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Altec Lansing inMotion iM500Altec Lansing's inMotion iM500 iPod speaker dock has the looks and a decent set of pipes. Price:
$129
by Brian Heater 
The "impossibly small" tagline on the box, along with a superslim image of the speakers next to a ballpoint pen, make Altec Lansing's goal crystal clear: Create the perfect companion to the iPod nano. This sleek black speaker set (complete with a nano-sized indentation on the grille) comes close to being just that.
The iM500 is only 0.7 inches thick (compared with the nano's 0.3 inches), making it hands-down one of the thinnest iPod speaker docks we've come across. At 12 ounces, this set is also extremely portable. One button, located in the grille's center (in the middle of the nano-shaped indentation) unfolds the dock in the front, revealing the power button and the two volume buttons. In the back, you'll find the mini USB jack, the auxiliary jack for external input, and the DC-power jack. Like most other docks, the iM500 charges the iPod as you play it. Given the iM500's thinness, it produces decent enough output for a hotel room or small office. Unfortunately, sound quality wasn't quite what one would expect from a $130 speaker dock. Music at high volumes was quick to distort, and we were pretty unimpressed with the low end, especially on bass-heavy Outkast songs. The speakers come with a thin, padless leather sleeve-more of a slipcover than a proper case-which should keep the iM500 safe from scratches but not much else. For the price, we would expect the package to include a remote. The iM500 runs on six AAA batteries, which increase the device's portable potential, providing up to eight hours of playtime. Altec Lansing's iM500 is a remarkably attractive speaker dock, and it's the perfect portable aesthetic complement to the iPod nano. However, the lack of a remote and the high price mean that this speaker is best for those who favor style over substance. Compare Prices | Altec Lansing inMotion iM500 Specifications
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