What is the best iPod base?

I don't have a lot of experience with either but co-workers have the Bose SoundDock and the JBL On Stage. Both seem to work well but, relatively speaking, the JBL is a much better value. Costco has them for $99 at the moment, about 1/3 the price of the Bose. For anything short of plugging the iPod into a real system, I'd buy the JBL for myself. There are some negative review about the JBL on the consumer sites but most seem to be based on the first production run that was later recalled.

For my office I use the iPod mini base with an audio cable going into the aux input on my Bose wave radio. Pretty good sound!

What a topic in a high end forum!
You better plug into a mid fi system than in one of these (nice looking) bases!

Using a high-quality table radio is a good alternative to one of the dedicated bases. I really don't have an anti-Bose bias but I have found that the radios from Cambridge Soundworks, either the older Model 88 or the current CD-740 work and sound better than the Bose Wave, for less money.

I've used a Model 88 quite a bit with both a portable CD player and an MP3 player and it makes for a very pleasant, convenient sound system, great FM reception and a nice remote control.

I own the folding system by Altec Lansing. I like it because the sound is good for the office, it's very portable (vacations and business trips), and it charges the iPod while its docked.

I read a review on ipodlounge.com that said you get a much better stereo projection from the jbl OnStage. Plus, I think it actually looks much better. That actually might have been my first choice, but mine came up cheaper on eBay first.

Notwithstanding their technology, Bose seems like a lot of cash just to play an iPod. I suspect you might be able to do as well for less $ by buying a good mini system with a line-in. Plus you likely get a tuner and cd player to boot.