I've been a fan of Logitech's audio products for some time now, because they seamlessly integrate the three things that matter most—performance, design, and ease of use. The prices are generally pretty reasonable, too. Unfortunately, although the AudioStation, Logitech's Apple iPod–charging dock-and-radio speaker system, sounds fantastic, it doesn't deliver on some of the basic functionality you would expect from an industry leader. For example, you can dock your iPod, but there is no way to control it from the remote, making iPod navigation impossible at a distance. Apple's Hi-Fi and Chestnut Hill Sound's George both have iPod navigation built into their remotes, even if they are also $50 and $250 more expensive, respectively. If audio quality is your main priority and the HiFi and George are out of your price range, the AudioStation is a great choice. But if you can spring for more, those two are better options.

The AudioStation comes with removable speaker grilles, and I think they look pretty awesome, with the 1-inch tweeters and 4 inch woofers exposed. Unlike the George, there is no subwoofer, but there is still plenty of bass presence here. The front of the unit has a display for time, radio station, or an animated audio-output graphic. Below it are flat-panel touch-sensitive buttons for power, volume, and navigation. The back has a power-in jack, S-Video and composite-video outputs, a 3.5mm Aux input for iPod generations 1 through 3 and other MP3 players, and FM/AM antenna inputs.

Sadly, the supplied power adapter is lousy. It's a huge, heavy object with one cable that connects it to the Audio Station and another that plugs into the wall. The cable connecting the AudioStation to the adapter comes loose so easily that I lost power a few times when I moved the device. The other included accessories are external FM and AM antennas (there's also an internal AM antenna), and a remote that's large enough not to lose (unlike the HiFi's), but is very low on features.

I found the audio performance pretty exhilarating. According to Logitech reps, the AudioStation has the same bass volume–limiting technology that is used in the excellent Z-10 PC speakers. Unlike with the Z-10s, however, I didn't notice any odd compression this time around—even with the same batch of test songs. The Z-10s lower the volume noticeably when they are being pushed to their limits, but I didn't hear anything similar occurring with the AudioStation, even with the volumes on it and the iPod maxed out. These speakers will get louder than you'll ever need them to, and they only distorted a bit on a Thom Yorke song that has ridiculously deep bass. This could be the answer to your backyard BBQ audio needs . . . or an easy way to tick off the neighbors.

The AudioStation also has a stereo-enhancing effect known as "3D Stereo." Whether you like it is a matter of taste, but I didn't find this function quite as annoying and invasive as integrated "3D" or "surround" effects often are. Still, my inner purist tells me to bypass it altogether. There are treble and bass controls, as well, all of which can be operated with the remote. I had fun messing with these and was able to pump the bass up quite a bit without any ill effects, so bass fiends will not be disappointed. The brightness of the screen can also be adjusted in the same section as the treble/bass options, with separate settings for when it is on and when it is in clock mode.

Unfortunately, the remote's lack of iPod controls means you actually have to press through the menus on the iPod itself, even when it's docked. This is a huge problem—I assumed the remote would let me choose songs and so forth, but that's not the case.

The S-Video output worked with the standard-definition CRT television we have in the PC Magazine Labs, but for our large HD projection screen, only the composite-video one seemed to work. And with the Proview LCD TV I use in the Labs, I was unable to get any picture out. I don't view this as a major issue, mainly because I don't think people will be buying the AudioStation for its video-out capabilities. Remember that iTunes video has a pretty paltry resolution when put on a big screen (unless it's recorded in the brand new HD format). In any case, since there's no HDMI or component out, even if you had HD content on your iPod, it wouldn't be output in HD. The sound will also still come from your dock, and because the speakers aren't detachable, it'll be hard to create a sense that sound is coming from the television, unless you place the dock directly above or under the screen.

I found the FM and AM radio stations easy enough to navigate (which can be done via remote or on the face of the device), and setting preset stations was also a snap. Locating the preset stations after you've set them is a little less intuitive—you need to press the "select" button to get into a different kind of radio surfing mode. You can't scan for stations and flip through your presets in the same mode, which is a minor annoyance. I was pleased to find that the iPod automatically pauses when you switch to the radio, however, and even if a "battery charging" screen appears on the iPod, it doesn't lose your place when you come back to it.

All in all, the Logitech AudioStation's design could be better, but it blasts furiously big output that'll be great for your next party, and it delivers sonic clarity at all volume levels. There are better options out there, for sure, but I can forgive its design flaws because of its audio performance and its being cheaper than the HiFi and the George.