mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb
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It won't be cruel, to an iPod that's blue.


Performance:

I was very pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of the mStation Orb. Considering its small size (8” diameter) the sound is anything but small. The unit’s 3”, 15 watt RMS subwoofer provides more-than-adequate low frequency output, and the two 2”, 7.5 watt RMS midrange drivers fill in the mids and highs pretty well. There is a bit of fall-off in the treble at low volume, but not enough to greatly detract from the music and this can be counteracted by adjusting the treble on the remote. With the proper settings, I was able to fill a quite large room with a wide range of sound, and the volume was not even maxed out. Realistically, with speakers this small you are not going to get reference quality output, especially at the Orb’s $130.00 price tag, but for the cost, the unit is quite a solid performer.

Aside from good sound quality, the mStation Orb offers some other nice features. A 10 key, slim remote allows adjustment of volume, bass and treble, as well as having the requisite power, play/pause, forward and back buttons. Like its big brother, the 2.1 stereo tower, the Orb allows you to connect to your computer via USB. By doing so, your iPod can sync with iTunes without having to remove it from the unit.

The controls are on the top.

Conclusion:

Ultimately I was quite satisfied with the mStation 2.1 Stereo Orb. For its small size, it puts out quite a lot of sound. The remote ensures that you don’t have to get up to operate the unit, and it is no problem to sync to iTunes, provided your Orb is near your computer. The determining factor when considering this piece of hardware will most likely be your taste in style. Having an 8” sphere sitting on your desk or counter is not for everyone, but if you don’t mind the look, or better yet DO like it, then the mStation Orb is a definite option to consider.



Highs
Good sound quality; Small size; 10 key remote; Lots of colors to choose from; Easy to use; Integrated controls and docking station

Lows
Funky design is not for everyone; Slightly weak treble output at low volume;

Final verdict
An all-around good deal if you're looking for a small iPod speaker system.

80%

Jan 16, 2008

Review by Zack Stromberg.

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