Altec Lansing T612
Manufacturer: Altec Lansing Part number: T612
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- While it's missing a couple of key features found in competing models, the T612 distinguishes itself with a sleek design, decent sound, and some mobile phone anti-interference technology that makes the system particularly appealing to iPhone owners.
Read more
Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Once you know, you Newegg! |  | In stock Your destination to Windows 7 | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/25/2009 |
 | | In stock Try Free Amazon Prime for one Month | as of 11/25/2009 | |
| Amazon.com Marketplace | | In stock | as of 11/25/2009 | |
 | | In stock | as of 11/24/2009 | |
| Buy.com | | In stock ORDER NOW GREAT PRICE | as of 11/25/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Altec Lansing T612 price range: $109.87 - $188.59
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 02/26/2008
The good: GSM-shielded iPod dock allows iPhone to be used without the need to switch it to airplane mode; attractive design; decent sound, with richer bass than you would expect from a speaker system that's this compact; music pauses and resumes before and after taking a call.
The bad: No radio; no video output; wireless remote offers limited functionality.
The bottom line: While it's missing a couple of key features found in competing models, the T612 distinguishes itself with a sleek design, decent sound, and some mobile phone anti-interference technology that makes the system particularly appealing to iPhone owners.
Back in 2006, Altec Lansing released the M602 iPod Home Audio System. Billed as a "high-end home system," the M602 initially carried a $199 MSRP, but its price has since dropped to closer to $100. Now the company is offering the T612, which, aside from its darker color scheme, looks identical to the M602 but is compatible not only with iPods but also iPhones. It also features some technology that makes it "immune to mobile phone interference," which means you can leave your iPhone's cell radio on while it's in the dock--and even take calls. That's a step up from all other speaker docks to date that require you to switch the iPhone to airplane mode to avoid the annoying interference that the Apple phone (and all other GSM cell phones) tend to cause when they're placed in close proximity to speakers.
Like the M602, the T612 is designed to sit on a table or shelf, or it can be mounted on a wall. (The latter requires mailing in a $3 check to cover shipping and handling charges for a "free" mounting bracket.) It's not as heavy as the boombox-esque Altec Lansing iM7, but it weighs at 5 pounds and measures 14 inches wide, 5.4 inches deep, and 8.2 inches high. The upright single chassis design is relatively compact, but it feels reasonably substantial when you take it out of the box.
Most iPod speakers are attractively designed, and the Altec Lansing M602 is no exception. Its silver and black motif lends itself a bit more to black iPods, but it pairs well enough with other colors, too. While you can connect other MP3 players via the auxiliary input on the back of the unit, this model doesn't ship with a universal stand that allows you to prop non-Apple MP3 players in the center-front tray. Not a big deal, but worth pointing out.
The T612 carries over the blue LED light subtheme--the T612 has them on front, under the speaker grille, to indicate volume and bass/treble levels. What's a little confusing is that to adjust the bass and/or treble levels, you have to hold down the corresponding button, then press the plus/minus volume button to raise and lower levels.
The earlier M602 includes a USB port that lets you to sync your iPod with iTunes on your Windows or Mac machine. That's missing in this model. Also gone is the video output (you know, the little yellow jack you're used to seeing on TVs) that gives you the option of displaying your iPod and iPhone videos on a TV. A small wireless remote is included, but it offers limited functionality--you can skip tracks forward and back, pause and play, and adjust the volume and bass/treble levels. Navigating through the menus on your iPod/iPhone is not possible, though.
As for the Altec Lansing T612's sound quality, it seemed very similar to the quality of the M602--which is to say, decent. Like a lot of these all-in-one speaker systems, this model has very little in the way of stereo separation. The speakers, which are equipped with two 3-inch drivers and two tweeters, are essentially next to each other; as a result, the system probably sounds best if you're sitting only about four feet away from it.
The treble and midrange are the system's strongest suit, with voices, guitars, and acoustic music sounding quite pleasant. As with the M602, the Neville Brothers and the Burt Bacharach/Posies sounded good, with bass performance delivering a noticeable step-up from similarly sized systems. The low-end held together at higher volumes better than we thought it would on bass-heavy tunes such as Prince's "Incense and Candles" on his 3121 album. Toni Braxton's "He Wasn't Man Enough For Me" and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" also delivered decent punch. That said, we had to wind down the bass a bit to avoid distortion on an Art of Noise tune--though it still played loud enough to fill a small room.
The mobile phone anti-interference technology worked as advertised. We connected an iPhone and didn't hear any audible hiss or buzzing. (The iPhone will work in most other iPod speaker docks, but you need to switch it to airplane mode to avoid the resulting interference--which would in turn send all your incoming calls straight to voice mail.) We called the phone while we were listening to music, and the music automatically turned off when the call came in. We answered the phone while it was still in the dock and hit the speakerphone button to talk. Alas, no sound came through the T612's speakers, only through the iPhone's speaker. But we were able to talk just fine on the phone while standing at close range. Then, after we hung up the call, the song we were listening to resumed. True, that's a feature of the iPhone, not the dock, but it was still pretty nifty.
In the end, we really didn't have any major complaints to report--except that we wish Altec Lansing had kept some of the features previously available in its earlier M602. It's too bad the video output's missing, and it also would have been nice if a good old-fashioned FM radio was on board. But clearly the T612's iPhone-centric features are its main selling points. So those who don't have--or aren't planning to buy--an iPhone will probably be better served by one of the many other worthwhile iPod speakers on the market. But for those who have an iPhone (and maybe even an iPod or two), the T612 is worth considering, particularly as the street price drops to below $150. It may take a little while, but if the price of the M602 is any indication, there's room for some discounts.
User reviews
-
-
Great for Pandora Users
by Dealer9 on January 18, 2009
Pros: Solid Build Quality, Good Sound Quality, No Phone Interference
Cons: Treble/Bass Adjustment
Summary: I use this at work to stream Pandora and to listen to music, works great with no interference. Sound quality is good at low volumes as I can't really ...
Summary: I use this at work to stream Pandora and to listen to music, works great with no interference. Sound quality is good at low volumes as I can't really blast it in the office. I'm very happy with the quality and sound. The radio interference was the main selling point. You can use this as a Internet Radio system all day long and not be disappointed.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Works but iPhone 3GS will not fit with docking adapter
by paulkent on November 9, 2009
Pros: Works as advertised, mostly (see below)
Cons: iPhone 3GS will not fit in docking adapter; called AL and they said to buy an adapter from Apple; apadpter is black to match unit; Apple sells white ones; beware
Summary: Sounds ok, not great. Works with 3GS if Docking Adapter is removed; don't have a case for iPhone; so don't know how that will impact the unit.
Summary: Sounds ok, not great. Works with 3GS if Docking Adapter is removed; don't have a case for iPhone; so don't know how that will impact the unit.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Completely quit working after 14 months.
by Shelby010 on August 27, 2009
Pros: Good sound quality.
Cons: After 14 months it quit working completly.
Summary: Don't waste the money.
Summary: Don't waste the money.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Does what I bought it for.
by blufkin on May 17, 2009
Pros: Size and sound
Cons: If I were going to nitpick it would be some kind of grab handle.
Summary: My sister in-law wanted me to find her a docking speaker system for her 2g iTouch that sounded good and didn't cost a whole lot.I read a bunch ...
Summary: My sister in-law wanted me to find her a docking speaker system for her 2g iTouch that sounded good and didn't cost a whole lot.I read a bunch of different reviews and suggested she buy the T612 without hearing one because after all ,it was her money ,and she lives in another state.I have a pretty good sound system which includes a pair of 20 year old monster Klipsch main speakers. When I finally heard her little Altec boom box I was blown away.No it doesn't compare. But for a unit that can be held in one hand, charges your iTouch/ iPhone and costs 100 bucks what more do you want.I have an iTouch 2g and an iPhone 3G so I bought one for myself. We use it on our back deck and in our RV and it does exactly what I bought it for.Which is iTunes , Pandora, and Slacker and being able to control the volume while packing it around to where we want music with good sound.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
not what it promises
by justinlevy010 on March 23, 2009
Pros: theoretically it's really cool!
Cons: in reality, it doesn't work as promised
Summary: the dock doesn't hold the iphone in the right position and therefore i get just static 90% of the time. If i fool around with the positioning I can ...
Summary: the dock doesn't hold the iphone in the right position and therefore i get just static 90% of the time. If i fool around with the positioning I can get it to work, just as long as I don't step on the ground near it and jar it. i just purchased a "free" iphone dock (plus 5 dollars shipping) from the Altec Lansing website that should correct the problem . guess they realize it doesn't work as is, but it's kinda cheap to charge for shipping on a product you have to buy because the original is faulty.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
decent sound but doesn't charge Nano
by lancestc on December 9, 2008
Pros: Sound quality is decent, good enough for me but I'm not an audiophile.
Cheap, mine was $58.Cons: Does not charge the G4 Nano in the dock..
Buggy: With the G4 Nano it locks up and you have to undock and then unplug/replugin the device to get it to work again.
Limited remote must be pointed directly at the device to work.Summary: It was a cheap $58 speaker set for my new G4 Nano and it played the songs.
But: It does not charge the G4 Nano in the dock: "Charging not ...Summary: It was a cheap $58 speaker set for my new G4 Nano and it played the songs.
But: It does not charge the G4 Nano in the dock: "Charging not supported by this accessory" shown on nano. This is a KEY point which is left out of all reviews I read.
Buggy: With the G4 Nano it locks up and you have to undock and then unplug/replugin the speaker to get it to work again. Locked the entire device twice in the first few hours of use. Limited remote must be pointed directly at the device to work. Manual is horrible, you get several parts in the box that aren't even mentioned in the manual. No documentation of any of the ports or buttons is provided.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
-
Failed to back faulty product
by bflodgreen on August 21, 2008
Pros: It didn't explode in my face
Cons: Where do I begin?......
Summary: I'll make this quick. Purchased a new M-602 03/2008. Power cord prongs (frail) broke off, rendering unit useless. I requested a replacement since it was under the 1 ...
Summary: I'll make this quick. Purchased a new M-602 03/2008. Power cord prongs (frail) broke off, rendering unit useless. I requested a replacement since it was under the 1 year full warranty. I've been told NUMEROUS times "It's on its way", "it's on back order", "you will have it soon", "It was shipped, give it 7-10 days" (This was in April). To wrap this up, I have 17 pages of a thread with their "online customer service" filled with one lie after another. You can't find a power cord anywhere. I am out $160 for a silver box that does nothing. I have found NUMEROUS similar complaints re: the failure of the power cord. Seven months of being jerked around, and still never got a power cord. They even told me "you will be receiving a new replacement unit", which obviously didn't arrive. I told them I'd post the thread, and nothing. But since it covers 7 months of emails and is over 17 pages, I will spare you the details. DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY - unless you like buying faulty stuff that won't be backed by the warranty. Thank you.
1 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Altec Lansing
- Part number: T612
- Description: Live your iPhone life to the fullest by pairing it with the extraordinary sound and intuitive convenience of the Altec Lansing T612. Made to complement iPhone's command of the digital world, the T612 extends your iPhone's high-end audio capabilities with beautifully transparent music reproduction. 60 Watts of power RMS (120 Watts Peak) fill the room while keeping you perfectly in touch - because with the T612 there's no need to use ?Flight Mode? while you listen to music. Instead, keep the phone turned on; when a call comes in the T612 gives priority to the call by interrupting the music.
General
- Product Type Portable speakers with digital player dock
- Width 13.9 in
- Depth 5.4 in
- Height 8.2 in
Speaker System
- System Components 2 x speakers, 2 x Tweeter
- Speaker Type Active
- Nominal (RMS) Output Power 60 Watt
- Max (RMS) Output Power (Total) 120 Watt
- Response Bandwidth 60 - 20000 Hz
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio 70 dB
- Output Level (SPL) 100 dB
- Built-in Devices Digital player charging dock
- Controls Bass, Treble, Volume, Power on/off
- Additional Features MP3 player jack
Speaker System Details
- Speakers Included 1 x Speaker - 2-way - 60 - 20000 Hz
- Driver Details Speaker : 2 x Full-range driver - 3 in, Speaker : 2 x Tweeter driver - 1 in - Silk
- Driver Details 2 x 3 in speakers, 2 x 1 in tweeter
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )
Miscellaneous
- MP3 Player Compatibility iPod mini, iPod nano, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod with video (5G), iPod with color display
- Cables Included 1 x Audio cable
- Included Accessories Docking station adapter
- Remote Control Remote control - Infrared
Power
- Power Device Power adapter - External
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Altec Lansing
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Altec Lansing products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.alteclansing.com/
- Address:
535 Route 6 & 209, Milford, PA 18337-0277 - Phone: 1-866-570-5702
- Fax: 1-570-296-6887
