Altec Lansing: inMotion Portable Speaker System

Frequent travelers know the challenges of taking music on the road. Headphones can be fatiguing. And with luggage space at a premium, hauling a decent set of speakers is out of the question. Up to this point, portable speakers have been horrible sounding. However, the Altec Lansing inMotion travel speakers set a new standard for portable audio. Utilizing the MaxxBass technology from Waves (yes, the same stuff from the plug-in), these diminutive speakers create the illusion of a full-range sound from a larger system. The unit is lightweight (15 oz) and folds to the size of a paperback book (about 8 x 5.5 inches). It can be powered by four AA batteries or via a wall-wart power supply. When using AC power, the inMotion can serve as a charging station for an iPOD, as well. Although the inMotion is designed for the Apple iPOD, it has an auxiliary input jack for connecting other devices. At $150, the inMotion is not cheap. But I had no reservations, given my travel schedule and the impressive sound of this unit. Many Apple dealers have them on display. So go hear for yourself. ($149 MSRP; www.alteclansing.com)