Sound Bite Xtreme Black USB Inc MP3 Input Headphone Jack Sep Volume

This is a plug n' play USB Speaker with excellent sound compared to other speakers of it's size. I've tested it in Windows 7 and Kubuntu 9.10. It works great in both, though in linux you have to bump up the audio device preference in the sound manager; it's very easy to use :). One thing I should note, is that higher pitch sounds do sound a bit tinny, but voices come across very clearly. The built in 52mm bass is also quite powerful for it's speaker class. Unfortunately, this speaker does not have a built in mic, otherwise it would perfect as a portable skype conference phone. The speaker can get quite loud as well, without noticeable distortion until the upper threshold. The speaker itself is probably a little less than 3 inches in diameter.

Obviously, it's a little more expensive than it's predecessor the TR-UA211. This new version appears to be black, without the folding 2x28mm speakers, and more aesthetically pleasing in general. An added plus is that it comes with...Read more

Unfortunately, my Studio 15 laptop has such bad speakers that this is a noticeable upgrade. If a friend went to a concert, called you on their cell phone, then held the phone up in the air so you could listen, you would probably get better fidelity than my built-in laptop speakers. I don't require perfect sound reproduction, but I do want to be able to watch a youtube video or TV show and be able to tell what is being said. This unit meets that need. The unit is quite sturdy and provides adequate sound for me and other people in the same room. No worries about damaging this unit when you put it in your bag. The USB cable wraps up neatly inside the bottom for transport. The price is higher than you would pay for similar sound quality from regular desktop speakers, but you gain the portability, durable construction and compact size.

I bought this to use at work with my MP3 player, but not as a sound device. I can't attest to that use. I was tired of thrashing through batteries with my other compact speakers, so I liked that I can power this from any PC usb port, and I also have an AC to USB power adapter that I use for charging my other USB devices (this is a nifty and highly-valuable gadget in my bag), so I power it that way sometimes. I won't use the headphone jack, but that is a nice touch.

Sound quality is reasonable for compact speakers. The bass is a bit weak, and the treble falls off a bit. The volume is fairly good for small enclosures like offices and cubicles, and the sound is pleasant, and can be tweaked with settings on my MP3 player.

The USB cord should be longer, at least three feet. The fact that it coils inside the base is nice.

A retractable 3.5mm connector cord would be very very nifty.

Construction is excellent, very solid.