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Available
in black, red and blue the OutLoud CD Wallet range features both a single speaker
mono and a double speaker stereo version. The one I'm looking at is the blue stereo
version. First impressions are that this is a nicely made if
unusually large, soft padded CD storage case. The rubber TDK OUT-LOUD logo on
the front adds to sense that this isn't just some cheap job that you picked up
from the local market. 
At
about two inches deep in total, the OutLoud CD Wallet is quite chunky though you
get the sense that extra semi-hard padding has been used to give extra protection
to the speaker panels themselves. 
The
zip covers three sides of the wallet and with this open you see that inside is
room for 24 CD's in twelve double sided pouches and a reasonably large mesh pocket
that should just about hold your CD player provided it's not too bulky but which
will certainly accommodate an MP3 player, some spare batteries and set of earphones
for example. 
And
on the opposite panel is the combined battery compartment and speaker assembly
tucked away behind what feels like a fairly hefty layer of padding. Sprouting
from this panel is about 16 inches of cable capped with a 3.5mm stereo mini-plug
which should allow attachment to all manner of audio devices from Walkmans to
high end notebooks. 
Power
is provided by three AA batteries which aren't provided (come on marketing, surely
a pack of your own TDK batteries would be a nice and possibly advantageous move!).
Battery life is claimed to be around 24 hours but there doesn't seem to be any
kind of power saver so make certain you switch off when you've finished. The battery
compartment lid is hinged which means you're not likely to end up losing the cover
in the middle of the woods on your next picnic. A simple, sliding power switch
is provided alongside a green power on LED. 
You'll
have notices a pair of short Velcro straps on each side of the OutLoud CD Wallet.
These are so you can use it as a free standing unit which positions the speakers
at a better listening angle than just lying it flat. 

Overall
quality is very good and battery life is certainly on the reasonable side of okay.
TDK don't exactly tell you not to use rechargeable batteries but the instruction
book does say that they recommend alkalines. I can't pretend
I'm wild about the fabric used to cover the OutLoud CD Wallet. It looks good and
it feels like it's reasonale quality but it tends to attract dirt and stains like
a magnet and probably isn't the kind of thing that reacts well to being mauled
every time you need to carry it somewhere. Furthermore it doesn't even pretend
to repel water or, not great if you get caught in a shower or if your hands a
little hot and sticky. Something a little more wipable might have been a better
choice considering there's no carrying handle, which for the record is something
else I'd have liked to see added. |