In this feature I intend to look at three portable speakers, each at a different price point. There's no comparison as such between them; the whole point is to offer an ideal solution to people in every socioeconomic segment. So I don't intend to pit them against each other; I'd rather inform you about the best in the market, depending on how far you can stretch your budget.

X-mini
The X-mini is a personal favorite. I own one myself, even though I don't have a laptop. This is the best laptop gift you can think of. It's loud enough for the neighbors to complain! The sound in fact can be controlled using the volume dial on the (proprietary) cable. It may look fragile, but it’s about as durable as the cable itself.

The device is very portable and won’t take up much space in your luggage. The bottom is magnetized, so the speakers stick snugly together when you pack them. I tested the (fully charged) speakers when camping out, and they ran for over six hours, after which I had to can the party. The cost of the pair? About Rs 2250.

Watching movies and listening to music is a cinch with the X-mini. The device is strictly meant for laptop warriors who prefer to keep their peripherals compact while on business trips.

Blaupunkt Velocity 2Go
This one's a powered subwoofer for your car or home deck, but despite the weight it has a full range of options that make it a formidable portable speaker as well. The smooth exterior is faux aluminum, while the front is a glossy black surface of hard plastic. The rear panel has flush-mounted dials for volume and subwoofer controls.

A multiway car cable is provided, along with an AC adapter and a 3.5 mm jack both-ways cable. There are two 2 x 130 mm polypropylene cone woofers, with 2 x 19 mm silk membrane tweeters. The unit works on batteries for portable operation; you'll need eight AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries can be used too, which get charged when AC power is connected, or when the car engine is on.

The power output is 80 watts RMS. The sound is bass-heavy, and the lows impressive, even if they eat up the highs and mids occasionally. The unit is expensive though, at about Rs 24,000.

Soundpod

The Soundpod's a dated offering, but it does its job well. How different is this from the iMini? Very! While the latter works well with laptops, this one is essentially for your MP3 players, phones etc. Despite its laidback feel, it does reproduce sound quite well, for small drivers.

The foldable design lets you pack it with ease. While the wire is short, there's a detachable holder in which you can prop up your device. It runs on four AAA batteries, which will last over seven hours. the Soundpod costs Rs 1,000 and is easily available at any audio store.