[Review] Kensington FX 300 Portable Speaker System

Jon · 03-20-2008, 05:28 PM

Yeah these are the Portable Speakers that came free after Google Checkout from Buy.com. You can find the link to the item HERE.

Brand:Kensington
Item Description:Kensington FX 300 Speaker To Go
Manufacturer's Suggested Retail:$29.99
Manufacturer's Description: Share your favorite tunes anywhere, anytime. FX 300 Speaker To Go is smartly designed into a lightweight, protective case with exterior volume control. Once your iPod� or other MP3 player is safely tucked in, music comes out. Turn it on. Turn it up.

First Impressions
Well when I first opened the soggy package box that held my freebie I wasn't expecting much. I mean like the description sounds so nice but it was free. Ergo, yeah I said ergo WHAT?, I didn't expect it to be like Altec speakers. Had 2.48 seconds of fun popping that air package thing though.

So yeah the packaging was alright, like I said before it was free so the price was what that caught my attention not the style or anything.
Well I opened it and I was impressed, it wasn't exactly crap quality and the material seemed pretty sturdy. Also it came with two AAA batteries. First thing I did was put my Zune 30 in the pouch and it fit PERFECTLY. I then closed the case and there was nothing bulging or any abnormality. Not bad for free speakers.

And then Pandora's box was opened... I stuck in the AAA batteries and turned on my Zune playing I Could Be Wrong by The Starting Line (HELL YEAH I LOVE THE STARTING LINE) and the batteries ended up dead. I had to use my own batteries. I put in my own and then it worked. The volume on my Zune was at 14 and when I turned it on it was just DISTORTION DISTORTION DISTORTION CRAP DISTORTION DISTORTION. I cursed out in Korean (SHEBA SEKKI), yes I know Korean curses though I'm Chinese.
I ended up reading the Manual and it said something about turning down the Mp3 volume to 60% to avoid distortion. I turned it down and it the devil noises finally stopped when the Zune volume was at 10. Then I turned the speaker's volume to max. THEN THE DISTORTIONS WERE BACK. SHEBA! I had to turn my Zune down to 8 to actually hear it clear. With the speaker's volume at max and the Zune at 8 the volume was STILL LOW. The volume of the speakers were equivalent to listening to someone's conversation on the phone. And no I am not exaggerating, the volume is lack of a better term.. crap.
If I could describe the speakers in one sentence:
Crap speakers but works well as a Zune carrying case, but then again it might be just my Zune because it recently dropped into a puddle of dirty water..
Overview
ProZune 30 fits perfectly into pouch so Zune 80 would fit just as well, not sure about Zune 4/8 though.
Design was pretty good, "socially acceptable"
FREE (if you follow the link at the top)

Cons
Volume too too too DAMN low

Rating: 2/10: The volume was just too low so it rendered the meaning of "portable speakers" useless.

Do Buy: If you think that the speakers were just a problem for my Zune, give it a try for yourself. It's free

Don't Buy: If you can't think for yourself and you rely on my review, HEH Just kidding but this is a risk. I don't know if it's just my Zune or it's for everyone's Zune but the volume is just too low.

PICTURES
Who doesn't like pictures!

mangodroplet · 03-20-2008, 05:36 PM

lol. I might just get it because it's free. I was hoping that they would at least be ok....

Chri(Z)tian · 03-20-2008, 05:40 PM

Love the pictures... but yeah sucks that the sound.... well sucks!!! But still not a bad deal..since it's free and all!! Like you said guess you could use as a carrying case or traveling case. But oh well... still going to order one. You can never go wrong with free stuff..thanks for the review!

Jon · 03-20-2008, 05:43 PM

Thanks for actually reading it guys

runtohell121 · 03-20-2008, 06:42 PM

nice pictures

knew the speaker volume was low.. but who can resist free things though?

lol

bigtex292 · 03-21-2008, 08:44 AM

i was actually thinking about getting one. cuz if its not free its cheep. but this kinda persuaded me to save what little money that was. thanks

Dallin · 03-21-2008, 04:04 PM

Does it cover the tax too?

Gregory · 03-21-2008, 05:52 PM

It is free.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigtex292

i was actually thinking about getting one. cuz if its not free its cheep. but this kinda persuaded me to save what little money that was. thanks

Yes, it covers tax.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallin

Does it cover the tax too?

Jon · 03-21-2008, 06:13 PM

By the way if you guys check the front page, some people responded saying that there was no distortion at all for them.

stkr · 03-21-2008, 06:35 PM

I'm not surprised, but I am sort of. I wasn't expecting much from them. Maybe Bose should make a carrying case with built-in speakers

. It'd only cost about $200.

Jon · 03-22-2008, 02:32 PM

UPDATED REVIEW!
Check the front page!
www.zuneboards.com

Gregory · 03-22-2008, 03:42 PM

Got mine today, I find it works much better when placed face down on a wooden surface.

iNsanenight · 04-03-2008, 07:05 PM

i got mine today =] its pretty cool!! come on guys the quality might not b the best or even closer to a bose speaker but hey u got it for free!!!

Jon · 04-03-2008, 07:16 PM

Agreed!
I cannot believe that it is still in stock! And still free!

djmax041 · 04-04-2008, 07:41 PM

supposed 2 get it by next week it was shipped out the 28th

KaJuN · 04-08-2008, 08:25 PM

I just got mine today and like the original poster I wasn't expecting much. I was even half expecting it not to work. What all could you expect from a free case? Let alone one that one-ups others by not only protecting music but playing it as well. But I plugged in the free batteries and fired it up and was amazed to hear that 1) it worked, and 2) it didn't sound like total garbage. So far I haven't had the distortion problem and the volume is very good for such a small speaker. It even sounds far better than my clock radio. But now that I have it I'm struggling to find a use for the speaker function. Maybe I'll rock it out 80's boombox style and hold it up to my ear as I walk around campus.

The Zune 80 fits in the case pretty well and there's enough room for earbuds and the sync cable so it's a nice way to keep everything together and protected. The case itself feels fairly sturdy and I'm confident it could keep my Zune protected if I were to sit on it or drop it, although the volume dial feels like it's going to snap off at some point. Even with nothing inside this is a heavy case. Luckily the Zune doesn't weigh any more than it does or else I'd have to haul the entire thing around in a wheelbarrow. Its usability as a case is hindered by the fact that you have to open the case up to get to your Zune. It's more of a travel case and can do much better for a case to use everyday.

All in all it's definitely worth the time and effort spent taking advantage of the offer. I wouldn't feel bad even if I had spent some money on it. But even if you get one and it doesn't work I'm sure it would be quite fun to watch burn at your next bonfire.

6/10

03-20-2008, 05:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
mangodroplet Jr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MANGOVILLE! <3 Posts: 472 Reputation: 46	lol. I might just get it because it's free. I was hoping that they would at least be ok.... __________________ Mango mango mango :] Yuummmm. huggles lol. Yes, I did Hug you. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-21-2008, 06:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
stkr 'Keep Moving Forward...' GFX Crew Section Staff Expert Zuner Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: United States Posts: 2,977 Reputation: 655 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	I'm not surprised, but I am sort of. I wasn't expecting much from them. Maybe Bose should make a carrying case with built-in speakers . It'd only cost about $200. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-22-2008, 03:42 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gregory Support Team Moderator Ultimate Zuner Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: What a stalker! Posts: 6,441 Reputation: 265	Got mine today, I find it works much better when placed face down on a wooden surface. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Do you live outside of the US, have Paypal, and want the Zune Pass? If so PM or visit my To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. .

04-04-2008, 07:41 PM	#15 (permalink)
djmax041 Jr. Zuner Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 38 Reputation: 11	supposed 2 get it by next week it was shipped out the 28th __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-21-2008, 08:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
bigtex292 Zuner Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 64 Reputation: 10	i was actually thinking about getting one. cuz if its not free its cheep. but this kinda persuaded me to save what little money that was. thanks

03-21-2008, 04:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dallin Squirt Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kuna, Idaho Posts: 21 Reputation: 12	Does it cover the tax too?

04-03-2008, 07:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
iNsanenight Zewbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 Reputation: 11	i got mine today =] its pretty cool!! come on guys the quality might not b the best or even closer to a bose speaker but hey u got it for free!!!

04-08-2008, 08:25 PM	#16 (permalink)
KaJuN Experienced Zuner Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 189 Reputation: 20	I just got mine today and like the original poster I wasn't expecting much. I was even half expecting it not to work. What all could you expect from a free case? Let alone one that one-ups others by not only protecting music but playing it as well. But I plugged in the free batteries and fired it up and was amazed to hear that 1) it worked, and 2) it didn't sound like total garbage. So far I haven't had the distortion problem and the volume is very good for such a small speaker. It even sounds far better than my clock radio. But now that I have it I'm struggling to find a use for the speaker function. Maybe I'll rock it out 80's boombox style and hold it up to my ear as I walk around campus. The Zune 80 fits in the case pretty well and there's enough room for earbuds and the sync cable so it's a nice way to keep everything together and protected. The case itself feels fairly sturdy and I'm confident it could keep my Zune protected if I were to sit on it or drop it, although the volume dial feels like it's going to snap off at some point. Even with nothing inside this is a heavy case. Luckily the Zune doesn't weigh any more than it does or else I'd have to haul the entire thing around in a wheelbarrow. Its usability as a case is hindered by the fact that you have to open the case up to get to your Zune. It's more of a travel case and can do much better for a case to use everyday. All in all it's definitely worth the time and effort spent taking advantage of the offer. I wouldn't feel bad even if I had spent some money on it. But even if you get one and it doesn't work I'm sure it would be quite fun to watch burn at your next bonfire. 6/10

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