Isymphony M2 review

Speakers with an integrated dock provide a convenient way of listening to your iPod at home.

However, systems that are designed for such a specific single task risk becoming obsolete if you upgrade your MP3 player. As such, we were rather taken by the iSymphony M2. Its iPod dock runs the same risk of obsolescence as any other, but it's backed up by a conventional CD player and FM radio, plus a USB port and SD card slot. Together, these allow MP3, WMA and WAV file playback from SD cards, USB storage devices and MP3 players with an integrated USB plug. The CD drive can play MP3 CDs, and even DVD-Videos through a comprehensive set of video outputs.

The front panel is covered with an excess of blue lights that makes the system look dated. Itfs quite deep at 33cm, which is probably too much for most shelves. The button layout could be better, and skipping multiple tracks is quite slow and awkward. This is particularly unfortunate because the M2 can't read music files stored in folders on USB devices, SD cards or MP3 CDs. You'll need to store all your music in the root, and wade through a long list of tracks to make selections. iPod playback is fine, though, as you select tracks on the player.

Given the M2fs reasonable price and wealth of features, we were surprised to find that it also has decent sound quality. There's plenty of bass and reasonable clarity, and the lack of high treble detail doesn't detract much from the overall listening experience. The ability to position the two speakers in different locations gives a much more spacious stereo image than you get from all-in-one speaker systems such as Altec Lansing's M602 (opposite). The maximum volume before distortion sets in isn't huge, but for a kitchen, bedroom or small living room it should be plenty.

We would love the M2 even more - and happily pay another £50 - if it incorporated a DAB radio or internet radio features similar to those of Terratec's Noxon iRadio. However, as hi-fi systems go, we haven't seen anything else this versatile. The combined CD player and iPod dock perform well, and the more unusual features such as the USB port, SD slot and DVD playback are bound to come in handy occasionally. The M2fs surprisingly good sound quality and reasonable price mean we're happy to live with its minor flaws.