Best for: adaptability
Harman Kardon Go + Play £170
Although it isn't the smallest of our speaker sets, the Go + Play feels the most portable. Its tough plastic casing has a steel handle that gives it the air of a 1970s ghetto blaster. The main unit's controls are minimal - just three touch-sensitive pads - but the remote will also control an iPod (which docks flat on the upper surface), and there's a 3.5mm input socket for connecting other music players. Play pop or dance music and it sounds as bold as the styling, thanks to some pounding bass, but it's also happy handling dinner jazz and even orchestral music. Its two speakers never overwhelm the internal amplifier, which stays clean and undistorted right up to high sound levels, making it great for both serious indoor listening and heavy partying al fresco. The only downsides are that it's expensive and has a seemingly insatiable hunger for batteries (see panel, far right).
Verdict: A great all-purpose player, whether used indoors or out.
Advertisement
Best for: tiny size
Sony SRS-T80 £45
This is so small it has no iPod dock, and relies instead on a 3.5mm input. Thanks to its compactness and light weight, it's the most portable here, but has few fancy features and plays only at modest volumes. However, an "acoustic bass duct" gives the sound unexpected body, though it lacks clarity with any music more complex than simple pop, the overall sound being a little woolly.
Advertisement
Verdict: Puts the accent on convenience rather than sound quality.
Advertisement
Best for: going loud
Ion Tailgater £149
This huge, heavy guitar amp lookalike is great for musical jams with its extra line and mic inputs, but is spoilt by flimsy control knobs and a rattling grille. Cue up rock music, though, via the iPod dock or the 3.5mm jack and it packs a huge punch, going very loud with zero distress. The two-way speaker easily fills any outdoor area, and the sound has real finesse to it. A shame, then, about the low-volume mains hum.
Verdict: A strong speaker but a little rough around the edges.
Advertisement
Best for: audio quality
Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 £85
This unit's glossy casing scratches easily so it's lucky a travel case is supplied. Fold-out stands aid the player's stability, but you'll need the remote as even using a docked iPod's click wheel rocks it. The controls felt cheap but worked well, the "stereo wide" button giving expansive sound. Despite the iffy build, the Anywhere 2 sounds impressive, with punchy (slightly lightweight) bass, good detail and no harshness.
Advertisement
Verdict: An effective outdoor performer, but so easily scratched.
Best for: quieter music
Philips SBA2900 £65
The second smallest speaker unit on test has no iPod dock, just a 3.5mm flying lead. Well made in matt plastic, its two small speakers squeeze out volume that belies their size, though the "stereo wide" mode makes a banging sound at full power. Otherwise the sound is sweet, with the best treble detailing of all here. Due to limited volume it is best used in a small space, where it works very well indeed.
Verdict: A great travel buddy, though not for headbangers.
Battery life
For how long will your portables play before the batteries fade?
Harman Kardon Go + Play
Dimensions: 229x241x508mm
Weight: 10lb
This large unit chewed its way through eight C cells every 12 hours. Rechargeables will last for even less time.
Ion Tailgater
Dimensions: 310x310x235mm
Weight: 26lb
The rechargeable battery pack lasted for nine hours on a single charge. The battery condition indicator was useful.
Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2
Dimensions: 330x91x41mm
Weight: 1lb 8oz
Don't expect more than eight hours from the rechargeable battery pack. A recharge cable tucks away nicely.
Philips SBA2900
Dimensions: 180x65x35mm
Weight: 1lb 6oz
A greedy performer despite its size, sucking up six AAA cells in less than six hours.
Sony SRS-T80
Dimensions: 198x75x36mm
Weight: 9oz
Four AA batteries gave 10 hours of music; indoor users can buy an AC mains adaptor.