We’ve seen plenty of portable speakers around but not many with a neat little twist like the Kensington FX300.

The ‘Speaker to Go’ system is actually a durable carry case with a lightweight speaker built right in. Your player slides snugly into the pocket on the inside, at which point just plug it in, hit play and zip up the case safe in the knowledge that it can now take a reasonable battering without causing damage to your pride and joy.

Volume is controlled by a circular dial on the outside of the case, so you shouldn’t have to open it up too often once you’ve got your music playing. It’s really aimed at use by a pool or on the beach or just generally to provide a toughened and splash-proof, although not waterproof, exterior for your player.

Sound quality isn’t up to the standard of a dedicated portable unit but should certainly be good enough considering the nature of the device. Batteries provide up to 10 hours of play and at just over £15 the FX300 is excellent value considering the advantages it offers.

It should also be big enough to offer plenty of room for headphones, car keys, loose change and so on around the majority of today’s slimline mp3 players.

People with larger players like the old iRiver iHP-140 or the original iPod series that feature a front facing selection control might find that it’s accidentally depressed when you close the case. This should only affect a minority though and none of the FX300’s drawbacks can really be blamed on Kensington’s design.

For such a low price and considering the degree of protection it gives your mp3 player this is an excellent idea that has been executed extremely well. If you’re planning on heading anywhere near sand, water, or any other substance that can find its way into your player’s delicate working parts make sure you pick one of these up before you go.

Also consider:
Saitek i-Phonic A-100 speakers
The Saitek i-Phonic A-100 are a good set of travel speakers

Minispeakers K8000 mp3 speaker system
You’d be hard pushed to find better sound from a device this size and, if it weren’t for the price, the K8000 Minispeakers would be the new mini speakers of choice for one and all

Philips SPA9300 multimedia speakers
The SPA9300 will suit those without the required space for a 5.1 surround-sound setup but want affordable, good-quality audio