Yamaha PDX-31 Portable Player 30 Pin Dock for iPod/iPhone (Black)

I did some comparisons at stores including the Apple store, listening to every model my iphone 4 with bumper case would fit in and most of them sounded pretty weak until you got to the $250 and up group. I compared all sorts of iphone docks online and I was set on buying the Kicker. I went to check it out at a brick and mortar store and it did sound great, but sitting next to it was this little Yamaha brick for $100 less. I compared them side by side and I actually think the Yamaha sounded better at low to medium volume levels. When you REALLY get it loud the Kicker sounded better, but I know I will rarely ever actually play it that loud. At low to medium loud volumes this thing sounds great - way better than the other options in it's price range. It sounds good loud also, but it's not going to shake the walls. I have other systems for that purpose.I love my iphone because it simply works great all the time. Not buggy or complicated. It makes sense. That's what I wanted in a dock. I can put my iphone 4 in it with the bumper case on. It immediately connects. It's shielded so I don't have static noise or interference from the phone. It charges my phone. It has only two buttons. Really, do you need any more? Your iphone does everything else. The remote does control basic features on the phone including skipping songs and browsing your playlists or artists. The design is classic and simple. So many other docks looked tacky and felt cheap, but the Yamaha feels solid. I keep it on my desk at work work and everyone has been very impressed with the sound quality.

I have owned this Yamaha PDX-31 Portable Player 30 Pin Dock for iPod/iPhone (Black) for a couple of months now and am really enjoying it except for a couple of issues.1. Just after the first month of using the player, when I would plug my IPod into the docking station the green LED would blink and then a red LED would start blinking as well. I said "Oh no, something's wrong and of course it's too late to return it to Amazon." Then after a second, my IPod screen would come on and say "This device is not supported by IPod" (or something similar). Well I thought maybe a pin on the docking station got bent or something... couldn't find any problem there. Music still played through the system, I just had to turn it up manually instead of using the included remote, and it would not charge the IPod. This continued for about a week. After some more thought I remembered that some electronics need to be unplugged so they can "reset" themselves. So I decided to unplug the unit, wait for a minute, plug the unit back in, place the IPod back on the docking station, and BANG everything worked fine. No more red LED, no more message on the IPod, the remote worked again, and the IPod would charge again. This issue has not recurred since, and everything continues to work fine.2. The docking station is a bit of a struggle for me to plug it in. I'm not sure I can describe what I want to say here, but I hope you can understand what I mean. I wish this unit had some interchangeable plastic forms for the IPod touch and IPhone like a Sony system I own has. It more accurately fits the base of the IPod and basically guides the IPod onto the docking station pins. The way it is designed it is a larger molded opening in the plastic top of the Yamaha to accommodate the larger IPhone base.These are the only cons to this Yamaha unit, in my opinion. Otherwise, I am very satisfied with the sound it produces, and the simple remote that comes with it to operate basic IPod controls. The unit seems overall durable enough. And I am pleased with the 69.99 price I paid for it.I'll update if the blinking light issue comes back, but at this point I would still recommend this as a really nice unit.

I bought this to replace my Bose system. I went by other reviews and I don't feel it is as good as others said. Maybe I was spoiled by the quality of the bose. I just didn't have the funds at this time to go for another one so I went by the reviews on this one. It's ok, but quality is just not the same.

I did hope it would be at least ok... but when I first listen to it, I was like... oh my God!!!! I should have listen to those bad reviews.Too late now.

I was really hoping this little rig would do the job. I listen to mostly classical music, which admittedly is demanding. A big bass thump isn't required, but I was very disappointed in the sound of this speaker dock. I compared it side by side to a Logitech S715i, changing from one to the other on the same selection. What a tremendous difference! I could hear instruments on the Logitech unit that were muffled on this Yamaha unit, even though the two speaker docks are very similar in size. The violins were pure pleasure to hear on the Logitech and if there was base, it was there in spades. Turning up the volume on the two just emphasized the deficiencies of this Yamaha dock as it distorted. I felt like I was listening to AM radio with the Yamaha, compared to the finest FM on the Logitech. Another comparison that comes to mind is listening to music in grey tones compared to full living color.The Logitech S715i  Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker for iPod and iPhone is $20 less expensive and even lets you move it around with its internal rechargeable battery, so it is truly portable. Needless to say, I returned the Yamaha. Don't waste your time even trying this nice looking but overpriced but under performing excuse for a premium dock. Sorry Yamaha, try again.

I am an engineer and quite into the science of studio audio performance. This dock tries so hard to deliver bass within its tiny dimensions. The result: it does okay if you do not exceed 60% of its volume limit. A bose sound dock on the other hand does not even try to deliver bass which is good because it does not distort the mid(vocal) and high(treble) range. PDX 31 has a digital amplifier which means it has zero distortion, buzzing or hissing sound, whatever you call it to be; which is a bliss in a quite room. Buy this only for personal use in a small room. Do not expect its sound to be filling your room entirely. It is of high quality though but not powerful enough for open spaces, halls etc.I would have loved it more if instead of producing bass it would have produced crispier, more powerful vocals.