Pioneer’s new X-HM50 micro system includes a CD player, DAB/FM radio and a direct digital connection for iPhones/iPods.
Pioneer X-HM50 Pioneer X-HM50 with speakers
The direct digital connection is via the X-HM50’s built-in iPod dock and promises improved sound quality, with the digital-to-analogue conversion taking place within the system, rather than the ’pod.
Other connections include USB and 3.5mm jack input for other, non-Apple, portable music players.
It will charge iPods and/or iPhones while they play and it supports MP3 or WMA files either on CD or USB. The FM/DAB radio includes RDS tuner and has 40 presets. There’s also a video output so you can play back images from your iPod on your TV.
Each of its accompanying two-way bass-reflex speakers stand 26cm high and include a 12cm woofer and 20mm soft-dome tweeter. Power output is 50 watts rms and there’s the option to add an additional subwoofer using the pre-out.
The CD drive can cope with recordable CD-R/-RW discs and there are six equaliser presets: Flat, Game, Classic, Pop, Vocal and Jazz. There’s also a timer/sleep function.
Philippe Coppens, Pioneer Europe Manager, said: “The new X-HM50 is designed to meet the needs of iPhone and iPod users as well as CD devotees. Thanks to Pioneer’s advanced sound concept, the space-saving system delivers room-filling hi-fi sound.”
The Pioneer X-HM50 is on sale now in black finish with black speakers for £299.