Kicker and I go way back to my early days as a car audio enthusiast. Even before I had my license, as a 15 year old I started packing Kicker subwoofers in my trunk paired with various amp and crossovers. Yes, I will admit, I was one of those obnoxious kids with more subwoofers than wheels- the one who rattled your window sills from a mile away. It turned into quite the hobby/obsession even entering a few local car audio competitions and even winning a few first places.

Being no stranger to car audio and Kicker products my interest was piqued when they introduced the ZKick. So I have had my eye on the ZKick dock for quite some time only having had a chance to preview it in the stores. It may be helpful to demo a dock like this in the store for features and build quality, but it can be hard to get a sense of sound quality and output in a big box store with kids screaming and Guitar Hero being played in the background. I finally got a chance to pick one of these units up and have been using it daily for the last two months.

If you can believe it, the i.Sound MovieTime Universal is actually not designed exclusively for the iPod. Actually, the portable speaker dock plugs into a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so we don't know why it's being advertised as an accessory targeted for use with the PSP, Zune, SanDisk players, and the iPod.

In any case, the 1.25-inch speakers (12 watts RMS) run on four AA batteries or AC power and have some sort of "Surround Effect." Not too impressive for the price (about $80), but it's not every day that you see something beginning with "i" plugged into a Zune.

[Product Page (French) via Coolest Gadgets]

The Samsung T9 and T9B DAPs sure are getting a lot of love these days. It was only last week that the players got the iLuv iss277 alarm dock to nestle in, and today they were introduced to the upcoming iLuv iss314 speaker dock.

The globular 33-watt iss314 features a subwoofer, sub output, 3D sound, and auxiliary input. A remote control may be included with the speakers, but if it's not, the T9(B) can be controlled using the playback buttons that form the bottom of the circular dock. An odd-looking system, for sure, and one that will cost about $150 whenever it's released (most likely in South Korea).

[AVING USA]

The last time we saw this speaker dock designed for the Creative Zen Vision:M and Zen V (Plus) DAPs was when it was called the TravelDock Z500. Although it's now dubbed the PlayDock Z500, the system's specs haven't changed since then. It still features high-performance drivers, Creative's Wide Stereo Effect, and an integrated subwoofer with bass control.

The Z500 can be powered with eight C batteries (16 hours of continuous playback) or with the included power adapter (unlimited playback if you're on top of your utility bills). Like the TravelSound Zen V system, the Z500 is equipped with an antenna to take advantage of the FM tuner built into the Vision:M and V Plus players.

Available in Singapore on Black Friday, the PlayDock Z500 is priced at $200.

[Press release]

Where did this come from? We don't know, but Creative's gorgeous new X-Fi Sound System Z600 speaker system/docking station for the Zen Vision:M will already be available (in Singapore, anyway) on Friday. Priced at $400, the Z600 is the first sound system to use the company's Xtreme Fidelity audio technology, which restores some of the quality lost during the compression process and therefore enhances and improves the sound of music.

The system comes with a compact subwoofer, two satellite speakers that can be mounted to a wall, and an infrared remote to control both the Vision:M and the speakers. The Z600 also includes AV-out jacks and supports any number of other gadgets via its auxiliary inputs.

[Press release]

Indicative of the global success of Creative's Creative Zen V and V Plus flash players is the TravelSound Zen V speaker system/docking station announced yesterday in Japan (and don't forget about the upcoming TravelDock Z500 either).

The TravelSound Zen V is designed exclusively for use with the V and V Plus, allowing simultaneous music playing and battery charging. Priced at an incredible $109, the speakers measure 9.3" x 5.3" x 2.2" and are bundled with a wireless remote control, AC adapter, stereo audio cable, carrying pouch, quick start guide, and other paperwork. The unit itself weighs 1.7 pounds, is equipped with an antenna for the FM tuner built into the V Plus, and features surround sound, mute button, volume controls, and a mode button (for what, we have no idea: I studied Japanese for over 10 years, but I'm still very rusty).

The TravelSound Zen V should be available in Japan in early December, with preorders being accepted in late November.

[Press Release via epiZENter]

New goodies from Creative just seem to be streaming out of Singapore these days. The latest is the answer to many Creative Zen fans' wishes, prayers, and dreams: the TravelDock Z500. The speaker system features docking capabilities, a remote control, and interchangeable seat clips for use with the 30GB and newly confirmed 60GB Zen Vision:M, as well as the Zen V and upcoming Zen V Plus flash players.

This first photo of the TravelDock was splashed between the pages of a brochure snagged from the COMEX consumer technology convention, which is going on now through Sunday at the Singapore Expo. Additional information does not accompany the ad, but we suspect that it won't be long before full specs are released. Stay tuned.

[epiZENter]