Customer Reviews

PSP Theater Experience

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was wary after reading some of the reviews on Amazon, but I went ahead with the Nyko product and was extremely pleased with the results. I read about the "humming" problem and determined the cause. The humming problem is not really a problem with the unit. If the amp is off, there is no humming. If you turn it on while the PSP is putting out audio, it does not hum. However, if the PSP is running and not putting out any audio and the amp is on, there is some electronic static that gets sent from the PSP to the speakers which creates a resonating humming sound (that is not very loud at all). The easy way to solve this is to simply switch off the amp when the PSP is not outputting any audio.

I tried plugging in a pair of Sony laptop powered speakers into the PSP and experienced the same humming, so this seems to be a function of the PSP and NOT the Nyko product.

So functionally, there is no humming problem. If you are doing non-audio-related tasks, then just turn off the amp (which you should do anyway to save batter life).

Now on to the rest of the review:

I primarily use the PSP as a portable media system to watch movies and TV. This product couldn't be better suited to that use. This unit solves many of the PSP's issues, including giving it a great stand for easy viewing, increasing its battery life significantly, expanding the headset jacks to two, and amplifying the audio enough so that it can be easily heard in a room. The case is also shaped so that it very easy to pack in a suitcase or laptop case.

As for drawbacks, the power the switch is a little hard to flip while the PSP is mounted (but not impossible by any means) and the top of the case needs to stay in the fully opened position to not partially block the screen, but these are very, very minor issues.

Overall, I fell like I got a lot for my money out of this product, and I couldn't be happier with it.

I don't normally write reviews for stuff on here.

After all the complaints that this had, I was VERY hesitant to drop 75 bucks to get it. Am I glad I did.

To start off--the case rocks. I pulled this thing out at work to listen to music and people stopped to see the new stereo. It doesn't allow for any other storage, and it IS very big (weighs about 2 pounds) but it just looks real cool.

At it's highest setting I could clearly hear a movie on the other side of my house. With the included cord I attached it to play games and they sounded clear as day. No buzzing, no audible issues whatsoever.

The only real issue I have is that it's hard to get to the power button, pretty much requiring you to detach it to turn it off.

If you're looking for speakers to watch movies or listen to music--get this with confidence. For games, it still sounds cool--but it kind of defeats the "portable" point by being so large.

When i opened the box i thought i was in for a great surprise until i turned it on, the speakers are alway giving a constant humming noise that the only way to drown it out is to put it on full volume. other then that it's pretty cool and it gives alot of battery life n protects and supports the psp very well.

This is an example of a great idea ruined by poor execution. The NYKO Theater Experience had everything I was looking for: a case that doubles as a stand, extra battery life, and more powerful speakers. The worst flaw is the horrible sound quality. I'm not some picky audiophile who finds fault with everything; I would have accepted average sound quality but this is so bad it was unlistenable. The static produced by the speakers is constant. There is no gradual increase in volume, it is too low until you max out the volume (where it take a huge jump). The static is even present when using headphones. The inside of the case feels cheap (I had to bend the plastic a little to get my PSP to lock into place). The fact that you have to remove the wrist strap is a huge nuisance. Finally, the rubber pieces that cover the headphone and power connections will not stay closed. A unit with this price should have had small doors.

If you want a case that sounds horrible, doesn't fit quite right, and has loose rubber pieces hanging off the front; buy this. I just returned mine, save yourself the trouble.

I LOVE this product! I have the later version, so I have none of the sound issues on which other users commented, I love being able to recharge my PSP from the battery in the case, recharge the case battery separately, or charge both at the same time, and the sound quality is unbelievably dynamic for such a small package. The case is sturdy and offers excellent protection for the PSP unit and is quite well put together.

The ONLY complaint I have is that I cannot use my PSP's earbud remote with this product. It's the only reason I didn't offer up a full five stars, and the only thing keeping it from being ideal in my opinion.

As an aside, I even find it quite comfortable to hold in my lap to play games for lengthy periods of time despite its rather substantial weight, the angle of the PSP when in the case is not at all unwieldy. The power switch is a bit difficult to access, but other than that, this product is truly outstanding!

I bought this prodct mostly for its battery extending characteristics with only an after thought to the speakers. After opening the product I got my first taste of what was to come when I had to struggle to place the PSP onto the connectors. The second suprise came when I plugged it in to begin charging the battery. This incessant huming alarmed me! I thought that maybe after it was fully charged it might stop but no luck, it still hummed and purred like a ferocius robo cat.
There are some distinct advantages to this cat, however. The battery life of the unit is a great addition to the PSP's lack luster one and the metal case does provide good protection to the otherwise fragile PSP.
As long as you arent watching a silent film then the performance will be just fine but I would suggest skipping this product for a future release.

What a great product idea! Extended battery life, protective case, tilted viewing support, and bigger sound.

But like another reviewer, my unit has serious audio problems. When the PSP is off the speakers are automatically off. That is the only time they sound right. With my PSP on the speakers incessently emit a loud and very noticable whine. You can drown it out by turning up the PSP volume all the way, but that's it. Its always there, unless for some reason I toggle the screens backlighting on and off, in which case sometimes the whining stops for a while, and is replaced with a quieter level of static.

Without the whine and static the audio might have been ok, given the small speaker size, although the tiny speakers in my laptop sound better.

Another annoying issue is that the PSP tilting mechanism only has one good setting. Its not a bad angle, but there is no flexibility. If you want to tip it up less than that angle, the PSP immediately falls flat. If you try to tip it up more, it simply will not go any farther. I would have expected this feature to have been implemented a lot better for the price.

A minor usability irritation is the PSP power switch is difficult to use when in the case. The space designed to let you access it with your finger tip is too small.

My suggestion: wait until someone else comes out with a product like this, or Nyko creates a better version. This one shouldn't have shipped.

The initial versions of this speaker did whine and the case battery would drain down if left with the PSP plugged in. Nyko revised it in late 2005 and released a new version with better audio circuitry and a little switch on the bottom that will disconnect the internal battery for storage.

Get the newer version! The speaker performance is excellent and it makes a fantastic little package for use with Location Free TV or UMD movies.

The only "con" of this speaker is the price. Shop around, the price varies considerably depending on the store.

This is definatly the speaker set to buy to boost the sound of your PSP. It makes for a much better experience watching movies with other people than if you didn't have it. Though when I am watching a movie on it I don't hear any static sound or white noise in the background. I make sure that the PSP is completely on the plugs and I never hear anything. I've never had a problem putting my PSP in to it either. It go right on the plugs without problems and comes out easily. The two rubber 'doors' on the front don't pop open on mine. They stay closed. The only time that it does pop open is after I've had it charging when it's in that position for what is it, 12 hours to charge it? Eventually though it goes back in to place and closes nicely. Now with some movies the sound isn't always great. But I'm sure that is due to the volume on the UMD movie and not the speakers. Cause why would it be loud with one movie and not with another? For example I watched The Matrix on it and the sound was pretty low at times but then I watched The Day After Tomorrow and everything was nice and hearable. I bought mine at EB Games and I haven't had anything wrong with it. Now I wonder though, I saw an ad for it in a magazine and it shows a sub button or something under the left speaker. Perhaps there is a newer, better version out? But again if you want a nice speaker set for your PSP then this is the one to get.

And now I'm not review planter. I am just a normal customer who has been happy with the NYKO Theater Experience speaker set.

The Nyko Theater Experience does everything as advertised, but it doesn't do it all consistently well. While it certainly is a good source of auxiliary power there is an issue with its ease of use, and as a "theater experience" it is horribly flawed in the sound department.
While the following issue may seem minor, in practice it greatly compromises the Theater Experience's ease of use: if the wrist strap is attached to your PSP, the PSP will not sit snugly in its slot in the Theater Experience, nor will the case be able to close. When the PSP is not resting snugly, the buzzing sound emitted by the speakers is even worse than it already is (more on that later). Removing and replacing the wrist strap is not an easy affair. Try removing the wrist strap from your beloved PSP and see how much you curse in frustration. Personally, I like the extra insurance that the strap provides from accidental drops. But Nyko expects me go through the hassle of removing and replacing the strap every time I use the Theater Experience, even if it's just for recharging the PSP. What a pain.

As for the speakers, they do supply some amplified sound, but they also emit a constant buzzing, static-y, white noise. This white noise is even more apparent through the headphones, which was how I was planning to use the Theater Experience most of the time (on planes with a friend through the dual headphone jacks, for instance). It has been a disappointment to know that I spent $80 dollars for degraded sound quality.

The Theater Experience does a good job of propping up your PSP, and it is a good source of additional power, but there are other alternatives out there that will do the same with less hassle and less cost. And while the aluminum case will protect your PSP, it will not close until you first remove the wrist strap, which (trust me on this) is a HUGE ordeal every time you must do it. And unless you like to spend good money to downgrade the listening experience on your PSP, you will be extremely disappointed with the sound provided through the Theater Experience.