The iPod market just keeps on growing by leaps and bounds, and along with it, the market for accessory speaker systems. At last count I found over 50 auxiliary speaker systems for use with the iPod. Klipsch, one of America’s first high-end audio companies, has recently expanded their offerings in this market with the iGroove. This portable docking two-channel speaker system offers true two-way speaker design, with unique horn-loaded tweeters and separate woofers in a ported cabinet to extend bass response. Over the years Klipsch has championed horn-loaded systems as the way to get higher audio efficiency and lower distortion, and the iGroove features their MicroTractrix® horn technology. The attractive enclosure is simple yet stylish, with a curved silver mesh front panel covering the drivers and a built-in iPod dock in its center. It’s surprisingly heavy, bespeaking quality materials and solid construction, but a molded-in carrying handle makes it easy to carry from room to room.

Last September I reviewed the Klipsch iFi (the iGroove’s high-end big brother - read my BFR review here) and found it to be an outstanding system. But at $400 list price/$300 street price it’s priced a bit high for some users, it’s not portable, and it’s a tad large for a dorm room. The smaller iGroove currently sells for $280 list/$208 street price, making it more affordable for the user who needs a compact luggable speaker system to share his/her music with others. Let’s see what Klipsch has done for an encore.