Features
Apart from iPod music playback via a dock that slides out from the front, the Ikon also offers inbuilt support for DAB+, Internet radio, last.fm and home streaming via Ethernet. The credit card-sized remote is surprisingly bereft of controls given everything the Ikon can manage. That’s largely because it also sports a 3.5 inch (9cm) touchscreen that uses simple icons for menu selection. Stick an iPod Touch or iPhone underneath it, and you’re looking at a lot of stroke-able screen real estate. The screen itself is good for displaying DAB+ content where radio broadcasters can be bothered presenting any, but on the iPod side it’s a rather bland, mostly monochrome affair.
Performance
You can’t get something for nothing. The Ikon’s functional ability comes at something of a cost, and that’s an aesthetic one. The Ikon is slightly striking in appearance, but it’s also undeniably of fairly ho-hum plastic construction. Beyond aesthetics, this had an effect on audio quality at louder levels, where distortion became very noticeable.
If you’re planning on using the Ikon as a desk-based dock at moderate volume this shouldn’t be too much of a problem, but those planning on filling a room with high and heavy tones may find the abrasiveness too much to bear.
Conclusion
If you want a dock that does more than just play back iPod music and you don’t particularly want your music blisteringly loud, the Ikon’s a solid option. Those who want more bump to their bass should look elsewhere, however.
