Best iPod speaker under $100?

Mine comes from Radio Shack, having a price of only $20. It’s model number 40-1441, and with three AA batteries it plays for a long time. I use rechargeable batteries most of the time. A wired power electrical adapter is available as a separate purchase.

The official name of my little gem is Portable Folding Amplified Speaker System (PFASS), and it’s easy to locate at RadioShack.com by doing a search for “folding speaker” or “40-1441.” All Radio Shack retail stores are supposed to keep it in stock.

This afternoon I used the portable speaker to play songs from my iPod, and tonight I used it to play spoken National Public Radio audio from my iBook. Either way, the “PFASS” works perfectly.

How’s its tone quality? Just fine, if your iTunes equalizer settings are optimized for the song being played. What about the volume? Turn it all the way up on PFASS, and adjust your iPod’s or computer’s system volume as desired, short of distortion at the loudest settings.

The speaker has a power on/off switch, volume control, plus a very short mini-audio cable, and it comes with an attractive vinyl case that can hold an extra trio of reserve batteries. The stylish, shapely outer case is silver-grey, and the inner grille is grayish-black. Design and functionality are well-matched.

Last week I went undercover at our local Apple Store, comparing PFASS to all the powered speakers on display. None of the “official” expensive speakers satisfy my well-tuned ears, and for twenty bucks mine has the best sound value for individual listening. Want to fill an entire room? Buy something else.

What’s your experience with low-end powered portable speakers for iPod or PowerBook or iBook? Your comments are welcome below. But if you’re starting from scratch, this Radio Shack miniature wonder is a good choice.