Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 Portable Audio System for iPod (White)
by Altec Lansing Technologies
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List Price: 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 inMotion iM7 Portable Audio System for iPod (White)
Customer Review: perfect companion to an iPod
Summary: 4 Stars
Sometimes iPod earbuds just won't cut it. I searched long and hard for a "boom box" as a companion to my video iPod. The iM7 appeared to be the best value for the price, and when I got it I was amazed. Particularly, I have a jazz tuba album that I love. It was okay through earbuds, but exquisite through the strong, mellow bass of the iM7. A better test I could not imagine.
I like the option of batteries or AC plug, and I bought 8 D-cells + recharger from Amazon that have saved me significant $$ ( 8 D-cell alkalines are pricey and only last for ~10 hours.) Rechargeable NiMH D-cells make environmental and economic sense.
Potential buyers should be aware that the remote control has limited function. To access all functions, one must operate the iPod itself. The instructions for the iM7 are short and don't explain odd behaviors such as why the iM7 will sometimes remember the last song you were playing in iPod before insertion, and sometimes default to the first song in the library...and start playing the whole library. Altec Lansing tech support via email was unable to explain it. They said to send the unit in. However I did not, as it may just be a design flaw. The tech support I received was pretty lightweight, but at least they were contactable and were willing to offer some solution.
For those who are easily frustrated by less-than-perfect retailing, there was one odd event associated with my purchase of the iM7: the first one I got was clearly an "open-box" product. It worked fine, but the styrofoam packaging inserts were quite broken up and the adapter plug for the USA was missing. I tried to get just the tiny adapter plug sent to me, and Amazon was unable to do that. Meanwhile I tried it out on battery and I knew that it was a "keeper"...it sounded great. Eventually, I had to send the entire product back just to get the tiny USA plug piece for the AC adapter.... Amazon shipped me an entirely new one. The new one had the adapter, but it did not really appear to be new, it looked like a demo model.
My conclusion was that somewhere in the supply chain, open-box or demo units were being funneled in as new merchandise.
As I live in the Virgin Islands from which shipping is inconvenient & expensive, I made a decision to just keep the unit and enjoy it. After all, it works and has a full warranty.
The iM7 does for me exactly what I wanted it to do: It fills a room with big, rich sound from an iPod, on either battery or AC current.
And Amazon works with me when there's a problem, until it's fixed...that's why I look to Amazon first when buying something on-line.
Customer Review: I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought an ipod video a few weeks a go, and decided that I would also really like to have a stereo to play my music aloud. I actually was thinking about getting the Bose Soundock when I read about this product in a review.
This stereo, the Altec Lansing iM7, fits my music needs better than I could have ever imagined! It was very, very easy to hook up (Some of you have made comments about the remote. If you have trouble putting the included battery inside use a bobby pin or safety pin to push the opening button on the side. If you try to do it yourself, you'll batter your fingers!) For someone who's not swift with electronics, it took me about 7 minutes to set this up in my bedroom.
THE SOUND! After all the great reviews about the sound of the iM7, I was not surprised when I finally turned it on and heard myself the great quality of base that comes from this stereo. Finally, a system that will do justice to my music! Whether I'm listening to the blues, rock, orchestral music, This sounds great!!
On the actual stereo there are three buttons: Power, Volume Up, Volume Down. To change a playlist, you have to scroll through your ipod. ((No trouble--At least you can only use one hand, unlike other systems I read about where you have to hold the ipod in place while you try to scroll to a song you like.))
The remote is also great: It allows you to turn on the system, alter the volume, bass, or treble, as well as pause/play, skip forward and backward buttons!! Its very small though, so keep it somewhere you'll never loose it. The ipod fits in the opening in the front, and there's even a cradle for an ipod mini. I was worried at first that my video ipod wouldn't fit, but it does!! And it works so perfectly!!
If the Remote, portability, and the great sound aren't enough to get the iM7, than get it for the ease of taking songs from your ipod (letting go of the earphones) and letting the music fill the room with power and majesty. I love how I can be moving around and still listening to my music, without having to have my ipod attached to me, worrying that my ears are going to be damaged from having the volume so loud.
I've tried to mention everything in this review, hopefully it helps you make your decision. I would also like to just add that I am very pleased with the quality of Altec Lansing. I have not had any trouble with this system so far and I'm so happy that for once I made the right electronic decision. I Hope you get it and I hope you enjoy as much as I do!
Customer Review: Works great, and solves several media needs
Summary: 5 Stars
I chose the Altec system over Bose and others, because of the reviews and price - and I have been extremely happy with my choice! The unit looks great, fits on my shelf, and simply does the job -- making clean, clear, high-quality sound.
I can listen to my iPod, but I also have the iM7 connected to my TV's audio-out -- which means I get GREAT audio from TV, DVDs and CDs (which I play through the DVD player). I have bulkier audio equipment and satellite speakers in storage (having just moved into a new house), but the Altec system gives me really good sound that fills the entire living room so well, that I've decided to use this as the primary movie-sound system, and am leaving the other equipment in storage!
The sound is truly excellent, as has been noted here several times. The bass is nice and strong, the highs are crisp and clear (both of which are also adjustable by the way)... Overall, just a fantasic sound quality, all in a good-looking, compact (and more reasonably priced) package.
I do have one little "I would have designed it different" note. Since this is more of a feature-enhancement idea, rather than a complaint, it doesn't effect my overall 5-star rating:
I'd like to see a Mute function, or faster volume-control response in this unit. I sometimes want to turn down the volume quickly (on any sound-making device) -- simply because the phone rings, or the kids are going crazy, or I just forgot to turn down the volume after playing my music really really loud yesterday :) Anyway, because this unit has push-buttons instead of a volume knob, and those buttons require a sustained or harder push (and the corresponding delay) before the unit's firmware can decide if you want a small incrimental or continuous change in volume (or tone, or whatever), there's really no way to change volume quickly enough. So, in case of "emergency" (you need to answer the phone or settle the kids), you just need to turn it off.
Again, the Altec iM7 is, as others have commented, the best value and quality, at a great price. Sure, you could go cheaper, but you'd lose the quality in my opinion. Or, you could buy the most expensive Bose units, which really wouldn't give you much more than the Altec, in this niche... So, why spend more when you can spend less?
Great unit, and highly recommended!
Customer Review: Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 Portable Audio System
Summary: 4 Stars
This Stereo is well made, though at times my brand new iPod Video 30G "freezes" while playing music in the iM7. Neither the iPod nor the stereo ever leave my apartment. The portable carrying case on Amazon for this stereo, the one that covers the iM7 completely is close to $120.00 (8/07). This is highway robbery for a case to take the stereo on-the-go, even if the case is advertised as one made of "leather". A cheaper shoulder-harness for the stereo is about $40.00 as well, yet won't protect the iM7 from bumps to the facing of the product. For me, it is not worth the risk in damaging the player enroute to the beach, so I feel a bit stuck without a PORTABLE player as of now.
If you are looking for an iPod player that can sit on the mantle, or next to the computer, you may want to choose this one. Sound is great; though you may have to reset your iPod periodically.
Typical of electronics product design, one can tell Altec Lansing wanted to provide many options for the consumer with the design of the product; input jack, headphones and video port. Even the rubberized area in the center feels like a handle for carrying the stereo, yet something of this quality needs a protective case. I wonder if the company failed to contract adequately with another who could manufacture a quality case for the iM7 inexpensively. Or perhaps inventories of quality cases are limited, and Amazon holds their supplies in high esteem. To get the full potential out of the stereo, you may need to spend a lot more money in "accessorizing" for this stereo to take it with you in the car or on a vacation. I'm simply not going to spend an additional $120 (plus shipping) in order to take it around with me. I'm essentially any middle class American who wanted to be able to take a music player everywhere during my summer-- that hasn't happened because I don't want to break it.
I'm looking for a company who will go THE WHOLE WAY to make a customer happy and able to use the product the way it was designed, without charging another $100 plus in what I feel are additional fees for something that should have come with the player originally. Think on it.
Hope this review helps other consumers; and I hope Amazon can make cases for this player more available at a cheaper price. Go the whole way, Altec or Amazon, go the whole way!
Customer Review: so nice i bought it twice
Summary: 5 Stars
i just got my second iM7 in the mail yesterday. this is a great product, and i can't recommend it highly enough. why?
well, i needed a small unit that i could dock my ipod to, and it had to have excellent sound. after kind of skimming over the cheaper units out there, i thought i was going to have to go w/ the bose sound dock. i was ready to pull the trigger, and hadn't seen the iM7 in stores, but then i came across it here. the overwhelming number of good reviews, combined with the fact that it costs half as much as the bose, convinced me to roll the dice.
it's as good as everyone says. the sound is fantastic - better than the bose, and you can adjust the bass and the treble to boot. the sound really fills the room as well - if i turn this thing up, it basically fills the entire floor of my house. really impressive, and absolutely no complaints.
my wife has the newer generation nano, and the iM7 did not come with an appropriate adapter for it. i went to the altec lansing website and they sent me one for free. took two seconds to order it, and we had the adapter in a few days. good service.
this product also comes with the ability to line in other sound sources, meaning you could just line your ipod right into it from the headphone jack if you wanted to. or you could line in your TV or other sound source. (maybe even a cd player if you've still got one!) you can also use the iM7 to line out images to your television from your ipod... just as an added bonus. (it also comes with a ridiculously wide array of international plug adapters, so if you want to bring it along with you on your trip to nepal, go nuts.)
altec lansing gives you an additional year of warranty coverage if you return the warranty card that comes with the stereo. another nice feature.
finally, the product is solid, well built, doesn't take up much space, and looks good. the only thing i would request is that they make a version in black, but that's a pretty minor complaint.
i was so impressed by the iM7 that i bought a second one for my bedroom. i've got two now, and still haven't spent as much as i would have on the bose sound dock. can't recommend this product enough... well done.