Altec Lansing inMotion iM7

If you've got an iPod - any iPod - this could be its new best friend.

While it’s a cinch to play your iPod through any stereo – provided you have the right $12 cable – and cheap to do, assuming you already own a stereo, there is another way to enjoy your iPod music as room-filling loudness.

Dedicated systems for iPod’s started appearing shortly after it was apparent that iPod was the cool thing to have, for millions of people. Typically these are ghetto blaster style decks with a slot for the iPod to slip into. If the proliferation of iPodness continues, then this form-factor may well end up being the way of the future for many homes.

Today we’re looking at the iMotion iM7 from respectable American audio company Altec Lansing. And we like it. The iM7 gets our thumbs-up for terrific audio quality and clever features that lift it beyond a mere boombox.

Inside the attractive cylindrical iM7 are quality Neodymium drivers and tweeters, plus a pretty decent subwoofer. We tested with a range of music and volumes and the iM7 delivered across the range. Classical music was clean and refined, yet deep, not tinny. Rock was also clear and powerful and bassy dance held up even at high volumes. Picking up the iM7 gives away the secret – it’s heavy, and heavy speaker magnets = quality.

Your iPod simply slots into a front bay. Very easy and owners won’t have any trouble getting into a routine of shifting the iPod from shirt pocket to iM7 as they go.

But at $399, the iM7 needs to offer a bit more than just quality speakers in a nice case. It does. Besides the obligatory remote, the iM7 features S-Video out for Video iPod owners. This feature alone makes the iM7 worthy. Plonk it near your telly and let the iM7 handle sound while it streams video. Lovely, and a bonus treat is having it all ready in case a mate pops over with a Video iPod.

The iM7 also charges your iPod while it’s docked. It takes batteries too so you can take it on the road.

The iM7 will take any iPod model and fill a room with quality sound and video for a decent price.