iMainGo: X and iMainGo: 2 – product reviews

You say you want audio? You say you want your volume BIG, but you want your package small? iMainGo has you covered. The two iMainGo audio units are essentially a protective clamshell that has bold sounding audio speakers  and a padded compartment to hold your iPod, iPhone or iTouch. A clear, touch-sensitive window allows control of your device even when the shell is zipped closed.

Not an Apple fan? No problem, both units will work with a host of MP3 players as well. With its gold tipped 3.5mm stereo plug, just about anything with a headphone jack will work. (That means you could use it with your iPad, although a special model for the iPad is coming this year.)

SOUND QUALITY

You like your music because it sounds good, and loudspeakers aren’t what you want if they distort the music or audio broadcast you’re listening to. No problem here. The two titanium speakers and two tuned bass ports put out sweet sound no matter what genre you choose. Good bass is hard to come by in small packages and these are about as good as life gets. I and everyone I’ve shown them to have been amazed at the quality.

POWER

There are two models to choose from.  The iMainGo: X has its own internal rechargeable battery pack and comes with a medium-sized wall wart plug to recharge or for extended sessions. One full recharge lasts a good long time. The iMainGo: 2 uses 4 conventional AAA batteries obtainable anywhere for up to 30 hours of playtime.

VOLUME

Rarely does anything this compact put out the huge sound of these two units. Literally, you’ll be able to hear these units over 50’ away. Want more distance? Daisy chain two units together and get twice the power. (This only applies to the iMainGo: X model, which comes with two headphone jacks as well as a microphone input jack.)  As cool as that is, I doubt you’ll ever need it. 

Now you can watch your iPod videos and actually enjoy the audio without headphones. You won’t miss a thing with these speakers.

iMainGo products are sold online at their website or you can also find them at Target, Amazon, REI, EMS or MacHelper (Canada) and Amazon UK. Try them, I know you’ll be blown away.

The perfect keyboard for those who travel

Great ultra-portable 76-key digital piano with amazing sound. For anyone that travels and wants to take their keyboard, you can't do better than this. For the full review, click here: http://dbhas.info/dCjnYY
Or watch the video for a beginners introduction.

A review of the Yamaha Piaggero NP-V80 primarily to demonstrate the audio qualities of the keyboard. I'm not a pianist and don't pretend to be. Hopefully this video will be followed up with a video by someone who really knows how to make this keyboard sing. The sound quality and the options are really fantastic.

Have playlist - Will travel

You've packed your SUV. You've loaded your tank. Maps are in the glove box (just in case.) GPS is locked on to a signal. Windshield washer reservoir is full. The cooler is packed with ice and your favorite road-legal beverage. The dog is at the pet resort. "Are we ready?"

Ummm....maybe not. What are you going to listen to? That same old 80 gigs of tunes on your IPOD? Hardly. New road trips require new playlists, and real road trips require road worthy songs.

So say Bret and Jackie of "The Jetpacker" blog. They've whipped up the all time top 50 road songs to keep you going. Get their list here. According to them "By the time you’ve played every song on this list, you’ll be 3 hours, 30 minutes and 28 seconds closer to your destination.  Which means you’ll likely play this entire list four or five more times before you get to where you’re going.  But at least these songs aren’t one and done."

With "Free Bird," "Runnin Down a Dream," and "Life is a Highway" blasting from your 200 watt, speaker-in-every-door, pumped-up audio system, you'll enjoy keeping that petal to the metal for miles and miles. Speaking of which, "I Can See for Miles" by The Who should have been on the list, but isn't. Consider that my bonus to you as song 51.