Why You Can Trust CNET SpectraVideo Logic3 Sound Grip for PSP review: SpectraVideo Logic3 Sound Grip for PSP
SpectraVideo Logic3 Sound Grip for PSP
David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
2 min read
If you've lived with your Sony PSP for a while, you know that it has a couple of shortcomings. For starters, the external speaker just isn't loud enough at times, especially when it comes to music and movies--homemade movies in particular. Second, when it comes to playing games, the PSP doesn't get an A for ergonomics. SpectraVideo has set out to design an inexpensive accessory that alleviates both problems. The Logic3 Sound Grip is essentially a battery-powered speaker that envelops your PSP. All in all, it's easy to fit the PSP into the Sound Grip, and we liked how the plastic hinge on top clamps the PSP in place and offers cutouts for the USB port and the disc-eject button.
Two AAA batteries power the SpectraVideo Logic3 Sound Grip; alternately, you can use the PSP's AC adapter. The Sound Grip has a volume dial and a headphone jack on back (the Sound Grip covers the PSP's headphone jack).
The speaker, while not offering stellar sound quality, certainly boosts your PSP's volume to the point of loudness. This comes in handy particularly with your personal music collection and home-brewed movies, which don't play nearly as loud as UMD movies (the Sony PSP features a sound boost for them). We appreciated the included stand for propping up the Sound Grip for movie watching, but we wish it were foldable so that it would fit in the included canvas protective case. Those looking for improved sound quality--at the expense of a bulkier add-on--should check out the Logitech PlayGear Amp.
Our one major gripe is that the device offers limited ergonomic benefits. Yes, when your Sony PSP is docked in the Sound Grip, it does feel more comfortable to hold. The only problem is that reaching the left and right shoulder buttons with your index fingers becomes more difficult. For example, we started out playing FIFA 06 with our PSP in the Sound Grip, but then decided to detach the accessory because our hands got cramped. Simply put, it felt better playing with our PSP "naked." Conversely, we felt that Logitech's PlayGear Pocket (which, admittedly, lacks a speaker) actually improved the ergonomics of the PSP.
Two AAA batteries power the SpectraVideo Logic3 Sound Grip; alternately, you can use the PSP's AC adapter. The Sound Grip has a volume dial and a headphone jack on back (the Sound Grip covers the PSP's headphone jack).
The speaker, while not offering stellar sound quality, certainly boosts your PSP's volume to the point of loudness. This comes in handy particularly with your personal music collection and home-brewed movies, which don't play nearly as loud as UMD movies (the Sony PSP features a sound boost for them). We appreciated the included stand for propping up the Sound Grip for movie watching, but we wish it were foldable so that it would fit in the included canvas protective case. Those looking for improved sound quality--at the expense of a bulkier add-on--should check out the Logitech PlayGear Amp.
Our one major gripe is that the device offers limited ergonomic benefits. Yes, when your Sony PSP is docked in the Sound Grip, it does feel more comfortable to hold. The only problem is that reaching the left and right shoulder buttons with your index fingers becomes more difficult. For example, we started out playing FIFA 06 with our PSP in the Sound Grip, but then decided to detach the accessory because our hands got cramped. Simply put, it felt better playing with our PSP "naked." Conversely, we felt that Logitech's PlayGear Pocket (which, admittedly, lacks a speaker) actually improved the ergonomics of the PSP.