 |
Logitech S715i Rechargeable Speaker
by Anewfoundglory82
Last year I was looking for a portable speaker for my iPhone -- something that could be taken away from the plug socket and used anywhere (such as in the garden, around the house etc). When I found this Logitech speaker on sale at my local Comet, after reading a few online reviews, I bought it (think it was £70).
-- The ... Hardware and Design --
I really like the style of the speaker -- it's got a nice sleekness to it, and it leans back slightly so the audio is aimed up at your ears if it's on the ground and you're sitting near it, or it's on the desk and you're sitting on a chair at the computer etc. It looks stylish in my opinion, and feels very robust. The stand that allows it to lean actually folds forward and clips down over the iDock connector, so it can be carried around easily and is quite light, although very solid-feeling for its price. Overall I am very impressed with the design and feel/quality of the speaker.
There is a large rubber 'plug' at the back of the speaker, which you pull out to reveal the power input and also a line in, for connecting things that aren't compatible with the dock connector on top (e.g. computer, iPad, other MP3 player, TV -- anything really!)
The buttons on the front of the device work well and are self-explanatory -- just a power on/off button, and volume up and down switches. They make a satisfying 'click' when pressed.
-- The Audio Quality --
The main reason I bought this speaker and not something even smaller (and why I checked reviews online first) was because of its audio quality/power. As you can see from the picture, this thing packs a total of 6 speakers into its tiny frame, mildly concealed by the black metal grill on the front. This baby has got all of your frequency range covered -- deep, punchy bass that totally belies the size of the unit; pleasant mid tones that are clear and well-balanced; and crisp highs that are not too harsh. I was very impressed when I started listening to the sound coming from this compact device.
Even though the speakers are packed quite closely together, system unit does well at creating a good stereo image, although due to them being inside one unit, you'll have to be sitting directly in front of the speakers if you want to get the full stereo effect to your ears.. This is where separate speakers are better, because they can be positioned either side of, say, your computer monitor and deliver a wide stereo image. But that's not what this speaker is designed for, so to mark it down in this regard would be unfair.
The sheer power and quality of the sound this dock produces, is very impressive -- and even when running off the rechargeable battery, only the volume suffers slightly and a tiny bit of the bass is removed. The speaker still goes pretty loud, but on the mains, this thing can fill a large room, so might be suitable for small parties etc if you just want to make playlists on your iPod and shove it in the dock all night. The speaker will recharge your iPod/phone at the same time (when connected to the mains) so you don't have to worry about running out of battery juice, either.
-- The Remote --
Included is a small remote control, with soft buttons for skipping forward/back through tracks and changing the volume up/down. There is also a pause/play button and two buttons for toggling repeat modes etc. At the bottom of the remote is a power button, so if your iDevice is docked in the speaker, you can start/stop music and skip tracks/change volume from across the room, which is very handy.
-- In summary --
The compact size, freedom of movement/portability and sleek design, coupled with the actual audio quality and power, make this speaker dock a very solid purchase. In addition, the ability to connect anything via the Line In on the back, means you are not excluded from the fun by not owning an iDevice. All in all, a great-sounding speaker for a reasonable price, with sound and power that is uncommon at this size/price-point.
Please note: this speaker is not 'wireless' as in bluetooth. It is wireless in regards to being portable (it has a rechargeable battery inside so does not need to be plugged into the wall at all times) but the iPod/phone/device still needs to be connected to the dock for the audio to be heard. A new version of this speaker is now available which is truly wireless, and it has an extra light on the front, showing when a device is connected via bluetooth, for a genuine, totally wireless experience.
Read the complete review |
 |
Logitech S-220
by kylemonahan
A short time ago, my parents asked me to see if I could find a set of speakers for their desktop PC at home.
Their requirements were simple: Firstly, they had to be reasonably priced - that the various 5.1 surround systems were beyond the budget. So it looked like it would be a 2.1 setup. Secondly, they wanted controls for ... the speakers which were close-to-hand - so the system would need a controlling device of some kind. Thirdly, it needed an earphone dock so that earphones could be plugged in as and when they were needed.
After a short-search, I stumbled upon this little Logitech system. It ticked all the boxes and it was generally getting good reviews. Plus, the design was sleak and would look well with the other computer equipment that was currently being used by my parents.
I took the plunge and gambled on this little system. I've been a user of Logitech products for a considerable period of time and knew that I couldn't go far wrong with this brand.
So, the package arrived and they were unboxed and installed without much trouble. In this package, you'll find a sub-woofer, two speakers and a control pod. Thankfully, most audio leads nowadays are colour coded (as are the ports/jacks on most computers) - which means that even the most technologically inept could set up these speakers without much of a problem!
The sub-woofer is adequately sized and can be tucked underneath a desk or behind a monitor with ease and shouldn't be too much of an eyesore. The two speakers are nicely sized, and have a reasonably small footprint, which means that they won't take over what little desk space you might have. The control pod is quite small also but can be easily controlled by hand. The only small gripe I had when setting up the speakers was the shortness of the leads which link the speakers to the main sub-woofer. While I managed to position the speakers either side of the monitor, by the time I had finished, there wasn't much length left in the leads and someone with a large monitor might struggle a bit more.
Aesthetically, the system looks the part and although the speakers are lightweight, they do seem to be built very well. The piano black finish on the speakers and the control pod is a great little touch and gives the appearance of quality. (However, it can also be something of a fingerprint and dust magnet!)
So, onto their use. I have to so that I was suitably impressed when I tried them out for the first time. While they're not exactly a BOSE or Bang & Olufsen level of quality, they are very impressive when you consider that they only cost around £15! The sound is clear and there is an ample amount of sound - in fact, you'll probably never have to turn the volume up to max as these little speakers make a great deal of noise.
The little control pod is a great little feature. As well as allowing you to control the volume, the pod also features a little on/off switch which allows you to turn the entire speaker system off when not in use. It is also handy as it means you don't have to go hunting for the on/off switch at the back of the sub-woofer. An orange LED indicates whether the system is on or not. The volume is controlled by a wheel mechanism on the top of pod - this is a great little feature as it allows your hand to gently and smoothly find the correct volume. The pod also sports headphone and microphone jacks - which allow headphones to be easily connected to the system (again, without the hassle of having to plug them into the back of the sub-woofer).
Overall, these speakers are a bargain for the price you pay and certainly deliver a great sound. If you're musically-savvy and can hear every little hiss and crack, then yeah, maybe they aren't going to be perfect for you - but if you're like the majority of users who just want to hear sound, they are all that you'll need.
Read the complete review |
 |
Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere
by julwhite
This review is of the Logitech Pure-Fi Anytime MP3 speaker docks.
This device allows you to put your iPod straight into the docking station and then be able to listen to music through the speakers around the house. As the unit also has a battery facility, you can take the speakers out and use them without being connected to ... the mains. The speakers are light-weight and easily transportable, and although I've only used them with an iPod, the instructions show how to connect any compatible device via the 3.5mm jack lead.
The unit is powered by an AC power supply, but there is also a rechargeable battery which charges when connected to the power supply. I found that this can last several hours without needed to be charged again, which I thought was a reasonable period.
The sound quality is satisfactory, although this is all that I needed it to be. The quality of the music seems to deteriorate quite quickly when the volume increases, but unless precise sound quality is important, I suspect for most people this wouldn't be a problem.
A remote control is also provided with the unit to allow users to change the song without being near the docking station. Although I didn't use this much, it was a useful addition feature to have available. There is also a travel case provided when travelling with the product, useful for holidays for example.
I won this unit over three years ago but noted that it cost around 80 pounds at the time. They are available new for around 50 to 60 pounds today, although can be picked up second-hand for around 10 to 25 pounds at the time of writing on sites such as eBay.
Overall, I have been satisfied with the quality of these speakers, they've seemed robust and have continued to work without problems for around three years. Although the sound quality isn't the highest, I've found it more than adequate, as so would recommend these speakers for those that can find them for a reasonable price.
Read the complete review |
