Kanto SYD 5 – Review

ByMike Moffit

Many of you may remember when Apple produced their very own iPod speaker system called the iPod Hi-Fi. It was a great device, and like all Apple products it was sleek, and easy to use. Well, it’s back…kinda. The Kanto SYD 5 looks very similar to the iPod Hi-Fi, but is even better. Plus, it comes in four fun flavors. The system features an iPod dock which allows any iPod with a dock connector to attach and charge, including iPhones*. The sound quality is superb, and the Kanto can easily fill a large room with crisp clean sound.

Where the Kanto surpasses other competing systems, is with its connectivity options– they’re nearly endless. It has an S-Video cable which allows it to hook up to a TV and push video from your iPod or iPhone. This is a great option for anyone with the Hulu+ and Netflix apps, or just a movie or TV show purchased from iTunes. Along the same lines, the Kanto also has an RCA input that will allow it to hook up to a TV. Using this function, the sound from the TV plays over the SYD rather than the television’s speakers. This is a great option because you can still dock your iPod when you’re not watching TV and rock out. Though the SYD is somewhat ipod-centric, iPad users haven’t been left out. There is an auxiliary input on the back that will allow an 1/8” adapter to connect to your iPad. Prop your iPad on a stand like the BookArc or Compass, or use the fancy new Verso case and enjoy. The SYD also includes an IR remote which can be used to make bass and treble adjustments.

Most importantly, the SYD offers support for the AirPort Express. Simply plug an Express into the back of the SYD, and using either the RCA or AUX input you can enable AirPlay. You can read about the great features of AirPlay in this article which Ben wrote on its release. AirPlay allows iOS devices and iTunes to stream music wirelessly to speakers attached to the AirPort Express (in this case the SYD). This means that friends can wirelessly show you songs from their iOS device. If you have a large iTunes library on your computer which doesn’t all fit onto an iPod, you can simply play music from iTunes directly to the SYD.

Geek Tip: Using your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad along with the Remote App from Apple, you can take control of your iTunes library while streaming over AirPlay. This means your iMac can stay in the office while you move the SYD around the house, and control it via the Remote app.

Overall, if you’re looking for a new home stereo with a ton of unique features, the SYD is a great product to consider. Feel free to swing by and demo the sound in any of our retail locations.

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