Group test: Posh iPod docks

The iPod is arguably the most popular gadget icon of this century so far - but many owners never really tap into its full potential. Whacking on a pair of decent headphones and listening to your favourite album on the morning commute is one thing, but what about when you get home and don't want to keep the tunes to yourself?

A speaker dock is what you need, and not some cheap plastic horror that sounds tinnier than a tuna cannery. Luckily there's an ever increasing selection of docks that offer a winning blend of design, style and performance - and we've gathered up a quartet of the very finest to find out which most deserves to cradle your iPod.

Overview Price: £400 More info: B&W Size (W x H x D): 380 x 126 x 226mm Weight: 6.7kg Power: 2 x 10W Connections: 3.5mm analogue input; 3.5mm headphone socket; USB port (for digital music files); Ethernet; mono audio output B&W Zeppelin Bowers & Wilkins is primarily known for high-end home cinema and hi-fi speakers, and the Zeppelin is its first attempt at creating a more mainstream audio product for a wider market. The curvy, lengthened balloon-like shape that gives the device its name houses stereo speakers and a subwoofer, while the docking station itself juts out from the middle. It's a beautiful, eye-catching design, and in our opinion it's the best-looking iPod speaker dock ever made (certainly it's the most iconically stylish in this test). The dock sits on a rubber “shoe” on your desktop or shelf, and a second shoe is provided for use in larger spaces - this angles the speakers slightly down so that they project further from a higher vantage point. A tiny, pebble-style remote control rounds off the package. With 100 watts of digital amplification at its disposal, the Zeppelin can shift an awful lot of audio (easily enough to fill a large living room) and the subwoofer ensures bass is suitably low and punchy. But it's not just about power here: music remains clear and detailed across the whole range, and there's almost no distortion evident, even when you pump the volume right up. On the downside, there's no way to connect the dock up to a PC for iPod syncing, but there's a 3.5mm stereo input for other audio devices, and an S-Video output allowing you to hook it up to a TV.

Verdict Plus points Plus points Superb sound quality. Gorgeous styling Minus points Pricey. No way to sync with iTunes

Overview Price: £500 More info: Denon Size (W x H x D): 245 x 125 x 150mm Weight: 2kg Power: N/A Connections: 3.5mm analogue input; S-Video output; subwoofer output

iPod integration is a step ahead of the other models here: the LCD screen displays your iPod's contents and menu systems, and you can control everything using the remote control. The other models here let you skip tracks and adjust the volume, but little besides.

Despite the total audio power output being rated at a mere 20 watts, this unit can really blast out the audio when it flexes its sonic muscles. Treble is clear as a bell, while bass is firm and flab-free; as with the KEF, you can hook up a separate subwoofer if you wish. Sound quality is similarly impressive when listening to CDs, digital music files or any of the radio options - all things considered, this is a fantastic all-round music system for the cash.