iPod/MP3 Speaker Selection (part 1)

More and more people are purchasing speakers for their iPod/MP3 Players. Some do it to replace their current home audio set-ups, in order to get rid of their CD collections that take up so much room. Others want to have a portable audio source for when they are away on vacation. Still others want to get them just because everyone else is buying them! One of the problems you will probably encounter in your speaker selection is that you will be faced with a huge selection of choices and you’ll start feeling bewildered about what to buy. We can help!

You can break down the different sets of speakers into the following categories:

Portable and powered by batteries

Portable and powered by mains adapter

Home set-up powered by mains adapter.

If your looking for a portable set that is powered by batteries, there are a variety of excellent options at assorted prices. No matter how much money you can spend, it is important that sound quality is good. If you buy a nice light set of speakers and all you hear are crackling noises, then what good were they? If you’re searching for some light weight and fairly low cost speakers, you could try either the Logic 3 i-Station 7 or the Monster iSpeaker. Both of these are very light to carry and are the perfect size for putting in a backpack or suitcase. They run for a decent amount of time on batteries and the sound from both of them is exceptional for their price .

If you are looking to spend a little more, then a lot more options are open to you. Again, if lightweight is your number one interest, then you will not go wrong with JBL On Tour. This is an incredibly lightweight unit. What it may lack in bass, it makes up for in its sound clarity. If you are looking for better sound quality, then a step up to an Altec Lansing IM5, Logitech MM50 or Saitek A250, would be a wise choice. For iPod Nano owners, the XtremeMac MicroBlast is what you’ll want. All of these provide excellent sound along with good looks and a highly portable design.

If your budget is not a factor, then you are into the realm of great portable systems. The Altec Lansing IM7 comes to mind. You'll hear a thumping bass, a crystal clear treble and love its great portable design. This is definitely the Big Daddy of portable iPod docking stations and speaker units!