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Gear4 StreetParty Size 0 iPod Speakers Reviewed |
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Written by Dr Arni
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Jan 22, 2008 at 05:57 AM |
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 Well it seems there are more accessories available for the iPod these days then there are shoes in the wardrobe of Imelda Marcos. Like her shoe collection, finding the right pair for an outing can be tough decision considering a lot of them do the same thing more or less.
If you’re going to share your tunes, a set of portable speakers is fast becoming a must have for your iPod, but how do you find the right one for you?
It just so happens I have a first-rate little set sitting next to me, so let me tell you about it…
The two most important things I want out of portable speakers is sound quality and (funny enough) portability, so when I got the StreetParty Size 0 from Gear4, I immediately noticed, and liked, the form factor. It’s a flat fold slab a little over a centimetre thick and about 12 by 20 centimetres high and wide. It came in a nice little neoprene sleeve to keep it protected in your bag.
It also came with a slimline remote control and a lightweight AC power adapter with European and UK plugs.
But back to portability, as I said before it’s flat form factor that allows you to carry it without taking much room at all. Pull it out and the base flips out to reveal a socket for your iPod (whichever one you have). The base slides in and out to adjust to nano, 2nd generation, photo or video models. When you’re done flip it back and pack it away. Easy.
The second important thing I mentioned is sound quality. Using portable speakers will obviously trade some sound quality for portability. You can’t expect the equivalent of surround sound, but if you’re after a few tunes at a small party, StreetParty Size 0 will happily do the job. The sound quality is excellent for such a small unit though if you are using batteries for a while and music with heavy bass, you do notice distortion as the batteries become drained. Maximum volume will easily cover a lounge room with normal group conversation.
The remote will enable you to get to everything in your iPod menus and includes handy mute, shuffle and repeat buttons for easy access.
Conclusion
Summed up, if you’re taking your iPod and want to share your tunes with a few mates, Gear4’s StreetParty Size 0 will make it happen with style and resonance. You do trade some performance, particularly in the bass department, for portability but that's to be expected. It should be close to the top of your list of iPod accessories.
The official list price is a shade under 50 British Pounds -- fortunately not its weight! -- but for the StreetParty Size 0 you can do a lot better if you looked for street prices... Obviously.
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Last Updated ( Jan 22, 2008 at 06:43 AM )
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