Sony's been trying to kill off the iPod for years, but now it's almost admitting defeat by releasing this CPF-IP001 iPod audio docking station. Except for a low-profile release of an iPod adapter for car radios a year ago, this is the first Sony product that directly supports dock connector-equipped iPods for use in the home.

It has respectable specs for system its size, with digital power amp rated to pump 5 watts to each speaker and 15 watts to the subwoofer. By the way, the sub is that trapezoid-looking black thing that looks like a wall wart. The docking station has an additional line input if you'd like to plug in another audio source, such as, uh, a Sony audio product perhaps?

The downside? That $250 price tag is way too steep, and if you're already going to spend that much, you might as well drop another hundred bucks on the exquisite Klipsch RoomGroove, rocking you with even deeper bass — and prettier looks, too. — Charlie White

Via Sony Style