I usually prefer to review single accessory per review, but these speakers and solar charger makes a perfect combo, like PB & J. First off Arctic Sound Portable Speakers.
[Rating:9.5]
Website: Arctic Sound S111 and Arctic C1 Mobile USB Charger with Solar Panel
Price: MSRP $15.45 and $24.95 respectively
Arctic Sound S111 are dice shaped, compact, portable speakers. They are designed for laptops and powered via USB. It comes with a USB type A plug and 3.5mm stereo jack. You plug in the usb jack to power it up and stereo jack to your headset input. It provides some great sound from a speaker this small.
The main features are:
- Very compact and lightweight
- Vocals and bass both sound great
- Volume control
- USB powered
- 3.5 mm audio jack – you are not limited to just your laptop
The specifications are:
Frequency Response: 50Hz – 25KHz
Impedance: 4Ω
Output Power: 4W (2W x 2) RMS
Cable: 1m with 3.5mm stereo jack
Dimensions: 70 L x 70 W x 70 H (mm)
Weight: 494g
Warranty: 2 year
I love the compactness of this unit, it is so lightweight, yet it provides great sound. At MSRP $15.45, it really is a steal.
The companion to this awesome speakers is the C1 Mobile USB Charger with Solar Panel. This very lightweight charger give you power on the go. It can be charged via its solar panels or via USB and it holds a whooping 4440mWh lithium-ion battery. It has a female USB type A port, where you can plug-in your phone’s, PDA’s, MP3 player’s USB cable and charge it. It also comes with a short USB cable with changeable tips – mini USB, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung tips are included. It provides provides necessary voltage to the data pin which allows charging of iPhone and iPod touch. Through solar power, it can take up to 12 hours to charge the battery full, whereas via USB it takes around 2 hours.
The specifications are:
USB port: 1 Port
Input solar panel: 5.5 V / 80 mA
Input USB: 5 V / 300 mA
Li-ion rechargeable battery: 4440 mAh
Output: DC 5.5 V 
500 mA
Dimensions: 110 (L) x 43 (B) x 12 (H) mm
Weight: 52 g
Warranty: 2 Years
Now comes the good part, since this charger can power the S111 speakers, they become the perfect combo for backyard, beach and other locations. You can sit and relax at your back porch, plug in the speakers and charger together and listen to your songs from your Blackberry. And it will last quite long time, as it will be charging the C1 mobile through sun light. Plus this way, S111 is not just limited to your laptop, but it becomes a convenient speaker set for your other items. The MSRP for C1 Mobile is $24.95, which again is a very good deal. (I have seen online store prices at $19.95)
I love both units, they have become a part of my daily life. They are lightweight, easy to carry around, not lots of cables to tangle around. And with their price point, they are great accessories for any smartphone user. Highly recommended.
Pros (S111):
- Lightweight
- Great sound
Cons (S111):
- Requires USB power
Pros (C1 Mobile):
- Amazing capacity at such a lightweight package
- You can use both solar or USB power
- Can practically charge any small device via USB
Cons (C1 Mobile):
- The charging time via solar is a little too long.
