Turns PSP into the music and movie player it was born to be.

There's no question as to who the king of the mobile gaming scene is -- it's PlayStation Portable. The PSP's lineup of games include over 20 titles that are near the graphic quality of PlayStation 2. In most cases the gameplay is exactly the same (I like the PSP version of NFL Street even more than the PS2 version). This is old news to the 500,000+ gamers who purchased the console in North America, and it will soon be old news when European gamers are able to buy the machine this fall.

When it comes to music and movies PSP is slowly moving forward with frequent announcements of new UMD movie titles and several dozen already in stores. The high cost (as much as $30) deters gamers from buying UMD movies when they already have the DVD.

X-OOM will solve that problem with its DVD movie conversion software, due for release this July. Once I get my hands on it (and a 1GB memory stick), I'm going to be converting DVDs like they're going out of style. Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Toy Story, The Incredibles, 24 Season 1 – all the classics I can't bear to leave the house without!

And I don't want to watch them using headphones either. Headphones are for personal music listening. Movies deserve to be viewed with loud, crystal-clear stereo sound. PSP is the "portable" PlayStation, so it's not like I can carry my four-pound speaker system wherever I go. It's big, bulky, and way too heavy to lug around.

I need a better solution. I need the PlayGear Amp from Logitech.

I didn't know I needed it, but Logitech's track record with spectacular sound systems for home gaming told me that if anyone could make the PSP sound better, it was them. As always, Logitech hasn't let me down.

This tiny speaker system is about the length of a ruler and isn't much thicker than the PSP itself. It's extremely light, and the speakers fold inward for compact traveling. Logitech even went the extra mile and included a small and sturdy case to carry the speakers and its AC adaptor in! Four AAAs may be used in place of the AC adaptor, making the speaker system truly portable.

From the standpoint of convenience, Logitech nailed it. But what about the sound quality? I mean come 'on, this is a really small device. How could it possibly sound that good? 

I'm no internal technology expert – all I can say is that they did it and I love it.

The PSP fits nicely in between the speakers. Insert one of the sound output plugs, turn the speakers on and you're all set. The volume can be adjusted on the speakers themselves, so as long as you crank the PSP's sound to full capacity you'll have full control over how loud or how quiet you wish to play movies, music or games.

I wish I could demonstrate to you the difference between listening with the PlayGear Amp and listening without. The upgrade is amazing.

Earlier this year I sat and watched Spider-Man 2. I didn't want to hold the console the whole time so I propped it up with some books. (What else are books good for? It's not like I'd want to waste time reading when I have a PSP in my home.) The sound was acceptable for a portable device, but I couldn't hear the movie very well. Anytime background noise occurred - like someone talking in another room, or someone walking through the house – the sound was partially drowned out. That's no way to watch a movie.

Since the PlayGear Amp holds the PSP in an upright, slightly angled position, I can place it wherever I want – on the floor, on a table, on the couch, in my lap – and not have to hold the console (or prop it up with books) the whole time. The angle can be adjusted to suit your needs for the optimal viewing experience. 

That's great, but the reason I love the PlayGear Amp and the reason you'll love the PlayGear Amp is because of the massive increase in sound loudness and clarity. Two or three people can share in the experience now that the sound drowns out the background, not the reverse. It's not a massive sound that'll blow your ears out, nor will it replace your home stereo system (Logitech has other speaker systems that do that). But it's the ultimate solution to your portable movie watching needs.

Pros:

• EXCELLENT sound quality!

• Amplifies the PSP's sound capacity - enjoy music and movies wherever you go with great clarity.

• Compact, lightweight design.

• Uses AC adaptor (included) or 4 AAAs (sold separately).

• Includes two audio plugs; one for use when the PSP is attached to the PlayGear Amp's base, the other (longer plug) is for use when the PSP is glued to your hands during game sessions.

Cons:

• It's worth every penny, but the cost is a little too high to become a mass-market item. Gamers with limited funs will likely choose to buy new games over a fancy new sound system.

Overall: 9.0
Want better sound for your PSP? Want to watch movies without having to tape your ear to the PSP's tiny sound holes? Logitech's PlayGear Amp is the ultimate solution. Box hype is usually just that – hype. But Logitech promotes this system by saying it provides "dynamic, portable audio." That statement couldn't be any truer. I had high hopes that someone would create a portable sound system like this, but I never dreamed it would be this small and this light and sound this good.