Logitech mm50 Portable Speaker System for iPod (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I first purchased Altec Lansing inMotion speakers for my iPod near a couple years ago, I immediately fell in love with them. They were the kind of things you took in public and people would say "That's coming from those little speakers!?!" While treasuring them on every road trip and day outdoors, I had one question in my mind: "When is a product going to top this one?" Although all kinds of iPod speakers followed in their footsteps, this is the first time one in the same league has topped the inMotion speakers.
Yes.. In my opinion, these are the best travel speakers you could possibly buy for the iPod. Below I will review why these are the best choice over Altec Lansing's inMotion speakers, JBL's OnStage speakers, and larger systems such as the Bose SoundDock. I will also review the pros and cons of the mm50s as a stand-alone product.
Why buy these over JBL OnStage speakers? - These not only sound better, but can be played without plugging into an electric outlet. The OnStage set is popular because they look cool and sound good. When such a compact system has no option to run off batteries, the size seems to be in vain.
Why buy these over the Bose SoundDock? - The sound quality is near the same league of that produced by the SoundDock while selling for a fraction of the cost. The Bose SoundDock is essentially not even a travel system because you need to plug it in an outlet whenever you use it. Beyond that it is really too large to comfortably fit in any kind of suit case while leaving room for anything beyond a single pair of socks. The Logitech MM50s are convenient for packing with your luggage and could be played for 7 or more hours at a time without needing a plug.
Why buy these over larger boom-box style systems? - With sound quality touching near the same goal post as those that require their own duffle bag, there is no question about it if you plan on using your speakers for travel... And isn't that the point of getting a one-piece unit over a regular stereo or 2.1 system? The MM50s are small enough to stuff in a suitcase without sacrificing much space yet unpack with the power to rock out a good-sized room.
Most important ...Why these over the Altec Lansing inMotion speakers? - Altec Lansing's inMotion speakers really remained the king of the travel-sized iPod speakers since they were released. It doesn't matter if they had the travel remote or how they folded up. They continue to be compact, sound great for the size, and charge up the iPod when you plug them in the wall. Since the release of the mm50s, they are no longer the best in their league, however. This comes at a single cost.
Unlike the 8 inch wide inMotion speakers, the mm50s stretch near 13 inches in width. The actual body is slightly thicker as well, but remains shorter in height. Add it all up and the mm50 is slightly larger in overall mass. After selling my inMotions before receiving my mm50s, I wondered if I made the correct decision in upgrading due to the size difference. Now I can comfortably say the larger body is definitely worth it. In most cases, the mm50s can pack in your luggage just as easily as the inMotions.
The physical size difference is more than paid for in sound quality, which is considerably better in terms of bass and presence. The surround feature also adds a touch of depth to certain songs that cannot be matched by the inMotion speakers by any means. Beyond that, they could actually pump out bass, something the inMotion speakers could never do regardless of the sound depth they produced. This is not thumping bass, yet a significant improvement resulting from the larger drivers. They are no louder in volume than the inMotions, however.
The mm50s top inMotion, yet they are still far from being a perfect travel system. From a physical standpoint, the speakers are solid and perfectly match the design of the iPod. They actually feel more like a brick than the inMotion speakers, which are a bit on the flimsy side in comparison. The buttons on the speakers and the remote are solid as well, which really make the system friendly to the wear and tear of travel. The grill in front of the drivers is also more than enough to protect them.
The sound quality, while exceeding that of the inMotion speakers can still distort at high levels, but this greatly depends on the kind of music being played. I was surprisingly able to play Daft Punk with the bass pumping yet hardly any distortion.
The remote does a fine job at flipping between songs, pausing, and adjusting the volume. It even lets you skip forward and backward through slide shows. Being that this functionality was included, it is surprising that there is no AV out cable hook-ups on the back of the unit for TV use. This could have easily saved the need to buy a $20 AV cable for the video iPod, but is by no means a deal breaker.
The three most significant kinks in the operation of the mm50s lie in the remote, volume controls, and internal battery. The remote is the least forgiving of these, because it seems like something that could have easily been avoided. As stated in other reviews, the remote only works when it is pointed in a relatively straight direction toward the sensor on the speakers. Pointing the controller any higher or lower will simply not work. This appears to be due to the fact that the sensor is sunken so deep into the speaker unit itself, a mistake which shows a major lack of consideration in design. Another kink lies in the fact that the volume controls on the speakers effect the setting on the iPod itself, but changing the volume on the iPod does not effect the volume of the speakers. This can result in the iPod displaying low volume while the speakers themselves are cranked to the max. This is a small detail, but remains a confusing aspect I believe could have been avoided.
The internal rechargeable battery, while sparing the expense of disposable ones, leaves no easy option for replacement. This greatly limits the possibility for extended cordless use beyond 7 or so hours. The option to swap rechargeable batteries would have added enough flexibility to comfortably use the speakers over camping trips, but was sadly left out from the design, causing the battery to be a trade-off instead of a gain (Inexcusable, Logitech).
Other reviews have noted how the flip out legs do not work on uneven surfaces, but this is something that can be remedied with a little imagination and leg adjustments. The speakers also have the tendency to move while playing at high volumes. This is another thing that could be remedied with a bit of imagination. Neither of these I would consider to be design flaws simply because they are a direct result of the decision to make the speakers as compact as possible.
As I have listed all the flaws of these speakers, the mm50s are still the nearest you can get to a perfect travel speaker set for the iPod. The flaws of this product are more aggravating in the sense that they could have been avoided than in actual use. Any iPod is really incomplete without them.

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The Logitech mm50 Portable Speakers for iPod utilize 3-inch pressure drivers to maximize bass and minimize distortion, creating the full experience of home audio for life on the go. The use of 3-D sound processing also widens the stereo effect, so that this system's sound seems to come from an area about two feet wider than the speakers themselves. The speakers are powered by an AC adapter or rechargeable Li-ion batteries, come with a credit card-sized wireless remote, and are easily compatible with all docking iPods. If you don't have an iPod with a dock connector, just use the auxiliary outlet.
You also get a protective case and 2-year limited warranty that give you both security and peace of mind. Should you find yourself overseas with these speakers, the AC adapter is international voltage capable, truly letting you enjoy your iPod's music wherever you go. The Li-ion batteries last up to 10 hours, and you can charge both the speakers and your iPod simultaneously.
What's in the Box mm50 portable speakers, remote control, AC adapter, protective travel case, and user's manual
iPod Compatibility iPod nano 1G, iPod nano 2G, iPod mini, iPod 4G (Clickwheel), iPod Color, iPod 5G/5.5G Video

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