Mp3 Speakers
Mp3 Speakers - Altec Lansing IM9
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by Dan Frakes, Playlist Magazin
ALtec Lansing IM9. A couple years ago, Altec Lansing got the portable ipod speaker market going with the original inMotion. Since then, the company has dramatically expanded the inMotion line, which now consists of the iM3, iM4, iM5, iM7, im9, iM11, iMT1, iMX2, and iMmini, as well as the original model, now called the iMplus. AltecLansing has released a number of systems in the $100 to $150 range (the iM4, iM5, and iM11), but we’ve continued to recommend the mm50 as the best bang for your buck.
mp3 player speaker
The new Altec Lansing inMotion im9 may change that for many buyers. The first thing you notice about the im9 is its design. Altec Lansing says the im9 is “shock-resistant,” and that seems like an apt description; with the exception of Sonic Impact’s iFusion, which is built into a water-resistant, rigid case, the im9 feels sturdier than any ipod speaker system we’ve tested.
Although smaller than Altec Lansing’s award-winning inMotion iM7 (a $250 system that’s more “transportable” than portable), the im9 is still quite large as portable speaker systems go: a chunky 11 inches wide by almost 8 inches high by 3 inches deep. Perhaps recognizing this, Altec Lansing includes a custom-fitting sling backpack with the im9. Unfortunately, unlike the less expensive inMotion iM3 and most other ipod speaker systems in this price range, the im9 doesn’t include a wireless remote control. Between the adapters and the cradle’s adjustable depth, the im9 accommodates any dock-connector ipod, including the nano and mini. As with other inMotion models, the im9’s AC adapter is an international model. Like other inMotion systems, the im9 automatically turns off if no audio signal is detected for three minutes, and the system charges your ipod when plugged into AC power. Unfortunately, like too many other ipod speaker systems, turning off the im9 doesn’t automatically pause or turn off your ipod; if you’re listening off battery power and forget to turn off the ipod itself, you could come back a few hours later to a dead ipod battery.
The im9’s bigger size and heavier weight-relative to most other portable ipod speaker systems, at least-are due mostly to the system’s speakers and Class D amplifier. (We consider Altec Lansing’s iM7 and Apple’s ipod Hi-Fi to be “transportable” rather than portable given their size and weight.) (Unlike the more expensive iM7, the im9 doesn’t include bass or treble controls, although the ipods own EQ does affect the im9’s output, so those looking for a bit more detail can enable the ipod’s Treble Booster setting.) Unfortunately, this is something we’ve experienced with many portable speaker systems. With the inMotion im9, the mm50 finally has some competition. Although the im9 is a bit bigger and heavier, it’s still portable while offering richer, fuller sound than any truly portable system we’ve tested.
