Creative TravelSound i80 > Reviews (1)

DESCRIPTION:

The Creative TravelSound i80 Portable Speakers for iPod Nano 3rd Generation is one of those understated gadgets that seems to be ignored by techies… probably because it is so minimalist and unfussy.

Weighing about as much as your average mobile phone, its small size makes it the perfect out-and-about accessory to keep you entertained without the need for earphones… this is particularly handy if you aren’t alone [don’t want to insult pals by sticking the earphones in and losing yourself in your own little world], or you need to be able to hear what’s going on around you – example… driving, child minding, etc.

TECHNICAL INFO AND COSTS:

Weighing 90g and measuring only 5.8cm x 9.9cm x 2.3cm [2-1/4 inches x 4 inches x 1 inch], the Creative TravelSound i80 is a perfect fit for small and large pockets, and because it is made out of anodized aluminium [speaker side] and rigid white plastic [iPod side] it is particularly sturdy… as long as you aren’t planning on using it as a Frisbee.

The built-in lithium polymer battery gives you a remarkably good playtime of up to 15 hours [as stated by the manufacturer], however, coupled with a fully-charged iPod Nano it can last a bit longer… I’ve had it last as long as 16 hours before it, and my iPod, needed a recharge. Not bad for such a minimalist and inconspicuous gadget.

The Creative TravelSound i80 comes with a small dock which is really handy if you want to view videos or pictures on your iPod. The dock also comes in handy when you need to recharge the unit and your iPod. The unit also comes with a 30-pin docking connector and mini USB for plugging into your pc and downloading music, audio books, videos and photos to your iPod, and a 3-pin mains adapter for charging the unit [which takes approx. 2-1/2 hours], an instruction booklet that is easy to understand and a handy anti-slip rubberised holder that fits snugly over the unit and iPod to keep both from becoming scratched or damaged when travelling and not in use [in handbags, luggage, etc].

The unit’s power output is 700mWatts RMS per channel [2 channels] with a frequency response of 180Hz - 20kHz and signal-to-noise ratio [SNR] of >80dB which quite simply means, to you and me, that you can expect a decent sound… and all this from a unit costing as little as £7.99 [with free postage from Amazon].

OPINION/COMMENT:

I purchased the Creative TravelSound i80 because I was fed-up of using earphones. I wanted a speaker unit for my iPod that was lightweight, portable and robust to take along with me on camping trips, or for days out on the beach, hiking or picnics… something that could deliver a good sound whether the volume was cranked up or not, and possessed it’s own mini docking system.

Simple enough? Well, that’s what I thought… until I started searching for my ideal unit, and discovered that there weren’t that many out there that were specifically built for my 3rd Generation Nano. Most of the portable speaker systems, although they claimed to be suitable for my 3rd Generation Nano, turned out to be unsuitable because the 3rd Generation’s earphone socket [which these speakers plug into] is located on the bottom of the iPod – meaning that the iPod doesn’t sit flush inside the unit.

Most of the other portable speaker systems were nothing more than mini collapsible speakers that you plugged into your iPod, much like earphones – these were far from the ideal solution as you really needed to be stationary in order to use these.

I had nearly given up on my search for the ideal portable speaker system when I came across the Creative TravelSound i80 which was made specifically for the 3rd Generation Nano. Although the sound isn’t as good as with earphones or when plugged into my more advanced [and expensive] docking station, it’s good enough that you don’t wince when the sound is cranked up. In fact, proving that the sound isn’t that bad, my husband and I noticed [during our last outing at the beach] that although the beach was nearly empty, people were crowded around us… many of them singing along to the music wafting from my iPod! When we packed up at the end of the day, it appeared to signal the end for nearly everyone else because they started packing up as well! It was quite a strange and eerie experience – like being an unknowing participant in a ‘Simon Says’ game.

Although I do love my Creative TravelSound i80 and never leave home without it, I have only given it a 4-star rating because – although everyone on the beach seemed to love the sound [or maybe they were just desperate for music and didn’t care] – the sound, in my opinion, could be improved.