OK, so it's not exactly "my" Zune accessory. More like CNET's first Zune accessory. Or at least the first one that seems pretty decent. (I'm sorry, but the cases I've seen so far seem to do nothing but add bulk to the already bulky Zune.) When first asked if I'd like to write up something on some Zune speakers, I was skeptical. After all, while I haven't been as vocal about this yet as with my aversion to the iPod, I don't like the Zune...not that I've given it much of a chance, but the lack of backward compatibility really irritates me. I will have to actually use it for more than five minutes before I roundly abuse it, though. But I digress.
I may not like the iPod very much, but that doesn't stop me from writing about its plethora of accessories. I decided it's only fair to give the Zune the same treatment. Enter the Altec Lansing M604, a rather minimalist speaker system that's closely related to the iPod-friendly M602. The system is dominated by a large, single speaker grille, which serves to camoflage 2 2-inch full-range drivers and 2 1-inch tweeters. A centrally placed cradle accepts the Zune player, which charges while docked, or you can snap on the included universal adapter, which protects the dock connector and lets you place any MP3 player front and center.
Along the top edge of the M604, Altec Lansing has provided basic controls: power, volume up/down, and bass and treble buttons that switch the mode of the up/down keys. The speaker system has no display for monitoring levels, but a useful LED system provides a solution. A row of green LEDs sits behind the speaker grille. When you adjust volume, bass, or treble, the LEDs light up accordingly, then go dark after you've finished your adjustments. This is a small but welcome feature. The M604 also includes an IR remote, which adds some rudimentary (play/pause and track shuttle buttons) playback controls. As the Zune's screen is large and fairly easy to read at a distance, it'd be nicer if the remote also included some menu browsing capability. Also lacking is any way to shuttle through FM radio stations, though it is kind of odd to have the headphones (read: antennae) plugged in while the Zune is docked in the speaker.
A couple of final notes: first, the brown Zune, which I personally find rather ugly anyway, looks a bit incongruous plugged into the M604, as the speaker is black with silver accents. Also, cursory testing reveals that the speakers sound very good--as well they should for 200 smackers. Stay tuned for a more in-depth review.
4 out of 10 - Mediocre Great.. when it works
Got this as a gift with a Zune, and it worked for a while, but have had consistent problems with ...
Got this as a gift with a Zune, and it worked for a while, but have had consistent problems with the docking of the Zune connection as well as just even the power connection. Worked great when it was up and running (after significant frustration of jiggling wires) but can't say much more.
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by ekatona (see profile) -
April 19, 2008
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Very Good for Price I Paid
I only paid 49.95 at buy.com for this speaker system and it is a steal at that price. ...
I only paid 49.95 at buy.com for this speaker system and it is a steal at that price. It is a little quirky with the order that you must follow to turn on the system and the Zune, but once figured out this system is easy to use and is surprisingly good at medium and higher volumes. A great accessory for using your Zune in and out of the house.
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by balcanon (see profile) -
December 29, 2007
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 out of 10 - Excellent I think it's wonderful!
I got this for my hsband for christmas and he loves it to death! He listens to it all the ...
I got this for my hsband for christmas and he loves it to death! He listens to it all the time. Grreat sound too!
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by gothgirl2025 (see profile) -
February 6, 2008
8 out of 10 - Excellent Great little sound dock!
All things considered, it's a pretty good system. Easy to move around and take with you if needed. I ...
All things considered, it's a pretty good system. Easy to move around and take with you if needed. I wish the remote could control more than just the sound and current song, but other than that, great product with plenty of volume.
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by PDubs (see profile) -
February 4, 2008
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Sounds great out of a minimal form factor. Just works
I bought this to replace my clunky 3 speaker setup which had wires going everywhere and was nearly impossible to ...
I bought this to replace my clunky 3 speaker setup which had wires going everywhere and was nearly impossible to move. This unit has a small form factor and looks great on my nightstand in the bedroom.
It comes with an adapter that covers the Zune port and allows you to place any MP3 player there. You use the AUX audio input in that situation (cable provided).
I love that you can control Bass & Treble from remote along with volume, power and skip back or forward.
Got this unit from woot.com for only $45! What a steal. Even at $99.00 this unit would be great for office, kitchen, bedroom or anywhere limited in space.
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by deitiphobia (see profile) -
December 17, 2007
6 out of 10 - Good It has good sound and volume control. Video output jack in the back.
I like it, however it was not worth $200 to keep without having full Remote navigation and control of my ...
I like it, however it was not worth $200 to keep without having full Remote navigation and control of my zune. I can do better with a Zune dock for $49. I sent it back.
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by patrickstevens (see profile) -
February 24, 2007
8 out of 10 - Excellent Excellent for $35 (on sale)!
I picked this up at Office Depot on sale for $35, mounted it on the wall near our thermostat (center ...
I picked this up at Office Depot on sale for $35, mounted it on the wall near our thermostat (center of house). Works great! Could go a bit louder, but still suffcient.
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by Jivedaddy (see profile) -
February 7, 2008
1 x USB ( Mini-USB Type B ),
1 x Docking station,
1 x Composite video output ( RCA phono ),
1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ),
1 x Headphones ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
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