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Product: HiFi station for iPod
Developer: Ewoo
Minimum Requirements: Any iPod starting with the 1st gen nano
Retail Price: EUR399.00 (US$599.99)
Availability: Out now

The Ewoo eFizz speaker system caused some conflicts here at Appletell Towers. About half of us liked the black, curved styling, the other half felt it looked like the midsection of a mannequin that had fallen apart. About half of us felt it was too large, the other half felt it’s not much bigger than your standard desktop stereo system. Most of us felt the price was a bit steep, while others are used to paying more for quality stereo equipment.

What all of us could agree upon, though, is the sound. Ah, that sweet, sweet sound. The Ewoo eFizz is easily the best sounding iPod speaker system I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.

Before I get into that, though, I want to reiterate the cost. $600 (EUR399.00) for the eFizz. If that’s a deal killer, we totally understand. But if you’re willing to pay the extra cash for rich, full sound that will allow your iPod to fill a room (and possibly your whole back yard) read on.

The eFizz (an ironic name, considering “fizz” isn’t a term I’d apply to quality audio) features a 2.1 70 Watt RMS audio system from Cabasse. The non-detachable speakers sit side-by-side in the unit, of course, with the subwoofer sitting below and pointing down to the desktop. The eFizz sits comfortably on three rubber feet, offering a half inch of clearance for the bass to pound through. And pound, it does.

The sound from the eFizz is fantastic; big and full when loud, but, more impressively, big and full when it’s not loud. I’ve used iPod speakers before that sound good when cranked up, but sound tinny or hollow when turned down. The eFizz system still sounds great even played back at lower levels.

Although I like the gloss black finish and curves of the eFizz, the unit itself may be too clunky for some people. It stands about 11” high, 16” wide and 12” deep. A deeply recessed area in the top houses your iPod, which connects just like any other docking system and comes with adapters for iPod nanos 1G/2G/3G, iPod 5G 30GB video, iPod classic 60/80GB, and iPod touch. Even with the right adapter, though, there’s no back support, and it’s possible to place your iPod at a bad angle. And because of the iPod docking location, you have to keep the eFizz on a lower shelf or you won’t be able to see what you’re doing back there.

In addition to the iPod dock, the eFizz contains standard RCA analog auxiliary inputs and an auxiliary digital optical input (SPDIF) on the bottom behind the subwoofer. There’s also a USB connection (mini-USB cable supplied) so you can hook the eFizz up to your computer for audio playback and to download firmware updates (a unique and welcome feature amongst iPod speakers).

In front of the iPod dock (and much higher up) is the charging cradle for the HandMusic 2.4GHz 2-way remote control (500 foot range). This handy device allows you to access your iPod’s music with controls similar to the iPod itself (although not nearly as responsive, so it can take a long to cycle through your collection). The 1.8” LED screen displays your album art, but the graphic is so small that it’s fairly useless in that regard. Instead, the remote’s true functionality comes when providing EQ options (preset only) and iPod menu access (most standard iPod options appear on the remote screen). In addition, you can create a playlist directly from the remote; no need to plug your iPod back into your computer first.

You’ll also find yourself using the remote’s play/pause and track skipping buttons because those included on the eFizz itself are barely marked and hard to see. They sit just in front of the remote cradle, and are nothing more than five small buttons with embossed text in front of them to indicate what each is for. Easy to memorize, sure, but some LED lighting would’ve been welcome here for those not familiar with the system or when using it in the dark.

Whether this is all worth $600 will depend upon what you want out of a speaker system. It doesn’t make sense in an office setting, but could look really good in a living room or bedroom with modern decor. If you don’t have use for CDs or a radio, it’s perfect in that regard. I would’ve loved to have a unit such as this in my college dorm room (of course, the iPod hadn’t ben invented yet, so…) It would also make sense as the stereo unit in a den or to take outside for parties; the big, full audio won’t get drowned out by the sound of people splashing around in a pool, for example.

That’s basically what you’re paying for, anyway: sound. The eFizz offers up a lot of it; certainly more than you would’ve thought possible from your iPod. And whereas some here are still conflicted, it’s the sound that sold me.