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It’s almost holiday season again! As you dream up your wish list, Altec Lansing’s sparkling new speaker systems will have you jingling all the way.

Want to fill your living rooms with sound and style? Prepare to be stunned with the new M602. Looking for the perfect slim partner for your iPod nano? The new inMotion iM500 is the best-sounding definition of thin! Want to crank up the volume on your PC for a rich gaming, music or film experience? Check out the new FX Series. Interested in adding life to your Sandisk Sansa? Check out the new inMotion iM510. Whatever your sound and style needs, Altec Lansing has an audio solution…

The inMotion iM500 (MSRP $129.95) is Altec Lansing’s super-thin portable speaker system. Designed to complement the sleek iPod nano’s form factor, the iM500 offers more than just good looks. Experience richer sounds from the two custom full-range drivers, plus built–in bass enhancement technology. And, it’s all wrapped up in a package that’s similar in thickness to a DVD case.

The M602 (MSRP $199.95) is Altec Lansing’s latest powered audio system, perfect for music lovers looking for a high-end, stereo-like audio experience with crisp, clear highs and room-thumping lows at loud volumes. Sleek and elegant-looking, the M602 will add style to any home or office décor and is perfectly sized to fit on an end table, bookshelf, countertop or desktop.

Altec Lansing’s new PC speaker systems, the 2.1 FX4021 (MSRP $129.95) and the 5.1 FX5051 (MSRP $249.95) were designed for music, gaming and movie lovers alike, with cutting-edge looks and booming sounds. The FX4021 features 5.25” drivers and two subwoofers located in a single cabinet that deliver the same high-quality bass typically found in systems twice as large. And, at the touch of a button, the system will produce a wider stereo image for bigger sound. The FX5051 is the market’s first 5.1 system that can be plugged in via a USB cable, in addition to standard analog connection. Games and movies will come alive with its genuine 5.1 surround sound, and no channel card is required to get six discrete channels of sound from this powerhouse. The compact size and contemporary design will complement any digital living space – and it can even be mounted on the wall next to your new flat-panel monitor.

Whether you’re out with your friends or dancing at home, the inMotion iM510 (MSRP $119.95) will add salsa to your Sansa. About the size of a paperback book and weighing a little more than 1 lb., the iM510 is small enough to carry in a book bag so you can play your favorite tunes out loud, anywhere. And, four custom-designed drivers and MaxxBass technology provide enough volume to keep you singing along all night long. 

Product: Altec Lansing inMotion iM7
Price: $249.95
Rating: Very Good 8.0/10.0
Pros: Loud, clean sound, connects directly with iPod, remote, AC or battery power, aux 1/8” input jack.
Cons: Requires 8 batteries, aux input was fuzzy, heavy, limited remote functionality.
Overall:For $250, older inMotions could produce nearly the same sound for a less appealing look, but for those interested in investing in a system to replace their old stereo or shopping for the first time, the iM7 is an easy, mobile and sleek option.

Advertised as “your iPod’s new traveling companion” I was skeptical that the inMotion iM7 would be easier than my canvas black case and 2 year-old inMotion speakers half the size.  It felt a lot heavier than I expected after taking it out of the box but its smooth and symmetrical look made it more appealing to plug it in and put in on a shelf, until I turned it on, that is.

For a portable sound system, the sound was excellent.  Fitting in my iPod to get it hooked up was a little tricky but after turning it on, it was hard to imagine such sound coming from such a little device.  The music was clear and when I plugged it directly into the wall (I wasn’t up to using the 8 batteries it required for non-electrical power) unless I blasted it past any reasonable volume the sound stayed relatively fuzz and high-pitch frequency free.  I found it easier to control the volume on the actual iPod because you could hear the difference faster but the remote was convenient for distance. The one issue I had with the system was when I would connect it to my Powerbook and play it from my iTunes.  The speakers were slightly fuzzier and the quality wasn’t as strong as when it played solely off an iPod.

The speakers have an extremely appealing slick and modern look.  They take up almost no space and its cylinder shape borders trendy and techie and one of the most appealing features was the fact my iPod could charge as it played. For $250, older inMotions could produce nearly the same sound for a less appealing look, but for those interested in investing in a system to replace their old stereo or shopping for the first time, the iM7 is an easy, mobile and sleek option.