Pioneer XW-NAS5

Reviews: iPod Docks and Portable Speakers

It would be hard to say that the NAS5 has a particularly complicated design. But like with some many other questions, debate on this raged in our lab: is this dock a magnificent piece of design or horribly ugly? It depends on your point of view ... Either way, the design itself is quite logical, and our only real criticism is how big it is. There's not much else to complain about when using it, however. The flap covering the dock itself closes and is almost invisible when not in use, like the LCD display which slides out from under the fabric when you switch it on. The radio antennae spoil the look a little when they pop out. Pioneer has gone for video, with both composite and component outputs, both of which come with an auxiliary audio out. It's a shame there's no USB or S/P DIF to connect a computer, meaning you'll have to rely on Bluetooth instead. As is so often the case, the credit card-sized remote control is petty mediocre. You can only use it to control playback, adjust the volume and choose the audio source. You can't navigate your iPod's menus to pick out an album or playlist. The NAS5 uses a set-up that we've already seen on the B&W Zeppelin: two woofers (measuring 2''), two tweeters and a 4'' loudspeaker with bass-reflex to look after the lowest sounds.