Philips Fidelio DS9010

Philips is updating its classy Fidelio range of speaker docks in the hope of rivalling market leaders like Bose and Bowers & Wilkins. Get ready for a rumble in the jungle, as the DS9010 is hoping to pack a serious punch!

Note that in the UK the Philips Fidelio DS9010 is sold exclusively by John Lewis.

Design & Handling: too minimalist

The DS9010 is minimalist to the extreme. That certainly makes the dock very nice to look at, but it also means there aren't many connections (just an auxiliary line in) and there are no real controls or buttons. In fact, everything is piloted directly in iOS—the operating system of the Apple device you hook up to the dock.

Philips has developed an iOS application called Fidelio, which allows users to access audio sources like Internet radio stations, shared files etc. All of this is dressed up in an attractive new graphic package that's relatively original, and which certainly makes a change from the basic iPod interface.

You'll really notice the lack of physical controls when you start using the product but, thankfully, a function-packed remote control is supplied, which is similar to the kind of remotes that come with Philips TVs. This remote control is much classier than the usual cheap plastic mini-remotes that often come with this kind of product.

Note that the dock is bulky and heavy. Although it's certainly very sturdy and should definitely stand the test of time, it will take up quite a lot of room, especially if you have a small living room or flat. Make sure you take that into consideration before you buy.

Audio: good performance

Given the imposing size and weight of the DS9010, there's plenty of room to ensure a decent-quality audio output with good components. And this Philips dock doesn't disappoint on that front.

Philips has done a good job of correcting the few flaws that were spotted in its previous generation of products. Here, the sound is full, with an ample soundstage and a stereo effect that's much more pronounced than before.

The powerful deep-bass sounds promised by the manufacturer don't come through very strongly, but higher bass and low medium frequencies are reproduced excellently—they're full of power and clearly defined. The rest of the spectrum hasn't been overlooked either. Voices in particular are very pleasant to listen to and are particularly clear and sharp. This makes for an overall output that's clean, easy on the ears and hard to find fault with. Thumbs up for the DS9010's acoustic performances, then!

We just think it's a bit of a shame that Philips hasn't loaded this dock with a few more features and functions, which could really have made it a must-have product. Plus, given the fact that it doesn't exactly come cheap, we would have expected the DS9010 to do a little more.