INSTEN Folding Stereo Speaker - Black

by Insten

Product Details

• Item Weight: 0.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000FDTNZK
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (201 customer reviews)

Product Description

Unique fold-up design offers protection and portability for your on the go music needs. Made to fit your Apple iPod Video Touch Classic and nano models. Also works with other MP3 players and CD players.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

175 of 178 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Gadget, September 13, 2006

By 

Clockspinner "Peter" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: INSTEN Folding Stereo Speaker - Black (Electronics)

OK, so you want to play your two hundred dollar iPod to someone on the move. These little speakers will surprise you, as you take them out of your pack, unfold the unique design, plug in your iPod (or whatever sound device, it has a standard mini-plug), and bang! you have a sound system. So, it doesn't rival the quality of my 34 speaker six amp system at home. But it is surprising how well these little guys do sound. A steal at six bucks. Everyone I've used them on has been very impressed. A plus is that they are amplified speakers, so you don't get the "barely there" sound of passive speakers out of an iPod. They run off a standard USB port for power, I use my iPod power adapter, which was a mistake, as I have to decide which batteries to run down if I use it for music at night (I sleep better with music playing). I would suggest going ahead and getting the inexpensive power adapter, that way you could keep the iPod charged even as you listened to powered speakers.

Most of the time, I use them at a friend's house, and depend on the four AAA batteries that will run this puppy for some time, even at louder volume levels.

True audiophiles may put these down, but for the average person who's best sound system is in thier car, they work great. I would give it five stars, except for the lack of bundling both the USB cord and power supply, and because it really will let you down for the low frequencies. It is not a true audiophile speaker system. It is, for the price, one of the best deals on external iPod speakers. (again, it will work with any device with a standard mini-jack, I only use iPod as a term for generic MP3/CD/DVD/Laptop etc.)

These probably are better speakers than are found in most laptop computers, so they are a good choice for that use as well. The cord is a bit short, even for an iPod, it just barely stretches out enough to get to the top of the iPod. This is because of the ingenious storage system: the cable wraps around the battery/amplifier case and locks in place with a small tab on the jack.

I've seen the same speakers in systems that cost five times what this one does, which was $5.88 plus tax and shipping, so it came to around ten bucks in the end.

What it isn't: A high end audio system.

What it is: An impressive device that is a great design for portable audio. Sounds bigger than it is, you probably won't have to turn it all the way up. Rugged enough to be tossed about in a backpack. (I do sometimes wish it weren't as chunky folded up, but this design easily protects the speakers. Too big to carry in a pocket, you'll need some kind of bag to carry these everywhere, like I do. You'll hear more on the standard iPod earbuds, but at least you can share your music, and most people I play it for couldn't tell a high end audio system from a tin can, so for the money, it's really all you need.

I also like this product because it's black instead of that nasty Apple White. My iPod and protective cover are also black, so it matched my system unlike the more accessible white unit (sold under a different name).

Bottom line: Great little speakers at a bargain basement price.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars amazingly good for the price, January 9, 2007

By 

J. Hancock "bonzaigraphics" (Dayton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: INSTEN Folding Stereo Speaker - Black (Electronics)

I wasn't expecting much, to be honest, but when I plugged this into my usb on my work computer and listened, the sound was very good. Admittedly I cannot crank it really loud at my desk, but for office use, I can hear it clearly and someone else over the cubicle wall does not hear it at all.
It folds up nicely and precisely, compact enough to fit in my lunchbox.

Now, the downside is that it doesn't come with an ac adapter, even though it needs one if you don't have a usb port handy. The BIGGEST annoyance though is that even though it says ipod nano, and its the right color, there's no way it was designed for it. In order to plug in your nano it has to sit upside down in a slot 4 times bigger than it needs to be...so in other words, your nano is very loose. For sitting on my work desk, its no biggie, but if you were thinking it was going to look like the cool ad for it, it won't.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing little speaker!, February 1, 2007

By 

S. A. Kane (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: INSTEN Folding Stereo Speaker - Black (Electronics)

You won't believe how much power this little plastic fold-up speaker has! I just purchased a second one for my office. My ipod has to sit in the holder upside down (because the cable has to connects at the top, not the bottom) but I love this little speaker. You can fold it up and drop it in your bag an take it anywhere.