Apple AppleDesign Powered Speakers II vs Apple iPod Hi-Fi

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AppleDesign Powered Speakers II compared with iPod Hi-Fi

	AppleAppleDesign Powered Speakers II	AppleiPod Hi-Fi
Overview
Released
Released	1994	February 2006
Sound
Type
Type	Speaker	Portable speaker
Channels
Channels	stereo	stereo
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos	No	No
Drivers
Drivers	Full-range, tuned-port bass-reflex system with magnetic shielding and active equalisation. Apple claims maximum 90 dB SPL at 0.5 m at 200 Hz; the original generation's 90 Hz condition is not transferred.	Two wide-range drivers in isolated enclosures and a ported woofer; Macworld reports two 80 mm drivers and one 130 mm woofer
Amplifiers
Amplifiers	Built-in dual-channel amplifier. Apple labels output power 14 W without channel, RMS or distortion conditions; no additional rating is inferred. Maximum input is 2 V peak-to-peak. Exact model uses a 12 V DC supply; maximum 24 W electrical input is distinct from audio output. Mains compatibility is 100–240 V, 50 or 60 Hz depending on the regional power-supply module; the listed US kits include a 120 V module. Shared Service Source's generic 15 V/40 W table describes the original speakers and is not applied to Speakers II.	Built-in amplifier; Apple did not publish a power rating
Frequency response
Frequency response	Maker gives 150 Hz to 20 kHz without a tolerance. This is not the original generation's 90 Hz to 17 kHz ±3 dB specification.	53 Hz low-end figure reported by Macworld from Apple; no official full-range specification found
Connections
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No	No
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	No	No
AirPlay
AirPlay	No	No
Voice assistants
Voice assistants	None	None
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	No built-in Wi-Fi; analogue inputs only.	No built-in Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	No built-in Bluetooth; analogue inputs only.	No built-in Bluetooth
Ports
Ports	Two 3.5 mm stereo input sockets, labelled computer and CD/audio; one front stereo headphone output; connection for the satellite speaker. The supplied CD cable converts dual RCA source sockets to a 3.5 mm input. A miniplug speaker cable is permanently attached to the satellite end. No original-generation revision-B subwoofer socket is documented.	30-pin iPod dock; 3.5 mm auxiliary input accepts analogue stereo or Mini-Toslink optical digital audio; no video output or computer sync port
Streaming
Streaming	Plays sound from a separately connected computer, CD or cassette player or television. No network player is built in.	Plays music from a separately connected AirPort Express through the auxiliary input; no wireless receiver built in
Design
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	–	Up to 15 hours
Weight
Weight	–	6.6 kg
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	External mains-powered 12 V DC module; no battery operation documented.	Six D-cell batteries or mains power; Apple told Macworld up to 15 hours at normal listening levels and approximately five hours at maximum volume. Macworld measured just under 11 hours with alkaline cells
Controls
Controls	Front volume control and headphone socket. Unlike the original AppleDesign speakers, Speakers II has no power switch and is designed to stay powered. No tone or balance controls. Exact Apple support confirms neither input uses the original generation's noise gate, so quiet passages are not subject to that circuit's cutoff.	Touch-sensitive volume buttons on top and included infrared Apple Remote for volume, playback and track changes
Mounting
Mounting	Integrated sliding rear foot adjusts the listening angle while retaining a three-point stance. Apple's exact M2497 stand-design patent identifies front contact points and the curved adjustable foot; this is a technical illustration, not a photograph of an undocumented revision.	–
Size
Size	Maker gives 6.8 × 4.13 × 3.94 inches (height × width × depth), with published metric figures 175 × 107 × 101 mm. Published 1.34 lb (612 g) weight is not identified as per speaker versus pair, so no headline weight is assigned.	17.0 × 6.6 × 6.9 inches and approximately 6.6 kg without batteries, measured by iLounge; approximately 7.6 kg with six D-cell batteries
Colours
Colours	Slate and platinum. Original brochure offers slate separately and platinum in bundles; the later technical support sheet also lists the platinum M2668LL/A ordering kit. Colours do not establish distinct hardware generations.	White enclosure with removable black fabric speaker grille
In the box
In the box	Main powered speaker, satellite speaker with attached connection cable, regional power-supply module, 3.5 mm computer cable, 3.5 mm-to-dual-RCA CD cable, user guide and limited warranty. The photographed Apple Multimedia Kit adds a separately bundled AppleCD 300e Plus, headphones and CD-ROM titles. Apple names the original generation in its exact comparison FAQ. Its stand-design patent records introduction on 14 March 1994; recovered contemporary purchase accounts and GEnieLamp's November 1994 hands-on test establish retail in 1994, but the actual first month remains unresolved. Introduction and document dates are not used as first sale.	Apple Remote, removable grille, AC power cord and ten Universal Dock adapters