xxskagirlxx's Full Review: Altec Lansing Inmotion-IM600 Docking Station
My husband and I were in the market for a bookshelf system so we could listen to our iPods in our living room. We wanted one that was sleek looking, provided decent sound, could fit in the bookshelf (15" across), and was compatible with both the iPod Video and iPod Touch.
Upon preliminary research, I found that Altec Lansing inMotion Docking Station was one of the highest rated units out there (well, aside from Bose, but we didn't have $250-$300 to drop). Combing through reviews on Amazon.com, I read nothing but good things, except for one review that stated that it was not compatible with an iPod Touch.
I searched Google in vain for other reviews, hoping to find out if this was true. All I received were hits for reviews that said it was compatible with the iPod Touch. We decided to give it a try for ourselves. At the time, in February 2008, it was retailing for $108 on Amazon.com. (I've noticed that the price has since gone up to $129 if purchased as Amazon as the distributer).
What's in the box:
inMotion iM600 mobile speaker system, wireless remote, iPod docking adapters, AC adapter, user’s guide, and quick connect instructions.
Features:
The Altec Lansing inMotion-IM600 serves as a docking station for your iPod, meaning that it will charge your iPod as it plays. It also has an FM radio and telescopic antenna, which I haven't tested out.
It can be plugged in using an AC adapter, but also comes with a rechargable Li-ion battery. Amazon.com states that this battery is good for up to seven hours of continuous play. We keep our inMotion on a bookcase where there is an outlet handy, and haven't had a need to move it yet, so I can't make any remarks on this feature, but I do like that the option is there.
The inMotion also has an aux input (in case you have an MP3 player that isn't an iPod), a subwoofer input, and a composite video output, all located on the back of the unit.
Using the unit is easy. You just set your iPod into the docking unit on the front, making sure that the docking connector is lined up with the connector on your iPod. You can then power the unit up either by pressing the "Power" button that's on the docking station, or by pressing the "Power" button on the included remote control.
All of your controls on your iPod remain available for use, so you can navigate to the album/songs you want to listen to through your iPod. You have three options for navigating to other songs (if, let's say, a song comes up you don't want to listen to): Using the forward and back controls on the top of the unit, using the forward and back controls on your iPod, or using the forward and back controls on the included remote.
You can also adjust the volume through either the controls on the docking unit, or on the remote.
The docking unit folds into the front part when not in use, for easier portability.
There is an option on the remote and on the top of the unit labeled "SFX", which stands for Stereo Field Expander, and is supposed to make the speakers sound farther apart. It seems to do the job adequately. There is a difference between it being on/off, but it isn't anything that knocked my socks off.
All in all, the unit satisfies our want for a system that takes up very little space (approximately 11x2x6).
Compatibility:
The inMotion IM600 is compatible with the iPod Touch- if you don't mind that the iPod rests against the speakers. The Touch is so thin that it can't stand upright. This is fine for low to mid-level listening that doesn't feature bass-heavy songs. However, cranking the volume up results in vibration, which causes a lot of buzzing when the speakers thud against the iPod.
This isn't much of a problem for us. While some of the songs I listen to feature a lot of bass, I generally don't crank the volume up past mid level. It's just not that type of unit. The inMotion does an excellent job of putting out clear, full, and well balanced sound when played at a comfortable listening level (in other words, a level that fills the room). Any louder and you run into distortion (and vibration if you have the iPod Touch).
Another option would be for me to hook up my iPod Touch through the Aux input, but then I lose the ability to control it via the remote control.
I'm also assuming that iPhones would run into this same problem.
I should make clear that my husband's iPod Video does not rest against the speakers when placed in the docking station.
In conclusion:
I'm satisfied with the inMotion IM600. I feel that it meets our needs without the spendy Bose price tag. It looks great sitting on our bookshelf. The iPod Touch compatibility is a little irksome but I feel it can be overlooked for the other features this unit provides.
The Altec Lansing iM600 sound system offers stereo sound and features another Altec Lansing engineering innovation called the Stereo Field Expander: S...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
With its well-regarded inMotion system; Altec Lansing has raised the bar again with the iM600USB; offering full play and chargeability for all iPod mo...More at Compuplus.com
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