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Creative Xdock and X-Fi Wireless Receiver

Creative Xdock and X-Fi Wireless Receiver
Full Set Upright Angle Angle

review

Go to our Dads and Grads page for more great gift ideas!Creative announced the Xdock back in January at CES 2007, along with the X-Fi Wireless Receiver. It's rare that I test two separate products in one review, but these two are inextricably tied. Arguably, the Xdock isn't all that exciting without the X-Fi Receiver and inarguably, the X-Fi receiver is useless without the Xdock. They are sold separately, but the pair will run you $300 on Creative's Web site. The concept here is not new. There's a charging dock for your Apple iPod that also outputs video, music, and photos from your library to your TV and stereo. A wireless receiver placed elsewhere in the house will play the audio from the docked iPod, provided it is also wired into speakers. Sure, Sonos has been making wireless room-to-room systems for a while now (a two-room kit, minus speakers, costs $1,000), but the Xdock is a more affordable and simpler option. Although there are minor flaws, the system couldn't be easier to use, and it does everything it advertises.

red arrow Read the Creative Xdock and X-Fi Wireless Receiver full review

Company

Creative Labs Inc

http://us.creative.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $100.00 Direct
  • Ethernet Interface: No
  • Hard Drive: No
  • Supports MP3: Yes
  • Supports WMA: Yes
  • Shows Photos: Yes
  • Plays Internet Radio: No
  • Shows Video: No
  • Has On-screen TV Display: No
  • Rips CDs: No
  • Notes: price dock and wireless receiver: $300; dock: $200; receiver: $100

Bottom Line

It isn't perfect, but the Creative X-Fi Wireless Receiver and Xdock system is a great, affordable way to get your music off your Apple iPod and enjoy it around the house.

Pros

Wirelessly streams music to different speaker "zones." Dock displays video and photo slide shows on TV. Great wireless sound quality. Easy to operate.

Cons

No display on dock, receivers, or remote for iPod navigation. No RCA-outs on Xdock. X-Fi 3D sound feature is so-so.

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