We had a client recently looking for a small portable speaker to use on their desktop machine. We ordered them a new computer and it did not come with an internal speaker at all (oddly many new machines do not come with internal speakers as an option or even by default – go figure). You would think it would be easy to find a little speaker that that can be hidden back behind the desk, monitor, or the PC itself and be loud enough to handle the basic sound needs like the Windows dings and the random webinar audio. Of course when you go looking, you can never find what you need and trying to search Google for speakers is like finding a needle in a haystack.
There are a multitude of options for speakers, but the small ones used batteries and pretty much all of the desktop speakers are too big, especially when you are looking for one that you want to be hidden. When you do find one that fits the bill, it turns out to be too expensive.
While at the local Staples store buying envelopes for the office, I spied a small round speaker at the checkout counter that is about the size of a golf ball and was on sale for $10. I figured I would give in to the impulse buy and pick one up. I have to say I’m glad I did. This thing is really small (like I said the size of a golf ball) and shockingly loud and clear. It has a mini audio connection – the same kind that most laptops, PC’s, iPods, and such use. It also has a USB connection that charges the internal battery. The speaker can be used in portable devices running off of the battery, or you can plug it all in to a PC and it works great while drawing power from the USB connection. You can twist the two halves of the speaker and it expands in the middle revealing an accordion like middle which ends up helping to produce some fairly deep bass notes for such a small speaker.
Now don’t think that this tiny speaker will produce sound like your big and expensive home stereo speakers do. The amazing part is that such a small speaker can produce such a crisp and loud sound for its size. It is definitely worth picking one up if you need a portable speaker.
Omnitech Mini Speaker Model# 18721 – oddly there is little information on the web for them, but an identical model is the iHome iHM7BC http://www.ihomeaudio.com/iHM7.
