB radio so will presumably be useless in a couple of years when they switch off normal radio??
There's also the Bose Wave - but although the B&O justifies its price to some extent with build quality (and to a lesser degree, sound quality) the Bose seems ridiculously expensive for a shoddy plastic box. Plus you have to add DAB with a separate external lump, ditto wireless.
The Meridian M80 seems like an obvious choice, but it looks like a toaster(!), and at £1,500 is a bit more than we'd like to spend. And a lot more than the B&O which in sound terms is good enough, so basically we'd be paying £500 just to get DAB?
Are there any other options out there?