Presumably, with a system like Amplifi, you're paying for power and performance over features. The front grill hides two 2.75-inch neodymium drivers, spaced approximately 9 inches apart. Flip the Amplifi on its back, and you'll find the real secret behind the system's big sound--a 5-inch woofer with a 1.5-inch bass-reflex port off to the side.
Performance
The Amplifi gets loud--not the distorted loud you hear cranking up the stereo in a Ford Escort, but the kind of clean, full-range loud you want when listening to AC/DC. In fact, unlike many systems we've tested, the Amplifi actually sounded better at loud volumes than at tamer levels. The 5-inch woofer certainly delivers on bass, but it's by no means overwhelming. The bass on Rick James' "Give it to Me Baby" sounded deep and punchy, and the guitar on the White Stripes' "Let's Build a Home" positively wailed.
While the Amplifi has more than enough volume to fill a room or even power a small house party, its sound quality is on the blunt end of the spectrum. iPod speaker systems such as the Altec Lansing iM600 or Klipsch iGroove present better sparkle and clarity on the high-end, as well as improved stereo separation.
Despite some drawbacks, the Amplifi's ability to produce loud, rich music is unmatched at this price. If you're more concerned about portability than power, take a look at collapsible and rechargeable iPod speaker systems such as Griffin's Journi and Altec Lansing's iM600.
What You'll Pay
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