Sonic Impact 5009G Gen3 Portable Speakers

Comment: I bought the Gen1.5 speakers over 4 years ago, primarily for use on a weekend office job, with an MP3 player & other devices. Their sound quality was amazing and powerful, visitors were amazed at both quality and power coming from such small speakers, and I often had to turn them down to handle phone calls. I listen mostly to opera and classical music, which forms demand more from speakers than a rock or rap group. Eventually they would no longer power up (neither AC adapter nor batteries). Being so satisfied with SonicImpact, I didn't even investigate anywhere else, just went to Google, then Amazon.

I regret to say that I don't think the Gen3 are quite as powerful, although I will still keep them - they're definitely good and inexpensive. It seems their big plus is their size and the cute little case (plus the bass boost, which the others lacked). The 1.5's were a bit larger, rectangular, and came with a nice carrying bag. The 3's are smaller, round, and with a nicely designed box - more convenient packing - so if your primary purpose is for travel, perhaps with a laptop or to use in a hotel room with your MP3 player, you might consider that a favorable trade-off.

I regret that the 1.5's were discontinued. I was overjoyed with them, & perhaps they spoiled me. I am satisfied with the Gen3.

Comment: These speakers are quite amazing for the size and portability!

I work at a consulting job that moves from site to site regularly with nothing but my laptop. These speakers fold up and fit in my case easily and set up just as easy! They have a great sound quality (at least at the levels you might play them in an office environment.)


My only complaint is that you have to order the USB power cord separately. The speakers WILL run off 4 AAA batteries though, with a fairly reasonable lifespan (I'd guesstimate around 25-30ish hours per set of batteries). I went through two sets of batteries before caving and buying the power cord for $6 (it should be a related link on this page where... if not just search for it).

Overall, these are GREAT speakers for anyone that just wants something a little better than the built-in laptop speakers (or that wants to play music from an MP3 player).

Comment: Regarding overall sound quality, these little speakers are no Klipschorns - I ought to know as I own a pair of those large floor-standing speakers (the best I have ever heard in my life!). That said, when one travels it would be inconvenient, to say the least, to take a pair of Klipschorns along: they're about four feet tall and weigh over one hundred sixty pounds EACH! Not the best "traveling companions!" I like to listen to music (via my laptop computer) when I'm in a hotel room and I have been searching for quite some time for a pair of speakers which would feature good sound yet be easily transportable.

Please note that comparing the sound quality of these little amplified computer speakers to a pair of giant Klipschorns is REALLY comparing apples to oranges (or, perhaps, raisins to pumpkins). Both of those speakers are designed with different purposes in mind. And both, in their respective categories, are positively superb.

For the purpose for which they were designed, these Sonic Impact 5009G Gen3 Portable Speakers are near-perfect in my opinion - and their price is right!. I own a pair of Sony SRS-A27 Desktop Personal Speakers with 2-Way Power Supply which cost about the same and, while they are pretty good (especially for voice), I can truly say that these Sonic Impact Technologies ones sound MUCH better for music (the Sonys are harsh-sounding), at least to my ears, and the Sonic Impacts are far more convenient to pack than the Sonys. I listen almost exclusively to classical music and the sound quality through these little speakers is just amazing. I only wish that the Sonic Impact 5016 USB Power Adapter - 30" were included as standard (DEFINITELY make sure that you buy it).

A nice travel case is included and this is very convenient for packing the speakers away when they are not in use. The necessary basic connection cables are also included. As I said, the USB power cable is optional as is an AC adapter (a useful accessory should you wish to play music from a portable CD player or something else other than a laptop computer - though an AC adapter costs as much as the speakers!). The speakers can also be powered from 4 AAA batteries. (I haven't tried this but I should think that NiMH rechargeable AAA batteries would work quite well and would be far more economical than either "throw-away" batteries or an AC adapter. For use with a computer, the USB power cable suggested above is perfect.)

Please make certain that you carefully read the instruction sheet enclosed with these speakers; it takes but a few minutes to do so. The cables MUST be connected exactly as instructed and, unless you read the sheet, you are liable to connect them incorrectly.

These speakers use a new technology called "NXT Flat Panel Speaker Technology" which, being very new, is evidently a "work-in-progress;" thus the speakers do have a "weak point" - they do not play at extremely high sound levels. But they are fine for a small-to-medium size room (such as a dormitory or hotel room) and I do not feel that this lack of high ear-blasting volume is important. They play loud enough for almost all purposes. (On a recent trip, my wife told me to turn them down; she was afraid that the music might annoy others in adjacent hotel rooms.) Others, of course, may disagree with my assessment. (I have not used them outdoors as yet but I believe you would have to be rather close to hear them properly in such a situation.) They are totally non-directional and fill my medium sized room with beautiful full sound. That sound quality is the speakers' strong point, its main claim to fame. And anyone in the room hears the sound equally well, there being no "sweet spot."

These speakers do not provide room-shaking bass. But they supply far more bass than their small size would lead one to anticipate. You won't believe what you are hearing. This is done by a new and unusual psycho-acoustic circuit called "MaxxBass." This circuit can be turned on and off while the music is playing and, when you do that, you can REALLY hear the difference. I don't know how it's done, and I really don't care. All I know is that it works - and works amazingly well. Believe me, the results are absolutely astounding and impressive.

Should you wish to place the speakers across the room (as I have done), you need only two (relatively) inexpensive additions:

1. 3.5mm M/F Audio Extension Cable, 10 feet / 3M Black and

2. Cables To Go - 26686 - 3M (9.8ft) USB A Male to A Female Extension Cable (White)

Make sure you check Amazon's site for other similar cables; they may have some at lower prices.

(There are even longer cables available should you require them.)

Considering their size, their convenience, and the fact that you "think" you hear full-frequency sound (you do not, actually - but you'll never know it!), these new technology Sonic Impact Gen3 speakers are really superb in performance and I am very pleased with mine. I'm probably going to wind up using them with my computer at home as well as on the road! They're that good. I can tell you with certainty that they will accompany my wife and me whenever and wherever we travel.

I recommend them highly to anyone who requires such a portable speaker system.

====================================================================================

Update: December 23, 2008

Do NOT pay any more than $19.95 for these speakers unless the price is not very much higher AND you also get free shipping. $19.95 is the (former) list price.

====================================================================================

Update: June 19, 2009

My wife likes these speakers so much that she decided to buy a pair. Amazon itself no longer sells them but they are offered through several of their "partner" companies; the one my wife purchased through is called Galactics. (Their price is $20.39.)

Even though Galactics is a "partner," buying through them qualifies for Amazon's free shipping as long as your total order (including anything else purchased from Amazon proper on the same order) is $25.00 or more; my wife wanted a book as well so she got the free shipping. The book and the speakers were shipped separately (and arrived on separate days).

Unfortunately, Galactics (or whoever did the actual shipping) packed these speakers in a HUGE box which was loosely filled with packing paper. This was not really enough to protect the speakers from jostling around, plus the large box, being un-braced, was crushed somewhat.

When she opened the speakers' packaging, she noticed that there was some slight, though significant, damage. These speakers can be packed away in their case; when one does this, one "hooks" the speakers together. One speaker has a hook and the other has a receptacle into which the hook fits. In our case, the "hook" was sheared off, almost certainly in shipping.

Now this is not really important as my wife plans to leave the speakers in place most of the time but, nonetheless, it is a flaw. (The speakers themselves perform perfectly.)

She contacted Amazon by e-mail and requested a $5.00 discount as the goods were damaged.

Amazon responded almost immediately and granted her request!

Obviously it is less expensive for Amazon to give a discount rather than process an exchange (or have to pay for and accept a return) but -- what a company! Their service is second to none. Often I read customer reviews on Amazon's site and many times customers complain about a product purchased elsewhere and with which companies they have had difficulties.

This almost NEVER happens with Amazon. Are they "perfect?" Of course not but I suggest that, if you are in the market for ANY product which Amazon sells, you give them first consideration before purchasing.

That's what I do. And now that's what my wife will do as well.

Amazon is truly amazing. And let me say right here that I am ONLY a customer; I have no financial or any other type of interest in the company. (I am a Vine member, however.) I just think that, at least at the present time, Amazon is the very best place from which to buy.

And in conclusion let me state that these speakers remain, in our estimation, as the finest portable or travel speakers my wife and I have ever had the pleasure of owning and we both recommend these Sonic Impact 5009G Gen3 Portable Speakers to all.

Comment: I got these speakers in a Target at a really low clearance price. I already had a set of Sonic Impact Gen2's, which are pretty good. The Gen3 speakers are not a dramatic improvement over the Gen2 as far as bass response goes, but they do sound a bit clearer with lower distortion. The Gen3 speakers also look better, are smaller and easier to set up.
For the price, they are an excellent lightweight travel speaker. Other than the clearance sale at Target, I have not seen these sold anywhere. So they may be hard to find other than online.