The Altec Lansing Orbit MP3 iM237 certainly doesn’t look like an audio powerhouse. Smaller than a roll of packing tape, the Orbit has a silver plastic/metal exterior equipped with a “power” button and a top speaker the size of an Oreo cookie. But the Orbit’s unassuming looks only make the incredibly crisp and clear sound that comes out of it that much more impressive.
Background:
The Altec Lansing Orbit MP3 iM237 is a boat-shaped speaker with a short cable at the bottom that plugs into iPods, MP3 players, phones, CD players, or any other device with a headphone jack. The iM237 is actually a second generation Orbit. Altec Lansing fixed the main complaint people had about the first generation, which was that users had to twist the top of the device to turn it on. This unnecessary design feature led people to unknowingly leave the Orbit running, draining the batteries. The iM237 fixes that problem by doing away with the rotating top in favor of a more traditional button and includes a small light to signal the user when it’s on. The Orbit is powered by three AAA batteries (not included), which Altec Lansing claims can power the device for 24 hours of gameplay. After throwing in the batteries, a person plugs the Orbit into a device, turns it on, and uses the device’s controls to play music. By placing the speaker facing up, Altec Lansing boasts that the accessory has a 360-degree sound field, projecting audio in all directions. Additionally, the Orbit comes with an arm band, a carrying case, and a hook to attach the case to a belt.
under down:
Expecting a quiet, tinny sound, I was impressed by both the volume and clarity of the Orbit. Listening to “Shadow Stabbing” by Cake, I had to look at the device several times to make sure that the spectacular sound was really coming out of this little device. Certainly the Orbit doesn’t sound like a single speaker just an inch in diameter. In fact, in my opinion, it sounds much better than the Sharp two-speaker CD player I usually listen to in my office. The Orbit gives every layer of a song equal time, giving vocals, guitar, bass and drums with even weight and exceptional balance. Playing The Strokes’ “12:51”, Orbit emphasized the band’s signature siren guitar in the foreground without diminishing the background claps and drum beat that drive the song. Even more impressive, during Beastie Boys’ “Shake Your Rump” (from one of the most sonically complicated albums, “Paul’s Boutique”), Orbit produced the opening drum beats with remarkable clarity. It also pulled out deep synth effects, bass, and multi-part vocals with equal precision. The Orbit’s bass is particularly noticeable for such a small unit. It produces a nice boom without vibrating or sounding muddy.
wild cards:
The orbit is not without limitations. Although it gets pretty loud before it happens, once you turn the volume up high enough, the sound starts to reverberate within the small circular frame of the device. That makes the Orbit more ideal for entertaining a single person or a small circle of friends at places like the beach or a tailgate, rather than large house parties or backyard parties. It would also be nice if the Orbit had cargo capability. But while there are plenty of other docks for iPods and similar devices currently flooding the audio market, Orbit has two distinct advantages: size and price. A person can easily use the device almost anywhere (outside, in the office, in the bathroom) due to its small and compact design, without sacrificing sound quality. And, at $39.99, it’s cheaper than many other similar devices out there.
Result: If you want a high-quality, convenient way to listen to your iPod without headphones, the Altec Lansing Orbit is out of this world.