They share the same iPod-matching ice white design and flying saucer crossed with a bagel design that looks flat out cool and elegant. The II adds a remote but changes little else. The on stage II follows up on the popular on stage design released in late 2004.
JLB ONSTAGE PORTABLE
Not only that, the on stage II is highly portable (though the AC brick is a honker), can act as a dock and charger for your iPod and the JBL plays nicely with other portable audio devices. Of course they can't beat your home theatre system speakers or even the $300 iPod speaker systems, but for the money they deliver great sound and beat many other iPod speaker systems in the same price range. But can a $169 speaker system that measures only 7" in diameter sound good? The answer is yes. My pair of floor standing JBL studio monitors have been my home stereo system's constant companion for over 15 years, outlasting all the other components.
JBL home and car speakers are known for their clarity and accurate sound. Though the four speakers are front and side facing (none at the rear), the on stage II manages to fill a room with sound in an impressively even manner. JBL's circular on stage II system features a speaker grill that runs the entire circumference of the device and four aluminum domed Odyssey® Transducers with neodymium magnets. Stereo speakers for the iPod generally are designed as two speakers with a center connector like the Altec Lansing inMotion mini or as a wall of sound, a la the Bose SoundDock and Klipsch iGroove. JBL's ring of music design sets it apart from the myriad sub $200 speaker systems for the iPod. The remote is good for around 15 feet, but it's nothing spectacular.IPod Accessory Reviews: Speakers JBL on stage II The remote features controls for volume, tracks selection, and menu navigation. The On Stage IV redeems itself slightly with an included IR remote. As with many portable speakers we also found the character of the sound to be very dependent on volume level, requiring a moderate listening level to introduce the low end, but easily overdriving lower frequencies when too much gain is involved. Compared with similarly priced systems, such as the Logitech S715i, or the Altec Lansing inMotion Classic, the JBL On Stage IV lacks a little in both bass and clarity.
JLB ONSTAGE DRIVERS
As a spec, it's impressive to see four drivers on a product so small, but the real world payoff is negligible. Unlike conventional stereo systems, the speakers all fire out at different angles in an attempt to spray the sound in all directions. There are a total of four 1-inch JBL Odyssey speaker drivers embedded on the On Stage IV, grouped in pairs for the left and right. JBL rates the On Stage IV at 16 hours of battery life, and uses a battery-preserving auto-shutoff feature after 5 minutes of continuous silence.
Flipping the On Stage over, you'll see a battery compartment for six AA batteries. On the back of the On Stage IV you'll find a power button, aux input, and a Mini-USB port for syncing your docked device to a computer. The system meets with Apple's "Made for iPhone" certification, so you can rest assured that your iPhone or iPod will charge, and that the speakers and wiring are shielded to prevent cellular interference. At the top of the modern-looking heap, you'll find a clear plastic dock well that accepts universal inserts, including the matching clear plastic fitting that comes included. The overall footprint of the speaker dock is around 8 inches square, rising 3 inches high at its tallest point. The fluid, organic lines of the glossy plastic weave across each other, creating a mound of speaker grilles that fire upward and out. The On Stage IV (and its smaller spin-off, the On Stage Micro III) looks like something you'd find in Frank Gehry's home. Now in its fourth generation, the design of the On Stage IV ($149) is a conversation piece unto itself, though its sound quality can't compare to the recent influx of great, affordable speakers.
JLB ONSTAGE SERIES
The JBL On Stage series has a long history as a stylish speaker dock with a small footprint.
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