FirstLook Dolry HiFi Stone S

If you still have an older 30-pin speaker dock sitting around, the big question is whether it is worth saving. A lot of those docks still sound good, but newer iPhones and iPads moved on, and adapters are not always elegant.

The Dolry HiFi Stone S is built for that exact problem. It plugs into an older 30-pin dock and lets you send audio to it over Wi-Fi using AirPlay-style playback from an iPhone or iPad.

Quick Answer

The quick answer is that the Dolry HiFi Stone S works well if your goal is to bring a 30-pin home speaker dock into an Apple-focused setup. In my testing, setup through the Dolry Music app was straightforward, Spotify played through the Bose dock once the device was on my home Wi-Fi, and the audio quality was clearly better than the Bluetooth 30-pin adapters I have used.

The catch is versatility. The HiFi Stone S does not have a line out or built-in battery, so it is best as a home dock adapter. It can create its own Wi-Fi network, but if you connect directly that way, your iPhone or iPad loses its normal internet connection unless you use a workaround.

What It Does

The Dolry HiFi Stone S is a small adapter from C4 Electronics that plugs directly into a 30-pin speaker dock. Once connected, it lets you stream audio over Wi-Fi instead of using Bluetooth.

That is the main reason this device is interesting. Bluetooth adapters are easy, and I have used plenty of them, but Bluetooth compresses the audio and the range is limited. With the Dolry using Wi-Fi, you get better reach and better audio quality.

The HiFi Stone S version I looked at was listed at $99. There was also a lower-cost version, around $50, that did not include the three touch-sensitive buttons on top.

Plugs into older 30-pin docks
Streams audio over Wi-Fi
Works with iPhone and iPad through the Dolry Music app
Supports higher-quality audio than a basic Bluetooth adapter
Designed mainly for existing speaker docks, not general line-in setups

What Comes In The Box

There is not much in the box, and that is actually the point. You get the HiFi Stone S unit and a small instruction manual. There are no extra cables because the adapter plugs directly into the 30-pin connector on the dock.

The unit itself is smooth and simple. The top has a glossy black finish, the bottom is more matte, and the 30-pin connector is exposed underneath. On top, there are three touch-sensitive controls: one with a heart icon, one for mute, and one that looks like a radio.

There is also a small button on the back, which appears to be the reset button. That reset button matters later if you move the device between networks.

Setup Process

The first step is downloading the Dolry Music app. In my setup, I used it from an iPad. The app is mainly there to configure the adapter and get it connected to Wi-Fi.

When the HiFi Stone S first powers on, it creates its own Wi-Fi network. You go into iOS Wi-Fi settings, connect directly to the Dolry network, then open the Dolry Music app. From there, the app finds the device, lets you name it, and lets you choose the Wi-Fi network you want it to join.

One thing I liked is that the app handled the network handoff cleanly. After I entered my home Wi-Fi password, it updated the Dolry, restarted it, and moved the iPad back onto the home network. Once that finished, Spotify had internet access again and I could send audio to the speaker dock.

Connect to the Dolry's temporary Wi-Fi network
Open the Dolry Music app
Select the device from the device list
Choose or set the device name
Pick your home Wi-Fi network and enter the password
Use AirPlay output selection to play through the dock

Using It With AirPlay

Once the Dolry was connected to my home network, using it was simple. I opened Spotify, started playback on the iPad, then selected the Dolry from the AirPlay output list.

At that point, the music came through the Bose speaker dock instead of the iPad speaker. Volume control worked from the iPad, which made the whole setup feel pretty natural once it was configured.

This is where the HiFi Stone S makes the most sense. If you have a 30-pin dock in a room and want it to behave more like part of an Apple audio setup, this does the job cleanly.

Audio Quality

The biggest advantage over the Bluetooth adapters I have used is audio quality. Dolry promotes the HiFi Stone S as supporting high-resolution audio, and the difference compared with a typical Bluetooth 30-pin adapter was noticeable.

Bluetooth is convenient, but it compresses the audio and range can be an issue. With the Dolry using Wi-Fi, you get more reach and a cleaner signal. In a home setup, that makes a real difference.

For someone trying to get the best sound out of an older dock, this is the strongest reason to look at the HiFi Stone S.

Where It Falls Short

The main limitation is that the HiFi Stone S is not as flexible as some Bluetooth adapters. One adapter I have used, the Auris, has both a line out and an internal rechargeable battery. That makes it easier to use in a car, office, or anywhere you do not have a normal 30-pin dock setup.

The Dolry does not have a line out, and it does not have a built-in battery. So if you want to use it with an aux input, or move it around outside the house, it is not as convenient.

I also tested it with an older 30-pin car connector from Dice Electronics, and neither the Dolry nor the other 30-pin adapter worked with that setup. That may be because the car interface is old, but it is worth noting if you are thinking about using this in a vehicle.

The Mobile Wi-Fi Problem

The Dolry can work in a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi mode, where your iPhone or iPad connects directly to the adapter. That is useful if there is no home Wi-Fi network available.

The problem is that when your device is connected directly to the Dolry's Wi-Fi network, it no longer has normal internet access over Wi-Fi. If your music is stored locally, that may be fine. For me, it is a problem because I stream almost everything through services like Spotify.

There is a workaround using iPhone tethering. You can turn on the iPhone hotspot, then use another iOS device with the Dolry Music app to configure the Dolry to connect to that hotspot. That way, the Dolry and phone are on the same Wi-Fi connection, and the phone still has internet access.

The downside is that it takes two devices to set up, and switching back to your home network later is clumsy. The app does not simply let you change networks. You have to reset the Dolry, wait for it to restart, reconnect peer-to-peer, and then configure the home Wi-Fi again.

Who It Is For

The HiFi Stone S makes the most sense for someone with older 30-pin speaker docks around the house who wants to bring them into an Apple ecosystem. If you use iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and AirPlay-style playback, it fits that environment nicely.

It is less ideal if you need something portable, battery-powered, or compatible with a plain aux input. For those situations, a Bluetooth adapter with line out and a battery may be more practical, even if the audio quality is not as strong.

I also think the timing matters. If this product had arrived right when Apple moved away from the 30-pin connector, it probably would have had a bigger audience. At this point, it is more of a useful product for a specific group of people who still have good 30-pin docks they do not want to throw away.

Key Takeaways

The Dolry HiFi Stone S turns an older 30-pin speaker dock into a Wi-Fi streaming speaker.
Setup uses the Dolry Music app and starts by connecting to the adapter's own temporary Wi-Fi network.
Once connected to home Wi-Fi, it works well with apps like Spotify through the iOS AirPlay output selector.
Audio quality and range are better than a typical Bluetooth 30-pin adapter.
It is best for home speaker docks because it has no line out and no built-in battery.
Mobile use is possible, but switching between hotspot and home Wi-Fi is cumbersome.