Hands-On with the Nyko Speaker Stand for Vita

More often than not, sitting back and enjoying your Vita for reasons other than gaming is a pleasure that is hindered by awkward attempts to stand the handheld upright while dealing with relatively quiet sound out of built-in speakers. Nyko aims to surpress those moments of wanting a bit more out of Sony's portable by providing stereo sound from its new Speaker Stand, that also doubles up as a charging station.

Aesthetically, the Speaker Stand does a decent job at attempting to mimic the Vita's style. The brushed aluminum finish is a nice touch, but ultimately, when the Vita is locked in, you hardly see any of the stand, and most of your attention will likely be placed upon the blue light emitting from the bottom, letting you know that the accessory is powered up.

Sliding the Vita into place is a simple task, as the only locking mechanism is the handheld's charging port. Removing the Vita will take two hands, for both stability and leverage. Trying your best at separating the devices single-handedly may result in a busted charging plug.

The volume out of the small speakers on each side of the base is surprisingly loud and clear. Listening to music while roaming around your room is not a task out of reach, but don't expect to use them while trying to keep bodies moving during your next dorm room dance party. Ideally, the Speaker Stand is a great desk or bedside table companion. Aside from music, streaming a couple TV episodes before calling it a night or having a video chat session while at your desk is when the stand's utility is easy to see.

Available now at GameStop for a penny under $30, Nyko's Speaker Stand is an easy purchase for those who use their Vitas for more than just playing games.

Justin is a Contributing Editor for IGN.com and is part of the IGN Tech team. Follow IGN on twitter, and keep track of Justin's shenanigans on IGN and Twitter. Fresca!