“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.
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.
JBL announced these quarter-toroid speakers a while ago, but seeing them in person really shows how versatile the speakers are. The Control NOW loudspeaker can sit alone, be hung on the wall, wrap around a corner, but when their powers combine, they form a round speaker thingie. I could totally see these speaker donuts hanging at an outdoor bistro or inside an upscale bar. They are kind of pricey at $279 so that hangout spot is not going to have cheap drinks though – oh, and they sound great in the large venue that is CEDIA.
Photos after the link.
Once again, friends, into the breach. JBL has just released some speakers, a wireless subwoofer kit, and a wireless speaker kit that will have you singing in the aisles of your local Best Buy when they’re finally launched.
The WEM-1 is a wireless speaker kit for $359 and is available in September. The subwoofers, ES250PW and ES150PW cost $729 and $599 respectively include a little transmitter for sending your subwoofing to other rooms. Finally, the LS series speakers range from $999 to $1,999 each and include bookshelf, floorstanding, and center channel models. Read More
For years, speakers have been tied down by awful speaker wire. The cabling restricts placement and can even manage to form nasty webs, but not any more. JBL is freeing any speaker, regardless of brand or make, from their bonds with the new AIR WEM-1 wireless speaker module. The 2.1 channel transmitter receives the signal via RCA audio jacks, or the 3.5mm input, and sends it info over 2.4GHz, up to 70-feet, to your speakers and/or subwoofer. JBL even threw in a switch to allow user control over the wireless, or auxiliary, local input for even more freedom. So for only $359, you too can free your tied down speaker when the AIR WEM-1 launches this month.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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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]
