Audio Source DB5 Portable Powered Speaker System

Other products by AudioSource

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7 x 4 inches ; 4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000ESLD2M
• Item model number: DB5
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 1, 2006

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
Listen to all your favorite songs in the garage, on the back patio, or while lounging in the tub with the AudioSource DB5 portable powered speaker system. Compatible with any MP3 player, iPod, laptop, or personal CD player with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, the DB5 speaker system is compact and efficient, with an integrated folding case that measures a mere 6.39 by 1.88 by 2.88 inches (W x H x D) when closed. More importantly, the system's pair of 1-inch aluminum cone drivers deliver elegant, crisp sound that extends from 60 Hz to 33 kHz, an impressive frequency range considering the DB5's small size.

Other details include magnetic shielding, which lets you place the DB5 near a TV or video monitor without distorting the picture; a 40-inch USB cable that lets you power the system through your computer's USB port; a 40-inch input extension cable; and a 3D surround function that creates a spacious sound stage. The DB5, which offers 7 watts of total power (3.5 watts x 2), also runs on four AA batteries (not included) and is backed by a one-year warranty.

What's in the Box
DB5 portable speaker system, 40-inch USB cable, 40-inch audio cable, user's manual.

Product Description

Supports any MP3 player with headphone output

Speakers are self contained in a folding case

Features 25mm aluminum cone speakers with butyl rubber surround

3.5MM stereo phone plug (supplied) allows direct connection to laptop or desktop computer

Includes USB power cable

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars as described, April 10, 2007

By	Catherine Michael "catherinemichael" (Sacramento CA USA) - See all my reviews

I got these because my old IBM ThinkPad laptop has "speakers" that can't really be heard unless you're hovering right over them, and I'm not a headphone fan (besides, there's nobody to disturb), and the quality of those built in speakers is worse than tinny. When I listen to streaming video from certain web sites, I want to park the laptop away from me and do something else. Hence the search for external but portable speakers.

These do indeed come in a neat storage box that everything fits into without you being a puzzle master. Hookup is a no-brainer, and for the size, the sound is amazing. I even tried them with a classical music CD, and they are fine. The "3D" feature makes them sound like much bigger speakers.

The supplied USB power cable is nice, with an attached protective cap for the USB end.

The controls are simple and having it wake up with low volume is good design.

They're exactly as described in the specs and the preceding reviews. All I could offer is a wish list: The storage box is not something you'd carry around, so I'll probably manufacture a simple carrying bag. If you were going to use it with a portable player, you wouldn't even need to pack the input extension & power cables, just the little dog-bone shaped device itself with the short input cable tucked neatly inside.

The speaker part does tend to drop kerclunk! on the base when you unfold it until you know it's going to do that. I also noted that if you don't have the little inplut cable carefully tucked into the base, the speaker part leaves a dent in the cable, which would be wearing after a while, and the input cable is hardwired into speaker case, so difficult to repair/replace.

Also, I wish there were another power input cable besides the USB cable, so you wouldn't have to use batteries with devices like portable CD players.

But I'm very pleased with this purchase.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good sound and volume for the money, April 16, 2007

By	Midwest Master Gardener - See all my reviews

I agree with all the positive reviews of this product. I just got mine today, stuck all the batteries in it, hooked it up to my CD Walkman, and cranked it. It didn't seem to be too loud, until I cranked the volume on the Walkman. :) THEN it got loud! The sound quality isn't as good as, say, a decent boombox, but it IS better than a comparably priced boombox, so it is good value for the money.

The dimensions listed above are the shipping dimensions for the box the speakers come in (a very nice box, too). The dimensions of the speaker unit itself (closed) is 6 in long, 2.75 in wide, and 1.75 in high. Opened up, The height is 3.75 in. Weight with batteries is just under a pound. So it's pretty small and light!

One note - the manual says that it can take a DC power source, but it doesn't say what voltage. I called Audiosource and talked to Matt in tech support - he said that it would need a DC source of 6-8V (the more the better) and that you can get a converter at any electronics store.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive, April 12, 2007

By	Blake Corbitt (Maui, HI, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thought I would try these because all of the reviews were positive and the price was cheap enough to gamble. I have to admit the "unit" is smaller than I expected, but I actually think this is a bonus, as I bought them to basically be travel speakers. The packaging is great (over the top really, but I'm not complaining) and they(/it) came with a USB power cable. The 3.5mm plug is built in, short, but more than fine for any portable music player. Like the other reviewer, I bought from the cheaper vendor with cheaper shipping and I got them in 2 days (ordered 9th arrived 11th). Sound is clear and solid. I don't think it will wake the neighbors, but I think it will be plenty loud as music for a small gathering (campfire, hotel room, etc). I've just received them, so this is an initial review, but from what I see I think it was a great purchase and wouldn't be surprised to see more quality products from Audio Source in the future.