Designed for mobile phones as well as any device supporting a 3.5mm or 2.5mm headphone jack, Nokia's MD-6 is certainly a strange looking device. Almost compact enough to slip into a pocket, the cylindrical unit produces surprisingly decent sound quality for such a tiny unit.

Ideal for travel, the MD-6 is a simple unit. A small hinge flips open to reveal two 1.5W speakers. At the rear, a convenient red slide button opens the plastic cord winder, allowing you unwind the 700mm cord to the appropriate length and simply close it again. On the bottom, a small plastic cover conceals the battery compartment. The MD-6 runs on four AAA batteries and these are included in the sales package. Nokia quotes a 27 hour operation time.

We weren't expecting much in the way of sound quality considering the minuscule size, but the MD-6 does a surprisingly good job in this regard. Sound is punchy, quite loud at high volumes without noticeable distortion and for the most part, crisp and clear. Obviously the bass is average and there is no way to adjust any sound settings on the unit itself – this can only be altered using the mobile phone or other device you are connecting the MD-6 to.

We tested the MD-6 with an iPod nano and found that experimenting with different equaliser settings is definitely worth a try in order to achieve the best sound. We do have one small complaint with the unit though – at higher volume levels the MD-6 vibrates when placed on a flat desk or table, causing it to move in a circular motion. This can become an annoyance, especially as you have to ensure the speakers are facing you for the best possible sound.

Nokia includes a drawstring case in the sales package, as well 3.5mm and 2.5mm adapters. All in all, the MD-6 is an ideal speaker unit for travelling, though the asking price is a little steep.