GizmoSpy » Speakers

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere v2

GizmoPaul — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:51:58 +0000

I like my music and as a result of this often have music on around the house, so it was great to try out the latest offering from Logitech, the Pure-Fi Anywhere v2. The dock comes in either black or white and is a great set of speakers. The v2 is pretty much the same as it’s predecessor but bow includes iphone support. This is essential for me as it eliminates the need to put the iphone into “airplane” mode when docked meaning you can still receive calls while the iphone is playing.

For the price this dock certainly packs a punch in sound. It has crystal clear sound and a great bass range thanks to its 5.1cm (2″) and 7.6cm (3″) pressure drivers.

The Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere as a rechargeable battery which is a great feature. This battery lasts for a good 10 hours so it can easily be moved from room to room or to the garden and you have ample playing time before it needs to be recharged by simply plugging it back in. There is a nice battery indicator to show you when the charge is low.

There is a wireless remote which allows you to control the Pure-Fi Anywhere and control certain features on the iphone / ipod. There is also easy access to shuffle and repeat options which are nice features. The system comes with an array of inserts to handle each ipod device in the range.

Also nice is a travel case to hold the speaker, remote and AC adapter which make it easy to transport if you are going on holiday or want to take just your speakers out for the day and use the rechargeable battery.

The Good
Looks good with a nice slim, stylish design. They are solid speakers and for their size certainly produce good sound. We love the fact that these are now iphone compatible.

The Bad
There are not extra inputs or outputs but to be honest you are buying this for use with the iphone / ipod so what more do you need really.

Conclusion
Great product again from Logitech. You can rely on their quality to bring you a great sound from a small system. I love the rechargeable battery. Makes it ideal for moving into the garden for those upcoming BBQ’s in the summer, please let us have a decent summer! Also easy to move to a different room for a while if need be. Also the fact this v2 is compatible with the iphone means I can now receive calls while playing music and just pick it off the dock to answer them. All in all a great product.

Sound Asleep Pillow

GizmoGaz — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:07:36 +0000

Our Spys never sleep here at GizmoSpy as we are always on the lookout for the latest gadgets. The Sound Asleep Pillow with MP3 player connection solves a problem for those that love to listen to music in bed and end up falling asleep with there headphones in and this can be very uncomfortable. With its built in speaker you can drift off to sleep whilst still not disturbing others.

The Good

The Sound Asleep Pillow as featured on Five’s The Gadget Show is as comfy as normal pillows with soft hollow fibre filling you literally cannot feel the speaker in side. It is more comfortable than using headphones, allowing you to drift off to your favourite tunes and not be woken up later by the noise of your stereo. There is a number of other uses such as listening to audio books, learning a foreign language, or just listening to relaxing sounds to help relax your mind if you find you’re having a stressful day. It’s also ideal to take on long journeys for a comfortable source of entertainment whilst you’re in the car train or plane and other passengers will not be disturbed.

The Bad
Not suitable for washing because of the built-in speaker. So maybe you will require a pillow protector but this could block out some of the sound quality. Requires that you have a 3.5mm stereo plug to connect to your MP3 player. Most players do have this connection or extra cables can be brought to accommodate this.

Verdict

When our Spys do finally get some rest we think this would be a nice gift to help them relax from a hard day researching the latest gadgets, and I know what you’re thinking, you have a cushy job working with the latest technology…well yes but we still need some rest!!

UPDATE – Our Spys have just seen another very similar product but the pillow is made of memory foam. The foam has small holes which help circulate air and improve the sound quality. The pillow moulds to the natural body shape. A little more expensive but maybe a little more comfortable.

Klipsch iGroove SXT WWI iPod Speaker System

GizmoPaul — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:27:36 +0000

Since releasing the Klipsch SXT back in 2007, Klipsch have been renowned for their great design in speaker systems for the iPod range. Now with the updated Klipsch iGroove SXT WWI they have really got a speaker system compatible with all the latest iPods and iPhones. The WWI has a firmware update from the previous models which lets iPhones know that the product is a compatible device and therefore you will be able to charge the latest 3Gs without it saying it is an incompatible device. Klipsch have added a 1000mA rapid charge circuit to the system, so you can quickly recharge your iPod or iPhone.

The Klipsch iGroove SXT offers exclusive Klipsch horn technology and bi-amplification for which means class-leading high-frequency clarity and bass performance. The design and technology is everything you would expect from Klipsch speakers, Its sleek and elegant and high performing making the most of all the power, detail and emotion of your music on your iPhone or iPod. The Klipsch iGroove SXT WWI has also been updated with bi-amplification and active crossovers.

Now you can Dock, charge and play iPhone and iPod in any mode and without any interference. You no longer have to switch the iPhone into Airplane mode to eliminate some interference as with its predecessors. The SXT WWI comes with a wireless IR remote as before and can be connected to a TV/Monitor to view video content via a S-Video output. Also on this speaker system is an alarm clock with instant wake functionality.

The Good
The SXT WWI is great now that it is fully compatible with the latest iPod and iPhone range. This makes it an excellent speaker system for any room and you expect the usual high quality sound that is synonymous with Klipsch products before it. The iGroove SXT is now bi-amplified, which means each driver is individually amplified, a feature that virtually eliminates distortion and significantly improves sonic performance.

The Bad
To be honest we can’t actually think of any bad points. Klipsch have ironed out the compatibility problems which were the only previous bad points.

Conclusion
Klipsch have done it again. We love this speaker system. The sound and performance is second to none in its class of quality iPod and iPhone speakers. We have literally been dancing to the beat of this great product.

Klipsch iGroove iPod Speaker System

GizmoPaul — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:25:58 +0000

Klipsch are a well respected brand in speaker systems and this iGroove product is a fantastic speaker unit packing a good punch in the speaker market. It’s stylish look and design and audio quality make it ideal for any living room. The iGroove plays all the dockable iPods and iPhones including the 5th generation Nano, the 3rd generation Touch as well as the iPhone 3G / 3Gs. It also comes with a neat cradle allowing you to play any MP3 player through a connection to the headphone socket.

The iGroove comes with a neat remote control allowing you to control the speakers and limited control to the iPod. The iGroove is a true two-way audio setup, featuring dual 2.5-inch fiber-composite woofers in a ported enclosure, dual 1-inch MicroTractrix Horn-loaded tweeters and a built-in iPod dock. To ensure an optimal and precise dispersion pattern, the exclusive MicroTractrix Horns are formed into the speaker baffle, a design that offers the lowest diffraction and maximum release of energy into the listening area. The iGroove is nicely curved to complete the stylish look. On the base unit are a volume control and the power button.

The Good
Having tested this out we found that the sounds was indeed excellent from this set of speakers. The sound more than filled a decent sized room and would be ideal for listening to at home or for parties at home or in a hall. We have used it for home listening and a party and it more than copes with both. At home we have 2 Nano’s and an iPhone and it’s great to be able to easily plug any device in and play the contents.

The Bad
We did find that our model would not charge the latest iPod nano (5th generation) or an iPhone 3Gs but this wasn’t a problem if you have enough charge in the iPod or iPhone at the time of playing.

Conclusion
Our overall satisfaction levels were high with this product. A good set of speakers for the home and they look stylish on any sideboard. They pack some power which is great for parties.

Amethyst iPig

GizmoPaul — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:52:53 +0000

Here at GizmoSpy we love all things cute and this iPig sure is that. However don’t be fooled by it’s cute appearance as this speaker system sure packs some punch in the speaker market. We bought one of these for my daughters bedroom and with the wide range of colours it will suit lots of places. We got a pink one (being a girl my daughter loves pink) to go with her pink iPod nano and she absolutely loves it.

The Amethyst iPig combines quality, performance, compatibility and unique pig shaped style into one compact iPod docking station. It has 5 speakers pumping out a good 25 watts of premium sound despite its small size. This is enough to fill any reasonably sized room. The design on the iPig is fantastic. It’s mouth lights up and flashed when commands are received from the remote control. It’s ears act as touch sensitive volume controls and the remote control is very handy. The iPig also charges some iPod devices as well.

Specification

High Quality Sound
4 speakers, a 4″ sub woofer and 25 watts of powerful sound
Adjustable Bass Control with Bass Reflex Technology
360 Degree Sound Distribution
Onboard Hi-Fi amplifier, dynamic airflow optimizer, interior dynamic cooling exchange and high sound stabilization to produce a clear powerful sound
Extensive Compatibility
iPod dock with various included cradles, standard auxiliary 3.5 mm input jack providing connectivity to most portable and non portable audio players, gaming consoles, mobile gaming devices, cellular phones, desktop PCs, laptops and various other devices
Unparalleled Design Elements
Patented volume control by touching the left and right ears
The iPig’s small footprint easily masks itself as a decorative piece and includes rubberised feet to prevent rattling
The smiley mouth lights up when the iPig is powered on and blinks when receives commands from the remote
As GREEN and RoHS product, the iPig efficiently utilizes minimal energy and is designed using environmentally friendly components and non-hazardous materials
Remote Control complete with audio controls as well as iPod menu functionality.