N00bie question about MP3 players and docking stations

[Eat Right]

I'll admit that I'm not up to speed with hardware components designed for listening to music. Actually I'm way behind! I didn't know what a docking station was until today.

Someone I heard said this:
"If I were single... ipod witha BOSE dock all the way for your house or apartment! No questions asked. Not as good as a full system but its something your guests will love!"

Question: do you really need a Bose or Altec Lansing docking station if you already have a quality 5.1 speaker system hooked up to your computer? For example, I have the Logitech Z5500's. I've never owned an MP3 player, that's how inexperienced I am with this subject. Thanks in advance.

my z5500's: http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B0002WPSBC/ref=cm_cr_pr_recent?%5Fencoding=UTF8&s...DateDescending

docking station:
http://www.amazon.com/Bose-SoundDock-digital-music-system/product-reviews/B000F4CVQC/r...DateDescending

[Xylob the Destroyer]

If you already have a quality 5.1 speaker system on your PC you should be set.
If you have an MP3 player or any other portable music device all the music on it (and more) would most likely already be on your PC anyway -- how else would you have it in the proper format to put on your portable?
So, if you already have a good speaker set up on your PC and all the music is on your PC, why would you need a portable music device?
If all your music isn't already on your PC, you'll still have to get it there before you could put it on the portable device.
Right?

[Eat Right]

If you already have a quality 5.1 speaker system on your PC you should be set.
If you have an MP3 player or any other portable music device all the music on it (and more) would most likely already be on your PC anyway -- how else would you have it in the proper format to put on your portable?
So, if you already have a good speaker set up on your PC and all the music is on your PC, why would you need a portable music device?

The threadstarter is referring to music listened to through external speakers, not headphones. My externals are sitting on bookshelves on the west wall, which, when turned up, might impinge on a neighbors wish for peace and comfort. A docking station would allow portability over to the north, south or east side of the living space.

[Eat Right]

Thumbs down on the Bose unit? Maybe.

Update for those who live in an apartment, have space issues, or are interested in docking stations:

According to a PC Magazine article I discovered yesterday, the Logitech Pure-Fi Elite docking station blows the Bose docking station away. And, the Bose docking station is an inferior docking station on the whole, according to PC Magazine.

The short article is titled, "This iPod Dock Rocks". It's in the March 2008 issue, page 47. I'll note that they comment on the inability of the Bose unit to provide quality, ear pleasing bass. The article I'm referring to is not available online. Some quotes from the hard copy edition of PC Mag:

>compared with the Bose SoundDock, the Pure-Fi Elite has deeper bass extension

>it also sounded smoother and more detailed than the SoundDock in the upper midrange

>one gripe: the system did not always power on quickly

>we were also disappointed that the set doesn't have an alarm clock...

>the bottom line is that the looks, punch, and price steal the show here. The Logitech Pure-Fi Elite turns heads and pumps out top-notch sound quality at an attractive price

Those are the exact quotes as stated in said issue of PC Magazine. Go to your local library to obtain the article. As always, shop wisely, do your research, contact tech/customer support BEFORE you purchase a product, and most of all, let the buyer beware.


http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2216367,00.asp
http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1244306124/ref=sr_pg_1?ie=UTF8&rs=&keywords=logitech%20pur...20elite&page=1
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2333641,00.asp

[RabidDog]

I would sincerely doubt that there is such a thing as a quality 5.1 system attached to a PC. For reasonable quality sound you should be looking at a separates system away from your computer. Even the highest quality of these docks are "middling" in terms of true quality. They often concentrate on looks and size above sound quality .. All Bling and No Zing. But it depends on what you are used to, and the quality of your sources eg CD SACD LP 2nd generation Cassette, 92k Mp3 etc,