Portable iPod speakers

Portable iPod speakers

The most popular speakers right now are portable iPod speakers. Most cost between $75 and $150, and are small enough to toss in a bag or briefcase. Most pump out enough sound for a bedroom, home office or patio. The two biggest competitors here are the Logitech InMotion iM7 (*est. $180) and the less expensive Altec Lansing mm50, recently updated as the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (*est. $140) . The Logitech model is tube-shaped (6.5" in diameter and about 17 inches long), with the iPod dock in the center. The pricier Altec Lansing is rectangular, about 13 inches long, and about four inches tall, also with the iPod dock in the center.

The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere (*est. $140) is an update of the wildly popular (and top rated) Logitech mm50, which received glowing reviews along with a spot in our previous ConsumerSearch Fast Answers section for portable iPod speakers. The Logitech mm50 excelled at delivering better low-end performance than most other iPod speakers in this category. In his review for iLounge.com, Jeremy Horwitz says the upgraded (but almost identical looking) Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere is a "marked step up sonically." Performance in the treble and mid-treble frequency ranges are improved over the mm50, which was already capable of accurately producing sound in these ranges. The sound coming from this speaker package is described as "big, dynamic, and lifelike" by Horwitz.

The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere portable iPod speakers, which come in black or white, can either plug in or run off of an internal ten-hour rechargeable battery. A remote control, carrying case and set of dock adapters is included. Special attention is given to the remote in the iLounge.com review, in which Horwitz which prefers the new 13-button design to that of the old 7-button membrane-based remote control. Menu navigation buttons as well as shuffle and repeat controls are an upgrade over the older Logitech mm50 iPod speaker.

CNet.com also gives the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod speakers a nice write-up. Reviewer Jasmine France says that although the Pure Fi-Anywhere isn't going to "blow anyone's clothes off," it offers "great sound and useful extras for an affordable price." Emphasis is placed on sound quality, and France mentions that the newest Logitech iPod speaker doesn't suffer from the same high-volume distortion that was present in the mm50.

Amongst the praise of the Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod speakers, it should be noted that Playlist editors gave a higher rating to the older Logitech mm50. The basis of this is, strangely enough, sound quality, and editor Dan Frakes says that the Pure-Fi Anywhere just isn't quite as good as the model it replaces. He particularly prefers the mm50's "3D stereo" feature to the Pure-Fi's "Stereo XL," stating that the mm50 offers better stereo separation and imaging. Most other reviews, however, say the Logitech Pure-Fi iPod speaker is the best in its price range. The iLounge review by Horwitz concludes that it is the "very best iPod portable system we've seen overall."

While the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere portable iPod speaker is not small compared to some, it is almost Lilliputian in size compared to the Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 (*est. $180) . While the iM7's tube shape is striking, the speaker system is far too large to fit into a briefcase or bag. "At 16.75" long and 6.5" in diameter, it's the size of battle tank ammunition, and weighs around ten pounds without anything inside," writes iLounge.com's Jeremy Horwitz. However, if you don't really need to carry your speakers around that often, the reward is some of the best sound from a portable iPod speaker in its class.

Among its strengths is a 4-inch subwoofer that delivers bass that's "awesome by portable audio standards." In fact, Horwitz says that the bass is more powerful at the same volume levels than some stay-at-home systems such as the Bose SoundDock (*est. $300) . Mid and high frequencies are delivered by right and left channel 1-inch tweeters, and right and left channel 3-inch mid-range drivers. PC Magazine names the Altec Lansing iM7 portable iPod speaker an Editors' Choice; sound quality is called impressive, with minimal distortion at maximum volume -- a feat that the pricier Bose SoundDock could not equal. On the other hand, the SoundDock -- also a PC Magazine Editors' Choice -- does deliver better audio fidelity overall.

The Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 is also a Playlist Pick at Playlist magazine, where Dan Frakes calls it the best sounding -- and loudest -- portable iPod speaker system on the market (at the time it was reviewed). But he notes that it does have some quirks. Unlike many portable (or other) iPod speaker systems, the iM7 has video passthrough so you can send video from a video-capable iPod to a TV, plus a dock that mates with any dockable iPod. However, there's no iPod dock connector port for syncing your iPod with a computer. Bass and treble controls are present, but can only be adjusted with the remote control. Thanks to the placement of the remote sensor on the iM7's body, the remote had difficulty operating the speaker system at times, such as when it was placed on a higher shelf. The speaker runs on eight – yes, eight -- D-cell batteries or off the included AC adapter. The less expensive Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere, on the other hand, includes a rechargeable battery. The two portable iPod speakers are roughly equal in performance, and user reviews for both are very good. But we've chosen to include the less expensive Logitech portable iPod speaker with its rechargeable battery and smaller overall size.

Another consideration for portable iPod speakers in this price range is the Altec Lansing inMotion iM600 (*est. $140) . Although iLounge.com's Jeremy Horwitz says its sound quality is not quite as good as top peer products, this system includes a radio tuner and has a different look -- it's about the size of a hardcover book (11" x 1.7" x 6"), with the iPod dock situated in the center. Some critics say the tuner is harder to use than it should be; since it has no region settings, you'll have to skip many channels in .1 tuning increments. The iM600 portable iPod speakers can either be powered by AC adapter or its built in rechargeable battery, which boasts seven hours of playback.

When it comes to low-cost (below $100) portable iPod speakers, few get much in the way of professional reviews, and user comments tend to be mixed. There are some standouts, however. One such portable iPod speaker is the Logic3 i-Station7 (*est. $90) , which does a bit better than most others. It gets an A rating (highly recommended) from iLounge.com, where it is called "an excellent value." The Logic3 i-Station7 integrates left and right channel drivers (two in total), and a single small dedicated bass driver with a universal iPod dock with adapters to accommodate all current dockable iPods. There's a rear dock connector where an iPod-to-computer cable (not included) can be connected for syncing an iPod to a PC or Mac. A minijack-to-minijack cable to accommodate non-docking iPods and other MP3 players is included.

Editors at iProng.com also like the i-Station7 portable iPod speaker, giving it a 5-star rating and its "Strongly Endorsed" designation. In addition to its other strong points, reviewer Bill Palmer is impressed with the portable speaker system's remote control, which he calls "one of the better ones we've seen." Nice touches include buttons for next and previous album, along with next and previous playlist. The speaker system runs off four AA batteries or the included AC adapter.

The i-Station7 folds up for easy transport, but protection when traveling falls short of other portable options. While better portable speakers are typically supplied with a fabric carrying case, only a plastic shield for the speaker systems drivers is included, leaving the rest of the case susceptible to bumps and scratches. Sound quality is very good for its price point according to iLounge.com, but not "mindblowing." User reviews have been mixed; some are quite satisfied with the i-Station7's performance, while others expect more. Even so, iLounge.com identifies the i-Station7 as the "leader in portable audio performance and features at the sub-$100 price point."

While reviews say its sound quality is not as good as the i-Station7, Altec Lansing's inMotion iM500 (*est. $80) has a valuable niche in the iPod speaker market: serving the iPod Nano community. According to the late James Kim of CNet.com, the iM500 boasts a lot of positives, without too many negatives. Features include a super-thin form factor, the ability to power up with AAA batteries, and good enough sound quality for its size. At 8.5" by 5" and weighing in at a mere 12 ounces without batteries, portability is the best thing the Altec Lansing iM500 has going for it. However, it is useless to anyone with a non-nano iPod, and its line-in port is not a standard 3.5 mm jack.

 ... Continued (Bookshelf speakers)