Sports Calendar

Best for: going loud

Ion Tailgater £149

This huge, heavy guitar amp lookalike is great for musical jams with its extra line and mic inputs, but is spoilt by flimsy control knobs and a rattling grille. Cue up rock music, though, via the iPod dock or the 3.5mm jack and it packs a huge punch, going very loud with zero distress. The two-way speaker easily fills any outdoor area, and the sound has real finesse to it. A shame, then, about the low-volume mains hum.

Verdict: A strong speaker but a little rough around the edges.

www.iwantoneofthose.com

Best for: audio quality

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 £85

This unit’s glossy casing scratches easily so it’s lucky a travel case is supplied. Fold-out stands aid the player’s stability, but you’ll need the remote as even using a docked iPod’s click wheel rocks it. The controls felt cheap but worked well, the “stereo wide” button giving expansive sound. Despite the iffy build, the Anywhere 2 sounds impressive, with punchy (slightly lightweight) bass, good detail and no harshness.

Verdict: An effective outdoor performer, but so easily scratched.

www.logitech.com

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