Appearances can be deceptive, so when the slightly brutish-looking Link-Mini Two arrived in our office, we were pleasantly surprised by its sound quality.
The LinkMini Two is an accommodating sort, welcoming iPods from third-generation upwards. Your 'Pod then sits comfortably on a dock that's attached to an active subwoofer with treble, bass and volume controls. Also included is a pair of deceptively powerful but small satellite speakers.
A remote gives you full control over your iPod as well as the sub controls. The LinkMini Two also supplies you with an S-Video out, so you can view images on your TV.
Strong sonic performance
The sound that emanates from the LinkMini Two belies its looks. The volume, bass and treble don't have the widest range, but the integration between the sub and the speakers is excellent. The dock provides great detail and separation, while handling the midrange and bass admirably.
We listened to Metric's Monster Hospital through the LinkMini Two, and it provided a great sonic response, delivering timing good enough to complement a rock song that constantly drives forward. Try it with Edith Piaf, and the LinkMini Two will handle her warbling French vocals with aplomb. For an £80 system, there isn't much that this can't do.
Not all roses
The downsides are a remote that's far too flimsy, plus the subwoofer controls don't have any markings to show levels, and are also too close together, which is a real pain for those of us with fatter-than-average fingers.
If you're in the market for a dock and speakers, the LinkMini Two is a superb buy, offering great sound at an affordable price.
