Klipsch iGroove SXT review

Once again, Klipsch has produced a five-star iPod dock, with a refined sound and style Tested at £129.00

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Klipsch has got its iPod docks sorted – you just need to pick the one that suits

Pros

  • +

    Compact, small footprint, solidly built

  • +

    functional remote

  • +

    solid, clear, balanced sound

  • +

    iPhone-compatible

Cons

  • -

    The SXT’s larger sibling will do a better job of filling a room

Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.

Our cup runneth over with Klipsch iPod docks. Not content with giving the iGroove HG the once over earlier in 2010, the firm now offers the new iGroove SXT. For the same price.

We were very much taken by the HG; a hefty dock capable of a room-filling sound. The SXT (which replaces the £80 dock of the same name which we tested in 2008) looks more refined.

Its silver ‘accent' makes for a smarter finish than the HG, and it's less fiddly and more compact, too.

The remote – a slight bone of contention with the HG – is more workmanlike but better for it. The design is plain but the unit does as it's told without issue.

Compatibility and balance
Round the back you'll find an auxiliary input for connecting any other portable media device and an S-Video output for sending video content from an iPod or, indeed, an iPhone.

It doesn't offer the weight and bass power of the significantly larger HG model but in return you get a better-balanced sound with crisp, clean drums and open, detailed vocals.

There's still bass extension when it's called for and while it may not boast the warmth of the HG, it's lighter on its feet and speedier.

So which should you buy? Well, either. For a more refined style and sound, we'd plump for the SXT; for a livelier, room-filling sound, the HG might be better.

See all our dock system Best Buys

Follow whathifi.com on Twitter

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

Read more about how we test

Latest in Portable Music Players
Activo P1 hi-res music player
Activo P1
Fiio CP13 and DM13 with CD and cassette cases
Gimmick or Godsend? I spent a week with FiiO’s retro cassette deck and Discman to test their modern-day merit
Volumio Rivo Plus
This slimline, compact network player aims to deliver all your modern-day streaming needs
iPod MP3 digital music
Portable audio peaked 14 years ago – is it time to come full circle?
Astell & Kern A&Ultima SP3000M next to books
Astell & Kern claims that its latest premium portable player is "the world's finest"
Astell & Kern A&norma SR35
Best portable music player 2024
Latest in Reviews
 iFi Zen DAC 3 digital-to-analogue converter
iFi Zen DAC 3
Sennheiser HD 505 open-back headphones
Sennheiser HD 505
Gryphon Audio Diablo 333 integrated amplifier
Gryphon Audio Diablo 333
Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 wireless over-ear headphones
Beyerdynamic Aventho 300
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra smartphone
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
LG C5 55-inch OLED TV
LG C5 (OLED55C5)