Product Description

Macally PODWAVE Portable Stereo Speakers for the iPod lets you share your sounds anytime, anywhere - PODWAVE tiny, portable, battery-operated stereo speakers.

Product Details

• Color: White
• Brand: Macally
• Model: PODWAVE
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: 1.00" h x 1.00" w x 3.30" l, .44 pounds

Features

• 500mW output per channel for exceptional stereo sound
• Enjoy your iPod music without headsets or large wired external speakers
• Share music with friends, anywhere, anytime
• ON/OFF switch to save battery life while not in use
• Works with iPod, iPod Mini or any audio players with a 3.5mm Jack

Amazon.com Product Description
The Macally PodWave is designed to let you share your sounds anytime, anywhere. These tiny, portable, battery-operated stereo speakers produce exceptional sound whenever and wherever you please. At a scant 2.8 ounces, the PodWave lets you enjoy your iPod music without headsets or large wired external speakers. The PodWave plugs into the headphone jack of any iPod or iPod Mini-- in fact, it's compatible with any MP3 player with a 3.5mm headphone jack (hint: that's just about all of them). The speakers are powered by a single AA battery that fits inside the unit's sleek cylindrical housing. Macally rates battery life at eight hours under continuous use. A handy on/off switch conserves juice when you aren't listening.

What's in the Box
PodWave portable speakers, AA battery, user's manual.

Customer Reviews

iPod speakers
The main reason that I am keeping these is because of their novelty and convenience. Even cranked up, they're not very loud. At just over $30, the sound quality is fair to good at best, as significant distortion occurs whenever any bass or volume aspects are introduced. The poorer your download source, the poorer the quality of sound. If you are having a beanie baby party, these would make a great boombox; otherwise, they are pretty cool to schlep around in your pocket to use as needed. They will work with most devices and are best used on your desk or table. However, don't expect Bose quality!

Slick cylinder suffering from inflated expectations
[Update. re: the volume issue, you may wish to try the Go portable speaker that's the same shape and size, carried by Walgreen's at a quarter of the price but using 2 AAAs instead of a single AA. It's a less mellow sound than the Macally's but almost 40% louder.]

Outside of ear buds, this is as nano-sized as you can go for amplified sound from an iPod. With my 1st-generation, regular-sized iPod, the Macally Podwave does the trick--at least in the office, bedroom, or lakeside cabin. The sound has presence, the volume is adequate, there's just enough bass to let me catch the bass player's walking lines and solos. As a musician, I require musical "content," not some sort of virtual audio reality. Consequently, I may be easier to please than some listeners.

There are a few caveats:

1. If you have the most recent iPod, with the off-center input, forget this item. It would look ridiculous on a new (especially black-colored) iPod.
2. If you plan to take it outside on walks, picnics, etc., you'll be disappointed unless you live in a quiet neighborhood and use the speaker during the early morning or late evening hours.
3. I had planned to use the item with the iPod in my shirt pocket. Most of my pockets are either too narrow to accommodate the speaker or too deep to prevent gravity from separating the iPod from the speaker.
4. There's no light on the on-off switch to remind you to turn it off. If left on, the battery wears down in a day or two, as evidenced by distorted, intermittent sound.

Bottom line: Nothing miraculous, maybe a trifle overpriced, but effective within reason and one of a kind.

Little To No Volume
I just received this unit to use with my Creative MuVo TX FM. I'm a backpacker and wanted something lightweight to use when I'm backpacking with friends. My expectaions are not high for a tiny speaker as I have used tiny transistor radios in the past and realize you sacrifice sound quality for portability. However there just was not enough volume for it to be of any use. It might be better with the iPiod whcih may have a stronger amplifier. I might try a headphone amplifier but not sure it's worth investing any more into it. I have a $3.99 Tech-Link powered speaker which of course has poor sound quality but I least I can hear it from 3 feet away. Still searching!