Customer Reviews

JBL Duet PC Speakers (2-Speaker, Silver)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I was very pleasantly surprised that such low-cost speakers could sound so good. The sound is full and balanced, with suprisingly deep bass. And you can crank them up; they fill up a 200-square foot room with no problem. I compared these with the Altec-Lansing MX5020, which cost twice as much, and like the sound of the JBL's much better. However, it's obvious that JBL cut some corners to keep the cost down (see below). So far, though, I'm very pleased.

Pros:
1. Rich, accurate sound. The bass is full without being boomy, the mid-range is warm, and the treble is clear (although maybe a little edgy.) They're good for all types of music.
2. They sound good at both low and high volumes.
3. They have plenty of volume for small to medium rooms.
4. Cheap! I may buy an extra pair for replacement parts.
5. They're small (only about 8" tall.)

Cons:
1. There are no tone controls, so you can't easily compensate for the acoustics of the room. To contour the tone, you'll need software that includes an EQ, such as WinAmp or Rhapsody.
2. I'm not impressed with the quality of the construction. The volume knob is very hard to turn for the first few notches, and the power light on one speaker flickers when music is playing, which leads me to think there's a loose connection. I've only had them for a few days, so I don't know how well they'll hold up over time. You may want to get an extended warrenty, just in case.

The JLB Duet speakers are perfect for those of us who either despise 3-piece PC speakers or never know where to put the extra box (subwooofer). The highs are strong and vibrant without being tinny, but the lows are a bit lacking -- but then, you won't ever get a high-end stereo system out of most PCs.

The size of the speakers are misleading. They look like a cheap throw-in by the manufacturer, but they sound wonderful. CON: The headphone jack is in the back, not the front. Bummer.

No, they won't replace a 3-speaker system, but I'm very impressed with the sound quality (and volume) coming out of these little desktop speakers. Lot of bang for the buck. They also look great on the desk (I got the silver version to match my laptop and phone) and are half the size of my previous very marginal computer speakers. I play iTunes off my laptop, so I use the equalizer that comes with that program. If you don't have an EQ in your media software, you might want to consider that these speakers don't offer any sound-shaping options (volume is the only control). Overall, very pleased.

I bought these to replace/upgrade the default speakers that came with my Gateway at work, and they're much nicer. They will NOT replace a 3-speaker system, however. I compared them to my Yamaha set at home (2 satellites and a subwoofer) and there is NO contest - if you're used to subwoofer sound quality, don't downgrade to 2 speakers. If you're used to 2-speaker quality, these are pretty good! My biggest gripe: there is NO tone control, not even a simple High/Low dial. Volume control is the ONLY knob you get!

With computer speakers you gotta know what you are looking for as far as environment. Some are really targeted for pre-teens.... others for high schoolers and college students, etc. JBL in particular targets their market along these lines (different speakers targeted for different customers).

For me, I do not feel I am gonna get 'high end audio' sound out of a computer, so it is a matter of what I want otherwise, and I want the two speakers on either side of my monitor, because that is when I am usually using them (when at the keyboard). Also, I personally don't like the idea of a separate woofer in my setup. Clunky as far as placement in my environment and you lose some of the stereo image to boot.

So... the JBL duet speakers... are targeted for people just like me <g>. Great sound overall and about an octave of extra bass that most speakers without a sub-woofer simply don't have.
Great price, great sound what more could you ask.

One thing though... I was concerned that the one speaker was getting kinda warm and I hadn't seen that in computer speakers previously. Got no respone to my email from their web page and so I called them and, amazingly, got a real person on the other end (and, did not speak in 'foreign' english to the point where we could not communicate). Turns out that is normal heat from the amplifier on the one speaker and so... no problem there.

Great purchase from my end.... should be the same for those looking for this type of speakers.

Walt

P.S. And they look great also.

I bought a Sony computer this summer. The computer is great, but the speaker is terrible!! Hence, I would like to replace them with an acceptable multimedia speaker.

I am a fan of JBL speaker. After seeing this beautiful JBL duet and this low price in Amazon, I decided to order this special JBL Duet. Finally, I have terrific computer speaker to enhance the multimedia ability of my computer. The sound is clear and the bass is great! Nice for DVD and music!

Thank you, JBL! Thank you, Amazon!

These JBL's are about as good as you can do for the price and for a two speaker system and for the size, which physically limits the quality and quantity of bass performace. These are definitely better than my old Altec Lansing speakers, and are much smaller. They have a super modern silvery bulbous look that might not fit every "desktop environment" as they say but they are pretty unobtrusive. I recommend them for anyone who is not a music fanatic.

I set up AirTunes (ala Apple's Airport Express wireless routers) in my house. I didn't want to spend a fortune on speakers and invested in the inexpensive Duet set by JBL after hearing a demo in the Apple Store. WOW. JBL delivers with every product they make - or at least every product that I've been exposed to.

The green LED lets you know from a glance whether the speakers are on or not. Very helpful when setting up wireless music networks! Despite the lack of a subwoofer, these small speakers fill a reasonably sized room with sound that is rich, clear and without any rattles or hums... whether it is spoken word or rock-n-roll.

Whether plugged directly into my iBook or into my Airport Express, I get great, uncompromising sound. Are they Bose quality? No... and they're not $249, either! For the price, you're going to be hard-pressed to find speakers that sound this good and look this nice.

After reading a number of positive reviews, I finally decided to order this pair of small but cute speakers, instead of the logitech x-230 set with a subwoofer.
They arrived four days after my order from amazon by free shipping. After I plugged them into my four-year old notebook, the great sound coming out still gave me somewhat surpise, even though I had known its sound would be quite good from many reviews. Considering its "tiny" size, the bass, treble and mid are just great, although not excellent (you cant expect excellent at this price and size).
But they do have some points that can be improved. The knob of volume is well-made, but a little bit slippery, sometimes hard to turn. As mentioned in the previous reviews, the speaker having power connection does get somewhat warm (probably 30-40 degree high). It is officially commented as result of amplifier working. The speaker will get warm when the power is on (the green light on) even if you are not playing sound. So in order to make it cool, you can either unplug the ac adaptor or just turn the volume knob to off (green light off).
They especially fit ipod or mac computer.
Recommned this pair of cute speakers to those who want good sound quality, like good-looking stuff, or have limited desk space. You will get more than the money you paid!

Excellent speakers! I was going on a trip and wanted to get some speakers to use with my iPod. My first notion was to use some old computer speakers. However, I decided to invest the forty odd dollars and give these a try. I was more than pleasantly surpised. The bass response is simply incredible for speakers this small. Really, you would have to listen to them to believe how much bass these speakers have! Clarity, imagery and instrument definition are all remarkable. Even with an iPod they put out more than enough sound to fill a large hotel room. The only small gripe I have is that they are a slightly odd shape which made them a little hard to pack in a carry on. Still they might have had to be built this way to give the amazing lower end that the speakers possess. I've had them for about six weeks and waited until I used them several times before writing this review. I own some JBL home speakers and in may ways these little dynamos are every bit as good. I would highly recommend this product. For around $40 you can't go wrong.