Apple Ipad 2 speaker dock head to head review

IF YOU OWN an Ipad 2 and use it to listen to music or watch video then you might be after a decent speaker docking station to accompany it.

We've gathered five docks from different manufacturers with prices ranging from £69 to £499, so there should be something for every taste and budget. The five docks in ascending price order are the Logitech AV Stand (£69), the Altec Octiv 450 (£99), the JBL Onbeat (£139), the Philips DS9 (£249) and the Bowers and Wilkins (BW) Zeppelin Air (£499).

Design
If you're splashing out on a dock then you're definitely going to want it to look nice with your shiny Ipad 2. All the docks in our group have a different look and feel that may not suit everyone.

The Logitech has a slightly strange look with its speakers pointing to the sides rather than to the front and a large holder. However, with the tablet in place, the dock is unimposing and surprisingly compact.

The Altec has a similar design with a large holder but with a bigger and square base, it looks sleeker.

JBL has gone for an oval base and a curvy look with some chrome trimming. Again the design is quite compact but it is our least favourite in terms of looks.

Meanwhile, Philips has a much larger dock with a nice clean design that houses the Ipad 2 well. There is a nice wooden finish but this is on the back so you won't really see it much unless the dock is in front of a mirror.

Bowers and Wilkins' Zeppelin Air has the most striking look and is the largest dock we reviewed. It looks like a stretched out rugby ball and it has a protruding chrome arm to hold the tablet. When docked, the Ipad 2 looks a little out of place and obscures the buttons.

Our favourite for design is the Philips DS9.