Customer Reviews

Altec Lansing IMT320 inMotion Compact iPod Speaker System

5 star:		(173)
4 star:		(83)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(27)

 

 

Length:: 0:23 Mins

*My video is to show how compact the system is and how quickly it sets up. The sound on the video is not very good, please do not take it as an example of what you can expect from this system.

I currently have two docking systems in use in my home. The iLive IS208B Stereo Speaker System with iPod Dock and iHome iH64BA Multimedia Stereo Speakers wth Dock for iPod. Both offer decent sound, but neither are compatible with the iPhone for charging. So when I was given the opportunity to try out the iPhone compatible Altec Lansing IMT320 I was very excited to do so.

When it first arrived I was shocked at the size. Even though I had read the description, it didn't quite register until I had it in my hands. This was compact, extremely portable and nice looking to boot! The soft, yet rugged dual use cover folds over to protect the speakers during transit and folds under to act as a stand during play. I was anxious to try this out so I plugged it in using the AC adapter (4 AA Batteries can also be used on the go), dropped in my iPhone and turned it on. I wasn't prepared for what I heard next; quality, balanced sound. I raised up the volume and switched between Jazz, Pop, Rock and R&B. All of them sounded great and with no distortion. Had I not plugged it in myself I wouldn't have believed that the music was coming from such a small little system.

Overall I am very impressed. It's easy to set-up and use, with the function buttons on top consisting of On/Off and Volume Up and Down. Charging compatibility with the iPhone is a plus and a reasonable list price when compared to many others out there on the market. Add in the nice sound quality and portability and it makes it a very smart choice.

I bought this item after reading several positive reviews posted on this site. Having tried it out, I do agree with many of the positive comments, but also found a couple of negatives that turned out to be deal-breakers for me, and I have decided to return it. One of the negatives is specific to my particular listening preference and may not apply to other folks. I bought this unit to use with my iPod in the bedroom. I like to fall asleep listing to SOFT music, so good low-level volume control is important for me. Unfortunately this unit are not well matched to that need. It has very little sensitivity at low levels: with the volume set only a few steps above zero on the push-button control, the sound level is already getting rather loud. Worse, the unit does not "remember" the previous volume stetting when it is switched on, instead it automatically resets to a mid level (which is actually quite loud) - this is something one could live with, obviously, but for me it's just too irritating.

My other negative is a general concern about the durability of the vinyl cover, which has to be folded back to support the unit when it is in use. The idea behind the design is good, making it easy to transport with the cover in place. However, as a support it seems flimsy, and the quality of the vinyl may not be sufficient for long-term use, given that it has to be folded back on itself each time the unit is set up. Past experience of folding vinyl in other situations leads me to suspect that it will soon develop splits along the fold.

To summarize:
Positives: Decent sound quality for a small unit; highly portable; looks good; easy to use if you don't care about the volume issue noted above.
Negatives: Volume control does not remember previous setting when unit is switched on and lacks sensitivity at low levels; vinyl cover may not be very durable.

I'm going to discuss the Altec-Lansing's less important features before reviewing (the SOUND) the most compelling reason(the SOUND) to buy it (the SOUND). While I think the docking station could use about a $10 price reduction, this combination speaker system/charger is a winner.

Functions. So what IS a docking station? This one can charge a variety of Ipod and Iphone devices, and, more importantly, play music through the twin front-ported speakers. Supported Apple devices include (as listed on the package) the following Ipod brand MP3 players: The Touch, (generation 1 and 2), Nano (1-5), Classic, Ipod 5th generation (with video), and the iPod mini ,as well as the 3GS (16 and 32 GB), 3G (8 and 16 GB), and the Iphone (4, 8, and 16 GB) telephones.

Ease of Use and Portability. Very easy, a simple design attractively packaged, the T320 weighs about 3 pounds, and folds into the size of a small purse or portfolio. They really got the looks down. The semi-matte , slightly textured black vinyl cover is handsome and folds around the front to a latch on top. Fold this flap back and it serves as a horizontal base for the station. While in this position, a second fold can be bent back up towards the dock, providing further stability. While no one will mistake the cover for leather, it doesn't look like cheap vinyl either. (It may actually be cheap vinyl, but at least it doesn't look that way.)

The slot on the bottom of your iPod or iPhone fits onto a vertical tab residing in a shallow alcove between the two integrated speakers. There are only three controls: On/off, volume up, and volume down. Volume is controlled by buttons rather than dials (that keeps it sleeker), and the buttons are remarkably sensitive. You can easily control volume, with more precision than you'd expect. There's no volume indicator (not really a drawback), but the power cord is less than 6 feet long, another foot or two would have improved accessibility. It runs also on 4 AA batteries; Altec Lansing claims these will last up to 24 hours. I recommend getting rechargeables. Since the whole idea is to play sound in the open air, there's no headphone jack; besides, your iPod has one.

Telephone Features. I may be one of the few people around without a Cell Phone, so I'll just present this information without comment. According to the packaging, the T320 is "immune to mobile telephone interference, eliminating the need to switch to airplane mode." I don't know if this means you no longer have to catch a flight somewhere--perhaps someone can post a comment explaining this. However, it sure sounds good. Here's one I do get: Music playing on the T320 will pause when you receive a phone call. Nice!

SOUND. Really amazing considering the size! Two 50mm (2 inch) neodymium drivers power the speakers and you'll enjoy deep (but not muddy) lows, a full midrange, and a pleasing treble without the usual thin or tinny quality found in many comparable speaker sets. For being only inches apart, the speakers somehow impart a sense of stereo separation, particularly in the back to front dimension. Regrettably, there are no other specs, either on the package flaps (where set-up instructions are pictured, rather than written) or on the Altec Lansing web site: You'll have to write them if you really have a need to know.

Bottom line: I was very pleasant surprised by the full sound throughout the spectrum, with no discernable distortion, especially in the bass and treble. It will easily fill any room (or rooms) with sonic delight. If Mr. Altec or Ms. Lansing knocked a few dollars off the price, this would sell even faster, but without much competition (let me know if you have an alternative), I think it's worth it.

We are music junkies at our house and whenever we are home we are listening to our networked FLAC audio library on our Sonos in whichever room we are parked. Every room has ceiling speakers with the exception of our theater room which is a high quality audio system (McIntosh/B&W). After being in the habit of using our setup and being so happy with how everything works I was not sure this little Altec Lansing would be for me.
I was very skeptical and assumed I would not enjoy this little system, but I can honestly say it delivers surprising fidelity for the size and portability. It will NOT fill a large room with hi-fi sound but does provide nice background music for a bedroom or kitchen. There is no distortion at lower volumes and the sound is quite enjoyable. At higher volumes some music such as Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl will cause distortion so just remember if you want to enjoy the system it should be played at reasonable volumes and not pushed to "boom box" limits.
I did find the perfect use for the system which makes it a great addition to our lifestyle! We had the opportunity to bring it along on a Caribbean cruise and it was an excellent way to enjoy music in the stateroom using our iPhone. I tried using the AA battery option and it played for about 12 hours at a medium volume without running out of battery power so it could be a great setup to take camping too. I will use it for this purpose frequently in the future.

System Pluses:
-Works great with an iPhone and has plenty for room to leave your cover on when you attach set it on the dock. You will hear your iPhone ring when someone calls you.
-It is iPhone compatible so you won't hear any annoying clicks as it checks in with your cellular network. - It also won't ask you if you want to put the iPhone "in Airplane Mode" like some incompatible devices.
-The auxiliary plug works great to plug your laptop into for higher quality sound then most laptop speakers offer.
-Very compact and portable, about the size of a hard back book. Nice protection from the stand which folds over the front to protect the speakers during travel.

System Minuses:
-The price is a little high for what you get.
-It would be nice to have a remote control included but you will need to move up to the Altec Lansing iMT620 for that feature

I have been using this product (these speakers, docking station, ipod charger unit, all in 1!) for some time now and have not found one thing that I have disliked neither have I regretted my decision in any way.

Below I have listed my pros and cons:

Pros:
+ Very easy to use - only two buttons (power and volume.)
+ Compact and portable - perfect for traveling.
+ It comes with adapters for the Touch, Nano, and Classic models of the Ipod.
+ The Sound quality is absolutely amazing. Amazing range in music!
+ It charges your Ipod while it's playing.
+ If you have a Iphone, when you receive a incoming call it will pause your music and let you resume after the call is completed.
+ You can run it with batteries & take it anywhere or plug it in the wall!

Cons
- NONE!

This is the simply the best Ipod accessory that you can buy! I have previously owned Ipod speakers in the past that don't even come close to what these guys can do. If your looking for the perfect accessory for your Ipod don't look any further. It's here! I rally, REALLY like this unit!

I have been through many small speaker systems and when I got an iPhone, this seemed like it might work. The sound is remarkable for its size. I would put it on par with any laptop speaker system by Logitech, like the Logitech V20 Notebook Speakers (Black) which I admire. The sound is well balanced and clean with no distortion, even at the maximum volume. The bass is just right with `firing ports' under each speaker for great effect. I was very surprised to hear the quality for this size speaker. The front is covered with a metal mesh for optimum protection.

There are two small adapters for either your iPod or iPhone. Each sits snugly and plays just by tapping your iPhone/iPod or powering on with the buttons on top along with a volume control. Most people know that you get a better charge if you use a wall socket for recharging instead of your USB port on your computer. This dock charges directly from your wall socket for maximum charging. I set mine next to my land-line phone and my computer and there is no interference with sound or calls. The best feature is that when you get a call when it is docked, the music pauses automatically while you get your call, undocked or not. That is very cool. It also takes four AA batteries for when you don't have an electrical outlet, but the batteries go fast. You can also play another audio source using the auxiliary plug in the back. Just 2" thick (4" when set up), 5" high and 10" long, this compact `Stereo-on-the-go" can fit into a laptop case or a briefcase easily and it is very light.

For the current price, I'd have to say it's a bit on the high side, but the quality is certainly there and if you don't have a dock for charging, this is a great and permanent starter.

This little speaker dock is awesome. You actually open it up (a leather flap case that shuts nicely at the top) and use the flap to stand it up. Very clever. I've used my iPhone, and the sound is really, really good. The bass surprised me the most. Usually, with small speakers like this, you don't hear the bass at all, but I hear the lower end even when the iPhone's volume is only turned up halfway. Couple things to note on the "plus" side:

1) Very stylish design. It just feels "neat." You definitely don't look at it and think "well, that's kind of cheap, but it works." It's appearance gives it an immediate "quality" feel.
2) Sounds spectacular considering it's size. I mean, it's smaller than football, and yet it filled my entire living room and kitchen with clear music. Definitely a plus

"Negative" side:

I actually don't really see anything wrong with it (and that is not usually the case). For the price, you get more than you would expect. I'm very happy with it.

Well I agree with most of the reviewers - this speaker does sound great. However, heaven help you if it stops working. Altec have one of THE WORST customer support departments it have ever been my nail pulling torture to deal with. My speaker stopped working well inside warranty, and as requested by them I sent mine back for replacement....two months ago. No response to emails, a customer call number where call times are ALWATS over an hour, usually more than two - do you have time to stay on hold during the day for 90 minutes plus? No, I didn't think so.

I would strongly suggest you look elsewhere for speakers - these are great, but if you need manufacturers support, you are dead in the water. Sad really - a good product (till it broke) doomed by terrible support.

WOW! Great product for the cost! We have bought 4 different brands that either crap-out or sound like crap, Altec's CEO is not kidding when he says most people make a pretty box and fill it with whatever speaker they can find, and not to mention the internal amps in those crappy sets. These guys have nailed it! definately easy to use, and great to listen to. I am getting ready to a third unit now (yes we bought 2 already) and I am glad we did.
Thank you Altec Lancing!

I have had these speakers since January. They worked great till this week when they stopped turning on. For the last two weeks I have been having errors on my Ipod saying "Firewire not supported" causing issues with the Ipod. I have been able to clear the Ipod errors and still use the speakers until this week when the speakers simply stopped turning on. I have checked on apple forums and couple of people say that the error on the ipod was caused by using non-supported hardware. I loved the speaker until this week and even recommended to friends. They were great when they worked...