Customer Reviews
- Bluetooth speaker untethers you from your cell phone, letting you take a call or listen to music in comfort
- Two custom-built 2.5-inch full-range speakers deliver a strong performance; voice-activated dialing picks up your voice from several feet away
- No cables to connect; automatic pairing between your Bluetooth mobile phone and the speaker
- Auxiliary input allows you to connect other MP3, CD, and DVD players
- Runs on either 6 AA batteries (not included) or via included power adapter; 1-year warranty
Product Description
The Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker is designed to untether you from your cell phone, letting you take a call or listen to music in comfort. With Bluetooth support, the speaker doesn’t require any cables, and setup is extremely easy. With this unique speaker by your side, you can listen to music or take a call with crystal-clear sound every time.
Big, Clean Sound from a Small, Svelte Body
Forget about clumsy headphones: The SoundBlade gives you big, full-bodied music in a conveniently diminutive package. Using two custom-built 2.5-inch full-range neodymium speakers enhanced with SRS Trubass technology, you’ll get sound that’s crystal clear with the perception of deep, rich bass. The shielded design means there won’t be any speaker buzz from the cell phone.
And at just one inch thick, you easily can bring the SoundBlade around with you and start an instant party wherever you are. When people finally figure out where the music is coming from, they’ll wonder how the all that sound fits into such a small space.
No-Hassle Setup, Thanks to Bluetooth
The SoundBlade doesn’t require any cables to connect to your phone; instead, it works wirelessly, making set-up a snap. Just pair the phone and speaker together, and they connect automatically.
Please note that the SoundBlade’s wireless feature requires mobile phones with A2DP Bluetooth technology. The A2DP protocol, or Stereo Bluetooth, allows for the wireless transmission of full stereo sound.
Once paired, you can use your mobile phone like a remote control for the speaker, changing the volume and managing other functions. Conversely, the speaker also can be used to control the music functions on your phone. (The wireless control feature is compatible with phones using the AVRCP protocol.)
Built-in Microphone
The SoundBlade has a built-in, echo-canceling microphone that transforms your phone into a crisp-sounding speakerphone. The microphone also is sensitive enough to allow you to use your phone’s voice-activated dialing from up to several feet away.
The SoundBlade also has an auxiliary input that allows you to connect other MP3, CD, and DVD players. It runs on either six AA batteries or through a wall outlet via the included power adapter.
The Altec Lansing SoundBlade is backed by a one-year warranty.
What’s in the Box
SoundBlade speaker, power adapter, 3.5mm male-to-male extension cable, nylon pouch, user manual.
You won’t need cables with the SoundBlade–it can play music wirelessly from your cellphone |
Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP Speaker/Speakerphone
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Over the past month I have owned/compared the Yamaha NX-B02, Parrot Party, and Altec Lansing Soundblade (Amazon’s return policy makes it easy). The Soundblade is very good, but I thought the Parrot was the best (and kept it while returning the other 2). You can read my reviews for the other 2. For the Soundblade, it certainly was put together well with excellent features (speakerphone and can control the music player somewhat) and design. It played the loudest, but had the least impressive bass of the 3 and had the most distortion of the 3 in the upper frequencies. I realize that no speaker system this size will sound great, but the Parrot (using bluetooth) and the Yamaha (using line-in) sounded better. For moderate listening volumes, it certainly was adequate. I also felt like the Parrot was a little more portable for what I’m using it for (back deck and pool), although the Soundblade would probably be the best for travel (thin).
Rating: 4 / 5
What I was after:
- Amplified Loudspeaker
- Highly Compact & Portable
- Dual powered (battery & mains)
- Wired & Wireless connectivity
To sum it up: The whole point of a product like this is to get the best possible sound in the least possible space with the highest degree of flexibility.
The Altec Lansing SoundBlade was the best fit.
This speaker gets about as loud as the speaker gets on a typical television, so it can actually fill a room. Unfortunately, you cannot adjust the tone, as it tends to be a little too bass heavy. When you max out the volume of your source and on the speaker, distortion is quite noticeable. For the most part, listening to audio at reasonable levels actually produces a very clear and rich sound that suggests a sophisticated piece of hardware.
The Bluetooth connectivity may be tricky for people new to the technology, but once you understand the process of pairing it with your unit, it’s a snap. With a clear line of site I’ve managed to move it a full twenty feet from my laptop before I experienced any dropouts with the device.
It’s not just for iPods or Zunes. It’s agnostic towards the brand of audio player you are using, so it can easily be used with any standard 1/8″ audio output jack. Once the wired connection is made, the wireless functionality is automatically disabled. Your favorite MP3 player is going to sound great.
The estimated 24 hours of use for 6AA batteries seems about right. Having a built in charger might have made it seem more convenient, but when you value portability, replaceable batteries actually make more sense in the long run. Having the option to plug in the speaker to standard AC power makes for a nice backup plan too, and there’s nothing that says you can’t use your own rechargeables.
The thin, sleek design is a major plus. It’s a flat, smooth rectangular unit. The glossy black finish allows the SoundBlade to easily slide into your laptop carrier, briefcase, or backpack. The built in kickstand latches securely in place during travel and provides exceptionally stable support on any flat surface when you take it out for use.
The price is a bit fierce, but I have yet to find anything else that meets or exceeds all of the above criteria
Bottom Line
———–
Pros:
Good sound
Excellent portability
Cons:
Unable to adjust tone
Expensive
Rating: 4 / 5
The SoundBlade looks pretty small but it sounds amazingly good. It folds flat so it’s easy to tuck into a laptop bag. Connects wirelessly via stereo Bluetooth to your mobile phone or even to your laptop (with a dongle, if you don’t have stereo Bluetooth built into your PC). Or you can just use a regular 3.5mm connector to connect to your laptop and forget the whole Bluetooth thing. Basically, it’s a very good portable speaker.
In addition to being a music speaker, the SoundBlade also works as a speakerphone so you can link it to your mobile phone and take your calls out loud.
All in all, a very handy little piece of technology for the road.
Rating: 5 / 5
I purchased the Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP speakers from Amazon. I own other products by this company. But I must say I was very displeased with the sound quality of these speakers, both as Bluetooth and hard wired. I bought some JBL small travel speakers that don’t pump as much volume as these do, and the JBLs are 1/3 the price of the Altec Lansing speakers. The JBL speakers have better high end and cleaner sounding bass. I gave the small JBL speakers to my Wife because I was looking for a bluetooth system I could use with my phone. I do like the ability to take calls and listen to music on my cell phone, and the Altec Lansing inMotion SoundBlade Bluetooth A2DP speakers work well as a speaker phone. I would suggest that if you buy them, don’t expect great audio quality. I know that these speakers are small, but I’ve seen smaller, less costly speakers produce cleaner sound than the mud produced by this product.
Rating: 2 / 5
I bought this product to use with my iPod Touch 2G with 3.0.
I can now start a playlist, put the iPod down in the house, and place the speaker anywhere, with the outside table on the porch being where I wanted to use it the most working just great.
Sound is great, the range is also great, I can use anywhere in my house, and it will reach into most of my yard with the iPod in the house.
Once I recieved it I found out quickly how well it can be used with a phone, it works great with my wifes iPhone, and my blackberry.
As someone that works in a IT related field, the uses for this would be great in a conference room, a home office, or on the road in a hotel room.
Construction quality is first class, as is the sound quality.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone, with ether wanting to use as a portable sound speacker for music, or as a speaker phone.
Rating: 5 / 5
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