Customer Reviews

Belkin F8Z126 Power Dock AV for iPod

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

I have an excellent Sony component stereo system that's 15 years old, and a few months ago the 5 CD carousel player malfunctioned, so I had to look for an alternative to playing multiple albums, and debated whether to replace the multi-CD player with a new one.

With the advent of MP3 players I just did not see any reason to buy legacy technology that wasn't particularly cheaper, so I decided to purchase an Apple iPod Classic to act as the home jukebox, since I had already ripped all of my CD's to MP3 format.

I began researching iPod docks and a looked at a number of them, including the Apple OEM version. Of course the Apple product was way too expensive for what I was trying to do, so I decided to try the Belkin dock.

At first I was not clear whether or not this dock would work with the Classic, however, I am very happy to say that this dock works great! It is the best way to connect the iPod to my component stereo without resorting to an FM transmitter, as I had been doing before, and it charges the iPod at the same time! The sound is excellent without any distortion... it just works! The volume is controlled from the stereo receiver and not the iPod itself, it simply ignores the volume control on the iPod... a very nice feature.

Keep in mind that the video out does not work on this dock for the Classic (works with previous generations of iPods), as this new iPod requires a special video cable that only Apple sells, so if you are looking for video output from the latest iPod's this is not for you, but if audio is your main purpose, then I highly recommend the Belkin dock. It is easy to set up and use.

I was looking for a small, simple dock so that my wife would be able to keep her new iPod Touch charged at her bedside nightstand, but Apple's Universal Dock with USB charging block costs upwards of $80 together. What a ripoff. Get this one instead if all you want is a charging dock. (It has audio/video output features, but since it's at her bedside, we haven't tried those yet.) There's no remote, but from what I read about the Apple remote on the new Universal Dock, the Apple one doesn't work that great (which is why it gets one star). If you're shopping for this Belkin item, make sure you get the F8Z126 model which comes with the AC adapter, and not the F8Z122 model which *does not* come with the AC adapter. I mistakenly bought the F8Z122 and now have to go buy the AC adapter. Grrrr... Another good thing about this item is that it accepts the dock adapter that came with your iPod Touch (first take out the dock adapter from the dock. There's one that's preinstalled in it.) so her iPod Touch fits snugly in the dock. (The F8Z122 I bought comes with several dock adapters, but not one for the iPod Touch.)

Hope this helps!

The Belkin Dock with USB Wall Charger for the iPod is a great product with a realistic price. The dock makes connecting the iPod with your home entertainment system a breeze. The supplied RCA-type audio and video cables are generous in length and more than adequate in quality while the dock, itself, is quite sturdy and nicely weighted to prevent unwanted movement when attaching your iPod. Equally thoughtful, is the inclusion of various docking trays to allow the dock to accept several models of iPod without the need for further purchases. But perhaps the most useful feature of all is the USB-type AC wall adapter, which provides unlimited play-time power to your iPod, and guarantees no more dead batteries right in the middle of your favorite mix. Best of all, the AC adapter lets you charge your docked iPod when not is use, without involving a computer. As a bonus, the AC adapter can be used without the dock for charging your iPod while traveling, simply use the charging cable supplied with your iPod. Overall, the Belkin Dock with USB Wall Charger for the iPod is a great product and a great value, especially when you consider that it can be purchased for less than the cost of some AC adapters alone.

The Dock is a pretty good buy for the price, however, I bought this to use with a 4th Gen Ipod after the Amazon technical description specifically said, "Includes adapter inserts for iPod nano 1G, 2G; iPod 4G, 5G, 5.5G; iPod mini". Unfortunately once it arrived, I opened the box only to find a statement in the instruction manual that says ipod 4G adapter sold separately, available from [...].
Kind of disappointing that they couldn't have included one more piece that no doubt cost less than a penny to make.

I bought this because like most of us out there, I wanted a convenient dock without having to shell out $50 for the official Apple Universal Dock.

It should be noted that I have used the universal dock, and I was happy with it. But of course it was stolen, so I needed a replacement. I also tried the Griffin Simplifi Dock, but I was irked by the extremely bright blue LED in front that was on even when the iPod wasn't in the dock.

Now I think I found a winner.
What impresses me about the Belkin Dock is the faux stainless steel they surrounded the white plastic with. It really accents it well and there are no annoying LEDs coming from it. Other docks just look so ugly or complicated. This has the simple and clean look to it.

It should also be noted that I first tested this with an iPod Touch 4th Generation (the currently new Q3 2010 version) as well as a iPod with Video (5.5 Gen). This dock was designed for the iPod Nano 1st and 2nd Gen and the iPod with Video. This was the turning point when Apple was switching from Firewire to USB. It would charge via Firewire, but not sync data. So, with that said, all of the iPods from then onward would be USB only. (Look up the releases and specs on Wikipedia for more info.)

To be clear, this charges for ALL iPods and iPhones because it uses both Firewire (charge only) and USB. It syncs for any model that uses USB (~2005/06 onward). But if you were also looking for audio/video in that same 3.5mm connection, you can only do it with the 1st/2nd Nano and Video and EARLIER. You can still use the 3.5mm connection for just audio for all iPods. As said by other reviewers, you'll have to get a special A/V cable from Apple to accomplish both audio and video for any later model. For mine specifically, the iPod Touch 4th Gen, it still charges, syncs, and does audio out.

Be also aware of the dock adapters that come with it. I only got three: iPod Nano 1st and 2nd, and iPod 5/5.5. You might also want to figure out which one will be the best for you if you have a case over your iPod too. All dock adapters assume that you do not have a case over it. If the bottom part of your case is too thick (meaning the part that is the same area as where the 30-pin connector goes), you may not want to get any dock at all since it has to be seated and connected very deeply to get a connection going. I have a custom 3M backing that I got from Gelaskins as well as their screen protector, so there is no added bulk to mine. Luckily I have an iPod Touch 2G dock adapter left over that does the job all right. However, of course it will still work fine if you have no adapter in there at all, which is an option.

Also, I really like that the mini-USB cable is 6 feet rather than a meter like Apple's is. 6 feet is a really good length since you can route it somewhere close while also not being too long if it needs to be right next to the tower or notebook.

I'd say the only downside for me on this is that it's not very weighty, so it can slide around with your iPod if you're careless. This is actually true with all docks out there though so I definitely can't take points away for that. Some double-sided tape or a moderate adhesive (GlueDots or something) will fix that right up though since the bottom is a completely flat, rubberized surface.

So to sum it all up, if you're looking for a dock that charges and syncs, has a dedicated audio out, looks great on your desk, and has support for those features on both new and old iPods, then definitely get this one.

Works great with both my new iPod Touch 2g AND my old iPod Nano 2g. If you get the F8Z126 version it comes with the dock, a Mini-B to USB cable which works with the dock, several dock inserts (Nano 1g and 2g, iPod 5g (video)), the AC USB Power Adapter, and the 3.5mm to RCA video cable.

The dock insert that came with my iPod Touch 2g fit right in, and my iPod Touch slid right in and looked great. Charges through the AC adapter or by connecting the USB cable to a PC just fine. Just be warned, however, that the RCA cables WILL NOT WORK with any of the new iPod models. Otherwise, it is a great dock and well worth the money.

Looking closely at the contents of the Belkin F8Z126 Power Dock, you'll notice that it includes an A/V cable, 3.5mm to RCA. I only caught this detail after having placed my order with Amazon. I was really concerned this meant I'd be plugging into my Ipod's headphone port for sound, something I really didn't want to do. As other reviewers have mentioned, the headphone circuit in the Ipod has reduced sound fidelity and is a mechanical weak point in the Ipod.

Well, I'm pleased to say that the 3.5mm plug goes into the base of the docking station, not the Ipod itself. What this means is that you are taking a true line-level signal from the Ipod (via its docking port) and sending it to your external amplifier. It also means you have the ability to simultaneously charge the Ipod while playing it.

I have not yet listened to any Ipod in this docking station (I purchased this unit as a gift for a friend). However, I've listened to similar units that use the line-level strategy of getting sound from the Ipod to the amplifier and they sound every bit as good as a CD player to me.

The only thing the Belkin unit lacks (that a similar unit made by GigaWare, sold at Radio Shack has)is a remote control. Still, it's worth every penny of the $30 I spent for this nice docking station.

I have an Ipod Touch / I-touch 3rd gen. I wanted a way to connect it to an old stereo without a dedicated Ipod port connector. This was a very simple, elegant inexpensive solution that worked like a charm. Even though the box did not say that it is compatible with I-Touch, it works great and carries great sound throughput. Just connect the 2 RCA cables to an unused input (I used an old tape input), turn the selector on the amplifier to that choice and you are done--super product---beats the $80 options.

There seems to be an engineering issue with this product, especially the AC adapter. The power pins are foldable and when you pull them out to plug the ac adapter into the wall socket, the back end of these pins dont make proper contact with the plate on the charger base. So the blue power light comes on for a second, as you are applying pressure and inserting the device into the wall socket, but when you take your hands off it loses power.

I returned my product and noticed that some others had the same issue.

This technology is used in almost all digital camera/camcorder chargers, I wonder how Belkin did not get it right!

I bought this because outputting my ipod headphone jack to my home stereo system sounded like crap. Having the line out on the Belkin made all the difference (sounds great now). It's the new home on top of my entertainment center for my ipod. My ipod is now always charged, always hooked to my stereo when it's at home, so really it's the ideal charger for me. This comes with the power adapter and cable so nothing else needed. All this and cheaper than most simple wall chargers that have no line out.