Several years ago Altec Lansing introduced the first portable audio system designed specifically as a companion to the iPod, the trendsetting inMotion. Since that time they have expanded their range of offerings to ten, which must be a record of sorts. One of the newest is the inMotion IM9, the subject of this review.

Last October I reviewed the inMotion IM7 portable audio system here. While I found it to be a great product, with room-filling sound of excellent quality, I described it as “luggable” rather than truly portable due to its size and weight. In the IM9, Altec Lansing has delivered a compact portable audio system with good looks and great sound, rugged enough to take some hard knocks yet light and compact enough to take with you to the pool or on an outing. It even comes with a single-strap backpack for easy transport.