Samson's StudioDock 3i is a unique package that combines a pair of small powered speakers with an iPod dock and connects to your Mac (or PC) via USB. With a 1.25-inch silk dome tweeter, heavy duty 3.25-inch copolymer driver, tuned rear bass port, and built-in 30w amplifier, this little system delivers bigger and better sound than you might expect from such modestly-sized speakers.

This sophisticated desktop audio system is more than just a pair of powered speakers, offering multiple applications including:

• Listening to audio from your Mac or PC
• Listening to audio from your iPod
• Listening to audio from any other source (via either the 1/8-inch stereo AUX input on the front panel or dual RCA inputs on the rear)
• Listening to any of the above through headphones (via the 1/8-inch stereo headphone jack on the front panel)

and

• Syncing your iPods with iTunes

As you can surely see, StudioDock 3i is more than just a sweet set of powered speakers, especially when you consider their reasonable price ($149). Alas, I can always find something to gripe about and in this case it's that while I found this system otherwise quite attractive, it's just not usable with an iPhone. Although it is possible to dock and recharge your iPhone in the StudioDock, the painful audio interference you'll experience pretty much guarantees you will never want to do it again.

The Bottom Line

The StudioDock 3i is more than yet another set of powered speakers. Rather, it's a sophisticated multi-function desktop audio system for computers, iPods, and other audio sources that looks good and sounds great. Considering its size and price, it's worth considering unless your iPod of choice happens to be an iPhone. If that's the case, I'm sad to report, the StudioDock is totally inappropriate.