Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S315i

5 comments

1. 

   Margaux Paschke on December 20, 2009 at 7:01 am

   This portable speaker system is a solid choice for iPods or iPhones. It provides very good sound from its compact frame (10.5″ x 5″ & 2″ thick) and easy to toss into a bag for travel. I have tried a few portable speaker systems and the cheaper ones do not provide good sound quality for my taste.

   Things I loved about it: (1) a docking station for your iPod/iPhone that charges it for you at the same time (I love this feature); (2) a portal for other MP3 players (standard jack not included) on the back of the unit; (3) everything folds flat for portability and yet the thick plastic leg (think picture frame) that pulls out to keep the speaker system upright, keeps it very steady; (4) green light that flashes to let you know the system is “on”; and (5) control icons visible on the front of system but actual buttons on back (did not like this design at first, but the big buttons are easy to use by feel).

   Minor issues that I noted were: (1) there is no remote control (lack of convenience); and (2) there is a power saving mode to help save the battery life (great idea) but you lose a little sound quality when choosing this option; and (3) there was slight distortion on music on the highest volume setting.

   Overall, Logitech’s portable speakers do a very good job. Sure there are cheaper ones on the market, but they do not provide the same level of quality. Yes, there are better systems available but they cost a lot more money. This one is a safe bet.
   

2. 

   Jerry Saperstein on December 20, 2009 at 8:59 am

   When it comes to combining form with substance, Logitech is a global leader. Increasingly over the years, Logitech has advanced the design of its products while constantly improving their quality and versatility. If I sound like a fan of the company, I am. I own many Logitech products, some going back many years, and I have never been greatly disappointed. A little frustrated from time to time, but never let down in a major way.

   The S315i Rechargeable Speaker is physically gorgeous. There only about eight straight lines on the unit and half of those go unseen in the back. Everything else is composed of subtle curves. The front profile of the case suggests the classic wasp-waisted Coca-Cola bottle design of the early 20th Century, a design which was echoed in some military fighter jet fuselages in the 1950s-60s. Designed primarily to hold Apple iPods, iTouch and iPhone, the dock is a cut-out in the front of the unit. Push in on it and the docking connector is exposed, while the insert pops out through the back and becomes a sturdy stand. No Apple Universal Dock Tray is required. Other MP3 players may be used with a 3.5mm cable, which is not supplied.

   There are no front panel controls. The on-off switch, volume buttons, AC input and 3.5mm plug are all on the back. The power switch and volume controls are, however, easily accessible: just curl your fingers over the front panel. A power status LED is visible through the front panel.

   I have the S315i sitting in front of me with my 5.5G black iPod and it is, frankly a thing of beauty.

   And so is the sound. While no match for studio grade speakers, the sound is remarkably clear and not tinny at all. Bass is somewhat on the weak side, but still adequate. There is no difficulty in cranking this unit to maximum volume and filling a large room with undistorted sound. Falloff is substantial from the sides of the speaker. As a personal unit, with the speakers facing you directly, the sound is simply terrific. Bright, vibrant, clear, though lacking in bass.

   In terms of portability, the unit is a winner. Only a foot or so long, maybe seven inches high and a couple of inches thick, the unit will fit easily in a suitcase or backpack. (Logitech doesn’t supply any kind of case, so you will want to improvise something to keep the unit unblemished: it is too pretty to scratch up.) A compact AC adapter is supplied, but one small criticism is that it does not have folding prongs. While connected to AC, the S315i will charge your iPod. The unit weighs 1.5 pounds.

   The battery is internal and not user-accessible. It takes, according to Logitech, up to 20 hours to recharge the battery. In return, the unit promises to deliver 10 hours of power from the battery or 20 hours in “Power-Saving” mode. Power-Saving, Logitech may reduce bass and loudness, but will extend battery life to 20 hours or so. Choosing between normal and Power-Saving mode takes a bit of finagling. The power switch is actually three-position: Off, On-Normal, On-Power-Saving. A light touch is required to make sure you’re in the On mode you actually want.

   For years, when I travel I throw a speaker system from another company into my luggage. It is smaller than the S315i but weighs more. In terms of sound quality, the S315i is vastly superior and will now be my travel unit. The S315i will also be the unit I keep my iPod docked in around the house.

   It is a sweet sounding, great unit and truth be told, I’ve fallen in love with it. The S315i is a great marriage of form and function. Ironically perhaps, 2009 is the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Bauhaus movement. In the subtle curves of the unit, you can see the influence of Breuer and other designers of that school. A very nice piece of work, indeed.

   Jerry

3. 

   Rational on December 20, 2009 at 10:39 am

   I looked around, Internet research, Apple Store, to find the best portable speakers for my iPhone. This is it. Very light, excellent sound quality (you won’t believe the bass this thing puts out), extremely long battery life, cool design. What’s not to like? Some Apple stores have this in stock, so try it out and see what I’m talking about. This is a top-quality product…sounds better than the bigger speakers offered by others.

4. 

   S. Banks on December 20, 2009 at 11:38 am

   This is a very well made unit. It feels solid, very firm. Set up is idiot proof. Take it out of the box and plug it in & it starts changing the internal battery. The middle compartment folds in & out to provide the base / stand for the system and then it folds in for travel or when not in use. The design of the dock part seems like it could handle just about any model ipod or iphone.

   Pro’s:

   Very sturdy and solid feeling. Passed the squeeze & flex test well.
   
   Very simple operation. Buttons are well labeled, etc. Very minimalist design & elegant.
   
   Makes a nice little stand for your ipod or iphone, isn’t too big.
   
   Works with the iphone without any warning errors! Yay! Also it charges the ipod / iphone.
   
   Rechargeable battery built in! Perfect for taking around the house or on a day trip, etc.
   
   Has a power saving mode but I haven’t tried it, I like the idea tho! Yay for more battery life right?
   
   Has an auxiliary in for non ipod devices (what, like record players? – grins)

   Con’s:

   Seems pricey, IMHO it should be under $100 which I assume will come with time.
   
   Sound quality is nice but as usual with small systems, there is no “sense” of sound separation. This could be a “one speaker system” for all you can tell sound-wise.

   Side Note:

   The battery does not appear to be user replaceable, so, as with most batteries, it will lose its ability to hold a charge in a few years (depending on the # of charges) and thus this unit has a definite shelf life of 5 years or less or you send it in for repair / replacement. But I assume Logitech wants you to buy a new model within 2-3 years right? Bleh. I know this is a quibble but, its deserves to be said. The battery, like the battery in an ipod or iphone, will not be as good 2-3 years from now.

   For this price, it would be nice if it were a true dock, not just a speaker system. I’d love to keep this at my desk and use to connect to the mac or pc for syncing. But I think no one has really figured out how to make a ipod – iphone speaker / usb dock properly, as the speaker system would have to negotiate with the USB for when it was synced and unable to provide audio to the speakers etc. I have not seen any other USB dock / speaker system out there btw.

5. 

   G. Ware Cornell Jr. on December 20, 2009 at 1:14 pm

   Remember your first iPod? How the amazing device stored 10GBs of your songs which were accessible if you spun the wheel and pressed play? Even then third party vendors were trying to get the sound out of your earbuds and into your home. Now lots of companies offer iPod and iPhone speakers, but few capture the simplicity of the Apple model. Now one has.

   Essentially a small boom-box, the S315i has two parts, a boom-box and an AC charger/adaptor. Insert any iPod or iPhone, turn on the boom-box and hit play on your iPod or iPhone and rich sound fills the room. Plug in the AC adptor and it charges not just teh boombox but also the Apple device (unplugged it doesn’t).So even though in the power saver mode you can get 20 hours on a charge that capacity may not be true for your iPhone.

   Still this is a small light device which you can take to the beach or on a picnic. It is well designed and well crafted both physically and aurally.