We’re having an outdoor picnic in a few weeks and were thinking of getting something to play music.
It’s quite likely we’ll have easy access to an electrical outlet so we’ll be able to plug it in, but optional battery-power might be a useful feature.
Anyone own such a thing? Any suggestions?
If have, or can get a computer sub woofer and stereo speakers with at least 5-20 watts of sound power, you will probably have a great sound system. I have done this and it actually sounds way better than the specialised ipod speakers that always sound weak and tinny to me.
regards
FML
We have these speakers: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Portable-Speaker-System-iPods/dp/B000F49RAA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1213880971&sr=8-3
I love them. It comes with a remote, case and it runs on internal batteries or plugs in. The battery life is quite good. When it’s plugged in it charges your iPod.
It’s small, and surprisingly powerful and the sound quality is great as well.
We bring it everywhere because it’s so portable.
You definitely won’t regret buying it.
If you want something portable, I can highly recommend the Tivoli PAL. It is amazing.
This is what my husband and I use for camping, trips to the beach, weekends in a hotel or B&B, etc. We absolutely love it.
Don’t let the small size and single speaker fool you, this little guy has amazing sound quality. It’s stunning and I couldn’t believe it the first time I heard it. It also has a decent AM/FM radio, good battery life, and is rugged and good for using outdoors.
It came highly recommended from an audiophile friend. We’ve had ours for 3 or 4 years now and have been incredibly pleased.
Looks interesting! I’m debating whether to go with something that high-end, or one of the cheaper options such as the Logitech sets. But I had to comment on what Amazon suggested other purchasers got as well:
“Lenox Butterfly Meadow 8-Piece Tea Set, Service for 2”.
What, are people planning on trying to see if the thing can make so much noise it shatters a teacup? 
Thanks for mentioning that set. That, or a slightly smaller version which has a small rebate attached, seems like another good option for us.
We don’t have a sub-woofer… but we do have a nice, slightly older set of very small stereo speakers that in the early 90s I used to hook up to a portable CD player. They’re maybe the size of, say, a hardback Harry Potter book. I honestly had forgotten about them but if (when I revisit the venue this weekend) it looks like electric power really will be an option, those might do very nicely. :smack: Can’t believe I forgot about them!
Thanks for all the opinions!
You don’t have to use a special Ipod system if you don’t want to. Any sort of stereo or boombox with an auxiliary input (aux in) jack/s will work. You can use a standard audio cable with the headphone jack, or you can get an Ipod line-out cable if you want to be really picky.
Yep, that’s what I came in to recommend – but mine is white, to match my iPod. 
I have this one at the office. I love love love it. The sound is very rich and if I crank the volume, it puts out some sound. I don’t crank it alot (it’s in my office after all). I can’t recommend it highly enough.
I’ve seen those and they are cute and I would love to have one… trouble is, at the office I can’t really use one. I could perhaps use one at home for listening when I work from home. Say, can things like that be used as impromptu alarm clocks when you put the iPod into alarm clock mode? As in, set the ipod alarm, plunk it into the speaker connection, and get awakened by whatever music the next morning?
My girlfriend has this and she loves it.