Appletell reviews the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact speaker system

Provides: iPhone audio playback
Developer: Altec Lansing
Minimum Requirements: Most iPhone/iPod models (see chart)
Price: $79.95
Availability: Now

iPhone and iPod speakers come in many varieties. Some are about portability, some are about functionality, some are about style, and some are about sound. You want a system that can satisfy your needs in all four categories, but such systems are hard to find, especially at lower price points. So, you often have to make some sacrifices. It’s like those house/apartment hunting shows where real estate agents spend half an hour crushing the dreams and expectations of buyers—like only real estate agents do—until they’re willing to settle for just about nothing they’d hoped to get.

Thankfully, that’s not going to happen with the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact. You lose functionality and (perhaps) style, but the sound and portability will make sure you’re not suffering buyers’ remorse a couple months later.

Let’s first talk about what you don’t get. The design here is about as basic as can be. The entire system is black, aside from the bronze Altec Lansing logo on the front. No power lights or level indicators, no clock, just speakers. Granted, you get some color from your iPhone or iPod touch itself, but it’s not helpful. This is forgivable, though, because the system is meant to be portable…it’s not designed to sit on your bookshelf or nightstand and serve as your alarm clock. Still, I can’t help but wish there was at least an accompanying iPhone app that provided basic clock functionality.

So, you lose design and functionality. What you get in return is enhanced portability. The system is a bit larger than you’d want, coming in at 9.5″ wide x 1.8″ deep x 4.7″ high. That’s fine for sitting on the shelf, but a bit much to pack and carry around.

However, it folds up very nicely thanks to the protective cover that locks over the speakers. The sharp angles make it a bit uncomfortable to hold, but it packs up into a solid unit that is well protected.

When in use, this cover flips back to serve as a stand, locking in place with a small tab like the top-lock on a box of cereal. I was nervous that this would eventually buckle under the weight of the system, but that didn’t even begin to happen during my test period.

Of course, portability would be useless without a battery option, and the inMotion Compact can run for up to 24 hours on four AA batteries, according to Altec Lansing. This will depend upon the batteries and the volume at which you’re playing your music, but it’ll be enough for an afternoon of music, regardless. When you’ve got access to an outlet, the system can run on the included AC power adapter.

It’s the sound quality should matter most to you, however, and the inMotion Compact doesn’t disappoint there. You get two full-range neodymium speaker drivers with the typical Altec Lansing balance, but it’s the front firing ports that garner the most attention. They provide some solid bass response; not the best I’ve heard, but more than I expected from a compact system for under $100. You won’t need to worry about your music being drowned out by outside noises without cranking the audio past distortion levels.

A couple other things worth noting:

• The dock will recharge your iPhone or iPod while playing.
• If you’re using an iPhone, the music automatically pauses when a call comes in.
• Although there are volume buttons on the unit, there is no remote control functionality.
• There is an 1/8″ auxiliary input, but no headphone jack.

So, what do you want out of your iPhone/iPod speaker system? Altec Lansing has systems that sound better, and they have systems that offer better functionality, but you’ll pay for that. If all you need is good sound that you can easily pack up and take with you, the inMotion Compact comes in at a price point attractive enough to compensate for what you’re giving up.

You could learn from this, TV Realtor(©) people.

Appletell Rating:

Buy inMotion Compact

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