Belkin TuneStage 2 for iPod

(Review) - Belkin has made its mark in the iPod accessories market, and it continues to excel with a number of products, one of which is the Belkin TuneStage 2, the successor to the original TuneStage, released back in 2005. The Belkin TuneStage 2 is a simple but powerful option for iPod admirers who plan to wirelessly stream music though Bluetooth. The exterior of the device, for instance, is the highly professional black-and-silver with two components to the entire product: the base station and the transmitter. The base station, which is a very compact unit with a wireless adjustable antenna sticking from the top, comprises of two analog audio output ports and a USB port for iPod connectivity.

Then there’s the transmitter that effectively converts the iPod into a remote control. All you need to do for the product to work is connect the transmitter to the 30-pin iPod dock and the base station to your home stereo (cable included). Once both units are connected, they will automatically find each other within 30ft. of each other. After that, simply use the iPod just like you normally would, but instead of outputting the music to your earbuds, TuneStage 2 will send it to the home stereo wirelessly through Bluetooth. That’s it. There’s no network configuration to mess with and no proprietary drivers or applications to install. It’s as simple as that.

Belkin’s TuneStage 2 is compatible with all latest iPod models. What’s even interesting is that the transmitter doesn’t require additional batteries, which, depending on how you look at it, could be a benefit or a drawback. Unfortunately for some of you, it will draw power directly from the iPod and reduce the battery life to seven hours. However, we seriously doubt you would want to fiddle with your iPod for seven hours straight. As such, when you are not using the iPod, you could connect it to the base station with USB and charge it while it continues to play music.

The audio quality and wireless signal strength were exceptional. For audiophiles, you may not adore the audio quality, but for the average listener who can’t tell the difference between a compressed and a lossless audio file, TuneStage 2 should be perfect. Belkin officially specifies the wireless signal range around 30ft. in radius, but we went to 40ft. before losing the strength. Of course, it also depends on the area. You will generally experience wide area coverage in open areas as opposed to more closed surroundings.

There aren’t any particular drawbacks that we can think of. Belkin took the original concept and improved it to near perfection. For the price of $119.99, Belkin’s TuneStage 2 is a superb product that’s certainly worthy of your attention.

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