If you store your music on an iPhone or iPod and also enjoy internet radio, the PURE Contour is a one of the nicer speaker systems that I’ve had the opportunity to review. It offers a dock for playing the music on an iPhone/iPod while also charging its batteries, Internet streaming radio, FM radio and network streaming audio. This is all contained in an attractive compact package. Let’s take a closer look.

Note: Click the images in this review to see a larger view.

Hardware Specs

LCD display: 128 x 64 pixel graphical LCD auto-dimming display, large clock and feature icons, light sensor.
Wireless: 802.11b and 802.11g supported with WEP and WPA/WPA2 encryption.
Ethernet: Requires PURE Choice Mini USB Ethernet adapter, available separately.
Speakers: 2 full-range 3 1/2” drive units.
Audio output: 2 x 18W @ Input connectors: 20V DC power adapter socket. iPod/iPhone connector with adapters. 3.5mm Aux-in for auxiliary devices. USB (mini-B type) for product upgrades and Ethernet adapter. (Software upgrades also available over Wi-Fi).
Output connectors: 3.5mm stereo output for headphones.
Composite video out: Composite RCA.
Component video out: 3.5mm 4-pole TRRS connector* (PURE Choice cable available separately).
S-Video out*: 3.5mm 4-pole TRRS connector* (PURE Choice cable available separately).
Remote control: Infrared remote control. 2 x AAA (LR03) batteries included.
Mains power supply: 100-240V, 50/60Hz 20V DC 2.25A external power adapter.
Dimensions (inches): 14.6 wide x 9 high x 6.9 deep.
Weight: 6.39 pounds

Package Contents

Contour speaker
Dock adapters
Remote
AC adapter
Quickstart guide

The PURE Contour gets its name from its dome shape. The design / style will allow it to fit into almost any environment, from living room to office or even kitchen. Although you’ll want to be careful with the knit material that covers the front of the speaker, as it might be difficult to clean. I’d rather it have a metal mesh instead of a cloth / knit covering for easy cleaning.

The front of the system has a pop out iPhone / iPod dock that is compatible with almost all the current and older devices. See review summary box below for a detailed list.

A telescoping antenna for the built-in FM radio is found on the back of the unit, along with a panel of connectors that include power, Aux in, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Composite video, Component/S-Video and Mini USB for software updates, and the optional Ethernet adapter.

Along the top ridge of the speaker are touch sensitive buttons for power and volume adjustment, that light up when the system is powered on.

The power button stays lighted even when the system is in standby mode.

I was happy to see that PURE includes a ‘real’ remote instead one of those cheap membrane type controllers that are usually included with speaker systems.

The remote can do everything that the touch sensitive buttons on the speaker do except for opening the iPhone/iPod dock.

The dock, which doubles as a clock when in standby mode, opens smoothly by pressing in on the top left or right corner.

The Contour works well as an iPhone / iPod speaker system. The sound quality out of the speakers is impressive considering the size of the system. Cranking up the volume does not degrade the sound. The speakers have good bass, crisp highs and clear mid tones.

Using the touch buttons on the front of the dock or the remote, you can skip forwards / backwards through tracks, pause and play. But unfortunately, you can not navigate the Music app menus on the iPhone/iPod with the remote. That means if you’re across the room and want to switch to a different artist, you’ll have to get up and make the change on the device itself.

The PURE Contour has more up its sleeve than just an iPhone/iPod dock though…

It also makes an above average streaming internet radio. You can navigate through lists of stations using the built in LCD or you can link the Contour to The Lounge website.

The website makes it easy to find your favorite type of content by search genres. When you find something you like, you can mark them as favorites and then they will show up in a folder on the device for easy playback. You can even add custom stations. I was also happy to see lists of podcasts too.

Streaming these stations works well. Once in awhile the playback will pause for buffering or a channel will stop playing for awhile for some unknown reason, but for the most part, I can play music for hours and not notice any problems even when I’m surfing via another computer.

The Contour will also play music streamed from your computer after you install the free media server software. It took me a little while to find the software on The Lounge site and set it up, but once I did, I was able to navigate my iTunes folders on my iMac via the Contour’s LCD. This feature makes it really nice to be able to listen any music in your library in any room of your house without having to connect a computer to the system.

Other features that the Contour offers is an FM radio with RDS (shows the titles of songs on the LCD), a sleep timer, ambient sounds like waves, rain / thunder, etc. If you buy the optional cable, you can also connect the Contour to your TV and view video through a connected iPhone or iPod. I didn’t test this feature.

The PURE Contour is a little pricey at $329.00, but it does offer quality sound and quite a few features at that price point. I like it a lot and have no hesitations recommending it, if price isn’t an issue.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Internet Radio, iPhone, iPod, Speaker

PURE Contour iPhone/iPod Dock and Internet Radio Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 25, 2011 at 5:15 pm.

The item in the photo may look like a plastic salt shaker, but it’s a wireless speaker.  The HomeShare Portable Speaker from Sony can play music from your iPod touch, iPad, or iPhone through Apple’s Airplay, or it can wirelessly stream music from computers, Sony Blu-ray integrated systems, or from the Sony tablet.  This little  9 1/2″ × 10 3/4″ × 7 3/8″ black plastic and fabric cone contains 4 2-way speakers plus 1 subwoofer.  It reproduces 60-20,000Hz and can fill your room with sound.  It comes with a remote, and it has a stereo mini jack for use with other types of audio devices.  There’s even a party mode that lets you send the same music to all HomeShare speakers in your house.  The HomeShare Portable Speaker is $399.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Airplay, HomeShare, Speaker

Sony HomeShare Portable Speaker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 9, 2011 at 10:00 am.

All of a sudden, there are a lot of Apple AirPlay* speakers being offered just in time for the holidays. Libratone is a new high-end player in this enlarging US market. They’ve been around for a while in Europe where they are famous for their high quality and great sound. This Danish company subscribes to the Scandinavian minimalist design ethos. Their speakers border on plain, yet they are beautiful to look at.

“Libratone is designed to simplify and enhance any home décor with room filling, high fidelity sound without clumsy speakers and tangled wires” says Soeren Louis Pedersen, Chief Sales Officer of Libratone,

Two models are offered: the Libratone Lounge – made for living rooms – is a horizontal speaker bar with 2 ribbon tweeters, 2 ceramic midranges and a massive 8 in. woofer. All this in a 40 in. W x 8.7 in. H x 4.7 in D box wrapped in cashmere wool (yes, wool) and available in a choice of  5 colors.

The Lounge can sit on a shelf or be hung on a wall. Also, the Libratone App is available to allow the listener to tweak the sound to their liking using an iPhone or iPad. Nice.

All of this aural sweetness will cost you either $1,299 or $1,399 depending on color choice. But as a replacement for a full-blown home stereo, the cost becomes more reasonable.

For smaller rooms and/or budgets, there is the Libratone Live, a vertical speaker with 2 ribbon tweeters, 2 midranges and a less massive (compared to the Lounge) 5 in. woofer. More than one Live speaker can be placed in different rooms using AirPlay for a house-filling sound.

The Live is 18.5 in. H x 7.7 in. W x 6 in. D. Since it’s vertical, it can be placed almost anywhere. It even comes with a chrome handle for carrying. Like the Lounge, the Live is cloaked in cashmire wool and the app is available for audio adjusting. The live sells for $699 and $799; again depending on color.

*AirPlay requires iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch (2nd, 3rd or 4th generation), iPad 2 or iPad with iOS 4.2 or later, or Mac and PC with iTunes 10.1 or later. Wi-Fi network is required.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Apple Airplay, Speaker

Libratone wireless AirPlay speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 3, 2011 at 2:43 pm.

The one thing I really missed from the Audyssey South of Market speaker dock I recently reviewed was Apple’s AirPlay technology (plus no headphone port, but I digress). I was so sure that the next version of that speaker would have it. I was wrong – sort of. Audyssey has released an AirPlay speaker. It’s just not the one I was expecting. The new speaker is the Audio Dock Air and it’s from their Lower East Side collection with its arty, minimalist looks.

AirPlay technology just blows the doors off Bluetooth. It can stream CD quality sound using no compression, and you can really hear the difference. Plus, the audio streaming range is much broader than Bluetooth’s.

Audyssey incorporated the same Smart Speaker technology from their wonderful South of Market speaker dock into the Audio Dock Air, but with a different speaker setup. Instead of 4” woofers, the Audio Dock Air has smaller midrange woofers coupled with bass radiators. How the sound differs from the South of Market dock is anyone’s guess at this point. A full review will be necessary to determine that. What’s also different is that the Audio Dock Air has no built-in charging dock, but it does come with an AUX port for wired connectivity for non-Apple devices without AirPlay.

Audyssey has thrown down the gauntlet to Bowers & Wilkins and their fantastically good (and expensive) Zeppelin Air speaker dock. Audyssey hopes to steer some customers in their direction and with the new Lower East Side Audio Dock Air being $200 cheaper then the Zeppelin, they just might do that. Now, if only they could add AirPlay to the South of Market dock…

The Lower East Side Audio Dock Air will retail for the same price as the South of Market dock – $399 US – and will be available in November in time for holiday shopping.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Airplay, Audio, Speaker

Audyssey Lower East Side Audio Dock Air Announced originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

No one has ever mistaken me for an environmentalist, however, I drive a hybrid car; my previous car ran on E85; I replaced most of my light bulbs with CFLs and I sort my trash for recycling.  I do these things, not because it makes me feel good.  I do them because it saves me money.  Hence, when I was offered the opportunity to review the i-Ecko speakers I knew I would use the same approach to this environmentally friendly product.

The folks at i-Ecko are promoting a lifestyle.  They have other products in their eco-friendly line, including USB flash drives and an mp3 player.  All are purported to not cause any harm to the environment.  They’re all made in China.

Features of the speakers from the web site:

• Made From Recycled Materials and Sustainable Natural Fibers
• Easily Assembled
• Compatible with all iPods and MP3 Players
• Folds Flat For Convenient Storage and Portability

Here’s what the speakers look like after they’re taken out of the box and before they are assembled.   Assembly consists of some folding and then inserting tabs into precut slots in the cardboard.  Patience is required or the tabs can be torn off.  I also found it advantageous to use the back of a spoon to make the folds.  If they’re not crisp, you’ll have problems inserting the tabs.

Here’s what you wind up with.  If you care about the writing on the speakers being in an upright orientation, make sure you route the speaker wire out the correct corner.  It doesn’t route naturally to the right spot.  Being the first time I assembled the speakers it took me about 15 minutes.  Subsequent assemblies took less time which is good, but could be a problem.  Everytime I took it apart and reassembled, the slots in the cardboard became larger.  Over time I might need some type of tape to hold the speakers together.

Now for the subjective part.  I hooked up my iPod Touch and cranked the volume to max.  I didn’t hear any distortion nor any bass, but then again the loudness was very low.  I tried playing different tracks from Nickleback to the Fleetwoods and found it hard to hear unless I was no more than 5 feet away.  These things are not powered, so I guess you can’t expect much.  I also got the same results using two Creative players and an RCA player.

To insure I wasn’t being overly critical, I brought the speakers to a family gathering and demonstrated them.  The common complaint was that the volume was very low and several people questioned why you would buy these when you could get better sound out of a cheap set of earphones for the same or less money.

Lastly, the box they came in states the “speakers fold out flat for storage and can be transported with ease”.  I guess that statement depends on your definition of flat.  The above photo shows the smallest I could get the speakers.  They fit very nicely in the box they came in, but they still take up a lot more space than a set of earphones.

I can’t get too excited about the i-Ecko speakers.  Perhaps people who consider the green factor more important than the performance of the speakers would be interested.  Now I have to figure out how to dispose of them.  Do I put them in the paper, plastic or metal recycle bin?

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: iPod, Speaker

i-Ecko Portable Cardboard Stereo Speakers Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 28, 2011 at 12:30 pm.

MobileFun brings us a this super cute Android Bluetooth 3.0 speaker for your car or desk. It’s small but still packs 2W of sound. The Android’s head doubles as a control to let you change tracks with a twist or pause with a push. It also has a built in microphone for hands-free calls. The rechargeable battery will last up to 10 hrs and can be topped off by using a mini USB cable. This speaker is available now via MobileFun for £19.95 (approximately US $31.33).

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, Bluetooth Gear, News

Tagged: Android, Bluetooth Gear, Speaker

Show your Android pride with this Bluetooth speakerphone originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 9, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Have you ever wanted to get sound in a place that you did not have audio wiring, or simply don’t like the look of an ugly speaker on the wall?  Two companies, ARTISON and OSRAM SYLVANIA, both leaders in their respective markets, teamed together to solve the problem by delivering an LED light bulb with a built in speaker – the MusicLite.  By combining a 10-WATT LED Light with a 70-millimeter high fidelity loudspeaker and a wireless audio receiver, MusicLites fit into a recessed can light fixture in your ceiling to provide music from one of three sources using a wireless transmitter plugged into the audio source.  This innovative light-speaker combination is not for those with small wallets as they cost a tad over $250 per bulb, including everything that you need to get started listening to music from your favorite artist.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speaker

Sweet Sound from a Light Bulb originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on September 2, 2011 at 9:00 am.

You can buy customized Tshirts, Mugs, Mousepads, Photo books etc with your own artwork, but how about an audio speaker? That’s new right? Zazzle gives you the ability. You can choose from a large selection of existing styles, or upload your own image to create a one of a kind speaker. Hey, that speaker above looks pretty snazzy if I do say so myself The OrigAudio Doodle is a small hard-plastic speaker with a printed fabric face cover and kickstand. It’s powered by USB cable or 2 AAA batteries and has a 3.5mm headphone jack that is compatible with any standard music device. Prices start at $39.95

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speaker

Zazzle Speakers – Customized with your Graphics originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 26, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

Your tablet doesn’t quite pump out enough sound for that rave party ? Those explosions not “big” enough while watching the latest block buster ? Logitech has just announced the Tablet Speaker to help you pump up the volume.

Using a rubberised clip the speakers attach to your tablet and connect via your headphone jack. The speakers charge via USB giving you up to eight hours of sound.

The speakers even work as a low stand, so tunes while you type  and they come with their own carry case.

Logitech has named these Tablet Speaker for Ipad  but I can’t see any reason why it shouldn’t work with any tablet with a 3.5mm audio out jack.

Slated for release in September and available for preorder from Logitech they’ll set you back $50

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speaker

Logitechs New Tablet Speakers – Pump up the Volume originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 20, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

We all know that using a hands-free device (speaker or headset) in our cars is great safety advice, not to mention the fact that not using one can be illegal in some states. The FoxLV2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speaker will work fine in your car, but it will also work on your bike! Hey, it’s important to be hands-free on them too right? The FoxL (pronounced fox-ul) is a pocked-sized rev 2.2 Bluetooth speaker that features:

“foxL’s patented “Twoofers,” “BassBattery,” and other technologies.  foxL provides amazingly smooth deep bass and an “open & airy” listening experience that provides iPhones, iPads and other Bluetooth devices with the superior sound quality”

The FoxLv2 Bluetooth hi-fi speaker is priced at $199 and the mounts are priced at $65 for the Vehicle Bracket Mounting System and $49.95 for the Universal Bicycle Mount from Soundmatters.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, Car Gear, News

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Speaker

FoxLV2 Hi-Fi Bluetooth Speaker Now Available for Cars & Bikes originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on August 7, 2011 at 10:00 am.

With temperatures in the mid 90′s all over the US, many people are taking advantage of pools and lakes to cool off. ION’s Water Rocker speakers allow you to enjoy your favorite music at the same time you’re floating and splashing. The Water Rocker is a floating, waterproof speaker system for iPod and iPhone. It consists of two components: a transmitter for iPod, iPhone or other portable music devices, and a buoyant, ball-shaped speaker that is waterproof and can receive music from the transmitter from as much as 150 feet away. One transmitter is capable of supporting up to 9 additional floating speaker systems. The Water Rocker system will be available this fall for $99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Speaker

Beat the Heat and Listen to Tunes with the ION Water Rocker Speakers originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 20, 2011 at 2:00 pm.

Remember the Bone HORN speaker amplifier for the iPhone? Now they have a version for the iPad 2. The HORN is a silicone adapter that fits on the bottom of the iPad 2 and uses acoustic science to amplify the sound from the built-in speakers by 15 decibels without using any additional battery power. There’s even a fold out prop on the back that you can use to orient your iPad in either portrait or landscape position. The Bone HORN stand is available in 3 colors (Black, Grey and Pink) and can be purchased from CyberGuys for $29.95.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPad, Speaker

Bone Horn Stand Amplifies Your iPad 2 Without Batteries originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 17, 2011 at 10:00 am.

Cyber Snipa announced today that they are now shipping the Sonar Portable Mini Speaker. This pop-up speaker is compact and features a patented vacuum bass system. It is compatible with any device that has a standard earphone jack. You can also connect multiple units together for even more sound. The built in rechargeable lithium battery lasts for 4 hours and can be recharged through a USB port. The Cyber Snipa Sonar Portable Mini Speaker is now available for the suggested retail price of $29.95.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speaker

Cyber Snipa Ships the Sonar Portable Mini Speaker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on July 15, 2011 at 4:15 pm.

One of the benefits of doing gadget reviews is coming across a product that is so cool, so unexpected, and so jaw-dropping that it’s almost magical. When you first see the small Soundmatters FoxL speaker, you might think it could work as a personal speaker. When you first hold the foxL and feel its heft, you may even think that it’s pretty well built … for a small speaker, anyway. But when you first listen to the foxL, all those coulds and mights give way to OMG, that’s unbelievable!

Here is a speaker that seems to bend the laws of physics. As a test, I started cornering unsuspecting friends, coworkers and family members to ask them if they would like to hear something “interesting.” Invariably, they’d agree. I would then slowly and dramatically pull the foxL out of its protective, draw-string bag, plug in my iPod and ask what kind of music they like. I would find an appropriate song and hit play.

If I could photograph the looks on their faces and use them in ads, I feel like I could sell a million of these miniature foxL speakers.  And while the price tag may dampen some of that enthusiasm, that desire to have one remains.

FoxL was designed by a NASA scientist named Dr. Godehard Guenther. I read that when CEOs of major audio companies mention this man, it is in reverent tones. After reading what he’s done, I believe it. Dr. Guenther is responsible for in-wall speakers, multi-channel car amplifiers and digital time-delay for realistic surround sound, just to name a few of his innovations. He initially conceived the foxL speaker because there just wasn’t a small, portable speaker available that delivered the quality sound he demanded. So he made one.

It becomes clear that a lot of thought and energy went into the foxL with its use of expensive audio components and patented technologies. Soundmatters managed to combine a tweeter (high frequencies) and a woofer (low frequencies) into one speaker, a “twoofer” they call it. There’s also a lot of other geeky stuff incorporated into the foxL, but I won’t bore you with the details. The foxL website explains it all in excruciating detail. One cool feature I will mention, though, is the “Bassbattery.” This patented solution combines a subwoofer and battery which dramatically reduces the overall size of the unit to about that of a large candy bar. You can actually feel this Bassbattery vibrate like crazy when music is playing. It never ceases to impress people. And if that’s not enough bass for you, there’s an outlet port for connecting an optional powered subwoofer.

The foxL comes in two versions; with and without Bluetooth. The Bluetooth option is $30-50 more. I had some issues pairing my iPhone with the foxL until they became aware of each other. As I have stated in previous reviews, I am no fan of Bluetooth and the same holds true here. The sound and power of the foxL is compromised when using Bluetooth and – for me – overshadows any convenience Bluetooth might offer. If you really need a hands-free mic with speakerphone capability, then go ahead and spring for the Bluetooth option. But if you don’t need Bluetooth, save some money and forgo it.

Soundmatters says the foxL’s rechargeable bass-battery is good for 8 hours. I didn’t formally test this, but it seemed accurate. Charging is either done through a mini-USB port or directly into an electrical outlet. Among the many included accessories are all the cables you’ll need and a power adapter kit for just about any place you live or may visit (a nice touch). There’s also a lanyard you can use as a wrist strap.

On the back of the foxL, are the on/off slider switch, volume buttons and a “kickstand” grill. This kickstand is usually necessary, because without it, the foxL doesn’t balance as well. This kickstand also allows the foxL to angle upwards towards the listener which helps the audio sound stronger. Included is a clever anti-slip acoustic “yoga” mat which prevents the foxL from literally walking across a hard surface when the bass is extra heavy. Trust me, when there’s a lot of bass, it will walk.

I have a few small design issues with the foxL. For instance, why is it that the volume buttons and on/off slider are hidden on the back? That’s true with many portable audio products and it bugs me. Since they’re on the back of the unit, I can never seem to remember which side has which buttons. It’s an inconvenience. Also, I keep forgetting to turn the unit off when I’m finished listening. Later, when I want to use it, it’s dead and I have to recharge it again or just plug it in. A simple auto shut-off when not in use would be a nice touch. With all that said however, my complaints about the foxL are pretty nit-picky.

The versatile foxL sells for $199 with Bluetooth and $169 without, which can be a deal-breaker for many people. I understand that. Some of the people I showed it to gasped at the price despite the impression it made. But if you truly want decent sound and don’t have extra space for bigger, more powerful speakers, then the price begins to make sense. Place this in front your monitor and you might just save money on those bigger speakers you didn’t buy.

Whether I am listening to classic rock, classical or just talk radio over the internet, the foxL never ceases to impress me with its size vs. power ratio. Only maxing out the volume on some demanding music tracks would cause the foxL to sound unpleasant.

As I am writing this review, I can feel this little wonder vibrate my desk as if it were a much larger speaker. I am still in awe how much good audio comes out of something so small. The Soundmatters foxL is very portable, built like a tank, comes with a slew of extras and sounds way, way better than it looks like it should. It has become a constant companion to my iPod. Maybe that is magical.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Speaker

Soundmatters FoxL Personal Audiophile Loudspeaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on May 22, 2011 at 2:44 pm.

Sometimes you don’t want to use earbuds or headphones to listen to music or videos on your mobile device. For those times, it’s nice to have an external speaker. The Sony Ericsson MS430 Portable Media Speaker Stand offers a compact speaker that doubles as a stand. Note: The images in this review are clickable. Click to see a larger view to see more detail.

The MS430 is a 4.3 x 0.1 x 1.2 inch brushed aluminum tube that weighs in at 2.4 ounces. On one end you’ll find the Sony Ericsson logo.

And on the other end is a speaker grill.

The speaker is powered by 3 AAA batteries that are included. The battery compartment is accessed by twisting the logo side of the tube counter clockwise.

If you pull the logo side straight out, you’ll expose the 3.5mm headphone jack. Nifty huh?

Just pull, twist and let it spring back.

The end ratchets so that you can orient the plug to allow your mobile device to easily connect to it.

Then the back of the mobile device can rest against the speaker to act as a stand. You’ll also notice the other speaker.

When plugged in to your mobile device, you can hear audio through the MS430. There’s no power button, it just automatically powers on and off when connected. Audio quality is pretty decent for such a small speaker. There’s not much in the way of bass, but it’s fine for sharing tunes in a small space with your friends, or watching a video on your desk. According to Sony, you’ll get up to 12hr play time before needing to change batteries.

I tested this speaker with my Droid X, but it will work with any device that has a 3.5mm headphone jack. Of course the location of the headphone jack on your mobile device makes a difference. Especially for devices with displays that don’t automatically rotate…

Is this the best speaker you’ll ever use? No. But it’s compact, sounds decent, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Filed in categories: Android related, Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related

Tagged: Speaker, Spotlight Gadgets, Stand

Sony Ericsson MS430 Portable Media Speaker Stand Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 26, 2011 at 1:00 pm.

You’ve seen Janet’s reviews of other Motz wooden speakers (see related posts listed below) from Pyramid Distribution. Their latest offering is a cute doggie shaped speaker made of Apricot wood. It’s rechargeable via USB and can play music for 5 hrs per charge. This little speaker will work with any device that uses a 3.5mm headphone jack. Just connect a line out cable from your audio player’s headphone plug it into the Motz dog’s ummm…. well… use your imagination on that one The Motz Pet Shaped Speaker will ship on 4/22 and costs $39.99.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, News

Tagged: Speaker

Dog shaped wooden speaker originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 13, 2011 at 9:30 am.

For every expensive audio component out there, there are countless cheaper alternatives; some good, some not-so-good. Aluratek makes and markets all kinds of affordable tech from eBook readers to internet radios. The Bump portable mini speaker is just what the name Implies, a speaker you can take with you in your backpack for those times when earphones aren’t practical or you just want to share your tunes.

The speaker is very compact, round and pops up to reveal the on/off switch and USB hookup. What bass there is becomes more noticeable when you “bump” it to pop it up, hence the name of the speaker.

The connection couldn’t be simpler. Either use the (very) short, attached miniplug cable to connect to you mp3 player and the USB cable (supplied) to connect to a laptop when charging is necessary. The USB hookup charges a built-in 4 hour lithium-ion battery. The bottom of the Bump has an indicator light that glows red for charging and blue when turned on. The miniplug cable cleverly tucks away into the base of the speaker.

To play, tap the top to extend the base revealing the on/off switch and then make the appropriate connection. There are only two volume choices once you turn on the speaker in place of a volume knob. I kept the selection on the Volume Level 1 choice (lower volume) for a simple reason. When switched to Volume Level 2, the Bump distorts all over the place. It becomes unlistenable. Besides, the volume control on my iPod works with the Bump, so I can easily compensate that way. Note that with Volume Level 1, you can turn up the iPod all the way and still only get moderate listening volume. And since the Bump distorts at Volume Level 2, that’s about as loud as you would want it, anyway.

I much preferred using the Bump with my iPod than a laptop. Apart from the battery charging benefit, the Bump sounded marginally better than my laptop speakers. The Bump seems to work better with older recordings since they don’t usually tax speakers the way newer music can. As long as the bass is not overpowering, the Bump seems happy to do its thing.

The Aluratek Bump is not a room-filling party speaker. It’s more of a background speaker with the listener sitting next to it. It provides modest output from modest input. For $20, you can’t ask for more and that makes the Bump portable mini speaker not a bad deal at all.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews

Tagged: Speaker

Aluratek Bump Portable Mini Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

Their new Extreme bed with the Tornado headboard is a bed with the music lover in mind. The headboard features high quality twin speakers, an amplifier and a built-in sub-woofer. Designed for use with TVs, MP3 players and PCs, this system claims to offer theater-quality sound using a PhaseCue system that delivers virtual surround-sound, quality sound effects, clear dialogue and bass that make you feel as if you are in a movie theater. The bed adjusts to four different sitting positions with a hydraulic mechanism to raise and lower the upper part of the bed. Think Craftmatic adjustable bed, only sexier. As a bonus, when the bed is lifted, it exposes a large storage area that can be used to hold linens, etc. Available at $3,600 for full, $3,800 queen, you can find these beds at Sapapa.

Filed in categories: Home Tech, News

Tagged: Bed, Speaker, Spotlight Gadgets

Sapapa knows that beds aren’t just for sleeping and you know… originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on February 17, 2011 at 8:00 am.

The Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100′s name might be bigger than the speaker itself, but it packs a lot of sound into that small space. It also makes a fine hands-free audio bridge (speaker & mic) for your Bluetooth-enabled devices. It does this in an attractive and very portable package that will grind out sound for many hours on a charge.

Inside the Box

The box contains a manual, the Speaker unit, a USB cable (not shown – it’s a standard USB cable!) and a carry bag. You’ll need the manual for about 2 minutes, then you can stick with just the speaker unit and bag.

The speaker system is stereo, with what looks to be some “bass” porting at the top. The front facing speakers flank the brightest LED you’ll ever see – more on that later!

The back has the On/Off switch, a USB port for charging only (it charges off anything that provides powered USB) and a 3.5mm standard audio input jack if you want to go old-school wired.

The right side has the power/pairing button, volume up/down, and “hands free” phone button.

It looks pretty big until you put it next to an iPhone 4. This is pretty much a hand-sized unit. Small enough to toss into your gear bag/back pack/suitcase on a trip. It weighs in at about 8 ounces so it’s not likely to weigh you down on a trip. The bottom (not shown) has 4 thin “feet” with good grip, so it will stay put when you put it down. This somewhat supports Monster’s claim that you can use it as an hands-free device in your car, but it’s probably not my first choice for that.

Pairing

Pairing is a breeze as with most modern Bluetooth devices. First, you put the iClarity in pairing mode by switching the power on, and then pressing and holding the power button on the side for many seconds until the front LEDs flash Blue/Red. At that point the iClarity will show up in the device list if you’re looking for new devices. For example, in an iPhone it looks like this:

Tap that entry and the two devices will pair up.

Pairing is similar on MacOS and Windows 7 – once in paring mode, selecting the iClarity in the list is sufficient to pair up the device. On all three OSes the device paired as a hands-free (speaker + microphone) device and as an audio output device.

It’s not documented anywhere I could find how many devices the iClarity can partner with – I am up to three without problems. Typical Bluetooth headsets can partner with 4 or 8 other devices, so I expect the iClarity is similar.

Range is listed as the standard “low power” 33 feet. In testing at my home, I had no trouble staying connected up to, and if in line of sight even beyond 30 feet.

Playback

When paired, and connected, your iPhone will, by default, route everything through the iClarity speakers.

You can change that, of course! Incoming/outgoing calls also route to the speakers:

You can use the Speakerphone button on the iClarity in the same way as you would the accept/hangup/reject button on a Bluetooth headset. Press once to answer the call, press again to hang up, long press for reject call. The button placement on the side of the device makes for somewhat awkward “hands free” use – especially if you’re driving in a car.

Mac/Windows too

The iClarity is a standard Bluetooth device, so for completeness I hooked it up to Windows 7 and MacOS. You can see that iChat is happy to use the iClarity as its speaker/mic in the shot below. You also get a good look at that incredibly bright front LED. Yes, it’s always on when the device is on. Yes, it really is that bright.

Sound Quality

Sound quality is subjective, and I have slight but measurable hearing loss to boot. That said, the iClarity will likely surprise you, in a good way, with its sound quality. Volume is certainly ample, the low end is reasonably well presented and the sound isn’t too flat. You already lose a lot of range in sound when going over Bluetooth, but given the size of these speakers I wasn’t shocked to find they sounded the same (to me, anyway) when hooked up via the 3.5mm jack vs. over Bluetooth.

These aren’t 12″ drivers, and this isn’t a 200 watt amp. Don’t expect concert hall sound – expect sound about as good as high end “hifi” laptop sound, and you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll get. On the microphone side of things, it seems about the same – when testing the sound quality in a call, my spouse could tell the difference between the iPhone 4 speakerphone and the iClarity, but not in a bad way – both were clear. Similar testing between the built in mic in a MacBook Pro and the iClarity over iChat yielded the same results… the two sounded noticeably different, but neither was “better” or “worse”.

Battery/Portable/Plugged

I can’t really comment on the battery life – it’s rated at 5 hours at full volume. I had the unit on all day partnered with a MacBookPro and it was still going after 9 hours of the odd beep, boop, and a few hours of soft music. I used it overnight to play white noise while plugged in to USB power – after an hour the LED switched from charging (annoying flashing blue) to charged (annoying solid blue.)

Wrapup

I like the iClarity, it’s a highly portable Bluetooth system with good sound, and it’s a handy hands free device for talking. The price is a little high (a set of battery powered wired speakers might run you $20, a Bluetooth headset $40, together half the cost of the iClarity) but it does pack a lot of functionality into a small space for that price. If you can use it with a few devices (or you’re a road warrior) it’s a compelling little device.

Filed in categories: Bluetooth Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, Reviews, Travel Gear

Tagged: Bluetooth Gear, Bluetooth speakers, Speaker

Monster iClarityHD Precision Micro Bluetooth Speaker 100 Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 25, 2011 at 12:00 pm.

A couple of months ago, Julie told us about the Edifier MP250 Sound to Go portable speaker. This little sound bar for your computer looked promising as a replacement for wimpy built-in speakers, and several commenters seemed interested. Edifier sent an MP250 Sound to Go USB speaker to The Gadgeteer. Julie knows I’m a fan of little speakers, so she sent the Edifier MP250 Sound to Go sound bar to me for review.

In the Box
Sound to Go USB speaker
USB-to-mini USB cable
3.5mm-to-3.5mm audio cable
Travel pouch
Manual

Specifications
Power output: RMS 2W X 2 (THD+N=10%, f0=1KHz)
Signal to noise ratio: ≥75dB(A)
Distortion: ≤1%
Input sensitivity: USB: 800mV + 50mV (THD+N=1%);  Aux: 500mV + 50mV (THD+N=1%)
Audio inputs: USB/Aux
Subwoofer unit: 1.25 “ magnetically shielded, 5 ohm
Speaker dimensions: 10.3” X 1.4” X 1.7”
Weight: 0.73 pounds

The Edifier MP250 speaker is wedge-shaped. The body is made of brushed aluminum with a black metal speaker grill and black plastic end pieces. I can find very little documentation about the specifics for the MP250 speaker. Neither the manual nor the Edifier webpage has a lot of information. The information listed above is all I could find.

Controls and connectors are simple and minimal. On one end, there is a 3.5mm jack and a mini USB connector. The other end has a single button to adjust the volume. When the MP250 is connected to a powered USB port, a blue light glows around the volume button. To increase the volume, you simply push the button. To decrease volume, I had to push in the button then turn it. Awkward.

Please pardon my rough drawing, but I couldn’t photograph the speakers through the metal grill, and I couldn’t remove the grill without destroying the MP250 speaker. There are two little, round speakers at each end (about 1” diameter each), and there is a roughly 3” long lozenge-shaped component between the two sets of round speakers. Based on the information found on the Edifier website, I would guess the lozenge-shaped part is the passive bass radiator. This speaker arrangement sounds different from what Julie had been told for her earlier announcement, and the webpage reference to a passive bass radiator doesn’t seem to match up with the description of a 3” subwoofer from the manual – though I suppose my assumption that a subwoofer isn’t passive could be incorrect.

Although the MP250 Sound to Go speaker is called a “portable” speaker, you won’t be able to use it anywhere that doesn’t have a USB power source nearby. There is no internal battery for the MP250 speaker. If you want to use the MP250 with a computer, plug it into a free USB port for both power and sound transmission. If you want to use it with an MP3 player, CD player, or other device, you’ll connect the headphone jack on the device with the MP250 using the included audio cable, and you’ll also have to connect the speaker to a USB port on your computer, or I imagine you could also use an AC adapter with a USB output. When the speaker is connected with both cables, the USB will be for power only and the 3.5mm input will be used preferentially for sound input to the speaker.

I first tried connecting the MP250 speaker to my MacBook Pro using the USB cable. When I set the MP250 on my keyboard in front of my monitor, it covered up the function keys. Only the tapering of the wedge shape allowed me to see the bottom of my laptop screen. I was a little concerned about setting the speaker on my computer because of the magnets contained inside it. Documentation says the magnets are shielded, however the MP250 speaker grabbed onto the aluminum body of my MacBook Pro when the front speaker grill came into contact with it. When I kept the contact limited to the brushed aluminum portion of the MP250, there was no magnetic attraction to my laptop.

The USB cord is long enough that I could move the speaker to the side of my laptop. I do think the sound was better when it was sitting on top of the MacBook, though. I don’t know if it was better simply because it was closer to me, or if the arrangement of the screen and keyboard of the laptop “aimed” the sound more directly at me.

Edifier MP250 Sound to Go speaker with Julie's iMac

Another view with Julie's iMac

In any event, the MP250 Sound to Go speaker produced much more volume than my laptop’s built-in speakers at the same setting. The sound was fuller, and richer than the sound produced by my laptop’s speakers, too. With the speakers contained in such a small cabinet, there wasn’t any stereo separation. The MP250 doesn’t produce a lot of bass. My Chris Squire test songs didn’t have the impressive bottom-end that shows off Squire’s talents. I couldn’t find any information about the frequency range this little speaker can reproduce, but it won’t be rattling the fillings in your teeth. Other than the wimpy bass, it sounded good, with no noise or distortion at normal listening levels. It was a decided improvement over the built-in speakers in my MacBook.

I tried connecting the MP250 to my iPod touch using the 3.5mm audio cable. For power, I connected the MP250 to a USB port on my laptop. It worked well with my iPod, and it certainly produced better sound and much more volume than the tiny speaker inside the iPod touch.

The Edifier MP250 Sound to Go USB speaker looks great – all wedge-shaped and sleek. It produces good sound for such a small speaker. I am a bit concerned about having the magnets sitting directly on top of my laptop and against my screen, but I can resolve that concern by moving it to the side of my laptop. I am confused that such a compact, portable speaker has no internal power supply. I suppose Edifier assumed its primary use would be as a “sound bar” for a laptop with its ready source of USB power. However, I wouldn’t “waste” my laptop’s battery power on an external speaker if I were travelling with my laptop. No internal power also means I can’t use it with portable MP3 players unless I have a nearby power supply. I think an internal power supply of some type would make the Edifier MP250 Sound to Go USB speaker much more useful.

Note: Thank you to Julie, who took most of the photos used in this review. I took the photos with the MacBook Pro, and of course, I’m responsible for the “lovely” drawing of the speaker arrangement.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Desktop Computer Gear, Laptops and Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speaker, USB

Edifier MP250 Sound To Go USB Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 18, 2011 at 3:55 pm.

It’s not everyday that I come across something that is as impressive looking as the Franklin Roadie Portable Speaker System. In photos, this thing looks really cool with its red, green and blue lighted buttons and brushed aluminum shell. Without any size reference, it looks big and powerful. Even the pricing concept looks appealing as the Roadie comes in three sections so you can buy each separately as budget allows or you can just buy the whole unit packaged together.

Well, guess what? Never trust a photo. When the Roadie arrived, I was floored. It’s just a little taller than a 12oz. soda can, about as wide and a slightly heavier than an unopened soda. This thing is tiny by audio standards. But I’ve heard other small speaker systems that were amazing in what they could pump out. So after I got over my shock, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt.

The EVS-4000 system reviewed here has all three components included. The EVS-2000 base unit contains the main speaker with all the necessary ports: USB, power, mic and aux. Connecting a microphone the mic input, it can become a small, personal PA system. The EVS-2000 can only be powered by a wall outlet.

The EVS-1000B component has an SD card slot and built-in rechargeable battery. It cleverly attaches to the top of the EVS-4000 base unit magnetically. All three pieces connect this way, so there’s no way to mess it up. The recharging capability allows for portability.

Finally, the EVS-1000C component sits on top and contains a tweeter, amplifier and 2-switch equalizer to round out the sound and complete the unit.

All in all, the Roadie is a clever – if little – audio device with a lot of options once you have all three pieces. However, there are serious issues I have with the unit.

Let’s start with the EVS-2000 base unit. When used alone, it provides decent enough sound volume for its size. The sound is like a cheap transistor radio until you set it down on a flat, hard surface. That’s when the bass kicks in and makes the sound richer. However, if you want anything louder than conversational volume, distortion kicks in. While I applaud how much bass this petite unit can produce, it’s not room filling by any measure. A semi-sticky base keeps the unit in place.

I had difficulty connecting the base unit to my iPod Classic via the aux port. It is extremely touchy. I had to slightly pull the plug back out of the unit before it would make a connection. Once it warmed up though, it worked fine. Oh, and here’s something irritating about the power button the manual doesn’t mention. You have to press and hold the ON button for about 3 seconds before it will power up. You can’t just quickly press it like any other audio device. It took me about 30 frustrating minutes to realize this. I was convinced I had a dead unit. The Roadie did come with a carrying bag and all the cords you need. Also, just about any country’s electrical plug requirement is included.

Adding the EVS-1000B didn’t do much for my set-up. Yes, it added an SD card slot and a rechargeable battery which makes it truly portable. However, when running on battery power, the volume is lowered significantly and you have to compensate by increasing the volume which also increases – you guessed it – the dreaded distortion. It’s a lose-lose situation. Adding insult to injury, the play/pause/skip buttons on the EVS-1000B only work if you have your music on an SD card (not included). The buttons are useless if you are listening to a separate MP3 player.

The EVS-1000C tops it off with a tweeter which improves the sound somewhat but is little help for the distortion. Also included is an equalizer, if you can call it that. It’s really just a Normal/HD switch that had minimal impact on the sound. Minimal can also be attributed to the amplifier included in the EVS-1000C. I couldn’t find a power rating on the amp, but it can’t be much. I think the tweeter has the more impact on the overall sound of the now completed unit than either the amp or equalizer.

If you want a (really) small, cool looking audio source for your desktop or quasi-portable setup, the Roadie could work for you. But the marginal sound quality and quirky buttons and connections make me want to look elsewhere.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speaker

Franklin Explorer Roadie Amp’d Speaker System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 14, 2011 at 11:01 am.

The Paul Frank Julius Dance Machine iPod Docking Station (take a breath) is a monkey shaped holder for iPod devices that also offers built in speakers. The speaker is portable and rechargeable, with 6 hour play time under normal usage conditions. You also gotta love the fact that the ears are the volume controls. The Julius Dance Machine is available now for $99.95.

Filed in categories: iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: iPod, Speaker, Spotlight Gadgets

Nothing goes better with music than a monkey originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 11, 2011 at 3:00 pm.

Soundfreaq has launched its first wireless, multi-device-enabled hi-fi audio dock. The Sound Platform is a Bluetooth-enabled speaker, equipped to support multiple devices, including the iPad, iPhone, Android and Blackberry. In addition to providing external sound for TV shows, videos, games, Internet radio and apps like Pandora, iPad, iPhone and iPod touch users can download the free Soundfreaq app that allows them to control the speaker from their couch. The Sound Platform Bluetooth speaker will be available at Target and www.Soundfreaq.com on November 29 for $199.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, iPhone, iPad, iPod related, News

Tagged: Android, Bluetooth Gear, iPad, iPhone, Speaker, Spotlight Gadgets

Soundfreaq Launches the Sound Platform Bluetooth Audio Dock originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on November 9, 2010 at 9:19 am.

Since the advent of the Walkman™, we have become addicted to being connected to our music. Not just any music, but our music, sorted and selected while on the go to match our moods and activities. The vast libraries available with iPods and other digital music devices now make it expected that we can and should carry huge numbers of songs everywhere. What has evolved more slowly, however, is how to get that music into our ears. Speakers, of course, force those tunes onto bystanders, who may or may not share our tastes. Earbuds block us off from the environment, which, when you’re driving, riding a bike, or skating, can be illegal and/or fatal. So, what’s the answer? The folks at Tunebug have come up with a pretty good solution – their Shake is a speaker designed to use the head-enclosing shell of a safety helmet as a resonating chamber. They were good enough to send me a unit to try.

The device itself is a rounded triangle about 2 inches on a side, and three-quarters of an inch thick. It connects to your music source via BlueTooth or via an included mini stereo (AUX) cable. The speaker on it’s bottom side (about the size of a US quarter or 1£ coin) makes contact with your helmet while held in place with a Velcro strap and a thin neoprene cover.

The underside of the Shake, showing the speaker.

Before use, Tunebug recommends giving the Shake a full charge, which is easy with the USB to mini stereo plug included in the package. I left it plugged in for just an hour or so, and it was ready to go. Powering the device on (and every other operation) is simple with the two touch controls. Holding one or the other or both gives the desired results: turn the unit on or off by holding both, hold the single dot to lower volume, and the double dot to raise it.

The Shake in the neoprene case

Pairing with my iPhone was fast and easy. During playback, a small Bluetooth logo shows up next to the volume level. Tapping this allows one to change from Bluetooth to the built-in speaker. Getting the speaker attached to my bike helmet proved a little more difficult. Well, getting it attached wasn’t hard, but finding a place that offered a flat space that would allow the speaker a good surface contact was tough. I finally settled on a place that had the most surface contact, and cranked up the music. It was surprisingly loud, even with the helmet off. With the helmet strapped on, I had no problem riding and having my music with me. I tried it both on my quiet neighborhood streets and on some more heavily traveled roads further afield, and could still hear quite well.

The Tunebug Shake, attached to my helmet with its neoprene case.

In addition to the neoprene case and Velcro strap for bike helmets, there is also an attachment system for solid skate/BMX-type helmets. I didn’t have one of these to try, but both are included, which is quite cool. If you’re wanting that music to surround your melon while you’re enjoying something active, this may be the best option out there for you.

I give this one five stars – great concept, fine execution, very safety and lifestyle conscious.

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: Speaker

Tunebug Shake Vibration Speaker Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 25, 2010 at 11:30 am.

They say good things come in small packages and the Rock-It Portable Vibration Speaker System is no exception. However, with its surprisingly generated vibrating “pod”  it is not without its drawbacks.

The idea behind the Rock-It portable vibration speaker system is that it sends strong vibrations through a small speaker that is attached to an object and is amplified by that object.  Basically, you connect the Rock-It to a device like an MP3 player, iPhone, smartphone, or any other media player and the Rock-It acts as an external speaker. I connected the Rock-It to my HTC Evo.However, the interesting thing about the Rock-It is that you attach it to an object such a tissue box, picture frame, jar, or even a book. And the pod, as the company calls it, sends out strong vibrations to the object and amplifies the sound causing the volume to be louder.

The Rock-It did a very good job turning ordinary objects into a speaker however, the tone was a little flat but overall a decent sound. Keep in mind though this is not gonna give your media player a Digital Dolby type sound. It is what it is. It is an external add-on speaker system. But the cool thing about it is that you can choose what you want your speaker to be.

However, choosing the right object makes a difference in sound quality. I found the best objects being a hollow cardboard box such as tissue box, cereal box. I even tried it on a box of Jif  To Go. It had a nice sound and it’s great for dipping…..

I tried it on other household items but got a lot of varying sounds from different things. The sounds ranged from shallow to muffled to low and high tone.  When I got the Rock-It and saw and heard what it did I went crazy and tried it on many things. I tried it on a wall picture, a metal can, a glass jar, several cups, my refrigerator and even on the side of my daughter’s cheek. Don’t worry, it was her idea. Doesn’t work anyways…..

The Rock-It is attached by a little sticky pad on the bottom of the pod. It has a nice low tack to it but still can hold firm. The sticky pad did accumulate some debris as you can probably see in one of the pictures but I just took a dab of water on it and wiped it as clean as good as I could and let it dry and it was good as new. Just don’t get the pod wet if you try this. It could short it out.

The Rock-It is a nice portable speaker system that you can carry around with you since it is pretty much self-contained and it is not that bulky at all.

It is operated by two AAA batteries and has a power switch that you just slide to turn on and off. It would have been nice to have an adapter to plug into a wall socket as well.

It comes with an extension connector for your media player device as well as a USB connector to plug into a computer’s USB port or a  USB plug adapter in case you don’t have batteries.

The Rock-It also comes with a few extra sticky pads in case the other ones get too dirty and over used.

As fun as the Rock-It is to use it is just as much fun to see what ordinary object one can use it on. As an external speaker system the sound was decent depending on what object you attached it to.

This is a handy little speaker system that you can take with you on a trip or just keep with you. And if you have limited space like in a dorm room or office cubicle and you want decent sound but don’t need to crank up the volume super high then this is a good external speaker to have.  I think the average person will be happy with this system but audiophiles may be a little nit-picky. Just don’t stick it to your cubicle wall. It could turn your cubicle into a self-contained speaker and I think Enrique Iglesias’ I Like It on your iPod is getting played out….

Filed in categories: Audio, Video, TV Gear, Reviews

Tagged: MP3, portable, Speaker

Rock-It Portable Vibration Speaker System Review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on October 21, 2010 at 4:52 pm.