Apple has been around longer than you might think in the hi-fi world. There was an Apple speaker years before the HomePod, which coincidentally has just been resurrected. It wasn’t a big speaker, it was huge. And it was one of the most famous (pun intended) iPod accessories.
Maybe if you’re a certain age you remember: I’m talking about the ipod hi-fi. A real juggernaut to which you could plug an iPod and have the whole neighborhood listen to your favorite songs. It was not successful, but has now become a star product for collectors.
The iPod Hi-Fi came out in a opening speech discreet, from the hand of Steve Jobs himself in February 2006. At that time, iPods had created a trend for speakers with an integrated Dock, and Apple was looking to merge this concept with that of high-fidelity audio . And from this idea was born the iPod Hi-Fi, a huge speaker with a power that even the HomePod envy today.
I didn’t buy it, but a friend did and I was able to try it. I remember its huge ‘block’ shape (imagine a soundbar but much thicker) and its handles to move it around. He was also very curious that he had the opportunity to powered by six (six!) D size batteries.
Unfortunately, the iPod Hi-Fi was a flop. It retailed for $349 at the time (Apple argued that equivalent stereos cost more than double that), but was considered expensive by the public at the time. Between that and other criticisms such as not having a radio, Apple ended up stop selling it at the end of 2007. They pulled a thick veil and devoted themselves to other things.
Now you can find many Hi-Fi iPods on eBay. Prices vary a lot (from 45 to 399 dollars), but collectors do not skimp. And there are those who still know how to get the most out of it today: if you connect one of these speakers to an AirPort Express, you end up with an end-to-end AirPlay 2 speaker:
Ironic: two obsolete Apple products that, once connected, become a modern speaker capable of working with today’s devices. Sometimes Apple knows how to make veterans smile.
Picture | Teofilo Ruiz Suarez
