Customer Reviews

JBL On Stage Micro Portable iPod Speaker and Docking Station (Red)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought the JBL ON Stage Micro in red for my office. It has AMAZING sound for such a tiny unit! I have the Bose Sounddock for my iPod at home and I gotta say...this little speaker sounds like Bose's little sister! I got it on sale at my local Best Buy for $59 because, I guess, they were closing out the red one....the other colors were on sale too, but the red was the cheapest and I liked it best anyway. You will NOT be disappointed in this speaker. It comes w/ an adaptor for every iPod imaginable. I have a 30 G video and it fits nice and snug in the adapter when it is docked in the On Stage Micro. The sound is rich, clear and deep. It takes up very little space, as it's footprint is about the size of a small teacup saucer. Bonus: besides all the adapter inserts, this unit also has a cloth zippered carrying pouch that holds the speaker, cord, remote....w/ enough room for your iPod too! Oh, and the remote is great....finally, one I can control the iPod's menu with! Can scroll thru songs and everything.

[Note: The price on this item is yo-yo-ing up and down like a commodity. If you're catching it at a peak, consider as an alternative the Cyber Acoustics CA-421. You'll give up some style and build quality but won't lose a thing in functionality or full-frequencied sound.]

I'm surprised this sharp little system hasn't sold out, since Amazon is currently selling the identical model in black at twice the price. Black or red, this little unit lives up to the JBL reputation for great sound--bright, present, utterly natural and (small) room-filling. True, it doesn't output to a stereo system, but if that's your aim pick up an ordinary Apple dock (for about the same price but without the nifty portable stereo system).

Returning to audio quality, after some comparisons, I determined that the JBL Micro sounds almost as good as a portable Tivoli cube (which has a noteworthy edge in low frequencies but at a steep price). I would take lightly a previous reviewer's claim that the sound is "deep," but unlike the bass-dominated, doctored sound of some high-end small speakers, the JBL is so natural and pleasing over long stretches you may come to prefer it over a bass- heavy system. Though not much wider than a CD, the red circle scores extra points for sound dispersion, openness, and "true" bass. Whereas other inexpensive small units simply cut out bass frequencies, this little deceiver can actually do quite well by, say, an acoustic bass while providing sizzling ride cymbals along with warm mid-range. But don't require too much of it: the bass is the first instrument to distort when the speaker is operated at full gain or the selected file recorded too "hot." Also, it rewards patience: any distortion from these tiny drivers lessened over time.

Though a remote might seem pointless with a 2" iPod screen, certain functions like on/off, mute, and volume are nice to have in hand when the speaker is 10-15 feet away. If you plan to use it with batteries, the 4 AAAs are tricky to install (tightest I've seen): it took several tries. The unit itself has an "on" light and a mere two, conveniently located, controls: softer and louder. Discretely tucked away in back is a power button and four jacks: audio in (for another MP3 player); USB 2.0 mini (for synching with your computer); DC in (for using with the included AC adapter); and audio out (presumably for operating a small, high efficiency external speaker).

Overall, a good value and nifty combination of useful features. One cautionary: this thing is packed well enough to remain in mint condition for a millennium or two in a landfill or at the bottom of the Chicago River. When you decide to free it from it's hard-shell case, be sure to wait for a slow moment and to have the right tool. A scissors, or even a razor blade made for the purpose, probably won't get the job done. Once opened, don't be discouraged by all of the accessories--AC adapter, 6 iPod adapters, a cable, a remote switch, a cushioned zip bag (with pockets and velcro holders to keep everything tight and tidy), and a thick instruction manual. Just plug it in, slip the iPod over the dock, and listen to its Siren song.

I was looking for a good travel speaker. I needed something that took batteries but could also plug in and charge the iPod. I also didn't want to compromise on audio quality. While I'm not an "audiophile", I do look for excellent sound quality in my music.

Needless to say, the this little red speaker packs a nice punch. The sound was fantastic, it's easily portable (even come with it's own pouch) and you can connect it to other items, like your laptop, with the included adapter. The remote control was a nice touch, but unless you can read the small screen from across the room, it's really just for volume.

Please do not expect big sounds to come out of these two (1") speakers. I got this as a gift from a friend, so I am not defending a purchase here. The clarity of the sound with this JBL micro, the design, and portability is the only reason I gave it a 2-star rating, but what good is all that if I can't enjoy the music the way I want to.

At best this micro is suitable only for office use.

I bought the Micro in fire red on Amazon. The unit was on sale for 49.99 and I had a 25 dollar coupon so I got the Micro for $25. At this price point, you can't beat it. I'm using the Micro for my work office where I'm not going to be cranking up party music. The clarity, separation and general build quality are evident. I'm getting no distortion at higher volumes. While not as rich in bass as my JBL Radial, the Micro doesn't pretend to be a a big speaker unit. It gives you precisely what you want for close ear-range. Another nice bonus is the included cable so you can hook up the Micro speaker to a non iPod device, such as a Kaito 1103 radio. The Micro On Stage is highly recommended.

I like the JBL on stage micro. It sounds remarkably good for such a tiny little hockey puck. The carrying case is actually usefull, which is unusual, the remote is surprisingly handy, and yes it does recharge your ipod. Below are the things that I found slightly twitchy about the unit.

1. When using the remote to fast forward in a video, select songs, whatever, the ipod would sometimes jump to a whole different menu I'm pretty sure I wasn't trying for. Now, this could quite easily be operator error, but it has happened enough times that it makes me wonder. It's easy to go back to where I wanted to be, but it seems a little odd.

2. The unit only charges your ipod when plugged into the wall, not while running off of it's own 4 AAA batteries. I don't remember the ads detailing that.

3. It has a surprising amount of bass, especially for such a small speaker set, but it takes a little getting used to because it sounds a bit distorted. I found that turning off the EQ on my Ipod helped a lot.

The good:

1. As I said, amazing volume and quality of sound. The bass might sound just a bit odd, but you won't notice it after you're used to it.

2. Nice to have it run off of it's own internal batteries when you aren't around plugs.

3. The remote, although it may confuse the ipod once in a while, is very handy. I watch and listen to videos while on the treadmill and have the unit perched nearby. Its GREAT being able to go through the menu's, pick songs and videos, fast forward and back up, etc. Surprising amount of control over your ipod.

4. The carrying case is compartmented to keep cords, charger and unit seperated. It's padded, has a good zipper and is actually thought out.

In all, I would definitely recommend this product. It's flaws are so slight that they are more eccentricities than flaws. It definitely frees you from earbuds while you are doing things but want to listen to something.

I have limited desktop space at work and have been looking for something compact for my iPod. This meets my needs just fine. It comes with lots of adaptor caps for different iPods. The sound is fine, though it doesn't have deep full bass, but I am satisfied. For the size, I wasn't expecting fantastic sound. It does work great for listening to audio books and other spoken word media. Very clear. I got two of them and would buy them again. I think they would make nice gifts for others with limited space. If you are looking for something for your only iPod speaker system, I would look for something larger, as iPods are capable of fantastic sound quality that won't be fully realized with this docking station.

The sound is a little light or tinny. But for the size that is to be expected. I use it in my office area and it is adequate for that. I wouldn't buy at full price, but at $50 I found it sufficient. If you want a deep full sound, try another speaker system. I like the carrying case that comes with it.

JBL On Stage Micro Portable iPod Speaker and Docking Station (Red)

We got this for our combo kitchen, dining and living room. The sound is pretty good for the smaller space.

I wouldn't try jamming to loudly because the speakers start to sound a bit tinny and almost blown out.

The remote works well from a distance and is easy to use. I love the red color!

This product packs a solid sound in a small exterior. It looks great on bed side table and a great to listen to bed side slow music. Although, a few occasions when I have listened at high volume, I was quite satisfied.