Altec Lansing IMX2 Laptop Portable Audio

• Product Type - Speaker
• Localization - English
• System Components - 1 Piece System
• Response Bandwidth - N/A

I only rate this as a 3 star purchase because you cannot tell until you get it out of the box that for home/inside use you must use an antenna adapter -that plugs into the side of the XM2GO.

So unlike the factory supplied docking cradle -you cannot just plug the XM2GO in and listen. It requires an (unsightly) extension cord to hook up the antenna.

Once attached the sound is ok though for the price I really think I'd consider playing the XM2GO through a stereo rather than purchasing this device.

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This review is based on the current cost of this unit, which is less than one fifth of the original price.

I do not use this with an XM receiver, I simply use it with a normal mp3 player, so I can not comment on any additional functionality it may have with the receiver (though, by appearance, it seems it does nothing other than have a spot for the antenna to go. It comes with an auxiliary input on the back, and a rather awkward ~4" cable. My mp3 player (a Sandisk Sansa e280) does not really fit in the dock in any manner; ah, the cost of being cheap!

The sound? Well, it isn't impressive, but it isn't going to make anyone retch, either. I'm picky about audio, and could describe in fifty ways how it doesn't sound very good, but, in all honesty, it is no better or worse than the majority of other similar sound docks, the majority of which cost far more.

The unit looks pretty good, just as it does in the photos. Much of it is hard plastic (which resonates and does hurt sound quality), even the speaker grille is thick, hard plastic(a rather questionable build decision, likely decided upon purely from a cost standpoint), though the upper surface where the volume control is a nice soft rubber. The +/volume control is handled by buttons under soft rubber. There's only a bit of tactile feedback, and the volume jump each time you press the button is too large, for fine control I need to change the volume on the mp3 player itself. All in all, I couldn't expect much better out of something that costs so little.

The biggest strength of this unit is that it runs off of 4 AA batteries, gets good battery life (~15 hours off of a set of alkalines), and can play loudly enough without distortion to attain normal listening levels in larger rooms.

If you're in the market for an iPod dock or something similar, and do not see a need for a remote control, clock, or other integration, this is definitely worthy of consideration. If you want real integration with your mp3 player, this is obviously not such a good choice, it's merely a battery powered portable speaker.

If you're looking for a unit that actually sounds good, look away from the plastic sound docks, and take a look at something like the Kloss Model 1.

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This device solved my problem of listening to my XM2Go away from the home base...when a whole group of people wanted to hear the music. The speaker is providing great sound with good

amplification. The unit also recharges the XM2Go. The instructions were easy to follow.

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I was not going to renew my XM2GO when I came across the portable audio player. Just using batteries for power and the built in antenna, The Altec unit plays and sounds great outside. Just sitting in the shade or splashing in the pool my XM2Go has a new lease on life.

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I couldn't have been happier with this purchase. It was everything I hoped for. For the money, you couldn't find more clarity in sound. It is definitely worth buying. I use it when I'm camping and have no access to television. I am able to hear the news and music without turning on a television. Who needs a picture anyway.