Ipod speaker systems are ten-a-penny these days, but if you haven’t already bought one, then Logic3 presents an interesting all-in-one option with the i-Station8.

Compact – it measures just 216 x 198 x 75mm - and relatively light, weighing less than 1.2kg, the i-Station8 could be employed comfortably as either a permanent fixture in the home or as a portable unit for taking on holiday.

Predicting this sort of joint usage, Logic3 has made it possible to power the unit by AA batteries as well as via the mains, and a European adaptor plug is included in the box. Usefully, the unit will also charge your pod as it plays.

Seemingly determined to make itself indispensable, the i-Station8 has a selection of very useful connections built into it. On the rear there's a dock port, which can be plugged into the computer using the cable that came with the iPod for synchronising the player with iTunes.

Users of newer pods will also appreciate the composite and S-video outputs. Connect these to a TV and it's possible to view films stored on a video-compatible iPod, with the accompanying soundtrack provided by the i-Station itself.

The unit is one of the better examples of Logic3 design. Available in white or black to match the player, the i-Station8 has a laid-back, slanted stance and retro rounded edges. A blue backlit LCD screen provides track info.

Sound quality is very reasonable for a unit of this size, thanks to eight little driver speakers and a built-in sub-woofer. We’re not talking chest-pounding, carnival-float bass here, but in a small- to medium-sized room, such as a kitchen or bedroom, the i-Station8 produces a warm, balanced sound.

It's not all smiles, though – it's slow to connect whenever you plug your iPod in, and the fact that there’s no equivalent for the click wheel on the remote control is a little annoying.

For larger living rooms, we’d still recommend plugging the iPod into a proper hi-fi. But as a portable or secondary sound system, the i-Station8 works pretty well, particularly since it combines the functions of a dock, recharger, video output adaptor and speaker, all-in-one, and all for under £100.

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