The tube-shaped Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 is a combination Apple iPod dock and portable speaker system. The iM7 adds a little oomph to the company's inMotion line, providing room-filling sound in a stylish white and gray casing.

The iM7 is part of a growing trend in this product category, in which portable speakers are becoming larger, heavier, and louder. It offers several advantages over Bose's Editors' Choice-winningSoundDock Digital Music System, not least of which is that it can run on either batteries (eight D-size alkalines) or AC power. The iM7 also makes more sense for iPod users than, say, the Virgin Boomtube EX by virtue of its integrated iPod dock connector, though the Altec Lansing system is much larger and heavier. The iM7 impressed us enough to name it our Editors' Choice, though the SoundDock will retain its EC award for non-portable systems because of its slightly superior sound.

The iM7 consists of a white plastic shell and gray speaker grille that wraps nearly all the way around the system, covering two 1-inch tweeters and two 3-inch midrange drivers. But its real power lies in the 4-inch side-firing subwoofer on one side, and the 4-inch passive radiator (essentially a bass resonator) on the other. You can carry the unit, which measures 6.5 by 16.75 by 6.5 inches (HWD) and weighs 11 pounds (with batteries and full-size iPod), via a rubberized handle on the upper back, though we found this awkward and uncomfortable because of the weight and balance. You can buy aftermarket carrying bags, but the unit does not come with a case or bag.

Although it's designed specifically for the iPod, the iM7's auxiliary analog stereo minijack input lets it work with any audio device. But iPod users get the benefit of an integrated iPod dock that secures any size iPod (except the shuffle) in a spring-loaded cradle, thus taking advantage of the iPod's line-out capability rather than the headphone output. The cradle includes a ratcheting mechanism that compensates for the different thicknesses of Apple's third- and fourth-generation players, so your iPod will be like a pea in a, uh, pod. There's even a plastic cradle adapter for the iPod mini. Other connectors include S-Video and composite video outputs for viewing JPEGs on a TV if you have an iPod photo, as well as a headphone jack.

The controls are very simple—a power button and volume up/down buttons. Altec Lansing smartly included a wireless remote control, which can be stored in a little slot in the back of the iM7. The remote has volume and tone controls as well as play, fast-forward, and rewind buttons. The remote works quite well, though we wish the buttons were a bit more sensitive. There are no tone controls on the iM7 unit itself, so don't lose that remote. You can control playback via the iPod's screen and scroll wheel, which are accessible from within the docking cradle.

The sound quality of the iM7 is quite impressive. We cranked it up all the way and found minimal distortion—significantly less than when we maxed out the volume on our SoundDock. It also handled complex tones like Miles Davis's Harmon-muted trumpet quite adeptly. Though it doesn't quite offer the SoundDock's fidelity, it does provide plenty of power and beefier sound (thanks to the subwoofer) for filling up a room, and the sturdier design keeps it from distorting at the highest levels. The bass tone control didn't seem to add a whole lot more at high volumes, but the subwoofer provides plenty of bass on the default setting. It would be nice if there were some type of indicator on the unit for volume and tone levels; we frequently lost track of whether the tone controls were active or not. The device also does not reset its volume and tone levels when you turn it off (or unplug it) or reseat the iPod.

At $249.95 list, the iM7's price may seem a bit steep, since you'll pay roughly the same price for, say, an iPod mini. But it is cheaper and more versatile than the Bose unit, and in combination with the high-quality audio output of an iPod, the iM7 offers plenty of value and style—and portability—without sacrificing output power or (much) sound quality.

See these products side by side in our comparison chart.