Altec Lansing Music Speaker
by Altec Lansing Technologies
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Our Price: $56.99 Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Buy Used: from $24.99 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Altec Lansing Music Speaker
Customer Review: A little speaker that wallops
Summary: 3 Stars
If you want to listen to your mp3 player without using earphones, but still wants it portable? Then this is not a bad solution. I got turned off at first as this is one of the most hyped products I heard about. When I saw it was sale for such an attractive value, I finally could not resist to plunged in.
Requires 3 "AAA" batteries.
Pros:
+ Small, light, and very portable
+ Loud enough for such a small speaker
+ Decent sound despite its miniature size
+ Attractive and simplistic design.
+ My other favorite portable speaker is a JBL on Tour. I have to provide a separate cable to connect with my player. With the IM207, it has an audio cable built-in. The cord wind to the speaker after use which is cool that I do not have to carry a separate cable.
+ Good battery life
Cons:
- Design flaw #1 : on/off switch is extremely difficult to turn. You need to twist the top part of the speaker but there is no grip at all. Very frustrating if your hands sweat. They can remedy this by making the side of the speaker just below the grill rubberized or grooved.
- Design flaw #2 : Battery compartment is difficult to open and close. You also need to twist the bottom but you may still need the point of a small knife to pry it open.
- Lacks base
- Mono
- No volume control
- Short cable
Customer Review: How I solved the IM207 on/off switch power struggle
Summary: 4 Stars
The IM207, for its price and size really is a fantastic speaker system. Like most of the other reviewers, my only issue is with the design of the on/off switch. It's a design idea that probably looked good on paper but was poorly implemented.
I haven't had any problems with the battery compartment as some seem to have had, and in my opinion, the battery life is reasonable.
However, I got so fed up with struggling to turn this thing on and off that I almost tossed it in the trash. Then I thought; what if it just needed some lubrication.
I remembered I had some machine oil left over in the 1/2 oz tube that came with hair clippers I bought some years ago. I squeezed a tiny drop of the oil at three or four points along the circumference of the speaker, right in the seam where the shiny outer ring and the black plastic housing meet.
I turned the switch on and off repeatedly to work the oil in then I left it alone. The following day, I picked up the unit and to my surprise, I was able to turn it on and off with remarkably less effort. It's still not smooth as silk by any means but the difference is really significant.
I used machine oil that came with my hair clippers but any all purpose machine oil from a hardware or craft store will do. I hope this helps someone.
Customer Review: Small and powerful, battery lasts longer than Altec says
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this speaker for my workplace to listen to podcasts over lunch at our outdoor bench... though I also ended up using it at my cubicle and lab table ^_^
1) The sound quality is fantastic; its very clear and outputs evenly, including very well through the bass.
2) Playing at half volume of my mp3 player (level 20/40 of my Cowon iAudio 7) is quite loud and I never need to go above that. Note that the speaker has no volume control option, but I think that would be useless anyway.
3) I've been using the speakers for a month now, for around 10 hours each week. Apparently playing speech and jazz isn't heavy on regular batteries, and it's still playing strong! Maybe the manufacturer was thinking of Rock music when they rate battery life at 25 hours...
4) The product is small enough to carry in my small wind sheeter pocket, and does not fall out as I ride my bicycle to and from work. I've actually dropped it 3 times from falling down - the silver mesh got dislodged once but clicked right back in, so it's quite solidly made.
Before buying this I've used white Sony portable iPod speakers (comes with a power adapter) but they had poor bass and were not nearly as powerful as I wanted. The Altec is excellent quality and a steal at the price.
Customer Review: Forgotten Accessory - Switch Mod
Summary: 3 Stars
Altec forgot to include the rubber thingy you use to open jars. That's the only way I was able to turn it on and off. Who was the idiot that designed this? The sound is not bad, once you can get it on.
******UPDATE*********
I got tired of breaking my hand trying to get this thing on, so I fixed it. Here's how (this might void your warranty!): Take the sharp tip of a utility knife and gently pry the grill off. It comes off pretty easy. Then take the tip of a very small flat-blade screwdriver and from the INSIDE of the silver ring, work around the ring and gently pop it off. You'll see after you remove the grill how the switch works and how it lines up. Next you find three or four small "nubs" on the black ring area of the speaker. These stick out just a little (I assume to give tension) take a small file and gently go over each nub once. Just barely file them. Then, because I had some, I took a Q-Tip and put a little white lithium grease and coated some of the speaker ring area. Then you line up the black switch line on the silver ring with the "off" on the speaker and snap it back on. Then paying very close attention to the "cutout" on the grill (the cutout goes over the switch area) gently push the grill back on. Wow! What a difference! (Your milage may vary)
Customer Review: great for what it is intended but don't expect too much
Summary: 4 Stars
Let me start with the obvious, nothing this size will pump out the bass at high volumes.
Given that limitation this powered speaker does a terrific job; it plays loud enough for hotel room usage and picnic blanket usage (if you know what I mean). dont expect this to fill a room with music at concert levels for that you should buy a full boom box from Bose, etc.
I am completely satisfied with my unit to date as it has performed flawlessly and the batteries have lasted a VERY long time.
The only negative observations I have are:
1. the twist to turn on and off idea is bad...it feels as if it will fail early in its life time and one is never quite sure if the unit is on or off which leads me to...
2. it needs and LED on/off indicator, one never knows if the unit is on or off risking dead batteries by surprise.
3. the connection cable feels a little weak and I worry about long term durability.
besides those notes I am happily using the unit as a travel speaker and occasional beach trip speaker. though the volume sometimes leaves me wishing for a true boom box, as I said, one cannot expect something to box out of its weight class. kept within its limitations this a best buy powered speaker. highly recommended.