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In the past I have had the opportunity to look at a number of products that have been specifically designed to increase the volume level delivered from your personal portable music player so that more listeners can hear the music.  I have also checked out a variety of products that offer to make it easier and possibly safer when carrying your iPod or other similar device.  Now it is the turn of a product that combines both these types of feature within a single unit.

Developed by iLuv Creative Technology, a company well versed in producing accessories for the Apple and PC markets, the iSP120 is an all-purpose portable speaker case.  It has been designed to carry, protect and enhance the volume of your portable music device.  With dimensions of 110 x 160 x 55mm (H x W x D), the blue and silver patterned case is sizeable enough to accommodate an iPhone, iPod and many types of MP3 players.  The case is divided into a rigid half, which contains the speaker unit, and a padded half for storing the chosen music device.

See also: Speakers

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A zip, running around three sides of the case, allows you to fully open the case when you need to insert or remove the music device.  You could also store other small valuable items which will be held in place in a netting compartment.  Velcro straps and a hanging clip can be used for attaching the iSP120 to articles of clothing.  Cyclists could also attach the case to their bicycle’s handle bars.

As mentioned this product has a dual purpose.  Not only can it be used for carrying your music device but it has built-in speakers to enhance the volume level put out by your music player.   A permanently attached audio lead with a 3.5mm jack plug needs to be used to link the speaker facility to your music player via the standard headphone socket. 

The audio output is delivered from the rigid half of the case.  A plastic face plate attached to the rigid side of the case features the left and right speakers plus a volume control wheel and an on/off slider button.  Both the volume wheel and power button are clearly labelled to ensure you know which way to turn or slide the control for the appropriate action.  A small pinhole LED light indicates when the power is turned on.

The speaker unit is powered by three AAA batteries which came supplied and were already inserted with the review unit.  The battery compartment, which is easily accessible once the case is fully opened, is located in the rigid half of the case.  While I was not surprised that I needed to turn up the volume to full with my Sansa Clip+ MP3 player, I was not expecting that I would need to do the same when using an iPod Classic.  However this was the case.  When using either the MP3 player or iPod, I needed to turn the volume level fully up on the music device and do the same with the volume of the iSP120 in order to get a reasonable level of output.

Fortunately, boosting up the volume level to maximum did not cause any distortion to the audio output.  As this product has no means of supporting itself in an upright position, you will need to prop it up against some kind of support otherwise the output will be directed upwards rather than outwards.

The iLuv iSP120 is small and light enough not to burden you.  You do get some improved volume output but it would hardly be suitable for a medium size room.  I found the iLuv iSP120 available for £20.23 from Amazon on the following link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00576VPZ6?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634