Refine search for MP3

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere vs iRhythms A491

Author	Benny Har-Even
Published	23rd Nov 2007
Manufacturer	Logitech
Supplier	Play
Price	£76.59 (Exc VAT)
as reviewed	£89.99 (Inc VAT)
Latest Price	Click here

Sound Quality
Features
Value
Overall

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere vs iRhythms A491

Discuss this article

Email this to a friend

TrustedReviews Newsletters

Got an iPod - will travel. When you're on the move, whether for a business trip or on holiday, it's easy to take all your music with you in your iPod. It's harder to share that music though, which is why portable speaker docks makes sense. We've got two contenders, one from Logitech at around £100 and another from iRhythms at a more affordable 50 quid. Which to go for? Let's take a look, and listen.

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere

Logitech has a knack of creating cute and powerful gadgets and devices of various types and the Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod speakers are no exception. The speakers have a long, oblong shape rather than a taller, narrower set such as the iRhythms, but with the sturdy hard case supplied, you'll be easily able to fit it into a case when you're packing, which is really crucial for speakers like these. You can also fit the power supply and the two plug adaptors for the UK and Europe, each of which slide separately onto the plug adaptor. The power plug is designed so you can wrap the cable round it for easy packing. There's a cut out, which at first looks like it's for placing your iPod in, (hence the picture), which seems like a good move. However, it's not big enough for a classic sized iPod, and too wide for the previous generation nano, so I think it's really for the power supply. The speakers themselves only weigh 744g, so it won't weigh your bag down too much.

The white finish and silver grilles over the speakers are attractive and modern looking but if you think white is a bit passé, which it is, you can get the set in black too. It's made of plastic but it feels reasonably sturdy and well made. Along the top edge is a row of silver buttons, which are the power switch, for the XL audio mode, the Shuffle and Repeat buttons, and up and down volume controls. I found these buttons a little awkward to press and you have to apply a stab of pressure to get them to respond. I also found that the volume would only go up in jumpy stages, whether pressing directly on the dock or using the remote.

There's also a charging indicator for the built-in battery, which is billed as providing 10 hours of battery, which is pretty good going. If you're off on a short trip it negates the need to even take a charger. The battery isn't replaceable though, so one can only hope that it will last for the lifetime of the product. There are three small square lights that light up in turn at it charges, glow steady green when it's playing from the battery, and red when it's low on power.