Works With
All iPod generations, iPod nano, iPod mini
The Good
Lightweight and portable
Recharges iPod during use
The Bad
Not loud enough
Sub-par bass
The Price
US$149.95 (currently available for much less online)
Part of the beauty of the iPod is its portability, and the ability to bring thousands of songs with you anywhere you go. So, it’s only natural that some of the speaker accessories made by third-party manufacturers for the iPod would be portable as well. The Altec Lansing inMotion speaker system is one entry into the portable iPod speaker category.
NOTE: This review is of the inMotion system, not its later revisions (the 3, 7, or other models).
The inMotion speakers are a nifty little package that fold into a small, flat rectangle for travel and expand into a pair of speakers with a built-in iPod dock for use. In both configurations the speakers are lightweight (making them great for travel) and easy to use. As travel speakers should be, they can be powered by batteries or the included power adapter.
The physical experience of the speakers is certainly appealing, but the sound they produce leaves a bit to be desired. Though the audio is clear, the inMotion speakers don’t get very loud and the bass they produce is wanting. Despite employing a technology designed to create a bass sound without using a (certainly not portable) subwoofer, the bass tone produced by the inMotion just isn’t deep enough to be satisfying.
Though a good idea and an early entry into the market, it’s hard to recommend the inMotion. The speakers are certainly portable and in that way achieve their chief goal, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which they would be more useful than a pair of really good headphones. After all, if you were going to use an iPod speaker system at home, you’d likely use one with a subwoofer and how often do you need to share music while traveling?
