Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone (Black)

by Altec Lansing

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 3 x 8 inches ; 2.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0013N3T7O
• Item model number: iMT525
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (93 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description--Posted October 14, 2008

The Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker is designed to untether you from your cell phone, letting you take a call or listen to music in comfort. With Bluetooth support, the speaker doesn't require any cables, and setup is extremely easy. With this unique speaker by your side, you can listen to music or take a call with crystal-clear sound every time.

The Altec Lansing SoundBlade: uses Bluetooth for wireless stereo and doesn't require any cables; features custom-built drivers for a full-range sound; functions as a speakerphone thanks to the built-in echo-canceling microphone; and has a shielded design that prevents any buzz from the cell phone.

SRS TruBass technology provides satisfying bass despite the small size. View larger.

Big, Clean Sound from a Small, Svelte Body
Forget about clumsy headphones: The SoundBlade gives you big, full-bodied music in a conveniently diminutive package. Using two custom-built 2.5-inch full-range neodymium speakers enhanced with SRS TruBass technology, you'll get sound that's crystal-clear, with the perception of deep, rich bass. The shielded design means there won't be any speaker buzz from the cell phone.

And at just one-inch thick, you easily can bring the SoundBlade around with you and start an instant party wherever you are. When people finally figure out where the music is coming from, they'll wonder how the all that sound fits into such a small space.

No-Hassle Setup, Thanks to Bluetooth
The SoundBlade doesn't require any cables to connect to your phone; instead, it works wirelessly, making setup a snap. Just pair the phone and speaker together, and they connect automatically.

Please note that the SoundBlade's wireless feature requires mobile phones with A2DP Bluetooth technology. The A2DP protocol, or Stereo Bluetooth, allows for the wireless transmission of full-stereo sound.

Once paired, you can use your mobile phone like a remote control for the speaker, changing the volume and managing other functions. Conversely, the speaker also can be used to control the music functions on your phone. (The wireless control feature is compatible with phones using the AVRCP protocol.)

Built-in Microphone
The SoundBlade has a built-in echo-canceling microphone that transforms your phone into a crisp-sounding speakerphone. The microphone also is sensitive enough to allow you to use your phone's voice-activated dialing from up to several feet away.

The SoundBlade also has an auxiliary input that allows you to connect other MP3, CD, and DVD players. It runs on either six AA batteries or through a wall outlet via the included power adapter.

The Altec Lansing SoundBlade is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
SoundBlade speaker, power adapter, 3.5-mm male-to-male extension cable, nylon pouch, and user's manual.

You won't need cables with the SoundBlade--it can play music wirelessly from your cellphone.

Product Description

The Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker is designed to untether you from your cell phone, letting you take a call or listen to music in comfort. With Bluetooth support, the speaker doesn't require any cables, and setup is extremely easy. With this unique speaker by your side, you can listen to music or take a call with crystal-clear sound every time.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best in Niche, March 31, 2009

By 

D. Sauer "f2x" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone (Black) (Personal Computers)

What I was after:

- Amplified Loudspeaker
- Highly Compact & Portable
- Dual powered (battery & mains)
- Wired & Wireless connectivity

To sum it up: The whole point of a product like this is to get the best possible sound in the least possible space with the highest degree of flexibility.

The Altec Lansing SoundBlade was the best fit.

This speaker gets about as loud as the speaker gets on a typical television, so it can actually fill a room. Unfortunately, you cannot adjust the tone, as it tends to be a little too bass heavy. When you max out the volume of your source and on the speaker, distortion is quite noticeable. For the most part, listening to audio at reasonable levels actually produces a very clear and rich sound that suggests a sophisticated piece of hardware.

The Bluetooth connectivity may be tricky for people new to the technology, but once you understand the process of pairing it with your unit, it's a snap. With a clear line of site I've managed to move it a full twenty feet from my laptop before I experienced any dropouts with the device.

It's not just for iPods or Zunes. It's agnostic towards the brand of audio player you are using, so it can easily be used with any standard 1/8" audio output jack. Once the wired connection is made, the wireless functionality is automatically disabled. Your favorite MP3 player is going to sound great.


The estimated 24 hours of use for 6AA batteries seems about right. Having a built in charger might have made it seem more convenient, but when you value portability, replaceable batteries actually make more sense in the long run. Having the option to plug in the speaker to standard AC power makes for a nice backup plan too, and there's nothing that says you can't use your own rechargeables.

The thin, sleek design is a major plus. It's a flat, smooth rectangular unit. The glossy black finish allows the SoundBlade to easily slide into your laptop carrier, briefcase, or backpack. The built in kickstand latches securely in place during travel and provides exceptionally stable support on any flat surface when you take it out for use.

The price is a bit fierce, but I have yet to find anything else that meets or exceeds all of the above criteria

Bottom Line
-----------
Pros:
Good sound
Excellent portability

Cons:
Unable to adjust tone
Expensive

69 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, not great., May 13, 2008

By 

ctelder - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone (Black) (Personal Computers)

Over the past month I have owned/compared the Yamaha NX-B02, Parrot Party, and Altec Lansing Soundblade (Amazon's return policy makes it easy). The Soundblade is very good, but I thought the Parrot was the best (and kept it while returning the other 2). You can read my reviews for the other 2. For the Soundblade, it certainly was put together well with excellent features (speakerphone and can control the music player somewhat) and design. It played the loudest, but had the least impressive bass of the 3 and had the most distortion of the 3 in the upper frequencies. I realize that no speaker system this size will sound great, but the Parrot (using bluetooth) and the Yamaha (using line-in) sounded better. For moderate listening volumes, it certainly was adequate. I also felt like the Parrot was a little more portable for what I'm using it for (back deck and pool), although the Soundblade would probably be the best for travel (thin).

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really powerful speaker for its compact size, April 21, 2008

By 

Road Warrior Woman (Boston MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone (Black) (Personal Computers)

The SoundBlade looks pretty small but it sounds amazingly good. It folds flat so it's easy to tuck into a laptop bag. Connects wirelessly via stereo Bluetooth to your mobile phone or even to your laptop (with a dongle, if you don't have stereo Bluetooth built into your PC). Or you can just use a regular 3.5mm connector to connect to your laptop and forget the whole Bluetooth thing. Basically, it's a very good portable speaker.

In addition to being a music speaker, the SoundBlade also works as a speakerphone so you can link it to your mobile phone and take your calls out loud.

All in all, a very handy little piece of technology for the road.