Thousand Dollar iPod Dock Brings You Back to the 1970s

Vita Audio has announced their new audio deck--er--their new "R4 Integrated Music System." Rather than calling it "a stereo," Vita Audio makes it sound so upper-crust and elite. Sure, it's got a built-in iPod dock, but what makes this thing so classy? No, it's not a cousin to R2-D2 (how cool would that be??).

No, as a matter of fact, it does quite a few other things. Like what, you ask? Well, it can play MP3s, WMA files as well as standard audio CDs. Snack on those specs all of you other iPod docks!

Oh yeah, and it's got an FM radio and can do DAB, as well.

Sorry AM radio fans! No lovin' for you.

After all that you're still not finding the R4 to be your cup o' tea? Well, you haven't even gotten to the payoff if you're wood-grain fan! So, what ever you do, don't stop reading!!

On top of the CD player, radio and iPod dock, the R4 also sports an alarm clock, front and back line-in ports, and a detachable remote control that just happens to look a bit like it is actually a combination dial for a safe. No doubt this design choice was made to reflect the safe you'd want to keep the R4 in after paying so much for it.

While there's no release date yet, this puppy is expected to clock in at just under a grand in USD--how's that for class? In fact, after sales tax and/or shipping you can probably expect the R4 to price in at more than $1000US!

What says class like spending ten times what others charge?

OH YEAH--and the best part for fans of devices that look like they are from the 1970s is that this baby comes in a simulated wood-grain case. Very cool for those of us that like to have all of our audio equipment match our vintage, 30-year-old turntables and 8-track cassette players.

Luckily, if you don't dig the wood, there's a shiny white version, too. It'll go perfectly with your 1g iPod.