Reviews

Logitech PlayGear Amp for Sony PSP

June 30, 2005

The PlayGear Amp is a portable speaker system for the Sony PSP (and other mobile electronics, but more about that later). When you open the box you’ll find the PlayGear Amp along with a sturdy travel case, a snap-on cradle, an AC adapter, two audio connection cables, and basic instructions. Getting started is very easy; just fold out the speakers, snap on the cradle that holds the PSP, plug in the AC adapter, and connect one of the audio cables from the PSP to the PlayGear Amp. The unit matches the Sony PSP perfectly, so it looks like a complete solution, not a cobbled-together eyesore. The power switch (which glows blue when on) and volume controls are located on the top of the base of the amp, and a metal fold-out stand holds everything quite well. The end of the audio cable that plugs into the PlayGear Amp is designed with a flat edge that rests on a table or desk, adding some extra stability to the whole setup. And the cradle holds the PSP at just the right angle to watch movies for long periods; no more wrist strain from holding your PSP for two hours straight.

Of course with an accessory like this, the main question is sound quality, and the PlayGear Amp certainly delivers. I was actually quite surprised at how good it sounds, even compared to my JBL Creature II speakers. The sound is rich and full, and even at very high (room-filling/party) volumes, the sound was clear with no distortions. I tend to like more bass in my tunes, and though the PlayGear Amp isn’t up to the level that the Creature speakers can pump out, I was pleasantly surprised. It won’t rattle the windows of the car next to yours at an intersection, mind you, but the four “micro driver” speakers really do get the job done. You can control the volume either with the +/- buttons on the PlayGear Amp, or through the Sony PSP, Apple iPod, PDA, or laptop.

Yes, you read that right— the PlayGear Amp will work with any mobile device with a headphone jack, making it much more versatile than it appears at first glance. Obviously the snap-on cradle was designed with the PSP in mind, and it fits perfectly with no wobbles or shakes. If you’re using the Amp with some of your other devices, you’ll have to be a little more creative; for example my iPod and LifeDrive worked well laid on their side instead of standing up. When I first unpacked everything I thought that the audio cable was unnecessarily long, but now I see the designers were very smart— the extra length accommodates a variety of uses. Want to play games instead of watching a movie? No problem— the cord is long enough that you can remove the PSP from the cradle and play games while still getting great sound from the speakers. Even plugging the Amp in to my laptop’s headphone port was no problem at all, and the sound was much better than the speakers included with my laptop. Granted I won’t use the PlayGear Amp that way all the time, but is quite refreshing for an accessory to work with a variety of devices instead of just one.

One of the other nice features is the fact that the PlayGear Amp will work on 4AAA batteries instead of just AC power. While I didn’t do any scientific tests, I’m pleased with the fact that I’ve been using the Amp for 4 days now, including a couple of hefty Lumines gaming sessions, and I’m still on the first set of batteries with no end in sight. Even better, there weren’t any restrictions as far as I can tell— the PlayGear Amp got just as loud on batteries as it did on AC power, so if you’re willing to suffer the drain (or use rechargeables) you can easily power anything from a beach party to a house party without having to plug it in.

The case is also nice, made of fabric over a hard shell, most likely some sort of hard plastic. It has a small Logitech logo on the front and dual zippers. Inside the PlayGear Amp nestles in its own compartment, while the accessories such as the cradle, AC adapter, and audio cables fit nicely on the other side. I’m slightly disappointed by the fact that there’s no room for the PSP inside the case, but that’s understandable. Making the case big enough to accommodate it would have added quite a bit of bulk. As it is, the case measures 11 1/2 inches long, 5 1/2 inches wide, and 2 inches thick.

The entire package is very well designed, and I’m very pleased with the sound quality. For $59.95, this accessory really adds to the utility of your PSP and other mobile electronics too. While it isn’t particularly tiny, the travel case makes it easy to carry along, and it the PlayGear Amp is perfect for vacations and business trips. Instead of being tethered to headphones all the time, you can use the PlayGear Amp with your PSP, iPod, PDA, or anything else with a headphone jack so you can share music with your friends or just enjoy the tunes. If you don’t have a PSP, you might want to check out Logitech’s mm22 Portable Speakers for iPod. The package is a bit smaller since the iPod rests vertically and is much smaller than the PSP, but the unit has the same folding design and carrying case.

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