GH Institute

All MP3 speakers

• 
  Review of Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 speakers

  Features

  Rechargeable battery, mains power. Carrying case. Fits all iPods with dock connector. Remote control. Unlike earlier version, does not require iPhone to be switched to airplane mode to avoid interference. Black or white finish available.

  Comments

  Good points: This portable unit has excellent audio with an impressive soundstage. Touch the XL button and it makes it sound wide and powerful. Highly portable and the rechargeable battery lasts 10 hours between charges. It recharges the iPod as you play. Punchy, strikingly clear sound in a light and easy-to-carry machine. Works with international electrical frequencies so can be used abroad and comes supplied with multiple international plugs.

  Drawbacks: None.

  Rating: 91/100

  Price Range: £100 - 140

  Stockist: 01753 870900 - http://www.logitech.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

  
  

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  Review of JBL On Time Micro MP3 speakers

  Features

  Alarm with LCD screen. Snooze function. Fits all iPods with dock connector. Remote control. Weighs 0.8kg (1.8lbs). Mains power.

  Comments

  Good points: JBL is known for its outstanding audio fidelity: this product lives up to the brand's reputation. It's the sound quality that really excels, with strong, bassy playback. The alarm is versatile - you can programme it with up to seven independent wake-up times.

  Drawbacks: When turned up to full volume, the sound can distort.

  Rating: 90/100

  Price Range: £140 - 180

  Stockist: 01707 278100 - http://www.jbl.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Orbitsound T4 MP3 speakers

  Features

  ‘Spatial stereo' dock with DAB, FM and internet radio. Alarm clock. Fits all iPods with dock connector. Mains power.

  Comments

  Good points: Although there's only one speaker on the front of the T4, because the side speakers fire sound outwards it manages to sound wide and powerful even in a big room. The system means the audio sounds good wherever you're standing. Then there's the radio which not only includes FM and DAB radio, but internet radio, too. If you have a broadband network it can connect to it wirelessly, delivering literally thousands of radio stations from around the world.

  Drawbacks: It's easy to press the wrong button - they're all lined up round the top of the unit. Wi-fi internet is also fiddly to set up, though you only have to do this once.

  Rating: 85/100

  Price Range: £140 - 150

  Stockist: 08456 521 219 - http://www.orbitsound.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of JBL On Stage IIIP MP3 speakers

  Features

  Fits all iPods with dock connector. Remote control. Mains power.

  Comments

  Good points: It looks like a doughnut but sounds even sweeter. The directional speakers mean it delivers strong sound in multiple directions. It's also easily portable as it's so small and light. It has a rich and full sound, excellent on high notes and okay on bass, and sounds clear and bright. Small enough to make it an essential travel gadget.

  Drawbacks: Bass could be stronger.

  Rating: 84/100

  Price Range: £90 - 100

  Stockist: 01707 278100 - http://www.jbl.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Sony ICFC1IPMK2 MP3 speakers

  Features

  Charges while it plays. Remote control. Alarm clock and FM/AM radio. LCD screen with adjustable brightness. Fits all iPods with dock connector. Weighs 0.5kg (1lb)

  Comments

  Good points: Decent sound and handy features make this Sony dock a good choice. The clock radio offers the choice of waking to a buzzer, radio or music from the iPod. Straightforward to use.

  Drawbacks: Lacks the bass effects and crisp clarity of bigger units.

  Rating: 75/100

  Price Range: £55 - 70

  Stockist: 08705 111999 - http://www.sony.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

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  Review of Griffin Travel speaker system

  Features

  Travel speakers, powered by iPod. Fits all iPods with dock connector. Exclusive to Tesco.

  Comments

  Good points: Superbly light and small, the Travel speakers are a great way of having louder playback in a neat, small product. There's no battery or mains connection - it uses the iPod's built-in battery to power it. If you want to recharge the iPod you can connect it to a PC using the USB cable. Sound quality is more than acceptable, and the speakers are undeniably convenient.

  Drawbacks: Unexceptional sound. No visual indicator to say you've reached maximum volume.

  Rating: 70/100

  Price: £30

  Stockist: 0800 505555 - http://www.tesco.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2010

• 
  Review of Boston Acoustics Duo-i MP3 speakers

  Good Housekeeping Top Scorer

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. FM/AM alarm clock radio. Changeable coloured grilles available in red, light blue, pink and green. Dimensions: H5.5 x W12.9 x D8 inches. Also available in black

  Comments

  Tremendous sound marks out the Duo-I, not least due to its weighty build. Its looks are basic but changeable covers mean it's easy for the owner to change the colour (£15 extra each) and the rubberised finish feels nice to the touch. There are two alarms on the clock radio and the lights dim according to the surroundings. Impressive. The speakers can be connected to a CD player.

  Rating: 90/100

  Price Range: £151 - 170

  Stockist: 0845 800 1020 - http://www.play.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of JBL Creature II 2.1 MP3 speakers

  Features

  Line-in socket. Touch-sensitive volume control. Mains only power supply. Dimensions: H9.0 x W9.0 x D9.0 inches. Satellite speakers dimensions H3.0 x W3.0 x D3.0 inches.

  Comments

  The strange-looking Creature speakers work with any MP3 player, connecting by line-in to the headphone socket. This does mean you can only charge without listening at the same time. Strong, clean sound and easy use with touch-controlled volume make it great to use. Lots of bass from the large sub-woofer.

  Rating: 85/100

  Price Range: £50 - 70

  Stockist: 08705 425 524 - http://www.comet.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Fatman itube MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port and valve amplifier. Line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. Dimensions: Amplifier: H5.8 x W14.2 x D7.9 inches

  Comments

  If you're buying for someone traditional enough to enjoy the silky smooth sound only valves can offer, but modern enough to enjoy the convenience of MP3, this curious-looking device is ideal. The quality is extraordinary.

  Rating: 85/100

  Price: £233

  Stockist: 0845 800 1020 - http://www.play.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. Battery- or mains-powered. Dimensions: H3.6 x W13.2 x D1.5 inches. Available in black or white

  Comments

  Exceptionally portable, and even supplied with a soft carrying case for travelling, the Pure-Fi Anywhere has a wide soundstage not least thanks to its four speakers. The rechargeable battery lasts for up to 10 hours and a battery level indicator tells you when it's running low. Great for someone needing both quality and portability.

  Rating: 80/100

  Price: £100

  Stockist: 01753 870 900 - http://www.logitech.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Logitech AudioStation Express MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket for other brands of player, power supply, wireless remote control. Battery or mains powered. Dimensions: H14 x W4.0 inches

  Comments

  Simple and effective, the AudioStation Express has above-average sound and is a great portable option (carry case supplied for taking it away with you). Neat styling, too.

  Rating: 75/100

  Price: £39

  Stockist: 01753 870 900 - http://www.logitech.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

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  Review of Pure Chronos iDock MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. FM and DAB radio. Dimensions: H5.0 x W8.0 x D5.0 inches. Available in black or white

  Comments

  Pure, the masters of DAB radio, have designed this model to play MP3 players as well as work as an alarm clock with four alarms and a bright display that dims according to the light in the room.  It has an FM radio too and means you can wake to radio, buzzer or iPod. All sound good, except a buzzer, which is no way to wake up.

  Rating: 75/100

  Price: £80

  Stockist: 01923 277 488 - http://www.pure.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of JBL On Stage IIIP MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket and cable. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. Battery- or mains-powered. Dimensions: H2.0 x W6.0 x D6.0 inches. Available in black or white.

  Comments

  Small but perfectly formed, the On Stage has bigger sound than you'd think, with strong bass and little distortion. It works with all iPods including the new iPhone 3G and other brands of MP3 players though these and the iPod shuffle connect through the line-in cable. Charges the iPod when connected to the mains.

  Rating: 72/100

  Price: £130

  Stockist: 0800 783 4846 - http://www.apple.com/uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Gear4 StreetParty 3 MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. Battery or mains powered. Dimensions: H6.0 x W11.5 x D4.0 inches

  Comments

  The StreetParty 3 is neat and small, partly because the iPod dock folds flat for storage. Despite this, it is impressively loud and though the sound is not as rich as it could be, it's certainly powerful which makes it ideal for garden use, for instance, thanks to the battery power option.

  Rating: 70/100

  Price: £30

  Stockist: 01494 436221 - http://www.gear4store.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Goodmans CD Micro 1467i MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket. Mains only power supply. Infra-red remote control. MW/FM radio and CD player. Wall-mountable. Dimensions H7.5 x W10 x D3.7 inches

  Comments

  Very good value setup that charges your iPod as it plays and has a motorised CD door that slides up. Sound is good rather than exceptional but this is a fun, versatile gizmo. Ideal for a teenager's bedroom wall, say.

  Rating: 70/100

  Price: £52

  Stockist: 0871 230 1777 - http://www.goodmans.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Creative TravelSound 400 MP3 speakers

  Features

  Line-in socket and cable. Carrying case. Battery powered only. Dimensions: H3.0 x W7.0 x D2.0 inches

  Comments

  Great for throwing in hand luggage for a weekend away, the TravelSound 400 offers decent, if not outstanding, quality audio in a hotel room, say. The Wide Stereo feature sounds good and a set of AAA batteries should last up to 35 hours. The speakers rotate into the case for protection on the move - handy if the recipient is clumsy.

  Rating: 70/100

  Price: £40

  Stockist: 0800 376 7954 - http://www.uk.europe.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Gear4 BassStation MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port. Line-in socket for other brands of player. Mains only power supply. Wireless remote control. Subwoofer 15W. Dimensions: H7.0 x W17.0 x D6.5 inches

  Comments

  Ideal for someone who wants to shake the walls with bass, it's loud and powerful. Quite a design statement, too, though it may not suit all tastes. Good, not remarkable, value.

  Rating: 68/100

  Price: £100

  Stockist: 01494 436221 - http://www.gear4store.com

  GHI Test Report - November 2008

• 
  Review of Philips AJ300D MP3 Speakers

  Good Housekeeping Top Scorer

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket, line-in cable, mains power, 10min self-powered back-up, alarm clock function, FM radio with five presets, remote control

  Comments

  As well as letting you play tunes from an iPod or another MP3 player, this versatile speaker system also features an FM radio with five station presets and an alarm clock. Audio quality is great with a smooth sound and plenty of bass. There are track controls on the unit itself and a remote control is included.

  Rating: 83/100

  Price: £69.99

  Stockist: 0906 1010 016 - http://www.philips.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of PowerTraveller Sound Traveller MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket, line-in cable, 1 x AA battery power, USB, carry case

  Comments

  Overall sound quality is passable given how small this unit is but you'd be better off listening to music using headphones. No bass to speak of.

  Rating: 30/100

  Price: £45

  Stockist: 01420 542980 - http://www.powertraveller.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of JVC RAP10 MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket, mains power, 6 x AA mattery power, FM radio, alarm clock, remote control

  Comments

  Not a bad radio/alarm but not a great music player. Very poor performance with bass-heavy music.

  Rating: 46/100

  Price: £69.95

  Stockist: 0870 330 5000 - http://www.jvc.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of Logitech Audio Station Express MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket, line-in cable, mains power, 6 x AA battery power, video-out, carry case

  Comments

  Average to poor overall sound quality and lacks any real bass. For use as a travel unit only. Video-out socket means you can view pictures and video clips stored on your iPod on a TV.

  Rating: 49/100

  Price: £79.99

  Stockist: 01753 870900 - http://www.logitech.com

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of Altec Lansing In Motion iM3 MP3 speakers

  Features

  iPod docking port, line-in socket, line-in cable, mains power, carry case, folding design for compact storage

  Comments

  Compact, portable speaker system with good overall sound quality that is acceptable for speakers of this size. Audio distorts at higher volumes.

  Rating: 57/100

  Price: £80

  Stockist: 0870 458 0011 - http://www.alteclansing.co.uk

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of Creative Travel Dock 900 MP3 speaker

  Features

  Line-in socket, (mains adaptor sold separately), 4 x AA battery power, USB for iPod Shuffle

  Comments

  The best of the smaller speaker systems we tested, with impressive treble and bass for a unit this size. It's a great choice for travellers as it can be powered from the mains (the adaptor is sold separately) or from four AA batteries. Its compact, clamshell design means it can be folded shut when not in use.

  Rating: 65/100

  Price: £49.99

  Stockist: 003531 806 6790 - http://www.europe.creative.com

  GHI Test Report - December 2007

• 
  Review of JBL Spyro MP3 speakers

  Features

  Line-in socket, line-in cable, mains power, touch-sensitive volume controls, subwoofer plus two satellite speakers

  Comments

  You'll either love or hate the slightly girly styling but great sound quality given the size of the speakers and achieved high volumes with very little distortion. Satellite speakers can be moved around to get the best stereo effect.

  Rating: 65/100

  Price: £89.95

  Stockist: 08456 049 049 - http://www.johnlewis.com

  GHI Test Report - December 2007