Replace original Bose Wave — with what?

November 30, 2023 10:21 AM

Forty plus years ago I purchased a Bose Wave audio system — it included speakers, CD player, AM/FM radio. A friend hooked an Apple/iPod single docking station to it, and it has held my not too ancient iPod and all my music.

This thing is huge, and takes up an entire section of my bookcase. The CD player has ceased to work for the second time — repaired at hefty expense and it’s a big piece of equipment to lug around.

Is there a docking station with speakers that would work with my iPod?

iPod Specs: Model number MC297LL version 2.0.4 PC
34.9 GB used 113 GB free
No video, no photos no other audio
3,648 songs (ex disposed of actual CDs)

My hearing is impaired but I still love music.

Any suggestions very welcomed.

posted by alwayson_slightlyoff to Media & Arts (4 answers total)

Is your iPod the kind with the older, wide connector? Here's a comparison. If so, you'll want to find a 30-pin iPod dock, such as this Bose dock on Amazon. If it's the smaller kind (lightning), then you'll want a different dock, like this.

Or, you could just use the aux-out (headphone) jack to plug into anything that has an aux-in.
posted by sacrifix at 10:33 AM on November 30, 2023

Based on your model number, I believe you have a 7th Gen iPod Classic.

It turns out Bose made more than one dock specifically for iPods, called the Bose SoundDock. Although they are no longer being made, you can still find them used for reasonable prices. I think Amazon is even listing a new one here, although that surprises me.

I believe either the Series I or Series II would work with your iPod. Make sure you select the option with a "30-pin connector" (not lightning).

I expect that any dock with a 30-pin iPod connector would work just fine; the hard part will be finding them in good repair.
posted by dbx at 10:41 AM on November 30, 2023

EBay. They have a ton of docking stations that will fit that are smaller than what you have. Mine was practically new when I bought it a few years ago.
posted by tiny frying pan at 11:06 AM on November 30, 2023 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: Yes, thanks it has the wider “30 pin” connector. I will keep that in mind while looking around.

Even the newer docking stations take up more physical space than I want to give them. I am in the process of downsizing dramatically.

Would a portable, Mega MagnaBoom next-generation compact bluetooth speaker that delivers high-definition be a reasonable match for the existing iPod docking station?

This might link:
"https://offer.buymegamagnaboom.com/offer/1/index-v1-dtcv2.php?C1=824&uid=6981&oid=824&affid=1272&AFFID=1272&utm_campaign=CPA_1272&utm_source=1272&sub2=wj61r50kee6thbet28dkabek">/
posted by alwayson_slightlyoff at 2:10 AM on December 2, 2023