Anyone that reads IntoMobile regularly will know that I’m a real accessories freak – I love to test the latest innovations and products in the accessories arena – partly because it’s a hotbed of activity (certainly around smartphones at the moment anyway), and also because a good accessory can really enhance the value of the device you own.
Case in point: Altec Lansing’s Orbit range of speakers – currently there are two, the Orbit-M, and Orbit USB. Both are entirely portable, and hence mobile, but are targeted at slightly different audiences. The Orbit-M (which I’ve reviewed, see here) has a 3.5mm jack, and connects to (ideally) your Mobile (though it can connect to other stuff, obviously). The Orbit USB has (surprisingly enough) a USB connector, and hence is for you Laptop – but again a portable accessory you might use when out and about.
The two speakers do have other subtle differences too – the Orbit-M is grey in colour and uses batteries (since no power comes over the 3.5mm connector), whereas the Orbit USB is black in colour, takes its power from the USB port, and also has a nifty little kickstand which can angle the sound trajectory. But, clearly the biggest difference between them is that the Orbit-M takes an analogue signal and then boots it out the speaker, whereas the Orbit USB takes a digital signal, and converts to analogue inside the speaker.
I’m happy to report that both ways round, the sounds is really excellent from such diminutive little speakers! The Orbit USB might just possibly edge it in sound quality, but it’s minimal – much more important is the quality of the source (be it a mobile or laptop) and also the quality of the source files you are playing back.
Personally though, I think that the Orbit speakers, and in this case the Orbit USB, are well priced (£39.99 in the UK), and do the job of providing music on the move, a lot better than a lot of other speakers that I have heard of a similar size.
I think, in conclusion, the Orbit USB continues the great run that Altec Lansing is having with producing quality audio accessories, at great prices!
For more information on the complete autumn 2009 audio collection from Altec Lansing, you can visit www.alteclansing.com