Sonic Impact Technologies 5008 Gen 2 Portable Speakers

Rating:
Summary: Great Speakers
Review: I bought these speakers to use with a discman in my car (the stereo was stolen) on a long trip. In an enclosed space these speakers are loud! I was really impressed with the volume & clarity. There isn't any distortion, unless you have the bass cranked up. They sound best when placed 3-4 inches from a hard surface. I'm planning on using them in my cube at work. They sound better than most PC speakers.

Rating:
Summary: Great product for the price!
Review: I initially began my search for portable speakers for my notebook computer. First I went with the Sony SRS-T33 because of the brand name, and I was severely dissapointed with the tinny and canned sound the speakers produced. After doing some more research I came across the Gen2 speakers from Sonic Impact, and I am definitely impressed.

This pair of speakers cost less than the Sonys did, though I did have to sacrifice some portability. However, the sound generated from such flat speakers is amazing, and the most benefitial feature is that the speakers can be powered by a USB port. This makes these speakers perfect for a notebook computer.

In order to get best results, I had to place the speakers so that their backs were facing a corner. This produced great sound in the lower frequencies without sacrificing any of the higher frequencies. Additionally, toying around with the Equalizer on Winamp or Windows Media Player helped me get the best out of these speakers.

Without a doubt, this was a worthy purchase, especially at such a fair price. Despite the fact that it is not manufactured by a brand name (like Sony) the superb sound quality for the price will quickly put to rest any doubts.

Rating:
Summary: GOOD QUALITY SOUND
Review: I only have the 5006 model i got at target on sale and the sound quality is great for the price of these spreakers and the sound fills a whole small room real good!!!!!!!!

Great product to buy for a portable audio device.

Rating:
Summary: Really good
Review: I researched these speakers and found out that they are just like the bose speakers that I have.If you buy these use small eletronics beacuse I used it on my stero and they did not sound good.It's best used with a laptop,dvd player,cd player,mini disk player,MP3 player as it says on the package.

Rating:
Summary: Pleasently surprised...
Review: I usually don't write reviews unless I really hate a product or really love it. In this case, it's love. Here's the scoop, you've got this awesome portable audio system (CD, MP3, iPod)and only have earphones to hear it with. How about those times when you don't want to be "hooked up" to a device?

Enter ... portable speakers. They have to be light and easy to set up, and preferrably, free of the need to plug them in to the electrical outlet. Most importantly, sound good. I test drove about 3 other types of speakers (goal = under $80), didn't want to spend more than I spent for my MP3 player, didn't seem right.

I'll cut to the chase. These speakers sound great. At first they looked cheap and clumsy ... 3 cables hanging out ... cardboard-like flat panels. I came to realize the dangly wires facilitate moving the speakers apart from each other for a nice spacial affect .. i.e. surround sound emulation. Many speakers in this and higher price range are one piece; more convenient in some cases, but ultimately less satisfying if you enjoy the 3D realism. If you position yourself between the 2 speakers, you feel as if the band is right in front of you.

The response is dynamic and the tone richly satisfying. Granted, portable speakers will never be like your home system speakers (or even those in your car). But the portability, coupled with crisp, warm presentation, makes you stop worrying and KNOW you make a good choice.

Negatives? Unknown how well it will stand up to being lugged around (and I take them everywhere). I may be surprised by their durability as well.

Skip the other speakers in this price range and buy these! Nuff said.

Rating:
Summary: Good Engineering. Powerful for size. Can be picky
Review: I've just got my speakers, so this is on a first time basis. That in mind, here's what I've found so far:

The speakers need a good place, the bass needs to reflect off something behind the speakers if you want a more surroundish kind of ambiance and deeper sound. This works well for me in my dorm since I put my computer in a corner.

Some initial problems I had included the media I used. Try to keep in mind these speakers are kind of odd because of the design, and so mp3's and CD's will most of the time not be mixed for them. I used itunes for this test, so messing around with the Eq had incredible effects. That is to say, the things have sweet spots if you look hard.

I could go on, but thus far, I know this much: They require a good bit of experimentation, but it pays off. I think this is why so many people give them mixed ratings, saying they suck or they are perfect. Quite honestly, I have to reposition them for some songs. But, given the results for such a price, and the size, they are awesome if you can figure out how to tweak them. Take your own analysis, but I enjoy experimenting.

One final word: They are very light and also seem a bit flimsy. You have to get used to it because that is how design has to be if you want decent sound. That in mind, putting a more sturdy structure around them if you have the room will probably have very nice effects. Ta ta!

Rating:
Summary: Guest Speakers!
Review: If you:
1) Want a great set of portable stereo notebook speakers or portable speakers for your handheld music devices

2) Want to use your notebook's USB port to power the speakers (USB Power Cable included). (The speakers are also battery powered using 4 AAA batteries).

3) Want to meet shiek-geeky people who ask you, "Where did you get those ultra-modern, hi-tech, great sounding, USB powered, ultra-portable, sexy speakers; then the Sonic Impact 5008 Gen 2 Portable Speakers are for you.

They are ultra light and perform brilliantly.

They work excellently with MP3 Players, portable DVD players, etc., etc.

You will be pleased! One set of batteries will last you an entire "day". (about 10+ hours of listening pleasure).

These speakers are, by far, greatly superior to most "built-in" notebook computer speakers and are a fine alternative for those times when the headphones just gotta come off.

Get Um! I got Um and I am pleased!



Rating:
Summary: Excellent travelling speakers
Review: Since I travel full-time, enjoying my music, dvd, and game library is a balance between speaker performance and the hassle of committing luggage space. I chose to give the Sonic Impact SI-5 Gen2s a try after reading the reviews on this and other sites. The benefits of the extremely small size, almost no weight and NO POWER BRICK of any kind were my deciding factors. Sure, they do not offer the same frequency response of the Bose or other high-end speakers, but they compares quite favorably with other small-form traditional speakers not using a sub-woofer. I was surprised at the sound quality. Everything from Ozzy to classical and films to playing Halo sounds pretty awesome. I don't know of any signal to noise ratio rating, but I don't hear any hissing at a normal distance even with the volume significantly loud.

A previous review stated that playing with the EQ was essential. I agree, though it was a simple 30 second process with the Windows Media Player. The music actually seemed distorted without adjusting the EQ. I was quite disappointed with the speakers out of the box, but the EQ took care of the problem very simply.

You're not going to throw any parties with these speakers, but they are loud enough to get the guests in the next hotel room calling the front desk. Also, with the volume up and holding the speaker face-up, a dime dances like crazy, nearly flipping over (that's probably not endorsed by the manufacturer). They do move some air.

You can't beat these for balancing size, weight, performance and price. I and my travelling crew compare notes on portable computer accessories and have used Bose, Yamaha, Creative Labs, and other speakers in the past. The afore-mentioned balance of features these speakers offer is going to sell quite a few to the people I work with.

Note: The SI-5 Gen1 (around $20) require battery power or purchase of an AC/DC power adapter or USB power cable. The SI-5 Gen2 of this review (around $30) include the USB power cable or will run off battery power. The package, however, has a missprint stating that the USB cable is not included. You can see it through the clear plastic package. Fear not.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre sound but excellent portability
Review: The sound from these speakers is mediocre at best: lots of midrange, very little bass. They sound like cheap car speakers. However, I teach classes and like to start the day with some music, and these speakers are perfect for quiet background music from my PC. If your music software has an EQ, increase the volume on your PC to the max, keep the speaker volume at 5, boost the bass EQ a little, cut the mid EQ a lot, and boost the treble EQ a lot. They'll sound ok at low volume, and they're so small and light won't even notice you have them in your luggage. (NOTE: the SI-5 is basically the same speaker without a USB cable.)

Rating:
Summary: Theoretically good speakers
Review: These Sonic Impact NXT speakers produce good stereo imaging. The sound is not painfully bad, once you get used to them. And powering them from the usb port is convenient.

They do not produce a lot of sound, enough for utilitarian uses with a laptop, but not watching a movie or listening to music. If you are able to crank up the sound enough, they will rattle.

The stands do not lock into place, and opening the stand on the secondary speaker takes some force and produces an unpleasantly loud cracking noise. Move the speakers a bit and the stand returns to the retracted position, requiring you to force it open, loudly, again.

The SonicImpact NXT SI 5 flat panel speakers take 4 AAA batteries. From what I can tell, they produce less sound in this mode than with usb power. It is awkward to insert the batteries because of the compartment design, and they pop out again, if you do not promptly put the cover on.

The sound is OK, similar to some small amplified speakers I bought about 15 years ago. There is no bass, limited treble, and a significant amount of coloration. But the NXT speakers still manage to produce good detail to the sound because of the single-unit driver.

The NXT speaker design has theoretical potential that has not been realized, probable because of cheap materials and a low quality amplifier. As far as I know, a class D amplifier is some sort of technique for producing sound with the minimum amount of electrical power. And sound quality seems to suffer here.

I am mystified how these SI5 speakers could get such rave reviews. It seems to me someone is blowing canned smoke.