inMotion iPod Speakers by Altec Lansing

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Meredyth

May 28, 2004

When I first received my iPod as a gift, I did not think I would get much use from it. After all, there is a pile of dust gathering upon the myriad of portable tape and CD players ( I even have a Diamond Rio 600 still in its box) that I already own. Then, I discovered the joy of having a entire audio collection encased in a glistening silver and white rectangle. I have been converted.  My 10 gig iPod follows me just about everywhere I go.

My Un-met iPod Need:

At the end of a hard day, I want a zero-thought plug-&-play way to listen to my iPod at home. When I read about the inMotion speakers, I was intrigued by the concept and decided to give them a try.

First Impressions:

When the box first arrived I was shocked at how small it was. Upon opening, I noticed that they did not waste any packaging space. As a person who obsessively saves all the boxes from my gear, the lack of box-bulk is a great bonus. 

   

Once the box was opened, I found that the product inside evoked an "iPod-esque" form: flat, glossy, white. This albino beauty passes the famous Gadgeteer Creek Test with flying colors. The official dimensions are  8x 5.4 x1.2" but I thought it would be easier to spatially imagine shown in contrast with a 15" PowerBook and a USB thumb drive:

This petite footprint is excellent for an office, travel (comes with a black velvet-lined protective travel case), or dorm.   

Set Up: The inMotion is very easy to unfold and set up. If you are unsure, there is a  card with clear, illustrated instructions.  

The inMotion speakers can be used with a variety of iPod models (and other devices) including the original non-dock iPod (connects to the speakers via the included cord to the back auxiliary port), iPods 10-30 GB, and even the mini (free mini iPod adapter can be ordered directly from Altec Lansing's website). Instructions on how to set up each device is included on the instruction card.  

Usage:

Altec Lansing subscribes to the "less is more" philosophy for the user interface of this product. When you insert the iPod it makes a cute little electronic chime to let you let you know it is seated properly.  

There are few buttons to confuse the user: Volume up & down and a toggle power switch (with an LED to tell you the speakers are on and changes color when the AAs are getting low). Just drop your iPod into the dock-shaped slot, turn the power on for the speakers, and press 'play' on your iPod and soon you will start hearing the audio of  your choice.  

The rear of the device has ports for an AC adapter, headphone jack, auxiliary input, and sync cable.  

While examining this product, I was confused by the external headphone jack. After all, isn't the reason why you use this product is to hear the music out loud? However, my husband quickly pointed out that the headphone jack would be good to attach a pair of bulky, high-quality headphones that you would not necessarily carry around with you, like the Bose Quiet Comfort noise canceling headphones. Fair enough.  

When you are done, the speakers fold flat for storage. 

As a side note, one of the things I noticed is that if you insert the iPod while wearing a iSkin (or similar silicone 'skin' product , I'd imagine) it will not properly connect to the dock. 

Features: 

* Speakers can be operated via an (included) AC adapter or using 4 AA batteries (not included)

* Charges the iPod (through the dock connector) when attached to the AC adapter in both the on & off  settings. 

* Auxiliary port in the back so that it can be used with a variety of audio devices

* External volume buttons that are  easy to use

* Headphone Jack in the back to attach bulky

* Foldable so that it can be stored after use.

* External slot to connect (cable not included) to a computer for synchronization and data transfer

Sound: 

I already own a pair of Sony SRS-T55  foldable speakers that I use for travel which have mediocre sound quality. Since I these are portable speakers, I decided to use the Sony's for comparison.  I tested the sound using an audio book, classical and techno music and the tone range is quite good in all tested types of audio for a portable device.  Overall the sound quality is very good, much better than the Sony foldables. The class D amplifier is loud enough to be heard anywhere in a fairly large room.  Some audiophiles will find the quality to be lacking, but remember these are made for use with an (awesome, albeit limited) MP3 player.  If you want high-end sound, why are you using MP3s anyway? 

Overall, the inMotion speakers have met (and exceeded) my expectations and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a small, but powerful set of speakers for the iPod.

Price: $149.95

Pros:
Runs on both AC and AA batteries
Connects to all iPod models and compatible with many other audio devices
Matches iPod-white color scheme
Charges iPod while plugged in (and, according to Altec Lansing, conditions the battery while charging)
Perfect size for travel

Cons:
Pricey
Cannot use while the iPod is wearing a case, such as the iSkin
You won't be giving away your Bang & Olufsen loudspeakers for these