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dlospeakers
Need a pair of speakers to go along with you and your iPhone when you travel? If so check out DLO's Portable Speaker Set for the iPhone.

What's in the box:

Two speakers
Base
iPhone stand
AC Adapter

When I saw the form factor for the DLO Portable Speaker Set I had to give them a try. I'd been looking for speakers that would fit nicely into my messenger bag that I take with me to work as well as something that would be compact enough to pack when the family and I travel. I've been using DLO's Portable Travel Speaker Set for the iPhone for a few months now and I have to say that I really like it. The sound is excellent if maybe a little tinny: you definitely won't find that they produce too much base. For me and my use (indoors in fairly small open spaces) they're also plenty loud. I've only cranked them all the way up a couple of times and neither time did I detect any distortion. They sounded crisp and clear throughout the entire volume range.

The set can be powered with the included AC adapter or 4 triple A batteries that fit into the base. I'm not sure but I'm fairly positive the base will automatically switch over to AC when the AC adapter is plugged in thus preserving your batteries. I say that I'm fairly positive because DLO doesn't include any real documentation. To be fair there really is no need for documentation but still it'd be nice if there was more than the included single sheet of paper with a diagram showing the user how the speakers connect to the base and how the stand holds the iPhone. I'm also fairly certain of the auto switching because I'm still on my first set of batteries.

dlospeakers1
As for the form factor, I'd say the set is good but not great. In terms of size, the speakers, when combined with the base unit is larger than I expected. Not a whole lot but just enough so that the set takes up more space in my messenger bag and garment bag than I'd like. Then there's the AC adapter which isn't all that large but adds to the overall size of the set and of course contributes another cord. The stand is a separate part as well. Once again its not huge by any means but it’s shaped such that it takes up an inordinate amount of space. In hindsight, I should've expected that the AC adapter and stand would be separate components but I didn't. When I first saw the set I thought it was pretty cool that they could fit all that stuff into a little football shape, so maybe my expectations were a little too high and maybe I should've read the fine print.

My only real gripe is with the recessed area where the cords for the speakers and base are stored. Its not deep enough and many times after storing the cords, bit's and pieces of them as well as the the mini plugs on the ends of the cords end up hanging out. It takes quite a bit of effort just to get everything tucked in enough to not fall out during transit. The recessed area is covered by a rubber gasket (for want of a better word) that’s slit down the middle. This is where you insert and wind the cords. Looking at DLO's product page you'd think that they somehow managed to design a way to keep all the cords enclosed in the football shaped device. Not so, the speaker cords actually protrude out the back side of the speakers. So, you lay and hold them along the side of the speaker with one hand and then with the other, carefully insert cord into the gasket and start winding. It sounds more complicated than it is but as I said, it does take some effort and in the end results in cords and plugs that hang out and can become unwound.

That said, I do really like these speakers and would quickly recommend them based on the sound they produce. Maybe the next version will include a cord containment system that even klutzy, "all thumbs" people like me can like (and use).

Joe Henry

DLO Portable Speaker Set For iPhone
$49.99