PCMag likes the Belkin TuneStage…we're not so sure

By Thomas Ricker

Back in May we wondered aloud about the performance of the TuneStage — Belkin's $150 (!!) or so Bluetooth music streaming solution for your iPod. Well, PCMag slapped up a review recently giving the product 4/5 stars. Sure, artifacts resulting from Bluetooth compression were (somewhat) noticeable but performance and sound quality certainly exceeded that of FM transmitters. Also, they were lovin' on the fact that they could easily set up and use their iPod as a full-featured wireless remote. Still, you've really gotta be jonesin' hard for this considering the wide availability of $20 wireless iPod remotes and Apple's own $70 Universal Dock and Remote. Hell, you can get a full-blown WiFi PC/Mac streamer
for about the same price or less to stream your entire digital library at home or while scooting about with your laptop. Oh, and the TuneStage won't work with the iPod nano, Shuffle, or 5G (video enabled) iPod until Belkin releases a dock-connected version planned for early 2006. But hey, it's tough to find a negative review of the TuneStage so maybe they're on to something here.

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