Portable media players have stormed the developed world, and they are now one of the most commonly discovered electronic items found on passers by - besides mobile phones. This is good news for pick-pocketers who I'm sure have benefitted from the increase in non internet connected devices they can steal without consequence, but is it right to carry them round all the time, or is there a stationary way to use them? And what if that stationary element could become portable if required?
...well that's where this product comes in, the 'Alba IM8' - a much loved addition to the Ipod docking world which brings great sound quality along side multi-connectability and a portable element, with a digestable price tag suited to the wider consumer (not literally wider).

The quality of sound with this device is ear numbingly sufficient. You get a real taste of each songs recorded depth, the belowing bass and pearcing treble - both mixing consistently to create a musical atmosphere even the artists would generally accept (especially considering the circumstances of the device - portability). There are two speakers of equal build, and build quality. Made from a tough plastic and constructed to vibrate like full size speakers, these 1 watt RMS designs are reliable and require minimum energy to operate.

The foldability factor comes into effect for storage and transportation reasons. Each speaker is folded into the centre where the Ipod sits (the MP3 player has to be removed first of course). The hinges of the speakers work smoothly to fold together, but whilst open they stay rigid and resistent to minor movement. I like the addition of this to the product, folding them together prevents damage when carrying them about and means they more than half their total area to fit neatly into ruck sacks, hand bags and string bags - amongst every other form of bag actually!

*I should also add, the MP3 player is connected via a normal 3mm jack to the head phone socket of the player - it doesn't really dock into a connecter within the plastic housing of the Alba IM8... but this means any MP3 can connect!

These can be powered from either a USB cable extruding from the rear, or 4 x AAA batteries which can be purchased from most general retailers (...and there's always rechargable units to consider). The batteries seem to offer the same level of power to the product as with the USB connector which is good, and they don't need replacing too often, as long as you don't have the device on full power all the time.

I recommend this product for camping environments, car journeys if the car players broken, picnics and other outdoor events preferrably involving the drinking of beer by a barbaque on a hot summers afternoon. They are not water resistent in the slightest but seem to have a good level of resistence to the world around them, unlike some other electronic gizmo's - I'd even go as far to say the Ipod would have a lesser chance of survival in the same situations as these speakers!