Just as the iPod has proliferated in North American, the dockable speaker set for iPod, iPod Nano, and the ill-fated iPod Shuffle has also become ubiquitous in the living rooms and kitchens of iPod aficionados across the land. Even considering the dubious sound quality of the MP3 generation in general, and the tiny speaker sets often used to play them, there is something to be said for the tiny size of both the players and the speaker sets. The new generation of small speaker sets are designed expressly to complement the iPod’s portability – if one’s MP3 files are desired in the bedroom instead of the family room, a lightweight system is easily transported across the house. Try that with your audiophile quality receiver, CD player, and behemoth floor-standing speakers…

And the new generation of docking speakers from reputable companies such as Tivoli, Kensington, and Altec Lansing are actually sounding pretty good, sharing the same dedication to quality as the iPod itself. Again, it is simply not appropriate to compare the quality of the small systems to full-size outfits, as they are two different breeds serving two entirely separate market sectors. For those who love the elegance and portability of the iPod or the Nano, a compatible set of dedicated speakers is almost a must, and any of the models mentioned will handle their duties very well indeed…

Altec Lansing IM11 Mobile Speaker System for iPod

This is the system that will get you started. The inMotion iM11 lets you listen to music on your iPod with robust sound while on the go. Fits, syncs and charges iPod, iPod photo, iPod mini and iPod nano players. The inMotion iM11 is an amplified extension of your iPod and replaces headphone listening while delivering high quality, crystal-clear sound. The compact, lightweight speaker system that goes just about anywhere you want to listen to music. The inMotion iM11 automatically recharges your iPod when plugged in and docked. The inMotion iM11 runs on AC or 4 AA batteries and allows you complete freedom. Folds to close at Width 8.5 x Depth 1.4 x Height 4.3 inches (216 mm x 36 mm x 110 mm) Input jack for second device connection, including CD & DVD players Dimensions - WIdth 9.9 x Depth 6.6 x Height 5.9, Width 252 mm x Depth 167 mm x Height 152 mm Weight - 14 ounces (390 g).