Portable Speakers

Because the iPod and iPod Mini use an industry-standard headphone jack, you are not limited to only using headphones to listen to your music. The iPod can act as a portable music player, as well. Although the iPod is great for personal use, sharing your music with family and friends or coworkers, can be even more enjoyable.

Tip

Remember that price does not always equal quality! If you prefer one set of speakers over another, don't let the cheaper price deter you.

If you plan to play your speakers outdoors, be certain to buy speakers that won't get ruined if it rains! Many speakers are waterproof, so do your homework before deciding which speakers fit your needs the best.

Because the iPod does not generate enough power through the headphone jacks, you need a powered speaker system or amplifier to get the most sound out of your iPod.

inMotion Portable iPod Speakers

The word "portable" in the name means you can use these inMotion speakers anywhere, without the need to plug into a power outlet. They work with four AA batteries, which can last up to 24 hours on continuous play. The inMotion speakers are small, weighing it at only 8 ounces, so you can take it with you easily. Even better, it has its own amplifier built-in, delivering 2 watts of power in each speaker.

The inMotion Portable iPod speakers are for use with the third generation iPod only, including the iPod Mini with adapter sold separately. The inMotion speakers act as a dock, and your iPod plugs into it via the dock adapter.

Price: $149.00

www.alteclansing.com

Ezison Personal Speakers for iPod

These are small, battery-powered speakers similar to the inMotion speakers, but these work with any full-size iPod. Simply set the iPod in the cradle, plug them in via the headphone jack, and enjoy.

Price: $199.99

www.welovemacs.com

Sony SRS-T55 Folding Travel Speaker

These folding speakers work perfectly with any generation iPod, as they draw their sound from the headphone jack. They weigh about one pound, produce 2 watts of power, and fold up into a purse or bag.

Price: $49.99

www.sony.com

iPod Carry Speaker Tote Bag Groove Bag Triplet and Tote

Think of this as a purse, but with built-in speakers and a slot for your iPod. This is an amazingly clever Gucci-like handbag, with nice-sounding speakers. Although obviously not for the male iPod owner, this speaker bag has been featured on TechTV (G4TV), Fox News, Style.com, and even Wired. 0.5 watts produces little in the way of real power, but this speaker bag is more about style than practicalitya neat item.

Price: $139.00

www.drbott.com

iPal Portable Speaker with Tuner

The iPal supports all iPods, as it uses the headphone jack to get the music from the iPod to its speakers. Unlike the previous speakers, the iPal is also an AM/FM radio using Automatic Frequency Control (AFC), which is one of the best ways to keep a radio station in tune. Because it is also a radio, the iPal has a telescoping antenna. Even better, the iPal has a rechargeable NiMH battery, which recharges in as little as three hours, and lasts longer than the charge in your iPod!

The iPal is an attractive, great-sounding external speaker for your iPod.

Price: $129.99

www.tivoliaudio.com