Altec Lansing T612

Manufacturer: Altec Lansing Part number: T612

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CNET Editor rating:
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Average user rating: 0.5 stars out of 1 review

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: While it's missing a couple of key features found in competing models, the T612 distinguishes itself with a sleek design, decent sound, and some mobile phone anti-interference technology that makes the system particularly appealing to iPhone owners.

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Once you know, you Newegg!	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Free Three Day Shipping	Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price	$149.95 Shop now as of 10/15/2008
	Rate this store See store profile	In stock	$192.80 Shop now as of 10/15/2008
Trusted by millions for over 33 years!	Rate this store See store profile	In stock Money-back Guarantee!		$199.99 Shop now as of 10/15/2008

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$192.80

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Trusted by millions for over 33 years!

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$199.99

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as of 10/15/2008

*Total price for the Altec Lansing T612 are estimated and may vary slightly based on exact tax, shipping, manufacturer rebate or any sale/promotion on the merchant site.

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CNET editors' review

Altec Lansing T612

price range: $149.95 - $199.99

Reviewed by: David Carnoy
Edited by: John P. Falcone
Reviewed on: 02/26/2008

The good: GSM-shielded iPod dock allows iPhone to be used without the need to switch it to airplane mode; attractive design; decent sound, with richer bass than you would expect from a speaker system that's this compact; music pauses and resumes before and after taking a call.

The bad: No radio; no video output; wireless remote offers limited functionality.

The bottom line: While it's missing a couple of key features found in competing models, the T612 distinguishes itself with a sleek design, decent sound, and some mobile phone anti-interference technology that makes the system particularly appealing to iPhone owners.

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Back in 2006, Altec Lansing released the M602 iPod Home Audio System. Billed as a "high-end home system," the M602 initially carried a $199 MSRP, but its price has since dropped to closer to $100. Now the company is offering the T612, which, aside from its darker color scheme, looks identical to the M602 but is compatible not only with iPods but also iPhones. It also features some technology that makes it "immune to mobile phone interference," which means you can leave your iPhone's cell radio on while it's in the dock--and even take calls. That's a step up from all other speaker docks to date that require you to switch the iPhone to airplane mode to avoid the annoying interference that the Apple phone (and all other GSM cell phones) tend to cause when they're placed in close proximity to speakers.

Like the M602, the T612 is designed to sit on a table or shelf, or it can be mounted on a wall. (The latter requires mailing in a $3 check to cover shipping and handling charges for a "free" mounting bracket.) It's not as heavy as the boombox-esque Altec Lansing iM7, but it weighs at 5 pounds and measures 14 inches wide, 5.4 inches deep, and 8.2 inches high. The upright single chassis design is relatively compact, but it feels reasonably substantial when you take it out of the box.

Most iPod speakers are attractively designed, and the Altec Lansing M602 is no exception. Its silver and black motif lends itself a bit more to black iPods, but it pairs well enough with other colors, too. While you can connect other MP3 players via the auxiliary input on the back of the unit, this model doesn't ship with a universal stand that allows you to prop non-Apple MP3 players in the center-front tray. Not a big deal, but worth pointing out.

The T612 carries over the blue LED light subtheme--the T612 has them on front, under the speaker grille, to indicate volume and bass/treble levels. What's a little confusing is that to adjust the bass and/or treble levels, you have to hold down the corresponding button, then press the plus/minus volume button to raise and lower levels.

The earlier M602 includes a USB port that lets you to sync your iPod with iTunes on your Windows or Mac machine. That's missing in this model. Also gone is the video output (you know, the little yellow jack you're used to seeing on TVs) that gives you the option of displaying your iPod and iPhone videos on a TV. A small wireless remote is included, but it offers limited functionality--you can skip tracks forward and back, pause and play, and adjust the volume and bass/treble levels. Navigating through the menus on your iPod/iPhone is not possible, though.

As for the Altec Lansing T612's sound quality, it seemed very similar to the quality of the M602--which is to say, decent. Like a lot of these all-in-one speaker systems, this model has very little in the way of stereo separation. The speakers, which are equipped with two 3-inch drivers and two tweeters, are essentially next to each other; as a result, the system probably sounds best if you're sitting only about four feet away from it.

The treble and midrange are the system's strongest suit, with voices, guitars, and acoustic music sounding quite pleasant. As with the M602, the Neville Brothers and the Burt Bacharach/Posies sounded good, with bass performance delivering a noticeable step-up from similarly sized systems. The low-end held together at higher volumes better than we thought it would on bass-heavy tunes such as Prince's "Incense and Candles" on his 3121 album. Toni Braxton's "He Wasn't Man Enough For Me" and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" also delivered decent punch. That said, we had to wind down the bass a bit to avoid distortion on an Art of Noise tune--though it still played loud enough to fill a small room.

The mobile phone anti-interference technology worked as advertised. We connected an iPhone and didn't hear any audible hiss or buzzing. (The iPhone will work in most other iPod speaker docks, but you need to switch it to airplane mode to avoid the resulting interference--which would in turn send all your incoming calls straight to voice mail.) We called the phone while we were listening to music, and the music automatically turned off when the call came in. We answered the phone while it was still in the dock and hit the speakerphone button to talk. Alas, no sound came through the T612's speakers, only through the iPhone's speaker. But we were able to talk just fine on the phone while standing at close range. Then, after we hung up the call, the song we were listening to resumed. True, that's a feature of the iPhone, not the dock, but it was still pretty nifty.

In the end, we really didn't have any major complaints to report--except that we wish Altec Lansing had kept some of the features previously available in its earlier M602. It's too bad the video output's missing, and it also would have been nice if a good old-fashioned FM radio was on board. But clearly the T612's iPhone-centric features are its main selling points. So those who don't have--or aren't planning to buy--an iPhone will probably be better served by one of the many other worthwhile iPod speakers on the market. But for those who have an iPhone (and maybe even an iPod or two), the T612 is worth considering, particularly as the street price drops to below $150. It may take a little while, but if the price of the M602 is any indication, there's room for some discounts.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 0.5 stars out of 1 review
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1 stars

Failed to back faulty product

by bflodgreen on August 21, 2008

Pros: It didn't explode in my face

Cons: Where do I begin?......

Summary: I'll make this quick. Purchased a new M-602 03/2008. Power cord prongs (frail) broke off, rendering unit useless. I requested a replacement since it was under the 1 ...

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Summary: I'll make this quick. Purchased a new M-602 03/2008. Power cord prongs (frail) broke off, rendering unit useless. I requested a replacement since it was under the 1 year full warranty. I've been told NUMEROUS times "It's on its way", "it's on back order", "you will have it soon", "It was shipped, give it 7-10 days" (This was in April). To wrap this up, I have 17 pages of a thread with their "online customer service" filled with one lie after another. You can't find a power cord anywhere. I am out $160 for a silver box that does nothing. I have found NUMEROUS similar complaints re: the failure of the power cord. Seven months of being jerked around, and still never got a power cord. They even told me "you will be receiving a new replacement unit", which obviously didn't arrive. I told them I'd post the thread, and nothing. But since it covers 7 months of emails and is over 17 pages, I will spare you the details. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY - unless you like buying faulty stuff that won't be backed by the warranty. Thank you.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
Part number: T612
Description: Live your iPhone life to the fullest by pairing it with the extraordinary sound and intuitive convenience of the Altec Lansing T612. Made to complement iPhone's command of the digital world, the T612 extends your iPhone's high-end audio capabilities with beautifully transparent music reproduction. 60 Watts of power RMS (120 Watts Peak) fill the room while keeping you perfectly in touch - because with the T612 there's no need to use “Flight Mode” while you listen to music. Instead, keep the phone turned on; when a call comes in the T612 gives priority to the call by interrupting the music.

General
Product Type Portable speakers with digital player dock
Width 13.9 in
Depth 5.4 in
Height 8.2 in
Speaker System
System Components 2 x Tweeter, 2 x speakers
Speaker Type Active
Nominal (RMS) Output Power 60 Watt
Max (RMS) Output Power (Total) 120 Watt
Response Bandwidth 60 - 20000 Hz
Signal-To-Noise Ratio 70 dB
Output Level (SPL) 100 dB
Built-in Devices Digital player charging dock
Controls Treble, Bass, Power on/off, Volume
Additional Features MP3 player jack
Speaker System Details
Speakers Included 1 x Speaker - 2-way - 60 - 20000 Hz
Driver Details 2 x 3 in speakers, 2 x 1 in tweeter
Connections
Connector Type 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )

Miscellaneous
MP3 Player Compatibility IPod mini, IPod nano, IPod with video (5G), IPod touch, IPod with color display, IPod classic
Cables Included 1 x Audio cable
Included Accessories Docking station adapter
Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
Power
Power Device Power adapter - External
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year

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