DLO HomeDock

At $99, the HomeDock isn’t inexpensive. But as we pointed out in our review of the Kensington Stereo Dock, in order to get similar functionality via separate accessories, you’d pay anywhere from $55 (for a Nyko Stereo Link and a remote control, a setup that doesn’t charge or sync your iPod, display photos on your TV, or keep your iPod upright) to $130 (Apple’s photo dock base and AC adapter, a dock connector cable, and a remote control). And you’d still need to buy the necessary cables. If you don’t already have some of these accessories, an all-in-one docking solution is likely less expensive, not to mention more attractive. How does the HomeDock compare to Kensington’s Stereo Dock, which can be had for around $30 less at street prices? Both products give you a good deal of functionality in a single, convenient package. The Stereo Dock feels a bit more solid and is more compact, but the HomeDock provides video output and lets you sync your iPod while docked (provided you’re close enough to your computer to connect the two via USB). The HomeDock also offers the same RCA audio jacks used by most home stereos, which means you can use standard stereo cables rather than the special minijack-to-RCA cable required by the Stereo Dock and Apple’s dock base. If you’ll use the HomeDock’s additional features, it’s worth the extra money.

–Dan Frakes