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CNET editors' rating:
3.0 stars
Good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews
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Product summary
The good: The Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 is compact, stylish, inexpensive, and versatile. It's an incredible value for a portable speaker.
The bad: Like many speakers of this size, the Orbit-MP3 suffers from hollow-sounding audio. The power ring feels fragile.
The bottom line: The Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 is a great choice for any frequent flier, thanks to its travel-friendly design, low cost, and versatility--in the realm of portable speakers, this one's an excellent value.
Specifications: Type of speaker: portable speakers; Amplification type: Active See full specs
Price range: $24.96 - $34.95
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 08/07/2008
- Updated on:09/10/2008
Altec Lansing has had its fingers in the iPod speaker business for several years now, which may explain why the company has been one of the most innovative when it comes to design--the retro-slick iM7 boombox and the ultrathin iM600 provide some excellent evidence of that. Further proof is now available in the form of the Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3, an ultracompact speaker that connects to any MP3 player or audio source. The MSRP for this speaker is only $40, but it can be found online for less than $30--an exceptional value given its versatility and passable sound quality.
The Orbit-MP3's name is a pretty telling indicator of its design. It's shaped like a disk that tapers in at the bottom. In fact, if you hold it sideways, it looks like a truncated speaker cone taken right from its housing. The Orbit is definitely compact, even within the realm of portable speakers, measuring just 3.5 inches in diameter and 1.5-inch tall. The base of the unit is all black plastic, while the speaker grille is made of brushed silver aluminum surrounded by a chrome-colored plastic ring. This ring acts as the power switch, which is the only control function of the unit; clockwise powers it off while counterclockwise turns it on. It feels a little fragile, which raises some concern for durability.
The base of the Orbit-MP3 is outlined by a thin groove that acts as a cable manager during transit. The wire terminates in a standard 3.5mm straight plug, which means the speaker can be used with just about any audio source; Altec Lansing even includes an adapter for use with 2.5mm jacks, often found on cell phones. Around the bottom edge of the speaker, you'll notice some flattened grooves. This small, but appreciated, detail allows you to prop it up on its side for directed sound, should you desire. The very bottom of the unit houses a battery compartment that takes three AAA batteries (not included). The rated battery life is more than adequate at 24 hours.
We've heard better sound quality from portable speakers, but the Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 sounds more than passable given its size and price. Music is clear and multidirectional, an impressive feat given the single speaker design. There's no background hiss, a fair amount of detail and high-end representation, and bass is not totally absent. On the downside, music does sound hollow, and it lacks the richness we like. Still--we reiterate--the Orbit is $30 and super travel-friendly, so we can forgive its rather minimal shortcomings.
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- portable speakers,
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- battery,
- MP3
User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 5 user reviewsSee all 5 user reviews
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
"Good value and very practical. This little guy is my new best friend."
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
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Where to buy
Altec Lansing im207 Orbit-MP3 Speaker:
$24.96 - $34.95
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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$24.96 | Yes |
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$29.99 | Yes |
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$29.95 | Yes |
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$24.96 | Yes |
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Directron.com
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$28.98 | No |
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