To start with a negative, the sad thing is that use of the Creative TravelSound docking speaker set-up is so prescriptive. Compatible with the Creative Zen V range of MP3 players, it won't even work cleanly with some of the company's own later models, and that proves to be a thorn in the side of an otherwise useful product.

That's because the speakers themselves have a dual role. They can, as you'd hope, play back the music from the Zen player in question, but they also act as a charging station. What's more, from out of the box they're a breeze to set up. You assemble the plug fitting to suit a UK power socket (it's simpler than it sounds, don't worry!), plug in the speakers and that's part one done.

Then the Zen player connects to a built-in mounting cradle (although it's not, surprisingly, a 100 percent easy fit), that interfaces with the headphone and USB sockets in the player itself. It then seats itself at the heart of the speakers, waiting to be accessed.

You can control your music, in a rudimentary way, via the supplied and extremely flimsy, flat remote control. This is convenient, as otherwise you'd need to manually adjust the player every time you want to stop and start. However, it's frustrating that the remote doesn't allow you to explore the user interface of the Zen player in any depth, restricting itself primarily to stopping and starting. Thus, if you want to do more than that, you will find yourself reaching across and making manual adjustments.

This is a pity, and one of the few flaws in an otherwise useful product. Further welcome features include the ability to run the speakers off batteries, as well as accepting a line-in, in case you want to hook up a different model of player. If you want to take advantage of the Zen V's radio capabilities too, then the Travelsound also has a built-in aerial. Again, a thoughtful touch.

The unit also benefits from a small footprint, from which it delivers meaty audio output. Bass is perhaps a little lacking, but the Travelsound unit nonetheless punches above its appearances. It also comes with a built-in, pull-out standing arm, to allow you to easily site the speakers where you choose, along with subtle, simple controls along the top.

Creative, of course, also produce similar units for iPods, but for those who avoided the Apple path and went with a Zen V, then the TravelSound Zen V is a good, thoughtful accompaniment.

A flexible mix of speakers and docking station, stylishly presented in one unit. Sure, there are flaws, but this is a still a good value buy.