wsmunch's Full Review: Kicker IK500 Powered iPod Speaker System
::: STYLE :::
The Kicker IK500 packs a lot of power in a compact form. It's not so big as to harass those wanting to move it around, yet it's not so small to appear meek or inconspicuous. I take particular appreciation in it's unique yet minimalist style. There are no flashy displays or garish frills or extravagant curves. The LCD screen and control knob draw no significant attention. The backside of the unit is flush, with the exception of handle grip, bass membrane & protective plastic bands, and the auxiliary input, RCA output, and power connection at the bottom. The shape has been commented to me as "different", and the overall look isn't what people would consider "modern". I'd like to think the IK500 means to waste no time or effort with visual aesthetics; there's business to be done.
The molding and construction quality is simple and solid. The wide base is sturdy and set with rubber feet, and there is nothing excess to encourage any [children] prying apart.
::: USE :::
The packaging was so easy to open and remove, the IK500 practically jumped out of the box, threw everything away, and plugged itself in. The Kicker IK500 is designed for iPods only, so an assortment of little plastic cradles are included to seat any available model nice and snug. Auxiliary and RCA cables get stored away someplace safe while the manual disappears elsewhere, so it takes all of 20 seconds to get it playing from start to finish.
The remote has a simple design that is wonderfully thin and takes little effort to lose*. It is responsive at a decent range and is somewhat omni-directional (I've controlled the volume by aiming the remote at the back of the speakers). The practicality leaves want for more, since navigating the iPod menu with the remote is tedious unless you're close enough to see the screen. Even then, you might have to turn the IK500 down to minimize the iPod's oscillations and make it readable anyway (depending on surface stability/integrity). But if you're that close, you also might as well use your finger on the iPod and get results. The remote is good, but the iPod controls are quicker. For all intents and purposes, the remote is for adjusting the volume (including muting) and powering the stereo on/off. It would have been nice to be able to adjust the treble and bass settings with the remote instead of doing so manually. The knob on the IK500 is the power switch (press hold) and also lets you cycle through the menu options of: volume, bass, treble, and auxiliary. There is no need for a manual.
The IK500 will recharge the iPod while it's docked in the system. My iPod Mini took about two hours to charge from zero to full. I don't have a dedicated iPod recharge cradle (meh), so keeping it in the speaker system works perfect for me.
::: SOUND :::
Using the iPod's built-in EQ ruins the bass output through the Kicker IK500 by making it sound buzzy at the end of the bass beats, even at low volume levels. Other settings make the music sound flat, distant, or hollow, so following the instructions and disabling the iPod's EQ is highly recommended unless you want to trash the music quality.
The bass is clean and respectable with minimal stipulations. I adjust the bass to it's max level (+9) and it responds with an increased output and throbs out good beats. You will hear the bass before you feel it. Maxing the volume of the IK500 (+40) will allow those in the immediate room to feel the bass (if they can tolerate the speaker decibels), but the feeling is more like a sound wave hitting you than a penetrating reverberation. Despite the lack of deeper richness, it does add that boost of throaty rumble by hitting hard and sharp. It's strength lies in the combination of force and technique, which makes it great for noisy environments or areas where you want the bass to travel and not lose potency. Those who prefer short-range bass to echo through internal organs and furniture may not find the IK500 sufficient. Otherwise, the bass adjustment is dynamic for most any occasion/song and maintains a hearty supply of precise sound for when I want to hear it from another room. Considering the size and build of the iKick, the bass output is superb.
Some music seems like the bass +9 setting should be the unit's neutral bass level, while other music/albums just need a +3 to +5 tweak. As I listen to more and varied music, I find that while some songs aren't really affected too much by increased bass (when you think they would/should be), others end up sounding worse with excess boost. Most music will respond in a manner that make you feel like you've perfectly complemented the atmospheric effect by adjusting the bass a few clicks. Infrequently, the midrange and vocals feel muddled up a bit when the bass or volume is cranked up too far for the music. It sounds like the output [of the bass] is mixing in and amplifying or overpowering the midrange detail. I've been able to correct it by also adjusting the treble, but then it turns into a pain to keep going back and forth, fidgeting the unit for each song. In comparison to the lows and highs, which demonstrate obvious excellence, the mids sound rather ordinary and oftentimes indistinct. Midrange hits a ceiling for detail and the midrange-vocals tend to flatten, though just at the ends. They're good, but they don't flex the same amplitude and are susceptible to being obscured by the superiority of the highs and lows. I've rarely found the need (outside of correcting the mids) to adjust the treble. The few times I did was solely to highlight the instruments for piano, violin, Celtic folk music, or orchestrated symphonies. While toying around, I discovered that excess treble (+5 to +9) for music playing in higher octaves caused notes to sound brittle, almost fake, or get lost in the pitch.
Overall, it seems that the Kicker IK500 equalizer settings don't add anything artificial to the music; it only accentuates the existing bass/treble detail by bringing it towards the front.
The Kicker IK500 does an intrepid job at not distorting music when its set to the higher volume range (+25 to +40), as long as your ear is not right next to the speakers (and the bass isn't excessive). It needs a little bit of space to perform with it's enveloping precision. This is probably the most impressive aspect of the IK500. At higher volumes, the sound carries through an entire house with clear, smooth consistency. Indeed it does deliver kick, as I've had the IK500 almost meander off a table due to it's power and vibration (mostly assisted by max volume and rhythmic beats of the particular song). To achieve the best balance of sound at a distance, I've found it most effective to set the bass and treble adjustments for the music before turning up the volume. The left and right channels play their sides distinctly with crisp highs and deliberate lows.
** Perceived Volume recommendations, based on single-story, 3bd2ba, 1500sqft home **
Volume +00 to +10: Reasonable listening volume, while in the same room
Volume +11 to +14: Enjoying the music loud, while in the same room
Volume +15 to +21: Great listening volume, while in an adjoining room
Volume +22 to +31: You want to hear the music from almost anywhere in the house
Volume +32 to +40: You want to hear the music from anywhere in the house with distinct vocals/lyrics
I've connected my Kicker IK500 to my laptop to watch movies with. I must say that it makes a huge difference, compared to the laptop's built-in speakers or some cheap, portable ones. While it's not a surround-system, it definitely creates atmosphere due to the volume and presentation. But, those wanting a more pristine movie environment are better off finding speakers for that purpose. The Kicker IK500 has a hard time with heavy whooshing sounds, engines, automatic gunfire, explosions, the majority of mechanical- or industrial-related noise, and anything similar to or in combination with the before-mentioned. Example: The lobby shootout scene in The Matrix. Sounds like clashing swords, breaking glass, bare-handed/footed combat, water/rain, and light whooshing sounds do quite well. Example: The fight scene of The Bride versus The Crazy 88 in Kill Bill. Using my TV and surround system will always be first pick, but if I have to relocate myself to enjoy a movie in peace the IK500 is definitely coming with.
::: VERDICT :::
The Kicker IK500 is meant for two things: playing music loud and playing it well. It doesn't pretend to be something more by packaging in added value with AM/FM tuner, CD player, batteries, alarm clock, etc. I find it refreshing to know that my speaker system isn't wasting any precious energy or material on features I would never seriously use. Ever. Overall, I am thoroughly impressed and satisfied with the audio quality, despite the critiques of the midrange performance. The Kicker IK500 delivers clean, distortion-free, room-filling music all the way to it's maximum volume level. Higher-quality music files represent the IK500 far better than common encoding (128 kBit), especially with increased volume. I have yet to find any type of music that has not been pleasing to listen to so far. It's light, [relatively] compact, and easy to carry around. The unique shape commands superiority by making it impossible to stack stuff on top, and since it doesn't sport any particular visual style it goes with everything. At a $299.99 retail price the IK500 seems a tad steep, but I have no doubt that a $199.99 to $239.99 sale price would make a solid deal, considering the unit's bold, proficient output.
* I have a lot of black in my life: keyboard, laptop screen/lid, clothing, books, furniture, graphing calculator, cellphone, etc. More often than not, the IK500 remote melts into almost whatever I place it on (especially button-side down) and won't reappear until I start tipping surfaces.
Disclosure: I received the Kicker IK500 iPod Speaker System from SCC Grossman (PR company) in return for providing a fair and objective review on Epinions.
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