New Creative range enhances iPod audio too
Not so long ago Apple and Creative had a small fallout over who first came up with the hierarchical menus used by Zens and iPods. The result was a $10
Not so long ago Apple and Creative had a small fallout over who first came up with the hierarchical menus used by Zens and iPods. The result was a $100 million settlement in Creative’s favour – small pocket change for Apple – and an understanding that the Zen maker would start producing accessories for the rival player.A few months down the line and we can now see the fruits of that agreement; a whole new line of seriously well equipped offerings with that all important ‘made for iPod’ badge.Top of the pile is the sumptuous 2.1 ‘X-Fi Sound System i600′ (pictured) with 35W speakers and a 135W sub. As the name suggests, it employs Creative’s X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity audio tweaking.Because iTunes’ compressed 128kbps tends to sound a bit rough around the edges when its piped through cones rather than cans, the dock uses cunning ‘Crystalizer’ technology to enhance the audio quality and the snappily titled CMSS-3D to add a sprig of surround sound to the mix.Getting the same X-Fi treatment is the Xdock which allows you to hook your iPod up to an existing sound system or TV for quality audio and iPod videos on your main screen.Also new is the Xmod Wireless, which can be used with the Xdock to stream content around the house to an X-Fi Wireless Receiver. And finally there are two new standard iPod speaker docks, the bijou PlayDock i500 with built-in sub and the TravelSound i, which can connect to a TV for screening video and photo files.Only the i500 has a UK price ticket so far but we suspect that such velvety audio luxury isn’t going to come cheap.
Creative X-Fi Sound System i600, Xdock, Xmod Wireless, X-Fi Wireless Receiver, TravelSound i, PlayDock i500Price: £TBA (i500 £150)On sale: TBA (i500 now)Contact: CreativeRelated stories:Up, up and upscale away!
Dan Grabham
Editor-in-Chief 
