by Noah Kravitz, Reviews Editor

24 January 2006

Music Without Wires
Logitech's Wireless Music System for iPod is a bit of a misnomer. Though the Bluetooth transmitter/reciever bundle is compatible with all versions of Apple's iPod music players, its usefulness extends to any device that outputs sound via a 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo minijack - i.e. "headphone" - connector, including virtually every Apple computer you're likely to come across. Logitech does make a line of USB Bluetooth audio systems specifically for computers, but if you own an iPod (or other mp3, CD, or portable tape player) the iPod system is a better value. Seeing as the USB system's software-based functionality isn't Mac compatible, anyway, the Wireless Music System for iPod is the smart choice for Mac owners in search of Mac or iPod-based music without the wires.

Logitech calls its audio transmission technology "Music Anywhere." In fact, this is a name for their version of Bluetooth, capable of transmitting stereo audio up to 33 feet (10m) from transmitter to receiver without wires. The Wireless Music System for iPod consists of those two pieces - a transmitter and receiver - along with AC adaptors for each piece, stereo RCA cables, and a Quick Start guide. Logitech's transmitter is a white rectangular plastic box roughly the width and depth of an iPod, with a 1/8" stereo plug sticking out its bottom side. The plug is affixed on a sliding mount so you can align the unit more or less center atop any iPod, which is a nice detail. A sole button on the front of the transmitter is used for connecting to the receiver, and an LED provides status feedback.

The receiver we received is the same black and silver unit included in Logitech's Wireless Music System for PC. As such it has top-mounted playback controls and a front-mounted IR receptor that aren't used with the iPod receiver (Note: The picture at left was furnished by Logitech and depcits a receiver without top-mount playback controls). A connect button and status LED similar to those found on the transmitter are also on the top panel of the receiver. The other vitals are along the back panel: A swiveling antenna, and jacks for AC power and stereo audio out via both RCA and 1/8" minijack. There is also a switch to toggle between variable and fixed level output.

Setup is very easy. The receiver and trasnmitter come pre-paired out of the box, so all you really need to do is connect the receiver to AC power and an audio system or powered speakers, plug the transmitter into your audio source, and press the connect button on the transmitter. The LED light blinks red until a connection has been made, at which time the LEDs on both transmitter and receiver glow a steady blue. You're now ready to stream your sound. Simple as that. Should you encounter any problems, re-pairing the devices is relatively pain-free though it does require walking over to the receiver: press and hold the connect buttons on both units until the LEDs tell you re-pairing is complete.

Performance
Bluetooth audio transmission promises better sound quality than FM transmission technologies used in popular iPod adapters such as Griffin's iTrip and XtremeMac's AirPlay. Additionally, Bluetooth systems don't fight for the same FM frequencies used by radio stations, which can be a big problem when using an FM transmitter in an urban market crowded with radio stations. As such, using a Bluetooth system should be ultimately more satisfying than popping an FM-based rig atop your iPod.

It's true. Logitech's Wireless Music System performed very well when transmitting from both my 5G iPod and iBook to my home theater system (via RCA out) and a few different portable and powered speaker systems (via minijack out). Audio was broadcast in stereo and fidelity was full and clear no matter the source. Both the transmitter and receiver lack digital audio connections so don't expect surround sound or ultra-pristine signals, but as a rule of thumb if it sounds good through a set of analog headphones or speakers it'll continue to sound good with the Logitech equipment inserted along your signal path.

Logitech claims a range of 33 feet for its wireless system. My apartment is arranged off of a central hallway, with no single room as big as 33 ft. across, so transmitting across that much distance would require the signal to pass through a few walls. I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by walking around the place with transmitting iPod or iBook in hand - the signal remained clear and strong as I strayed further and further from the reciever I had connected a stereo in the front-most room. Approaching the far reaches of the other side of my apartment the music finally started to break up, but I was at least 30 feet (and two walls) away from the receiver at that point.

System expansion is possible with the purchase of additional receiver units for $79.99 each (MSRP). However, according to a Logitech representative you must re-pair your transmitter every time you use it with a different receiver. So if you're listening to your iPod wirelessly through the living room stereo and decide you want to move to the bedroom, you'll have to re-pair to the bedroom receiver before you'll hear anything on that system. Similarly, you can't broadcast audio from a single transmitter to more than one receiver at the same time. I don't know that there's a way around this given the limitations of Bluetooth technology, but it'd be nice if there was; I use my iPod with different stereo systems in different rooms of the apartment and it'd be great to be able to connect wirelessly wherever I am without having to constantly re-pair devices. Of course, if it mattered that much to me I'd pony up for a Sonos or a bunch of Airport Express boxes.

Overall
Logitech's Wireless Music System for iPod is the best way I've yet seen to get music from an iPod, PowerBook/iBook, or other portable source to a home stereo. iPod's combination of mass storage in a small form factor and intuitive user interface has made it a runaway hit. Logitech's system retains everything I love about my iPod while opening the music up to everything I love about my amplified speaker system. Where other connection systems seek to replicate as much of iPod's user interface as possible through proprietary remote controls, Logitech's approach cashes in on the rightful notion that there's no better iPod remote than the iPod itself. The flexibility of the transmitter's standard 1/8" stereo minijack plug means that you can purchase one system and use it with basically any audio source you want. So while the name takes full advantage of iPod's popularity, the Wireless Music System for iPod is certainly not an iPod-only product.

My biggest complaint about this product is - you guessed it - that the price is too high. Bluetooth for stereo audio is a new consumer technology , so in time prices will drop. For now, $150 for what's essentially an extra-long minijack-to-RCA cable (sans cable, of course) might put potential buyers off a bit. Also, there's no support for wireless streaming of photos or video should you have a an iPod Photo, 4G, 5G, or nano. Still, this is by far my favorite solution for using my iPod with my home stereo system. No more cables, no more IR remotes, and no more walking across the room to cue up a new track. Until something better comes along (and it always does), this is the way to go.

* * * *

Get the best price for your new iPod at PCPrices/iPod.