Ego Case Boasts iPod Protection, Clear Sound

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Late last year,

Practical Sailor published an article about devices that keep iPods free of moisture, sand, and dust (see Practical Sailor November 2006). Only one of those products came with speakers instead of earphones&emdash;the iFloat from Brookstone&emdash;but it didnt have a water-resistant speaker, and the sound quality diminished significantly once the speaker got wet. Now weve discovered a worthy replacement: the Ego Waterproof Sound Case.

Ego Waterproof Sound Case

 

Made by Atlantic Inc., of California, the Ego employs a sturdy rubber gasket and a snap latch. Atlantic claims the Egos clear polycarbonate is shatterproof. It has rubber guards on each corner and a shock absorbent insert (it comes with three to accommodate different iPod models) that cradles the iPod.

Practical Sailor testers dropped the Ego from 36 inches onto concrete three times, and no damage was noted. The device also floats; however, its not intended for immersion.

The Ego weighs just over 1.75 pounds, but its relatively compact (9.8 x 6.5 x 1.8 inches). An opaque membrane allows users to manipulate the iPods control wheel, and whatever device you use it with (iPod or mp3 player) will connect via a standard 3.5 millimeter jack. The Ego is powered by four AA batteries, which the company claims should deliver 30 hours of operation.

Testers floated the Ego in a freshwater pool and in salt water and splashed water over it for five minutes: no problems. The sound quality wont compare to most high-end audio systems, but it does offer tonal clarity and pleasing mid-range sounds. At full volume (64-72 dB at 10 feet), the sound should be sufficient to incite a little dancing in the cockpit.

The Ego sells

for $149 and comes with a storage bag, kickstand, shoulder strap, and a one-year warranty, which doesn’t apply to the music player. Its the best product for the job, in Practical Sailors opinion.

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Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.