Altec Lansing iM5

The iM5 is far and away the most portable system that we tested, both in terms of weight (20 ounces) and portability, measuring about 60 percent of the length of the Logitech mm50, and half as wide as Sonic Impact’s entry. Press a button and the dock extends from the speakers’ body, which is quite solid for such a lightweight system.

This is the only portable in the roundup that doesn’t have its own internal, rechargeable batteries, requiring four AAs. This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the situation, but we’re not going to complain since these speakers last for 20-plus hours.

In terms of sound quality, the iM5 performed reasonably well, falling somewhere between the Sonic Impact and the clearer Logitech. However, as we increased the volume, the sound suffered noticeably. Still, anyone looking for a system that travels really well need look no further than the iM5.

Other iPod Speakers
Bose SoundDock
Kensington SX2000
Klipsch iGroove
Logitech mm50
Sonic Impact iFusion