SONY-BUILT PRODUCTS have outlasted Apple-built products in my home. Sony's CPF-IP001 iPod audio docking station gives me the best of both worlds. I have a three-year old iPod (thanks, Tim!) boosted by a 15W subwoofer bassline that sends its harmonic into a spider mic on my desk. That's an unwanted bit of crossfeed but an interesting way of measuring the effectiveness of this piece of consumer electronics. The two main speakers deliver 5W each. A remote control and an additional line input make this little number more suited to my home office than the Edirol speakers it replaces. You can get this kit in Irish Sony Centres for less than EUR 230. The iPod connector is compatible with 1st and 2nd Generation Nano, 5th Generation Video, 4th Generation Color, 4th Generation or 1st Generation Mini iPod models.