Models

• Tivoli and Bose each offer three different models of sound systems for the iPod. Tivoli has the portable iPal, the iSongBook and the iYiYi. Bose offers the SoundDock 10, the SoundDock Portable and the SoundDock Series II.
  
  

Function

• Tivoli and Bose sound systems allow you to connect your iPod or other digital music player or CD player to them and listen to your music without the restriction of headphones. The three Tivoli and Bose systems have a connected dock for you to set your iPod in and also have an auxiliary in port so you connect other brands of MP3 and CD players. The Tivoli systems also have an AM/FM radio built into them.
  
  

Compatibility

• The dock on all three Bose systems allows you to directly connect your iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, both generations of the iPod Touch, the iPod Classic, the fourth and fifth generation iPod, all five generations of the iPod Nano and the 4GB and 6GB iPod Mini. All other iPod models can be connected through the auxiliary input via an audio cable. The three Tivoli systems are compatible with the same dock-connecting iPods and can connect to all others via auxiliary cable.
  
  

Size

• Considering the features they have and the sound they produce, Tivoli and Bose iPod systems are fairly small. Tivoli's iPal is 6.25 inches high, 3.69 inches wide, 3.88 inches deep and weighs 1.95 pounds; the iSongBook is 6.19 inches high, 11 inches wide, 2.19 inches deep and weighs 2.78 pounds; and the iYiYi is 7.36 inches high, 11.88 inches wide, 8.66 inches deep and weighs 6.33 pounds. Bose's SoundDock Portable is 6.75 inches high, 12.06 inches wide, 6.06 inches deep--6.94 inches with the dock open--and weighs 5.23 pounds; and the SoundDock II is 6.65 inches high, 11.91 inches wide, 6.48 inches deep and weighs 4.56 pounds. The only system that isn't particularly small is Bose's SoundDock 10, which is 8.7 inches high, 17 inches wide, 9.6 inches deep and weighs 18.5 pounds.
  
  

Price

• As of November 2009, Tivoli has retail prices of $219.99 for the iPal, $399.99 for iSongBook and $399.99 for the iYiYi on its website. At the same time Bose has retail prices of $599.95 for the SoundDock 10, $399.95 for the SoundDock Portable and $299.95 for the SoundDock II on its website.
  
  

Reviews

• Reviews of the Tivoli products by Cnet editors are mixed. The iSongBook received praise for its design, but received negative marks for sound based in comparison to its price. The iYiYi is noted for having more bass than the iSongBook, but it was noted that it could still use more. The iPal received the best review in terms of sound. Cnet noted that it doesn't have stereo sound, it "delivers full and rich sound." Regarding the Bose systems, Cnet said the SoundDock 10 has the ability to play loud without distorting the sound and has more than enough sound to fill a room. The SoundDock is praised for its design and sound compared to other iPod docks, but received negative marks for its price and the fact that it only works with iPods.