TUNE DIGITALLY

Review by Christian Oliver:

I've had previous versions of this product and find this one much improved.

- It does work with my iPhone 3G, including the charging.

- Improved sound quality.

- Battery powered (optional)

The only downgrade with respect to past versions is the remote control:

- Less intuitive buttons. Difficult to operate in the dark

- Dependent on Infrared, instead of the old RF. This means you need direct line of sight to the unit for it to work.

Review by J. Dyer:

I've owned older versions of the JBL On Stage line and this one has been the best experience yet. The sound produced from this model is great and gets loud enough without distortion to use in any environment. When you first dock an iPod or iPhone with it and begin playing, it starts out on a low volume setting so you have to turn it up each time you dock it but it keeps you from being blasted out like the older models did. I haven't bothered to use this one running on the 6 AA batteries since I've always been somewhere with AC power for it. I've only used this with the original iPhone. There are some changes Apple made to how the 3G iPhones charge that although they will play music through older devices, they'll display an error message when you first connect them. With the original iPhone this speaker worked perfectly, though.

Review by terryoregon:

It has been noted that the 4th generation iPod Nano has some backward compatibility issues with other devices. For example, the 4th gen nano won't charge on a lot of older docking stations.

I can confirm that these Altec Lansing speakers will charge your iPod Nano 4th generation. See uploaded photo. I was actually assuming it wouldn't because the description only says compatible with "iPod nano 3rd gen".

These speaker sound good for their size. The "aux" in jack is on the back if you want to use these speakers for other types of mp3 player.

Review by frank63:

I got this speaker because I was looking for a loud, portable unit that did not use a lot of batteries, Well This fits the bill, It is loud, decent sound quality, (it has some of the biggest drivers for a portable dock, so I thought the bass response would be deeper, no so..But sufficent for portable use, I takes only 3 aa batteries!.. and plays for long time, and you can get it for a good price online..also to get the best volume, turn off the sound limiter on your ipod..can play loud enough with limited distortion, but not all the way up...oh, 1 more thing, it will charge your 2nd generation ipod touch (alot of older docks will not)

Review by Samuel Chell:

Presently this JBL On Stage Micro is going for 60% below the price of any other color, making it a no-brainer pick-up among docking speakers normally selling on Amazon for 0 or slightly more. JBL is a stylish, quality brand manufactured by Harmon International--durable, dependable, crisp-sounding. Despite the sharply divided reviews, the sound quality of virtually all speakers in the -0 range is the same, with minor variations subject to differences in taste. I've found popular rechargeable units such as those made by Altec and Logitech to be unstable--sometimes changing iPod models will throw them off completely, requiring a reset with no guarantee of a fix. The JBL Micro, on the other hand, can be depended upon to deliver with either its AC connection or AA non-recharging alkalines.

Best disregard low-end merchandise--iLuv, GPX, Colby, J-Win and, unless you're looking for a clock radio, iHome. The sound is best described as "plastic-like," clearly inferior to a monaural speaker such as that of a Tivoli, Sangean, or Boston Acoustics radio. If you want a substantially improved system, one that goes beyond merely "covering" the entire frequency range to "reproducing" the sounds of the actual instruments, think more in the 0-300 range and look for a Klipsch iGroove, Athena iVoice, or Bose Sound Dock (the drawback--they're not set up for portable, battery use).

[In response to some misleading reviews: the JBL Micro has proven one of the more durable systems in its price range, and it comes with exceptionally smart packaging (form-fitting, padded storage bag with places for the adapter, remote and cord), guaranteed to make a great impression even before it's been used. Finally, it indeed DOES have a volume control--the left button for softer; the right for louder. Bass is admittedly weaker than some models in this range, but treble is superior and power is ample. If you hear cabinet "rattling," back off on the volume of your source; if you get a loud "hum," simply do an off-on reset. The only problem I've had is misplacing the tiny remote. I see that currently it's not on sale, but I would judge a hundred a "fair price" (not, however, the two bills that I see some sellers are asking). I've been able to both charge and play 3 different generations of iPod models with this handy doughnut.]

Review by M. Rosen:

My wife got one for her iPod. The JBL interfaces perfectly with the iPod and right out of the box the sound was better than expected. Lots of presence for such tiny speakers. Here's a trick we found out: Don't place the JBL directly on a hard surface, such as a desk top. You get too much reflection of the treble, and weak bass. Just place it on something that's a little sound absorbent: upside down mousepad, placemat, etc. Just not too soft like a towel, it should have a fairly flat surface because the unit does rely on some reflectivity from the base. Anyway, it clears up the bass and softens the treble noticeably. Placed in that manner, this thing produces sound quality well beyond what's expected from such a small, inexpensive unit. A lot of great audio names have been bought out and now produce junk (Altec-Lansing, Fisher, etc) so it's great to see JBL is still designing superior products.

Review by Clockspinner:

OK, so you want to play your two hundred dollar iPod to someone on the move. These little speakers will surprise you, as you take them out of your pack, unfold the unique design, plug in your iPod (or whatever sound device, it has a standard mini-plug), and bang! you have a sound system. So, it doesn't rival the quality of my 34 speaker six amp system at home. But it is surprising how well these little guys do sound. A steal at six bucks. Everyone I've used them on has been very impressed. A plus is that they are amplified speakers, so you don't get the "barely there" sound of passive speakers out of an iPod. They run off a standard USB port for power, I use my iPod power adapter, which was a mistake, as I have to decide which batteries to run down if I use it for music at night (I sleep better with music playing). I would suggest going ahead and getting the inexpensive power adapter, that way you could keep the iPod charged even as you listened to powered speakers.

Most of the time, I use them at a friend's house, and depend on the four AAA batteries that will run this puppy for some time, even at louder volume levels.

True audiophiles may put these down, but for the average person who's best sound system is in thier car, they work great. I would give it five stars, except for the lack of bundling both the USB cord and power supply, and because it really will let you down for the low frequencies. It is not a true audiophile speaker system. It is, for the price, one of the best deals on external iPod speakers. (again, it will work with any device with a standard mini-jack, I only use iPod as a term for generic MP3/CD/DVD/Laptop etc.)

These probably are better speakers than are found in most laptop computers, so they are a good choice for that use as well. The cord is a bit short, even for an iPod, it just barely stretches out enough to get to the top of the iPod. This is because of the ingenious storage system: the cable wraps around the battery/amplifier case and locks in place with a small tab on the jack.

I've seen the same speakers in systems that cost five times what this one does, which was .88 plus tax and shipping, so it came to around ten bucks in the end.

What it isn't: A high end audio system.

What it is: An impressive device that is a great design for portable audio. Sounds bigger than it is, you probably won't have to turn it all the way up. Rugged enough to be tossed about in a backpack. (I do sometimes wish it weren't as chunky folded up, but this design easily protects the speakers. Too big to carry in a pocket, you'll need some kind of bag to carry these everywhere, like I do. You'll hear more on the standard iPod earbuds, but at least you can share your music, and most people I play it for couldn't tell a high end audio system from a tin can, so for the money, it's really all you need.

I also like this product because it's black instead of that nasty Apple White. My iPod and protective cover are also black, so it matched my system unlike the more accessible white unit (sold under a different name).

Bottom line: Great little speakers at a bargain basement price.

Review by J. Hancock:

I wasn't expecting much, to be honest, but when I plugged this into my usb on my work computer and listened, the sound was very good. Admittedly I cannot crank it really loud at my desk, but for office use, I can hear it clearly and someone else over the cubicle wall does not hear it at all.

It folds up nicely and precisely, compact enough to fit in my lunchbox.

Now, the downside is that it doesn't come with an ac adapter, even though it needs one if you don't have a usb port handy. The BIGGEST annoyance though is that even though it says ipod nano, and its the right color, there's no way it was designed for it. In order to plug in your nano it has to sit upside down in a slot 4 times bigger than it needs to be...so in other words, your nano is very loose. For sitting on my work desk, its no biggie, but if you were thinking it was going to look like the cool ad for it, it won't.

Review by Nuknuk:

This speaker only works with the 3rd generation iPod Nano MP3 player. The nano sits snugly on the TravelSound i80 docking speakers. You may need to push it down a little harder to make it snap but make sure you are not pressing on your iPod's LCD. Together, it is just the size of a pack of cigarette so you can trully say it is pocketsize. The wall adapter connects directly to the side of the speaker. I was able to charge it fully in just 2 hours. It uses Li-ion battery which is known to be light, no memory effect, and a slow loss of charge in storage. Has a rotary volume control and an LED indicator for battery status.

This is great when you want to share listening to music but don't want to share earbuds. Although it is suprisingly loud for such a small speaker, the sound feels tiny as it lacks base and thumps (it can only go as low as 180hz). It sounds great in the bedroom if you do not need to crank it up. And of course, just perfect for listening to podcasts.

What you get in the box:

a) Speaker/dock

b) Wall adapter with a 3-foot USB cord, 5V DC output.

c) Stand

d) Black pouch with the "Creative" logo on it. Both the speaker and the nano fits inside it

What seems to be missing in the box:

a) A Mini USB cable. Make sure you have one if you want to sync to Itunes or if you want to charge using a PC or Mac.

Pros:

-For such a small speaker, it is impressively loud. Sound is clean even at high volume. I live in a moderately size townhouse and it can fill the whole floor with sound.

-Charges both speaker and iPod at the same time

-You can have your iPod play music, slideshow and movies while charging

-Sleek and handsome, designed exclusively for the nano.

-Lightweight

-Popular named brand

Cons:

-Price

-Noticeably lacking in base

-Watching slideshow and movie feels awkward because the speaker is at the back.

-Provide your own Mini USB cable

Review by Craig B. Thayer:

After buying and returning three iPod speakers I finally found one that is compact, easy to use and loud enough to enjoy away fron home. It doesn't have the quality of a home music dock (due to its tiny size) but nonetheless I recommend it stongly.

Review by M. Pickering:

After reading MANY reviews, both here on Amazon and on many other sites on the Internet, I have observed that most people either love Bose and everything they make or they seem to hate everything that is Bose. Well I can honestly say that I do not fit into either of these categories. I do own some Bose products and I enjoy them very much. However, Bose items are extremely expensive and I will not pay out that kind of hard earned cash for a product just because of the name. I have learned, when it comes to Bose I ALWAYS insist on listening to the device first before buying it. I have heard some excellent sound from some Bose speakers but some of their speakers are only mediocre. Their headphones are a mixed bag as well. I never purchase a Bose product unseen or unheard. My decision to purchase this second generation Bose SoundDock Portable Digital Music System was no exception.

I was on the fence about this purchase for several weeks. I had researched the first generation Bose SoundDock digital music system for iPod for quite some time. I found a couple of shortcomings that prevented me from buying that unit. First, it did not have a battery for portable use, so you always had to have it plugged in. Secondly it did not have an aux input, so it would only work with Apple iPod devices. What if I wanted to plug in my daughter's Sandisk MP3 player, or my son's Creative MP3 player? The second generation Bose SoundDock does not have these limitations. They have included a battery system, for hours of portable music without being tethered to A/C mains. They also include an aux input, so you can plug in any device's audio output with a stereo mini plug. They also added a slick swivel dock, which swings back into the speaker system when not in use. As far as the sound quality goes, both first and second generation systems seem to sound just as good; solid bottom end, crisp top end, and mild yet adequate midrange.

I was tempted to order this item from Amazon, as their prices, shipping, and customer service are always top notch. However, I was still a little unsure as to whether or not I would be completely satisfied with this product in my home. After all, it is 0.00! I decided to purchase it from a local electronics store, which offers a 30 day return policy, in case I decided that it was not worth the price after listening to it in my home. Well I am pleased to report that this Bose SoundDock sounds simply amazing. I don't know how they get such BIG sound from such a little device, but Bose has definately done a wonderful thing with this SoundDock. The sound is deep but not too boomy. The stereo soundfield is a little narrow but that is to be expected from any portable sound dock, as the speakers are so close together. Still, Bose is known for their ability to use angled speaker technology to offer a wide stereo sound. I guess they just didn't feel that this aspect was important enough for their SoundDock product. That is a shame. I must also note that the sound produced from this device seems different when listening from different angles. If I sit the device on a table and sit down right in front of it, the high end is crisp and bright but the lower end is a little on the weak side. However, if I back up a few feet the bottom end really jumps out, and yet you lose a little bit of the crispness of the highs. Overall the SoundDock sounds great and it really fills a small and medium sized room with full bodied sound. You can crank this puppy way up without any audible sounds of distortion. Very impressive indeed. I have listened to Pop, Rock, Country, Dance, House, and even classical music on the Bose SoundDock, and all sounded equally impressive. Bass notes are very tight, not boomy or sloppy like I have experienced on several other iPod music systems. My only complaint is that the midrange seemed a bit weak on a few tracks, but seemed just fine on others. This may have to do with the equalization of my iPod Touch, but I don't notice these differences when listening through headphones.

Overall I am very pleased with my Bose SoundDock Portable Music System. It produces rich, room filling sound, offers perfect portability (thanks to the inclussion of a Lithium Ion Battery Pack), and has an auxiliary input for all of my family's digital music devices. Sure, 0.00 is a lot of money to spend on a portable iPod music docking system, but now that I have experienced the solid build and beautiful sound quality of the Bose SoundDock, buying anything less would always leave me wanting the Bose SoundDock. Still, I cannot find it within myself to give the Bose SoundDock a perfect 5 star rating. The narrow stereo soundfield and premium cost keep my rating at 4 and 1/2 stars. I take music sound quality very seriously, and in my opinion this Bose system, while expensive, is still worth the money. I highly recommend this product for anyone that is extremely serious about excellent sound quality and isn't afraid to spend the money to obtain it.

Review by Donald Bruce Jones:

I spent countless hours researching portable speaker systems. After reading many web site and owner reviews I narrowed my choices down to four models. The first model was the Altec Lansing InMotion im7. I wasen't able to find this model in any store so I could listen to the sound quality for myself, so I eliminated it. The others were also Altec Lansing based on good reviews. First up was the InMotion im600, Second was the m602 and last the Bose SoundDock Portable. My final decision came down to the ability to listen to these three models side by side.

There wasen't any real comparison after a listen to the Bose. They blew the other two away. Great base and great highs. I was sold. I do realize the Bose are pricy but like most people out there, these are not my first IPOD speakers but the will be my last. Go for it and get the best first. The Bose are the way to go!

Review by T. Parmer:

This portable speaker system from Phillips certainly comes in handy. It is extremely easy to use--just plug it in and insert your iPod or iPhone in the very obvious jack, then press "play" and you're good to go. That it charges as you go is of course helpful. And it is small enough you could easily take it with you in a bag or suitcase, with no extra pieces to worry about losing or breaking. However, the sound quality is not that big of a step up from what comes out of my iPhone itself when I simply play it with the headphones detached. It sounds at best like a decent small radio or car radio. Considering that I recently purchased a 5-disc changer stereo system that ALSO interfaces with my iPhone for only less than 0 more, and which has large speakers and superb sound quality, I have to say this little system is somewhat overpriced. Honestly I could not see spending the money on it unless I traveled very frequently and needed a charger with speakers for that purpose.

Review by Shopperholic:

I was excited to get this product as I travel, go camping and also frequently spend time on my boat.I like it very much, the sound is much better than the cheap folding speakers I had been using. I was quite surprised by how loud the volume got before there was distortion.

I used this with an iPhone 3Gs and it worked perfectly. No pop up about having to put the phone in airplane mode or any interference.

I have an Incipio Silicrylic case on my phone and was able to get it into the dock without too much trouble, which was nice. I hate accessories that require you to remove the case.

The speaker looks good, and comes with a neoprene case to protect it. The case isn't very pretty though. There is an odd, somewhat floppy, attached pouch for the a/c adapter that looks like a bit of an afterthought, but at least it's there.

The only reason I give this 4 stars is the stand. It is thin plastic and swivels out when you press on it. The attachment does not feel terribly robust, and I worry about its durability. Also, the battery cover is behind it and didn't close securely the first time I installed the batteries.

Review by Terrell Varvorines:

I have this excellent product. I like it so much I take it back and fourth with me to work everyday. I grew up poor but happy and now that I am on my own, I like to make sure I am getting my moneys worth of anything I buy. This ipod dock may be small but don't underestimate its high quality and simple design because of its size!

I compose music and am acutely aware of the tonal frequencies when listening to my music in different speakers. These speakers are extremely high quality and have a surprisingly full spectrum of sound. The high end frequencies (5k-20k hrtz) are crisp and clear and the low end frequencies such as the bass (80-140) and even a minute portion of sub the bass (40-79) comes through very nicely. I was really surprised and just sat there looking at these little speakers in amazement the first time I plugged in my ipod.

The handy remote makes it so convenient while at work, I don't have to get up and go over to the cabinet across the room when I get a call or some one stops by my office. The remote also accesses menu options on your ipod! I can find a new play list, choose to shuffle or repeat with the remote!!! Sometimes during lunch when I am out at the coffee shop with free wifi, I drain my ipod battery by downloading new apps or movies. Plugging in my ipod to this dock charges it back up!

I have to admit, I did not have to purchase this because I won it as a bingo prize. Had I walked past this little thing in a store I would not have given it a chance but now owning it for a week now, I absolutely love it! It is worth the money they are charging on Amazon!

It is an extremely high quality product!

I may even add a video response for this product later...

Review by Beth:

For the price, this is a great little speaker system for your Ipod. I have the Ipod touch, and use this docking station in my baby's nursery to play him music at night, and fun music during the day. It puts out some serious sound for being so little. We will enjoy this for years! I like that we can take it with us, as it is very portable, and doesn't take up much space on the bookshelf. It's a cute little system, and very unique in style! We have the red and black one, and it does resemble a ladybug. Very cute!