Logitech mm28

I got a RCA Lyra MP3 player as a gift for Christmas and knew that I would want to use it with speakers, not just the headphones. Looking for speakers was overwhelming with there being such a range of prices, brands and all sorts of terms I know nothing about! Wanting speakers that were light, easily portable and affordable, I settled on these Logitech mm28 speakers purchased from Staples business depot on sale for 39.95 down from the regular price of 79.95 (Canadian) I have to admit I bought them based on the small portable size and price alone. I did not research them online, nor did I realize that they were different than regular speakers because they used NXT flat panel technology.

NXT flat panel technology ~ I read up a little about NXT and learned that the technology is fairly new being introduced at the end of the 90's in the UK. A typical speaker has a tweeter and a woofer producing sound from these two sources. NXT uses exciters to vibrate a thin surface membrane to produce sound from one source, the entire panel area of the speaker.

Speaker design ~ Sleek and slim, makes it perfect for packing up to go out. It is an unbelievable 11/4" thin, measures just under a foot in length, and about 4" in height. It is also quite light, to the point that I was afraid of breaking it – but not so light that it feels cheap or flimsy. The speaker is grey in colour and the plastic it is made of is smooth to the touch.

The front of the speaker contains a clear plastic cover on hinges. The hinges allow the cover to swing all the way around to be used as a base to stand the speaker up. When you want to take your speaker along simply close up the cover to protect the speaker panel. No carrying case is required! I wondered how well this base would work on a surface like a bed or sofa, somewhere that isn't completely flat, but the cover is wide enough that it has enough area to sit on. The cover also stays where you leave it on the hinges so the speaker panel doesn't fall forward on its own.
The only negative to this clear cover is that once it gets all scratched up - which it will if you are taking it out anywhere - its gonna look like crap. But hey, better than scratching up the speaker panel.

The speaker uses a standard 3.5mm stereo input for use with MP3s, DVDs, laptops or cads players. So basically anything that has a headphone jack should be adaptable to this. The input cord is about 15" long which is fairly adequate for using with the above mentioned devices. So no, you can't run the speaker across the room from your MP3, but being able to do that would require a much longer cord and make the speaker not as portable. The back of the speaker has a groove that the cable fits inside of. This integrated cable management is handy so the cord does not have to be carried separately and is not hanging out in the way when taking the speaker out.

Power Sources ~ The speaker comes with an AC adapter that has to be plugged in to the back of the speaker and the wall outlet. This is how I usually power the speaker at home. A power button on top of the speaker must be pressed to turn the speaker on. The power button has a blue LED light in the background to tell you if the speaker is on. You can also use 4 AA batteries in the back of the speaker to have power when you are out where there isn't a wall outlet. Logitech claims you can get over 45 hours of battery life, but I have not tested that out to see how long I really would get.

Sound ~ Volume control is on the device you are plugged into, not the speaker. Using my MP3 at home for exercising or doing housework I only have it turned up halfway and it is adequate for me to hear the music well. Because the NXT flat panel technology claims to give enhanced bass I tried it with different songs and volume levels. When I cranked it right up and put on a dance song Barbie Girl by Aqua the bass had static, but at halfway volume was normal with the beats a little more pronounced. Then when I played a Bob Dylan song with the volume cranked up there was no static involved at all. Note: Please don't downrate my review because of my taste in music :)
So I would not recommend this speaker if you were planning on using it to have a house party as when you have to crank up the volume you are going to get some distortions.

The instructions included were one page, simple and included pictures for dummies like me. It is easy; really, just plug and play.
Safety precautions are a no brainer, do not use near water, do not set on a heat source, wipe clean with a dry cloth. Etc.
Logitech provides a 2 year from date of purchase warranty on the speaker.

Considering I only picked this speaker based on the price and size, I am very pleased with its sound, its adaptability to different devices, and its portability. I am confident I will get much use out of it being able to take it outside in the summer when gardening and already use it frequently indoors with my MP3 player.
If I have any issues with the speaker at all I will update at a future time.

If you want a speaker that is small in size but mighty in sound, look for this Logitech mm28 that uses NXT flat panel technology. It's everything you want in a portable speaker without the bulk.

Special Thanks to retired Epinions member MichaelHatton who wrote a great essay on NXT technology. Although he doesn't write anymore I'm glad he left his reviews up to educate me!