Works With
All iPods with a dock connector
The Good
Lightweight, portable
Versatile
Decent price
The Bad
So-so sound
The Price
US$59.99
Portable speakers are about compromise – how much sound quality are you willing to trade to shed weight and size? What price will you pay to pack all those features into a small package?
A portable speaker set that combines high-quality sound, great portability, and low price likely isn’t to be found and you can’t expect a portable speaker to sound as good as a shelf system.
The Surround Xi portable iPod speakers by Rapha International are an illustration of this conundrum. The speakers are fairly light and portable, but the sound they produce is only so-so.
An Emphasis on Portability
The Surround Xi is a seven-inch-long cylinder with buttons on the front and a connector on the top. At each end of the cylinder you’ll find a 1.5-inch speaker. IPods and other MP3 or music players can connect to the Surround Xi through the iPod dock connector, USB, or a line-in jack (important note: there are two models of the Surround Xi - one with just a USB jack, the other with a dock connector. If you’re planning to use this with an iPod, get the dock connector model).
The variety of connection options make the Surround Xi a versatile speaker, which increases its usefulness – especially when traveling, since you may not have your standard audio set up on the road with you.
Like any good travel accessory, the speakers are light, too – just 14.1 ounces. Because the Surround Xi can be powered by four AAA batteries, an AC adapter, or by USB, you can also choose what power source you want to pack in your bag with you, potentially lightening your load.
Lacking in Sound Quality
If the two key values of a portable speaker are its portability and its sound quality, the Surround Xi is certainly a contender when it comes to portability. Unfortunately it doesn't fare as well when it comes to sound.
The sound produced by the Surround Xi is OK, but nothing more than that. It certainly doesn’t sound awful, especially for a portable speaker system, but it’s far from great.
The Surround Xi offers weak bass response, a little hiss on trebles, weak range, and a low maximum volume. This all combines to create a sound that’s more brittle than I’d like.
Summing Up
So, while the Surround Xi – which comes in pink, silver, blue, and black to match your iPod or style – is acceptably portable and fairly priced, its middling sound quality leaves me unenthusiastic.
When considered strictly as a portable iPod speaker used for travel, it may make the grade, but it’s not acceptable for other uses (especially when other speaker docks can be had for the same price or a little more). If you’re in the market for a portable iPod speaker, give this one a listen, but be sure to check out some others before you buy.
