Logic3 i-Station7

The Logic3 i-Station7 dominates reviews for portable iPod speakers costing less than $100. Models in that price range don't get a lot of analysis, however. There's no getting around some loss in sound quality -- for about $50 more, the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (*est. $140) produces better sound. Owner reviews indicate there's some distortion at high volume. But reviewers say the Logic3 i-Station7 sounds better than its peers and comes with some extras not usually found at this price, such as what is said to be a pretty good remote control, a universal iPod dock and an AC adapter. (It also runs on four AA batteries.) The Logic3 i-Station7 is more portable than most, too at 5.5 by 7.7 by 1.5 inches.

Most gadget-review sources ignore cheaper portable speakers, so credible reviews are relatively scarce for the Logic3 i-Station7. Reviewers at iLounge.com and Macworld magazine base their ratings on objective hands-on testing. Less well-known is the British site TechcastNetwork.co.uk, but the review is well-done and apparently based on several weeks' use. We found more than 100 owner reviews at Amazon.com, but they encompass various generations of the i-Station.