CES 2008: Kicker ZK500 Zune Speaker Dock

[JimLaddie]

With both the "Auxiliary Line In" & the "Lines out", that would make a pretty decent stage monitor for someone like me. Plus, use karaoke tracks (via the mixer or the Zune) for backing and you've got yourself a decent piece of equipment there.

I saw a similar box in Future Shop with a DVD player on board.

[huntinocs]

i am lookin into gettin one of these for my zune but i dont understand something. on the kicker website it says passive radiator and it also says sub woofer. so my question is: what is the difference between the two and what is the thing on the back a pr or a sub woofer? i would appreciate the help

[ThoughtsMedia]

@huntinocs I honestly don't know enough about speaker construction to understand the difference....all I can tell you is that it has very impressive bass for the size. Go to Zune Thoughts and read my review of it.

- Jason

[fernie8691]

can i leave it on all night? like if i want to sleep with it on for example?

[ThoughtsMedia]

@fernie8691 No, it needs to be turned off at night so the tiny robots inside it that play the music can get their rest.

- Jason

[MobileSpies]

@ThoughtsMedia Damn those unionized robots...

[mrbling888]

@fernie8691 yea bro i leave mine on for days with music playiing it dosent heat up or anything its great it is the 1 and all way will be the worlds best ipod or zune docking sttion

[heysesar]

Ok Jason. May be you´re right about sound quality and the chances that files are erased because of vibrations. I take back my words on that. But my Zune doesn´t work in the docking bay. All I get from it is a noise like a scratch or something like that. I have to plug it in the Aux In port. I contacted Kicker´s Customer Service and they say there´s nothing they can do, because I´m in Venezuela and they don´t have dealers in this country. Do you have any idea to help me solve that problem?

[ThoughtsMedia]

@heysesar Well, a defective product is a defective product, and it sucks that they can't help you...but where did you buy it from then if they have no dealers in your country? Can't you return it for a refund from wherever you bought it from?

- Jason

[heysesar]

I purchased a Zk500 for my Zune 120 Gb two days ago and am regreting it since.

The system is not that great in terms of sound quality and the docking bay is defective.

Even more, I have been warned not to play it at a loud volume, for the risk of erasing all the content of my 45 gigs of music.

It has made me hate my Zune, (which I loved before) because of the lack of possibilities for sound systems in the market that would allow me to stay away from this piece of Kicker junk.

[ThoughtsMedia]

@heysesar Sound quality is highly subjective, but as far as speaker docks go, I thought that the Kicker sounded really good. I'm not sure why someone would tell you you'd lose music playing the dock at high volume - the vibrations from the speakers impacting the hard drive maybe? That's so remote a risk it's pretty ridiculous - whomever told you that didn't know what they were talking about.

- Jason

[dubz1313]

Does this work with an Iphone??

[ThoughtsMedia]

No. There's an iPod/iPhone model you'd need to buy for that.

- Jason

[tomato098]

@ThoughtsMedia You can use the jack at the back to plug in any mp3 or sound output device and it will work with that.

[marquesbrownlee]

I want this so badly! Ah!

[59shine59]

Does this work with the 120 Gig Zune???

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it does.

- Jason

[lexacost]

does this work with the zune hd

??

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it works, but not all the remote control functions work.

- Jason

[chickennoodle35]

will they ever fix that? an "update" or some sort on the product so the full controls will work on the zune hd?

[ThoughtsMedia]

You have to ship the ZK500 back to Kicker for a firmware update. Check their Web site for more details.

- Jason

[chickennoodle35]

what about if i buy one direct in the next few months? it wont come with the update? or would talking to a kicker customer service person be the best idea?

[ThoughtsMedia]

I'd assume it would come with the update, but talking to the company is always a better idea than some random dude on YouTube who shot a video about a product two years ago. ;-)

- Jason

[chickennoodle35]

haha yea. well thanks for the info.

[jamesanderson26]

how does it sound when its up loud? and will it be compatible with the zune hd?

[ThoughtsMedia]

It sounds GREAT at high volumes - no distortion, and it goes quite loud. It should be compatible with the Zune HD, because the Zune HD will have the same port as the other Zunes. Kicker will probably have to make a plastic dock adapter...but it's a bit too early to tell.

- Jason

[jessjess913]

they seriously dont have zunes in canada?!?!?!

i really want one of those....but im still undecided =/

[ThoughtsMedia]

They do now - this video was shot a year ago. The Kicker sounds GREAT.

- Jason

[CDNHottie69]

Yeah they do! I own one.

And every major store handles them.

[zacman80]

I have one and use it all over the house. It's great when you get with friends because it's so loud and clear. It is a little expensive though. But, I think it is worth it.

[buklao559]

aww man but theirs no more curcut city

[Keroque]

Very nice!! how much?

[ThoughtsMedia]

The price varies - check Amazon, etc. for prices.

- Jason

[Movieman1113]

Is this better then the Apple Hi-Fi?

[ThoughtsMedia]

I'm not sure - I've never heard/tested the Apple Hi-Fi.

- Jason

[gbryan32]

Yes, the iK/ZK500 are both better than the Apple Hi-Fi, which is discontinued from Apple. The KICKER models have independent tweeters, woofers and the subwoofer on the back, which makes it sound a lot better in trebble and bass response. I like all types of music on the Kicker! Hip-Hop rocks with detailed and defined bass.

[BORATMAKEMOVIE]

thats not a subwoofer. its not powered at all its just a reflex woofer. all it does it enhance the bass produced by the two mid range speakers in the front

[gbryan32]

The iK/ZK500's enclosure uses a square passive radiator, which is driven by two 5.25" woofers on the front. The passive radiator has been weighted in the Kicker to play low freqeuncies, like a "subwoofer". Internal air pressure produced by the two 5.25" woofers move the passive radiator's cone. A passive radiator is used to tune the small volume of air in the Kicker enclosure, and yields better low frequency performance than a similarily sized ported design. A true subwoofer needs more volume.

[LocustDeystroyer]

Well I think it's just the same now stop dissing Kicker it's one of the best Audio makers in the world

[MeditationDub]

This speaker is sick, its got great reviews on Amazon. I will be purchasing it later this week, it looks like it will be perfect for my friends and I (BBQs and parties).

It does kind of stink its not 'portable' w/ batteries but there are some nice little mp3 speakers you can get that are small enough to carry backpacking and are LOUD for being tiny speakers.

[clarkey23456]

Is it portable, if so does is run on charge?

[ThoughtsMedia]

No and no. Look down at the comment right below this one...

- Jason

[suiteharley]

Just ordered one. The only con would be that it doesn't take batteries for camping and other reasons.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yeah, that's the main limitation of this unit - but it sure sounds great!

- Jason

[bgbigfabolous]

i whats to no i got a zune 30gb i can put my zune 30gb on it

[ThoughtsMedia]

Look down one comment and you have your answer.

- Jason

[milezzz22]

I have a brown, 30gig Zune. Is it compatible? Is there a radio on it? And is there a clock on it?

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it's compatible with the Zune 30. There's no radio on it, but remember that your Zune has a radio, so you can just play that through the speaker dock. There is no clock on the Kicker dock. But your Zune now has a clock too, remember?

- Jason

[Movieman1113]

haha, u know everything

[eechooxl]

Ummm is there any reseller in Israel?

[ThoughtsMedia]

You'd have to go to the Kicker Web site and find out.

- Jason

[calophone]

is this compatible with the first zune (30g)?

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it's compatible with the Zune 30.

- Jason

[NucleoVega]

is this thing rechargeable?

[ThoughtsMedia]

Nope, because it doesn't have a battery - it's not a portable dock, it needs to be plugged into power.

- Jason

[bertollo]

the back sub wofer have its own voice coil? , electrified, or are reflex, have a diaphragm moved by waves of air and in this case they can be that of the front speackers

[ThoughtsMedia]

Ok, but is that something I can tell by looking at it? Maybe if you look at the spec sheet on the Kicker site and figure out what you want to know?

- Jason

[cerwinvegafan]

the subwoofer has its own power it is not a passive radiator

[bertollo]

in the back its a sub wofer or reflex diafram???

[ThoughtsMedia]

They call it a sub-woofer, but I don't know what a "reflex diafram" is? If you tell me maybe I can answer your question. :-)

- Jason

[calvinyuenblinke]

It's an actual sub-woofer not a passive radiator.

[Kromius99]

I NEED THAT!!!!@ ITS CRAZY

[LoveThyPitBull]

The ZK500 showed up today and we are more then pleased with the product. Well worth the price. I/We listen to just about everything and it plays all genre awesome. This is much cheaper then buying a whole stereo system for our town home. It fills any room quite well. Great product, well done Kicker.

[LoveThyPitBull]

I'd like to thank you for showing this interview. I only knew about the Altec docking station and wasn't impressed. Saw this and the Zunoramma review review and pulled the trigger. Me and my wife are very exited to see more Zune products being made and are happy to support Kicker for there efforts. I also just found out a company called SoundGate (owned by Kicker) sell an adapter kit to hook up your Zune to an after market radio. We'll buy 2 to support Kicker for supporting us Zune owners.

[arielwollinger]

please correct the link to zunethoughts in the right panel. It has a ) that is screwing the link.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Fixed. It's a stupid YouTube bug.

- Jason

[keepNitloud]

how big is that sub in the back?

and how much wud this be selling for approximately?

[ThoughtsMedia]

The sub is six inches square, and it's selling for $249 USD from Amazon.

- Jason

[Mrsalvin]

Does this support the 80G Zune?

Thanks

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it supports the Zune 80, Zune 30, and the Zune 4/8. Every Zune ever made! ;-)

- Jason

[Mrsalvin]

O.k. I now own one. Much lighter than I thought it would be. It shipped well and sounds great.

[popwarhomie]

badass I want one

[nad0139b]

I got one to review as well. Look for it in coming up at ePinions. For some reason, they don't have it in their product category yet, but I'll email their CL to see if they can put one up.

[vegaman52]

oh well i know that they wont be supporting batteries. what i meant was will the work if its not plugged in? is it rechargable?

[ThoughtsMedia]

No, it's not rechargeable. When I said "there's no option for batteries" I really meant it. ;-) There's no batteries in this thing - you need a power plug.

- Jason

[vegaman52]

oh well that sucks! i dont think i wanna buy it anymore. naw im playing, when do they come out?

[ThoughtsMedia]

They come out in May. I just got one sent to me by Kicker yesterday, so look for my review of it...though I'm away next week so it might be a bit.

- Jason

[vegaman52]

is this completely portable? meaning, are they fully functional with out the D/C adaptar?

[ThoughtsMedia]

No, it's not fully portable - there's no option for batteries, so you need a power plug.

- Jason

[ThoughtsMedia]

For those that are curious, I emailed the guys at Kicker last week and they said this product is coming out "soon" but wouldn't give me a firm date - they're still working on it. There will be a review up on Zune Thoughts when they send me one...

- Jason

[MikeCandida]

wonder of you can remove the grill off the sub, anyone know?

[ThoughtsMedia]

The grill? You mean those two bars on the back? It didn't seem to be...although I'm curious why you'd want to. :-)

- Jason

[berkelusa]

OK BUT WHERE ARE THEY?.. Search epay.. and find NOTHING??

[ThoughtsMedia]

You'd have to contact the company - I think they're coming out soon...

- Jason

[berkelusa]

Oh ok.. sweet.. Thanks buddy..

[calvinyuenblinke]

go to kicker com

[rowanlloyd]

you missed out the dot

[calvinyuenblinke]

That's what the space does..it fills the .

[rowanlloyd]

eh? no...

[calvinyuenblinke]

wow someone's not very smart?

[505zombie]

I want one! it looks awsome.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Oh yeah, sorry about some of the focusing issues - I'm not sure why the camera couldn't lock on to the power/input ports.

- Jason

[gunsnroses123456789]

thats fine. Im just glade that the Zune is comming to Canada officially. this is how i found out. thanks for the info.

[gunsnroses123456789]

that looks pretty sleek

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yeah, it looks quite nice in person, though more heavy-duty looking rather than soft and sleek, sort of like the v1 Zune. And while it was hard to hear how good it sounds in such a noisy place, from what I heard it did sound very good. The bass was impressive!

- Jason