Customer Reviews

Altec Lansing Oribit-m Portable Speaker for iPod

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Love this. Very loud and clear. Not much bass, but more than pocket radios by quite a bit...helps voice and music out a lot. As another reviewer mentioned, the twist-switch was very hard at first. I found a way to pop the speaker ring off and wax the inside track lightly. It's flawless now! They need to put a tiny finger-rub of wax or silicone grease in the ring. Try at your own risk. Anyway, it's perfect for giving your PC and pocket radios, mp3 players, etc. table-radio volume and clarity. I love having a digital amplifier, the long battery life. Brilliant. Please guys, touch up your twist-ring switch. This is a fantastic product and I don't want to see it cancelled due to returns.

I bought this speaker and was duly impressed with the sound. I used it to attach to my scooter so I could listen to music while riding, and it was very clear and had great sound. However, I was disappointed in the 'twist' that has to be done to turn it off and on. It wouldn't be such a big deal, except that the twist is difficult and not easily done. In addition, sometimes when I twisted, it would take the battery cover off instead. Anyway, this speaker would be great *IF* it had a rocker switch or some other way to turn it off and on.

I purchased the Altec Lansing Oribit-m Portable Speaker a month ago and have used it about 10 times. Over the course of the last 2 years, I have also purchased several other small speakers of various prices, qualities and features. I can honestly say that for the small size, light weight, circular shape, and reasonable price, the Oribit speaker has very good sound quality. There are other speakers on the market with superior sound, but also come with a higher price. The Oribit's small size makes it a nice, versatile speaker. The attached male plug and wire pull out of an indentation in the speaker and extend about 10 inches to attach to the music player. Three AAA batteries are easily inserted into the bottom of the speaker under the twist off cover. I don't have any idea of the length of their life, however I haven't had to change them yet. I have one major complaint with the speaker. There is no on/off switch. The speaker is turned off by twisting the top and bottom in opposite directions like you would to remove or tighten a jar lid. It's just a small twist, however it is a very tight, and at times, difficult maneuver. Once I had to don rubber gloves to get a better grip. I then twisted the speaker on and off several times which temporarily, and I mean temporarily freed up the switch. It is currently back to it's original tight fit, making it very difficult to turn. My wife finds it impossible to turn with her bare hands. I noticed that another person also criticized operation of the on/off switch. Altec Lansing definitely needs to address this issue, or begin packing rubber gloves with the speaker. Again, I am very satisfied with the sound quality of this compact, little speaker. However, unless the difficulty associated with the operation of the on/off switch on my speaker is an aborration, Altec Lansing should expect numerous warranty returns. Jimmy Powell

I have owned a couple of Altec Lansing book sized portable speakers and three or four other types. Before the orbit, my preferred travel speaker was from Monster and about the area of a CD jewel box only 1.5 inches thick.

This easily has the best sound and is the smallest and lightest. It has become a staple when I travel -- even on this summers bicycle tour where every ounce counted. This is because there is only one speaker (and one magnet) and it takes 3 AAA batteries instead of the usual 4 AA

As the others have pointed out, the on/off mechanism truly sucks. Mine started off OK but now takes quite a bit of muscle power to turn on and off. If I were re-designing it I would also put a discrete power LED somewhere -- I have drained lots of batteries thinking I had turned it off but in fact had not.

Knowing the anatomy of the switch ring improves its function. (It is poorly designed junk.)

The ring is too flexible. Its inward side is comprised of 3 catches and a tongue at the on/off mark "OOM"). The harder the ring is squeezed, the more binding occurs and one or all these spots. Hold the base and ring more loosely and realize you are wanting to click the switch with a 2 degree turn (not a big twist).

Better yet is to disengage the ring. Using a fingernail or two opposite the OOM, pop the ring up and off the body, realizing that prior to removing the ring you will slide the tongue out at the OOM.

I found that sanding the rough edges off the tongue helped as did a light coat of Vaseline around the inner edge of the ring. When "turning" the ring avoid putting pressure directly over any of the 3 catches (where the ring must slide against the body).

This product is most difficult to turn on and off with a rotating top that is so binding it is driving me to find another speaker. Good concept but horrible execution.