As well an iPod dock, the Evolve has stereo RCA audio input connectors, so you can also plug in your TV, PC, hi-fi or another media player as its sound source.

Similarly, there are a pair of RCA connectors for audio out as well as composite video and s-video outputs, which work with any fifth-generation video iPods, but not with the latest iPod Classic, Nano, Touch or the iPhone.

Transmit to multiple Evolve speaker sets

The pièce de résistance has to be the ability of other Evolve speakers to work with any dock, this means if any of your friends have a set of Evolve speakers they can bring them around and by touching them to the charging plate, their speakers automatically pair with your base station, allowing you to have speakers dotted all over the place playing the same music.

If you like long feature lists then there are plenty of other iPod docks around that will better suit your needs. There's no alarm clock, no CD or DVD drive, no surround sound and no graphic equaliser here. But if you can live without those, and like listening to your music all around the house but can't just turn it up so loud you can hear it from the front door to the back, then the Evolve should definitely be up for your consideration.

Unfortunately, this innovation comes at a price. The Evolve is due out in the UK in March for a wallet-cringing £250, but a quick spin around the web sees most online retail stores offering them for around £200 once stock becomes available.

Verdict

We were really impressed by Griffin's latest offering. Their versatility makes them an option for just about anyone looking to get themselves an iPod dock with speakers, or the convenience of wireless speakers with another sound source. Unless you demand a particularly impressive audio experience, the speaker quality should be good enough for most users, and although on the pricey side it may still be cheaper and definitely more convenient than buying several iPod docks and having them scattered about the house.