Logitech mm22 review

In this month's Labs on page 195, we review 18 sets of speakers that are suitable for a PC or portable audio device. However, if you've got an iPod, there are many amplified speaker docks around that offer you a little more.

Logitech's mm22 is an inexpensive dock. It's supplied with an AC adaptor and can also run from four AAA batteries. It's marketed for use with an iPod but connects to the headphone socket using a standard 3.5mm stereo cable, so you could use it with any player. In fact, there's little to distinguish the mm22 from a standard pair of portable speakers, other than its cradle that holds any iPod.

Sound from the four 1" drivers is adequate, but there isn't much bass or volume. If you need a set of portable speakers and aren't bothered about looks, we'd recommend the Cyber Acoustics CA-MP30 speakers.

The other two products reviewed here use a line-out audio signal from the iPod's dock interface. Logitech's mm50 has a socket for Apple's data cable, so you can use it to synchronise your iPod.

Altec Lansing's iM7 speaker set has S-video and composite outputs, which enable you to display photos or video from a newer iPod on your TV, but it doesn't have a data port. This seems like an oversight, but then the Bose SoundDock we reviewed in What's New, Shopper October 2005 doesn't have one either. The iM7 doesn't sound as good as the SoundDock, but it's £70 cheaper and can run from D-cell batteries. It looks great, but it's a bit big and heavy to carry around.

The mm50, however, is compact enough to transport in its supplied semi-rigid case and has an internal battery that Logitech says will last for seven hours. Although it's a little quiet, the mm50 has a nice sound. If you don't need portability, though, we'd suggest you opt for one of the desktop speaker sets in our Labs test instead. Still, this is easily the best value speaker dock we've reviewed.

Author: Simon Handby