Eos: a home audio system for iPod users

This holiday shopping season, so much media attention has focused on LCD televisions: How low will prices go? Will consumers snap them up, as in years past?

Turn your attention away from TVs, however, and you’ll find some interesting home audio products rolling out for iPod owners. Four months ago Sony premiered its S-Airplay, which wirelessly transmits music from a docking station to as many as 10 speakers. Price: about $400 for the docking station and the first two speakers, plus $130 for each speaker after that.

For iPod owners on a tighter budget, San Diego-based IntelliTouch has rolled out a similar wireless system called Eos. Dock your iPod or iPhone into the base station (regularly $249), and you can transmit music to as many as four remote Eos speakers (regularly $129 each) up to 150 feet away.

Setup is surprisingly fast and easy. And the sound quality? One tech blogger called it “glorious,” but it’s not. For ears used to a full-fledged home audio system, music will seem a bit tinny. Supreme sound isn’t the point, however; ease of use, affordability and portability are. The Eos provides the freedom to move a speaker from room to room without worrying about cords or connections.

A bonus: It’s on sale. Though the duration of the following discounts could not be confirmed, as of Wednesday a starter package including one base docking station (with built-in speaker) and one remote speaker had been discounted to $199 (in black) or $149 (in white). Additional speakers have been reduced to $99 (black) or $79 (white) apiece. For holiday party hosts who don’t mind white, that means your iPod could be playing simultaneously in the living room, kitchen and back patio for as little as $228. (877) 465-3927, www.eoswireless.com. The sale runs through Dec. 31.