Home > Consumer Reviews > Altec Lansing T612 Digital Speaker for iPod and iPhone (Black)

This unit has great sound and overall seems to be very high quality, but I wanted to post a review so others don't run into the same issue I did. When removing my iPhone, something caught and the connector bent. Now I have to prop something against it for the audio/charging connection to work.

Be gentle getting your iPhone or iPod on and off the unit.

If you need battery portability, get the LogiTech. If you just want a very good docking speaker system, get the Altec Lansing T612. Both work well with the iPhone 3G. You may get an occasional "Not meant to work with iPhone" message but it doesn't affect operation. Both have very good sound quality with the Altec Lansing seeming a little fuller to my ears. I think this is more of a preference thing. The Altec Lansing is a little easier to use and charges the iPhone whenever it is docked. The LogiTech only charges when the 120V adapter is used. The LogiTech remote accesses the iPhone or iPod menu but this isn't as great as it seems. Once the device powers down, the remote won't access the menu until the device is unlocked again. Also, you have to get close enough to read the menu from the device. My personal favorite is the Altec Lansing and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with it. If portability or the lower price is important, you might want to look at the LogiTech.

Yes, the sound is good - *not* "great" because there is some static at the mid-high range.

But - and this is a big "but" - using it with an iphone (3G) is a *pain*.

I read reviews telling me this but decided to buy this unit because of other reviews that told me not to pay attention to the naysayers. I wish I had paid more attention!

The iphone works with this unit *only* when using the adapter. Even then, the iphone has to sit on the dock as if it wasn't using an adapter (i.e. the portal meant for those who are not using an adapter). This is not, in and of itself, a huge pain but if the unit is moved for any small reason (like when you want to skip a song on ipod or pandora or when the table it is sitting on moves due to *any* slight movement), it stops playing. You have to then re-jig it on its adapter.

Overall, I would rate this unit as average. Looks nicer than most; has a good sound, can work with iphone *but* with a lot of *buts*!

Not impressed. Wouldn't buy again. But, then again, not sure what I would buy. Basically, I guess I need to wait until the industry which gets away with selling us only mediocre products is forced to sell us something that works as advertised.

Needless to say, given all the other catastrophes of "industry," I won't hold my breath!

I've had mine for about 2 months now. I LOVE IT! The sound is amazing and I listen to music with heavy base. Sure, the phone says "this device is not compatible" but that's an Apple issue not this products. Every accessory I've bought for my phone that isn't an Apple product gives that message. Just hit "NO" end of problem! If that is too much of a hassle for you then don't buy it. Try to find something better, you won't! If your phone is in a case (like mine is) you do need to remove the adaptor. It charges my phone, calls and texts come through no problem. I now have a 3Gs and it works just as well. I would buy it again and I have told friends to buy one as well.

This unit sounds pretty nice, if a little boomy, but this is barely noticeable. For it's size, it is heavy and stable on the table and I have no worries about it. If you are planning to wall-mount, be sure to consider the weight.

As noted by others, I have had to order the iPhone 3G adapter from their web site, which is free but cost me $5 for shipping. Worse is that the adapter is currently back-ordered. Ugh. The iPhone 3G has been on the market for almost a year, so this adapter should probably have been in the box already. A little irritating, especially the back-ordered status. Meh.

The power connector is not the usual DC barrel connector. It is a mini-DIN type of connector, same diameter as a PS-2 plug, but with only four pins plus the plastic "key" pin. The power supply diagram reads that there is 18V DC out, with one pin "+", one pin "-", and two "GND" pins. Not sure how this unit is grounded since it only uses a two-pronged connection to your AC (grid) power. Whatever... funky power connectors are a pet-peeve of mine.

Bottom line is that I would buy one of these again because after having tried a clock/alarm combo from Sony, and testing a few others, this one is still the best that I have found, even with the power adapter and iPhone 3G warts.