Many home computer users grow accustomed to the shallow sound of the speakers that come with their LCD monitor or the tiny bundled speakers that accompany many new computer systems. For users that want more clarity and audiophile quality in the sound coming from their computer upgrading their speakers makes a lot of sense.
The StudioDock 4i active reference USB monitors from Samson are intended for studio quality audio installations and for hobbyists that want the best sound reproduction possible, but in the end the StudioDock 4i makes an excellent choice for home computer users as well. The StudioDock 4i is a great choice not just for the superb audio quality but also for an integrated iPod dock and auxiliary audio inputs.
Samson StudioDock 4i Review: All Pros and and Very Few Cons
The small yet powerful StudioDock 4i speakers provide 20 watts of power per channel, more than enough power to fill a modest sized office or family room with sound. The speakers feature:
- 25mm silk dome tweeters
- 4 inch woofers
- USB interface and a built in digital to analog converter
- Attractive black MDF cabinets with silver accents agree with almost any rooms color scheme
- Built in iPod dock allows direct control and play of tracks stored on the device
- 1 auxiliary RCA Left/Right input on back panel
- 1 auxiliary 3.5mm input on front panel
- 1 front mounted headphone jack
In testing the Samson StudioDock 4i USB monitors worked flawlessly and sounded great. The depth and fullness of the sound produced by the speakers is markedly better than any LCD monitor based speaker, and for such small speakers the bass response is also quite good.
When playing video games the reviewer was able to hear nuances in the music and ambient sounds that he had never heard before using other speakers or headphones.
The StudioDock 4i iPod Dock Is An Added Benefit For Home Users
The convenience of the iPod dock cannot be understated, especially in a home environment. Playing songs through the speakers directly from the iPod is easy to do. The reviewer found that although the dock is not made specifically for the iPhone it does serve perfectly well as a very convenient fixed place to dock and charge a phone at night (although the phone must be set to airplane mode to avoid some nasty interference from coming through the monitors while charging).
The Samson StudioDock 4i USB Monitors sell for around $169 from many online and brick and mortar retailers. The slightly less powerful StudioDock 3i is almost the same device and sells for about $50 less.
Either of these products might be considered a rather pricey upgrade for a home computer system, but the satisfaction and quality provided by the speakers more than justifies the cost for those that desire the best possible audio experience when working on their home computer.
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