Coogobox’s Symphony ($70) is a new dock for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The aluminum dock is compatible with either device, and it comes with a built-in Lightning cable for charging. Symphony also works as an amplifier, as a small hole in the dock directs the iPhone’s sound out through the front of the accessory. Coogobox also claims the Symphony’s cable can be adjusted to allow for case compatibility. This is an important feature for a dock, but we had troubles in testing — read on for more details. Symphony comes in black or silver.
Symphony weighs in at a sturdy .93 pounds, and at 5.1” x 3.9” x 2.4”, it won’t take up much space on a desk or nightstand.
We found our black version of the dock to be quite attractive, with an aesthetic that matches Apple’s newest iPhones. Charging with the included cable works without a hitch. It’s also notable that though the dock is large enough for an iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, it should fit some other Lightning-compatible Apple devices (for instance, it docks an iPod touch 5G just fine). The dock’s sound amplification is noticeable enough to make a difference within close range.
Coogobox’s claim of case compatibility is where we ran into issues during testing. First off, the instructions on Coogobox’s website didn’t quite match what we encountered inside the dock. Taking off the bottom lid was a major hassle, requiring the use of a small Phillips-head screwdriver and a power drill.
After that, we encountered another set of screws and a hex key, for some reason. There was no middle screw inside the dock, and the other two small screws were on so tight that our power drill couldn’t turn them. After that, we gave up. Suffice to say, very few users are going to have the patience to take apart Symphony to adjust its cable. We can’t vouch for the dock’s case compatibility, and would suggest Symphony be thought of as a dock designed for an uncased iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.
As a dock to be used on an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus without a case, Coogobox’s Symphony is very nice. There are few Lightning docks out there right now for the newest iPhones, and Symphony is an attractive option that fits uncased phones flawlessly.
