They say good things come in small packages, and that phrase aptly describes the Logitech S715i. No matter the size, there is no excuse for poor sound quality in an MP3 docking station. Logitech’s S715i exceeds our expectations by increasing the standard quantity of speakers in an MP3 docking station from two to eight. The extra speakers make sure you are experiencing every high note and every low beat to its fullest. Combine the excellent sound quality with the portable design, and you’ll understand why we’ve given the S715i our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award. Additional features like an adjustable support stand, carrying case and rechargeable battery just sweeten the deal.
Upon removing the Logitech S715i MP3 docking station from its packaging, the first thing you’ll notice is the light yet stable design of the docking system. Eight speakers grace the front and back of the docking station, with onboard controls and a universal iPod dock on the top. If you're docking an iPhone, the speaker system will pause the music when a call comes in. Around the back, you’ll see the 3 mm jack where you can connect a smart phone, MP3 player, computer or other external device. The 3 mm connection cable isn’t included in the package, but if you don’t have one floating around your house, you can find the cable at any local electronics store.
On the back of the device you’ll also notice an AC connection where the docking station can be plugged into a wall outlet. You’ll need to connect the speaker dock to an outlet to charge your smart phone, iPod or other MP3 player – it will not charge your devices when it's running on battery power. The sound quality is also affected when the docking station is running on battery power; users note that the deep bass and volume levels are slightly different. But the change in quality is not enough to deter you from taking advantage of the device’s portability.
To play the docking station using its rechargeable battery, you’ll first need to charge the speaker anywhere from four to 10 hours depending on it's current battery life. When fully charged, the portable speaker system can play for up to eight hours before it will need to be charged again. No need to worry about the device running out of juice while you’re using it, there is a LED light on the front of the S715i that indicates the battery level. This light will indicate when you need to charge the speaker dock and when the battery is full.
While this docking station may output 5 watts of energy, it still strives to be energy conscious with two power saving modes. When not in use, the MP3 speaker system will drift into standby mode – a setting intended to conserve battery life. If not in use for a long period of time, the dock will turn completely off. We love these energy saving modes and applaud Logitech for thinking “green.”
The convenience of listening to an MP3 player is probably the reason CD players were so rapidly overthrown by MP3 media. Who wants to lug around a CD player and a case full of CDs when you can have thousands of songs at your fingertips? One thing an MP3 player will never be able to do, however, is compete with a stereo sound system. There is only so much you can hear with headphones. Logitech’s S715i solves this problem by marrying the convenience of an MP3 player and the quality of a stereo sound system. Of course, it isn’t the same as a surround sound system, but for a portable MP3 docking station, it is pretty good.
This MP3 docking station is equipped with eight drivers for a wide range of sound. Beginning in the upper left and right hand corner of the docking station, you’ll see two half-inch neodymium tweeters which crisply play high notes. Moving to the front of the player, you will see four more drivers: two 3-inch laser-tuned neodymium drivers and two 2-inch passive radiators. On the back of the docking system there are two more 2-inch passive radiators, most likely in charge of the deep bass range. The Logitech S715i blows the competition away in the driver quality category. Not only does it have more speakers than any other docking station in our lineup, but those drivers combine to make a stereo-quality sound.
As an added bonus, Logitech includes a remote control with the MP3 speaker system. The remote makes it convenient to control the docking station from up to 30 feet away. You can adjust the volume levels, shuffle through songs, play, pause, access your saved playlists and turn the speakers on or off.
The Logitech S715i is slightly wider and taller than other MP3 docking stations at 18.8 inches wide and 5.5 inches tall. However, this extra space, about 5 inches, allows for the addition of six more speakers than the average docking station. We think the improved sound quality is worth the extra length. And besides, the speaker system only weighs 3.5 pounds – it is still ultra portable. The speaker set even comes with a carrying case to hold the dock and accessories.
During our research we contacted every MP3 docking station brand in our lineup asking specific questions. Logitech was not only the first to answer back, but had the most informative answers to our inquiries and followed up to be sure they answered all of our questions. They also have a customer support line you can call for immediate help. The S715i’s product web page includes a downloadable quick start guide and a few FAQs, but the page didn’t have enough information to satisfy all of our questions. We were very impressed with the two-year warranty included with the docking station. Most competitors offer at most a year, so a two-year warranty is a huge advantage for the S715i.
If you’re not convinced yet of the Logitech S715i’s superiority over other MP3 docking stations, we invite you to experience the magnitude of such a tiny device. All 3.5 pounds of the MP3 speaker system are jam packed with drivers, eight to be specific, all combining for a specific purpose – to create a cohesive sound that would rival a stereo system. It is compatible with most MP3 players and has a built-in dock specifically for the iPod and iPhone. You can also connect other external devices like smart phones or a computer. The rechargeable battery means you don’t have to worry about keeping “D” batteries on hand, and the AC connection makes it easy to plug in the docking station wherever you go. Pack the handy carrying case with the docking station, power cord and your MP3 player, and you are ready to blast your favorite tunes wherever you go.
