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Arcam rDock

Arcam rDock

The cradle will RAAAWK

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Agentless Backup is Not a Myth

Accessory of the Week Arcam’s rDock is a hefty slab of cast alloy, designed to accommodate an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad in it’s Dock connector.

Arcam rDock

A rubber base means it won’t slide around your desk or hi-fi unit when you're docking and undocking your iDevice, and a strip of rubber along the front of the stand protects the back of your Apple gadget.

The rDock is about a great deal more than somewhere to sit your iPod while it charges or syncs, however. There’s an array of connectors along the back to allow you to push video using either HDMI, or audio, digitally using the SPDif socket or in analogue form with the help of a built-in DAC and line-level phono sockets. There’s a USB socket for syncing and charging.

Arcam rDock

If you intend to use the rDock as a video or audio output, however, it’s unlikely to be close to a computer, so there’s the option to plug the Arcam box into the mains.

Arcam rDock

And, just so you don’t have to get off the sofa once you’ve slotted your iDevice into the dock, there’s an IR remote control.

Audio quality, particularly using the built-in DAC, is as high as you would expect from a company with Arcam’s pedigree. And at £200, that’s a big chunk of what you’re paying for.

Arcam rDock

Clearly, if hooking an iPad or iPhone up to a hi-fi isn’t in your plans, the rDock is overkill. But for audio geeks and particularly owners of Arcam amplifiers, it’s the perfect iDevice accessory. ®

Reg Hardware chooses its Accessory of the Week every Friday. Got one in mind you want us to consider? Please let us know

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80%
Arcam rDock

Arcam rDock

Pricey but stylish iDevice dock. The money goes to the super output array and superior on-board audio processing.
Price: £200 RRP
Anonymous Coward

Slight quibble about terminology

Reg - this article appears under the heading 'hardfacts'. Any chance you could change that heading to 'unsubstantiated opinions that could be gleaned from the press release'?

'Audio quality, particularly using the built-in DAC, is as high as you would expect from a company with Arcam’s pedigree.'

Prove it.

4
1

Never mind the review. The sub-title deserves a prize.

2
0

Odd shortfall

Wouldn't be my kind of thing, but I can see it appealing to some people.

What is surprising is the remote. I would have thought that at that price range and market the remote wouldn't look quiet so "cheap".

Having said that, perhaps the expectation in the audio market that customers normally use some kind of 'all in one' instead.

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