I purchased this speaker system for my fiance for his birthday last year. We have a treadmill in the basement and when he works out he usually searches through his cds to find the perfect workout music. I wanted to buy him a set of speakers to work with his iPod that would be small enough for him to move up and down while providing great quality sound. I didn't really care about the price and if I thought the Bose would have provided the best sound, I would have purchased them despite their cost. After reading reviews and listening to several speakers in the store, I decided on the Altec Lansing im7 speakers.

Compatibility

This speaker set is compatible with any iPod. Most iPods (mini, nano, generation 4 and below, 30 gigabyte photo, video iPods) all dock right into the speakers either in the adjustable bracket or with the included adapter. My fiance has a 20 gigabyte 4th generation iPod and his fit nicely into the dock which charged it while it played. The included remote makes playing the audio very easy since the wheel would be awkward to use while the ipod is in the bracket. Other iPods such as my 60 gigabyte photo iPod are a little too big for the bracket and hook up with an included male-to-male audio cable. The only down side to this is that it runs the battery down if you don't plug the ipod into an outlet. Since my fiance's iPod was supported, this didn't matter so much to me. I was happy that it did support any ipod though, one way or another.

Sound Quality

The sound quality is absolutely amazing on this little speaker system. The bass sounds like it has a separate subwoofer. The sound is clear even at high volumes.This unit can get very loud, rivaling larger stereo systems in the house. We tried a little of every music when we first got it and everything sounded amazing. It was near Christmas time and we played Trans Siberian Orchestra as we decorated the tree and were amazed at how much it sounded like they were playing live. I had compared this and the Bose system side by side, and had liked the sound on this one better. I didn't realize exactly how great the quality was until I heard it home.

Power

This system runs on an AC adapter and also has a battery option. The batteries make it a bit heavy and your iPod won't charge when the unit is battery operated.

Size and Style

This was a perfect compact size for my fiance's mobility-oriented needs. It is relatively light (only a few pounds) and the remote tucks into a compartment in the back for easy movement without losing parts. The overall look is sleek and stylish. It was easy to find a place to keep it.

Price

I paid $249.99 at the time and it has since gone down in price to $199.99. It was more than worth the money. I would have purchased these speakers if they had been the same price as the Bose speakers. The quality was fantastic.

Recommended: Yes