AirPlay-equipped audio systems will probably at everywhere at CES 2011. CE companies are going to stand up and shout, “Hey, look! We love Apple too!” This JBL system will likely be part of the company’s CES offering but it first stopped off for some quality time with the good ol’ boys at the FCC, which seems to state that the retail market isn’t far away. It’s about what you’d expect from JBL, too: A speaker dock using a long-established product name with a slightly unconventional design. → Read More
Today JBL has announced the launch of their new MS-8 digital processor for the car stereo. Its basically an $800 supercomputer in a box designed to optimize all sounds coming from your speakers. → Read More
If you can’t go and listen to a high fidelity sound system, why don’t you have it come to you? The Harmon Mobile Showcase is designed to do just that, bringing two professionally calibrated listening rooms to an expo near you. → Read More
It has been a long time coming, but the notorious JBL MS-8 is almost here. Car audio forums have been talking up this digital signal processor system since 2007 when it debuted in a BMW demo car. It reached vaporware status in the minds of many, but JBL finally went live with its April release date and price today. → Read More
When you’ve been making iPod and iPhone docks since the beginning, what is there to do but tweak the design every once in a while? That’s JBL’s situation, and these “new” docks are pretty much what you had before, but no one would choose the old ones over the new ones. “Greater versatility and compatibility” is their way of saying “it ain’t broke.” Let’s take a look. → Read More
“Aww, those are so cute!” says my wife as I took the new JBL Roxy headphones out of the shipping box. Me? I could not care less how my gadgets look, as long as they work well. But my wife instantly reminded me that looks are more important to some, so I came up with the idea to send the headphones to high school with my little sister-in-law for some teenager hands-on. → Read More
Short version: An alright set of $99 computer speakers that, while lacking a dedicated subwoofer, do produce good lows as well as good highs. → Read More
Surfer girls take notice: the Roxy-branded headphones that are coming out shortly are made by JBL and should sound great. Generally, when a fashion brand launches random electronics, they are of the low quality, but Roxy seems to have bucked that trend thankfully. No word on pricing or what exactly the line will include just yet. → Read More
I trust JBL to put out some good speakers, and these don’t look like an exception. They’re essentially bookshelf speakers, but instead of the trusty box shape, they’ve mounted the speakers into a sort of quarter-toroid, possibly to make for a more rounded sound (wocka wocka wocka). Really, it’s for mounting in corners and such, helping distribute the sound through a space directly instead of bouncing it around. There are a lot of specifications in the release, including the names of many alloys and such designed to create “outstanding resolution and transient response” and really I have to take their word for it; I’m neither a materials engineer or an audiophile of any expertise. I’m sure they sound great. Trouble is, they’re a bit expensive. At $250 for the indoor version (black) and $270 for the outdoor version (white) you’re going to be spending at least a grand if you want to wire your house up with the things. Well, if you do go in for them, they’ll make for good conversation at your fondue parties. They’ll be available later in the month. → Read More
Product Name: JBL On Stage IIIP Description: The On Stage IIIP is a ring-shaped portable speaker for the iPod and iPhone. It’s very small and cute at just only 6 inches by 1-3/4 inches, and it can run on AC power or on six AAA batteries (for up to 12 hours). The four drivers put out a combined 6 watts per channel, and JBL claims their Slipstream port design increases bass output without distortion. (Yeah, we’ll see about that.) Other amenities include interchangeable trim rings so you can switch colors and a USB mini-plug connection for syncing with a computer. The included infrared remote lets you control playback and navigate your iPod’s menus. Price: $169.95 In-store date: February 2008 Site: www.jbl.com Why it’s cool: It’s tiny and can run on batteries, just like previous On Stage models. The difference is that this one is iPhone compatible. As an iPhone owner, that’s pretty important, though hopefully this will show up for quite a bit less money online. Maybe not the most exciting thing out there, but it’s a solid utility infielder. → Read More
Product Name: JBL On Stage 200ID/400ID, Duet 200 Description: The JBL On Stage 200ID and 400ID are a pair of iPod speaker/docks. (Please try to stay awake for this anyway.) Both have a universal iPod/iPhone dock on top, and the 200ID has two full-range drivers while the 400ID has four plus a tweeter. The Duet 200 is identical to the On Stage 200ID but it lacks an iPod dock and instead takes in audio via its 1/8th-inch line-in jack. Oh, and the 400ID is taller than the other two. Duh. And they all run on AC power but not batteries. The bass is supposedly helped out by JBL’s Slipstream port design, though I’m always skeptical until I listen carefully to a speaker alone in my evil lair. They’re pretty cute lookin’ with all its Apple-esque silvery stylings. Price: Duet 200, $119.95; On Stage 200ID, $149.95; On Stage 400ID, $249.95 In-store date: March 2008 Site: www.jbl.com Why it’s cool: Hmm… this field is too crowded for me not to be incredibly jaded. Let’s just say I’d ask any of them to dance, but I probably wouldn’t try to get any to come home with me. → Read More
JBL’s On Air Control 2.4G wireless satellite speakers, mentioned on this very site at the end of January, promised to add some stereo audio to your life without all the necessary wiring required for standard sats. Well, turns out the speakers are about as wireless as something with a lot of wires. See, like all other “wireless” speaker systems currently available, the On Airs still need power and to be connected to each other and to have some sort of transmitter connected to the audio source. → Read More
Here’s a potentially good idea: the new JBL On Air Control 2.4G wireless speaker system. I’ve always had a problem with surround sound systems in this room because of its peculiar shape. Something like this would presumably resolve such a problem by allowing me to position speakers in locations that are difficult for traditional, tethered speakers. The system includes a transmitter and two speakers that each feature 30-watt built-in amplification. The active speaker includes a mini-jack input for connection to a second local audio source, and a subwoofer output that enables the speakers to be used as part of a 2.1-channel satellite/ subwoofer audio system. One transmitter can serve up to four speakers, so you can have a surround system with entirely wireless satellites. The On Air Control loudspeaker system will be available in Feb. for an MSRP of $349. JBL → Read More
JBL makes some of the best sounding iPod docks out there today. Its docks continue to impress me and it never ceases to create exciting new designs for its products. Recently, JBL released its Spyro series of speakers, which come in white or black. After spending some time with the black pair, it’s safe to say I’m impressed yet again. A bit costly at $130, these speakers may not appear to be worth the cash, but when you hear the quality of the sound they produce, you’ll be in heaven. → Read More
Alright so technically, they just made some speakers named Mt. Everest, but they do weigh 313 pounds, which might as well be as heavy as a mountain for some people (me). The Mt. Everest speakers blast at 500-watts and measure mountainously at 9″ x 18.5″ x 44″. So if you have $30,000 to buy them, I hope you have a lot of spare room. Our pals in Nippon will be able to purchase the Mt. Everest on September 21. I’m going to import seven of them and make a surround system using these monstrosities solely. Yea. Someone want to recommend a good receiver? Mt. Everest JBL speakers [UberGizmo] → Read More
