Logitech S125i portable iPod speaker

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• Expert Rating

  3.50 / 5

• User Rating

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• Where to buy

  Priced from: $ 41.75

  Selling at 3 stores

• $41.75 - Devon Software
• $46.00 - HB Outlet
• $46.95 - Digital Star

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Campbell Simpson Good Gear Guide 06/10/09 Follow @pcworldau

Pros

• Decent sound quality with reasonable bass, well built

Cons

• Distortion at higher volumes, bass enhancement feature affects clarity, only 10 hours of battery life using four AAs

Bottom Line

The Logitech S125i is a portable iPod speaker that is good to throw in your bag when heading out for a picnic. It doesn’t have perfect sound quality and it’s a little more expensive than we think it should be, but it’s built well and makes for a fun addition to your picnic basket.

Would you buy it?

• Yes 3
• No 1

Own this? Write a review

The Logitech S125i is not flimsily built and it doesn't rattle, which is unusual for a budget iPod accessory. With four AA batteries in the bottom-loading battery compartment it tips the scales at just under 400g, so you can easily throw it in a backpack and not notice the extra weight. Battery life is a disappointing 10 hours, however. The buttons are well constructed and offer good tactile feedback.

The Logitech S125i has a 3.5mm auxiliary input on its rear, so you can plug in almost any portable media player if you have the correct cable.

We found sound to be best at a medium volume level. There’s a bass enhancement button on the front but by and large we preferred it off. The speaker system's reasonable treble detail and slightly recessed mid-range made for good listening, especially with the ambient noise of an office in the background.

Maxing out the Logitech S125i’s speakers in a quiet park, we quickly noticed that the treble was not nearly as prominent as mid-range. Distortion was also obvious during complex musical passages. Switching on the bass enhancement did give a boost to lower frequencies, but also robbed treble of its clarity — this is a mode well suited to higher volume levels where treble is already over-shadowed.

Despite being slightly expensive for a humble portable iPod speaker, the Logitech S125i is a decent purchase. It has acceptable sound quality at most listening volumes and is built well; its flaws only become debilitating at maximum volume.

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