Fatman iTube review

The iTube uses an audiophile-friendly valve amp to produce its sound – so does it really deliver the goods or is it merely marketing gimmickry? Read on, dear reader, to find out…

Pros
Valve amps are a rarity these days, but hi-fi buffs will know that they have a reputation for delivering rich, warm “analogue” sound. So what happens when you team up a valve amp with the archetypal digital music device, the iPod? Well, you get big, beautiful audio that’s a million miles away from the norm.

Cons
The looks are also a little unusual, thanks to the separate amp, dock and speaker modules (you can buy the iTube with or without speakers). The price is also fairly more lofty than ten supermodels standing on each others shoulders. Trust us. That’s lofty. We’ve seen it!

In summary then…
The iTube’s idiosyncratic looks and premium price tag might put some people off, but the trade-off is superbly warm, room-filling audio and – by speaker dock standards – excellent build quality; this is no plasticky dock for the bedside table. It exudes a feeling of quality and, for want of a better word, “seriousness”, and should keep pumping out music for many years. By which time iPods will be out of fashion and you’ll have to buy something new anyway.

Sound quality

Design

Features

Value

Overall

Like the sound of this iPod dock? Get chatting about the Fatman iTube on the PriceRunner forums.

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