A dock too far?
Let's just be honest - here at T3 towers we're constantly bombarded with new iPod docks, so we not only use them to blast music at each other, they also make for excellent door stoppers and defense mechanisms when playing office war.
As you can imagine, any new iPod dock will have to bring something new to the table to make us look up and pay attention. Unfortunately, Altec Lansing InMotion MAX iMT702 fails to do just that.
It's a pretty standard dock, reminiscent of Logitech's Pure-Fi Anywhere and the Bose SoundDock Portable digital music system, with an iPod drawer in the front that pops out and accepts pretty much every old and new iGadget, except the Shuffle.
While the design is pretty inoffensive, some might say boring, it does blend in rather anonymously and won't create havoc in either the kitchen or the bedroom.
Most of the front is covered with see-through mesh, showing a pair of 50mm drivers and two 55mm passive radiators, while the glossy top accommodates touch-sensitive controls and a single-line LCD display.
The accompanying remote sits on the back but can easily be removed, enabling you with the magic powers of remote control. You can control the most basic functions like source, volume and skipping tracks. It works well but we feel the design is slightly dated – although that could just be us with our fussy taste.
We like the unit's built-in rechargeable battery which lets you take it for a trip to the park, just don't expect it to play for more than 3.5 hours on a full charge. While the dock recharges your iPod or iPhone when plugged in, your portable gear is on its own when it's running off the battery. Alas, the dock can't be used as an emergency iPod charger on the go.
If you get sick of your own music collection, you can always surf the FM waves thanks to the built-in radio or attach your uncool friend's non-Apple gear through the AUX input.
Tuning on the radio is easy in .2 increments and the included external antenna provides decent reception, although if it's pulled out, you'll have problems receiving anything. Four presets can be saved on the remote, but not accessed without it.
Sound quality is good at low and medium levels but tends to become a bit muddy when you crank up the volume. Enabling ESS (Expanded Sound Stage) rebalances the treble and bass to create a better listening experience at high volume levels, but it doesn’t really compensate for the lack of a dedicated subwoofer.
The dock is fully compatible with the iPhone, shielding it from interference from Wi-Fi and GSM signals. It also automatically pauses playback when you receive a call or an alarm goes off.
So why should you run out and buy this system? It's a good question, because at £150 it’s on the pricier end of the iPod docking scale. The battery life is ok, though could be improved we feel, and whilst the sound quality was good most of the time, it occasionally left us wanting more.
Source: T3 Magazine
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