Altec Lansing Mix iMT800 price and reviews

I'll change my review if the replacement unit performs as advertised. I bought this specifically to use with the iPhone 4. The Apple Store sells this product and advertises that it is compatible with the iPhone 4, but my unit evidently is defective. It doesn't charge my iPhone 3Gs or iPhone 4s, but is able to control them using the on unit buttons and the remote. It also displays what is playing on the unit display. Overall a good product, but my unit is clearly defective.

Updated on Oct 22, 2010

If you want portability and good bumping sound for you Ipod Or Iphone this is it. IMHO sounds better than way more expensive Bose which has to plugged in to a 110 power source all the time.

This is a great unit. I camp as much as possible, and used to have a Harman Kardon Go+Play, which died on me. The price on the HK has gone up and I was looking for something more affordable. The sound on this equals, or betters the sound from the HK. I love the dock, and FM radio.

For those that don't like the D cell batteries. I have yet to find another device, (aside from the HK, which also uses D cell batteries), that lasts 30 hours on an internal rechargeable battery. The Bose soundock portable only gives you about 4 hours at a higher volume. Yes the batteries are expensive, but when you are outside, camping for a few days, having something that doesn't need to be recharged is great. Buy your batteries at Sams and you will soon appreciate the fact you can replace them. If you really don't like the non eco-friendly disposable batteries, buy rechargeables, but be prepared, they don't last as long as throw aways.

All in all a great solution for those of us that like to get away for the weekend. Buy this along with an external battery pack to recharge the iPod and you are set for a week of fun.

I have used many portable sound systems in the past, and while most of them are great in the area of portability they lack in one thing, sound quality. While this unit may not be as portable as say the iHome iP29 or others in that class, the sound this Altec Lansing iMT800 produces is untouchable at this current time. The sound that comes out of this unit is very full sounding, unlike cheaper small speaker systems. The two 1" tweeters and the two 3" mid range speakers produce very clear sound and with the help of the two 5.25" side firing subs this sound will easily fill a large room. I currently use the Bose Companion 5 speakers for my computer and I would have to say that when it comes to music this unit from Altec Lansing sounds better then Bose's $500, the only thing the Bose will win in is movie sound. I know these two units are not in the same category but I just want to show you how great the sound is in this unit.

I absolutely love what Altec Lansing did with the design here. It is retro boom box without that boasting, overbearing boom box look from the 80s. The integration of the three silver handles are great, especially because you will be carrying this around. The silver sliding protector that "locks" your iPod into place is great because it prevents your iPod from falling forward and out of the unit if someone were to tip it over, protecting the iPod adapter from snapping. The placement of the speakers look great and if you look at the pictures you will see that the subwoofers are on a slant, firing towards the rear of the unit. This is not only cosmetic but it prevents the subs from drowning out the tweeters and the mid range speakers, while still providing spectacular levels of bass. The LCD screen is black with orange text and it looks great while staying with the retro look.

As far as connectivity goes, I have never used a portable unit that provides 3 input sources. It has one dedicated iPod connecter and then two 3.5mm audio input jacks so you can connect any MP3 player or other audio device.

I have only had this unit for about a week but so far I have used it on the beach, for an outdoor party and as a home stereo and I have not had a complaint under any instance.

The only complaint that I have is the fact that to use it off of AC power you must use 8 D cell batteries. I have not purchased anything in the past 10 years that uses 8 D cell batteries and I am not sure why in late 2009 anything would require something like that. If price was the issue I would have been happy to spend another $50 or so for one that had a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery or something. You do get about 30 hours of playback with the batteries however 8 D cell batteries is not very cheap. I have already went a head and ordered rechargeable D cells in hopes of saving some money on throw a way D cells.

All in all I am very impressed with this unit and the only reason it didn't get a 5 was because of the D cells batteries. You can buy this unit with confidence, knowing that the quality is there in both build quality and sound.

I got this unit for chistmas from my wife due to a few hints I gave her, and boy does this thing deliver. I did my homework when picking this out and it paid off. It is absolutely incredible. The style my not be for everyone but personally I love it. And even if you don't like the look of it, once you heard it, you could probably overlook it. It puts out extremely full sound for a unit of this size, especially considering it's portable. I also have a Bose Wave CD and my son has an ih9, no comparison at all. The iMT800 blows them both away with ease. I know it's a little bigger, I'm just saying. It also seems to be built very well. From the hard plastic body and metal handles, to the poly/rubber speakers, quality. As for the price, we paid $224 from Amazon. At little pricey maybe, but not too ridiculous. It's definately worth it. While not loaded with features, it holds its own I think. The display scolls through different info depending on the source, album, song, that sort of thing which is nice. You have control over bass and treble. There is also preset eq settings to choose from as well as a 7 band eq to fine tune it. I don't really use the FM tuner too much but it is nice to have as an option. The remote could hace been a little better as far as function but thats not a big issue. It does slide nicely into thr top rear of the unit which helps me becaue i've been know to misplace stuff. The front ipod dock is also great. The sliding metal guard could prevent damage if the unit is knocked over. The real problem is the batteries it uses. 8 D's? Come on. Even a built in battery would have been a better way to go. I can't help but think Altec must have had a reason for this. All in all it is an awsome unit and if you choose to buy one you won't be disapointed.

This is the best sounding portable iPod speaker system I have ever heard, and I highly recommend that you check this one out before making a decision!

In the day and age of iPods, home theater systems and great speakers available for the computer, there is still that spot that gets left out... washing the car! Playing in the yard or at the beach! Outdoor picnics, activities, camping, playing basketball or other outdoor sports, etc.! If you also have that empty space and always need to keep the tunes cranking, you may be interested in this device.

Let me get to the point. Do I have heartburn that it costs $299? Yes. Do I think it's a great product? Yes! I think this product is perfect for those who do a lot of outdoor activities, beach, park, etc. or the mobile exercise or Yoga instructor who wants to bring along a unit that can play lots of music you may have on your iPhone/iPod. As well, the weekend garage tinkerer would also enjoy this device and get a lot of use from it.

About the unit itself:

The unit itself is not huge. It has a very modern industrial design, has very convenient carry handles both on the top and on the sides of the front. It's also light weight enough that you can grab it with one hand and carry it around. It sits very solidly and you can roll it around without damaging it. It's not a rubberized "on the job" work radio, but a pretty awesomely designed MP3 player and radio. It seems very durable, the speakers look rubberized (definitely not the cardboard speakers of days gone by...) And it has a convenient spot to keep the remote control in the unit so you don't lose it. It has a great bar that is movable that protects the iPhone/iPod. It slides all the way from the top to the bottom so you can access any of the touch features of the phone/device, but slides to the center when you're done to protect the glass screen.