Sony SRS-GD50iP

Sony is a brand that knows how to adapt to new market trends. So in light of the huge success of Apple's music players and phones, the manufacturer has been quick to release speakers and docks that are compatible with the iPod, rather than Sony's own Walkman MP3 players.

Hardware & Design: 90s flashback

There's no getting round the fact that this speaker set isn't particularly attractive. The GD50iP looks like something straight out of the 90s, with its boxy dimensions and old-school black grilles. Some of you out there might like it, but we think Sony could have done much better.

Otherwise, the GD20iP is actually quite a nice system, as it has a practical iPod dock, an auxiliary entry and a headphones socket, all of which can be easily reached.

The wired remote is a nice touch too. There's a large wheel that lights up around the edges or switches off in relation to the settings. That means you can check the volume at a glance or make sure you don't blow the neighbours' heads off when you power up. The bass can be adjusted separately if need be.

Audio Quality: excellent

With the surprisingly light satellite speakers and passive subwoofer (also with an old-school design), it's hard to tell at first glance what kind of output to expect from this system.

However, the GD50iP is actually excellent. The subwoofer delivers nice, deep bass sounds that aren't too drawn out. Plus, the factory settings are perfectly fine so there's no need to waste time fiddling around to find the perfect balance yourself.

The satellite speakers are perhaps more surprising though, and they're not a million miles from those seen in the Creative T3. Although the treble is a little lacklustre, their output is clean, sharp, full-bodied and accurate. These are qualities many other PC speaker sets can only dream of!

Another nice surprise is that although the kit is quite light, you can still crank the volume up really high without being plagued by saturation. Your neighbours will love it!