The „Transformer" Gear4 DUO iPod Dock Launching Today in Europe

Every now and then comes a piece of iPod technology that really makes a difference among all sorts of other crappy contraptions; and this time it's Gear4 DUO's turn to shine in the spotlight. Even though the DUO is playing the same old iPod dock song, to which I guess few can add something more, this one is truly a novelty in design, as it brings a breath of "fresh air" on the market.

The big difference between the Gear4 DUO and the rest of the glamorous dock-wannabes comes from its very dual-purpose design.

Meant to work both as a nifty living room multimedia item, as well as a highly-portable iPod speaker, the DUO manages to get the best of both worlds: it combines the ease of use of the portable speaker systems and the lightweight design of such gadgets, on one side, while adding to the hefty sound quality of the high-class audio gear meant for domestic enjoyment.

Basically, we're talking about a speaker system that looks pretty much the same as any other similar gear: with a bulky yet beautifully engineered box housing the speakers, impeccable craftsmanship and an almost luxurious feel, a perforated grille protecting the front-firing drivers and a frontside dock capable of accommodating pretty much any dockable iPods.

The novelty comes from the fact that the Gear4 DUO can be physically split in two pieces, with the bulky back left behind and the front acting like the above-mentioned portable stereo speaker system! Of course, the portable mode will deprive you of the hefty rich bass coming form the dual ported subwoofers, but you'll gain on the mobility side; after all, as you're going for a picnic you presumably just want delightful music to go with the outing feeling and not a Hi-Fi rack's sound...

The "satellite" front speaker boasts its own battery and amp, delivering you a high-class sound performance from the stereo array running on dual 6W full-range units and twin dedicated 3W tweeters. Back in the box, you get the 20W supplementary bass power to meet your sonic expectations in your home's intimacy.

The Gear4 DUO bass unit recharges the satellite and sports a special compartment for the second battery. The full specs have not been released yet but, as far as the pictures show, there is no remote control, headphones jack or Aux In. The Gear4 DUO comes in black or silver, retailing for € 200 (in Europe) and £150 (in the UK); the US price is expected to be somewhere around $300, with shipping starting in June.

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