Altec Lansing InMotion 9 review

Just as inkjet manufacturers have a tendency to oversaturate prints at default settings, so iPod speaker manufacturers have a habit of over-egging the bass on their products.

And this is certainly the case with the otherwise excellent Altec Lansing InMotion 9.

The bass emanating from these speakers is so powerful, it will have you looking around under your desk for an external sub-woofer. Unfortunately, the above-average thuddery isn't matched by an equivalent attention to the mid-range or treble. Both are lacking, and the result is a rather thick, almost mushy sound at all volume levels. There's also an audible click about a second after you press play or pause on the iPod, something that we wouldn't expect in speakers at this price point. That, together with the fact that there are no bass or treble controls means that if you're fussy about the quality of your audio, you may want to think twice about buying them.

That's a great shame, because everything else about the IM9 is lovely, from the reassuringly weighty case to the rubberised surround and, best of all, the wonderful geared eject mechanism. The eject button is necessary because, unlike most speaker systems, your iPod is completely enclosed in the system. To that end, the IM9 comes with a set of adaptors to enable you to use pretty much any iPod, including the nano. You can even get a 'shuttle' adaptor for a shuffle, though you'll have to buy that separately.

The case is similar in size to a large hardback book such as a Collins Dictionary or Roget's Thesaurus, but is considerably heavier. On top are four rubberised buttons: power, eject, volume up and volume down. At the back are a pull-out stand, and, hidden behind a rubber flap, sockets for headphones, composite video out, a Dock connector, and a 3.5mm auxiliary input. There's also a 17V DC in socket. The Dock connector allows you to sync your iPod when it's connected to your Mac.

As you would expect, the IM9 charges your iPod when it's plugged into the mains. There's also a battery compartment for four C batteries, making it ideal for barbecues or picnics. If you do take it to the beach or the park, the mini-rucksack, which is included, will come in handy. It's a stylish bag made especially for the IM9 that will protect it and keep it dry when you're on the move.

We do have some reservations about the audio quality of the IM9. It's not as good as we would like, and is definitely soft in the mid-range and treble frequencies. It has to be said, though, if your preference is for music of the floor-shaking variety, you're not going to be disappointed. Despite this, we like the IM9 very much. It's extremely well made, the method of enclosing the iPod is neat and well implemented, and the ability to dock your iPod while it's in situ is a definite plus.

If you're happy to accept less-than-pristine sound - and, to be honest, you're going to have to if you want a set of dedicated iPod speakers - the IM9 can be highly recommended.