Reviews for JBL On Stage II Speaker System

JBL ii Review

Strengths: Slick design

Weakness: VERY SEVERE STATIC NOISE, even much louder than my dirt cheap PC speakers. When you put your iPod on the dock and power it up, the first thing you hear is the LOUD STATIC NOISE. Flimsy volume control.

I found this on slickdeals forum and was impressed with the price -- about $36.00 after rebate, a pretty good deal. I read all the reviews here before I jumped in and happily picked it up after work. I was eager to test it out, but much to my disappointment. Generally speaking, the sound quality is comparable to a $30 boombox.


Although it has slick and stylish design, what I am looking for from a speaker system is the sound quality. Not only does it lack bass output, as many have pointed out here, but also, it lacks the capacity of dealing with high pitch sound. The sound was broken up when you jack the volume up to 75%.


Another thing I don't like about this item is the volume control -- it is REALLY REALLY hard to get right volume. I pressed the "-" on the speaker JUST ONCE, a quick press & release, the volume becomes almost unhearable; while the volume becomes TOO HIGH when I pressed the "+" on the speaker, also a quick press & release.


Maybe I am not lucky as many of you who are happy about it, but I am very dissatisfied with the product. For a product that cost more than $80 (before the rebate, and many got it without the rebate), I expected better quality.


Bottomline: if you can live with the static noise and don't mind about the volume control, it is an OK product at $30+.

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JBL On Stage II Speaker System, Music Station for...

Strengths: Small size. Good Sound Quality. Excellent Remote. Fits most Ipods.

Weakness: Poor bass. Remote uses small CR4 batteries. Cannot use batteries. Bulky adapter.

My 60GB HP IPOD has been sitting around almost unused. I previously bought the FM transmitter but the sound quality was so bad and ended up not using Ipod. After looking around I found the JBL On Stage II and voila and problem solved. The Ipod ( without the skin or casing ) fits easily on the mount and charges it too. There is also a connector to connect directly to my PC for sync. It has an extra cord to connect other stereo equipment to it ( like a CD Player or other MP3 players.

The sound quality is pretty good ( almost like Bose ). The only complaint I have is the lack of bass but I can't complain too much as it is small and portable ( wish there was an option to be run off from batteries to make it truly portable ).

The remote is quite responsive although it has limited functionality. You can change the volume or select songs but do not expect too much from it. Too bad you have to use expensive CR4 batteries which should last for 1 year with general use.

You have to remove the skin or casing from the IPOD in order to mount it.

Overall very pleased with the unit and now I can make use of the IPOD again.

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JBL On Stage II for my Video iPod (30G)

Strengths: Great sound, nice shape. Unique and better than those crazy boxy time. I found it online for $119 + shipping ($10)

Weakness: Adapter weighs a ton. Won't be able 2 travel w/ as planned. Don't like the cheap foam for video 30G, would rather have an plastic adapter. What if I had two iPods, 30G & 60G? Not good.

A friend had this product and I loved the shape,the size, the color. The small remote is so convenient. Would like to see it utilize batteries, but don't want it to get bigger. The plug in adapter isn't so bad, but did it have to weigh that much and be so huge. I needed speakers specifically for travel and would like to have been able to pack it in my suitcase, but didn't realize the adapter would be so huge (I didn't really read that portion of the tech spec sheets close enough). I would return it, but I like the sound and styling, I decided to keep it. If you can send an adapter for the 30G, please do!

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JBL OnStage II

Strengths: Sound for a small package. Simple design

Weakness: Control of Ipod via remote is lacking

This unit sounds very rich especially given the size of the unit. It is an attractive unit without much clutter-just a volume control on unit. The remote is a little weak in controlling the functionality of the attached iPod-can only move one song up of down-quite cumbersome when there are many songs on iPod. Also, no base or treble controls. Overall, still a good value given the price.

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iPod Speakers with Wireless Remote

Strengths: Cool looking! great sound, charger and useful remote control

Weakness: Price a little bit high, there is no vlaume control on the unit

This is the coolest accessory for your iPod. I thinks everyone with iPods should get one. It not only produces good sound, it also charges the ipod. The remote control is very useful in chaning songs and adjusting volume. Don't lose the remote control, otherwise, you won't be able to change volume as there is no control on the speaker itself. Like other ipods accessories, the price is a little bit too high.

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Great product, but expensive

Strengths: Excellent sound, remote, nice ergonomics

Weakness: price

This is an excellent speaker system for the ipod. Its sleek, stylish, produces good sound and even has a remote. However, it strikes me that it as well as most other ipod accessories are unreasonably expensive. If you can find it on sale, get it.

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JBL Onstage II

Strengths: Clean sounnd from the speaker.

Weakness: Very little bass

This is a great Ipod speaker for the price that I paid for it. It has a clean sound from the small aluminium speaker. The only downfall I see is that there is little or no bass, no can it be adjusted. The form factor of the speaker is great but the adapter is kind of bulky.

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Great sound, even better price

Strengths: Great sound, RF remote, small size

Weakness: OK design

This is a sleek little speaker system for your ipod. I purchased it for under $20 if I recall correctly so I can't complain. The best part about it is the RF remote which has an excellent range and does not need a direct line of sight, unlike more typical infrared remotes (like your TV uses). The sound is impressive for its size, but these are designed to be somewhat portable so keep that in mind.

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Great iPod speakers in the under-$100 range

Strengths: Surprisingly good sound for its size

Weakness: Remote functions minimal

I've been very pleased with my JBL OnStage II. I also own a JBL OnStage (the only difference being that the II has a remote).

I've use this with an iPod 4G 20GB and an iPod Video 60GB, works great with both. It comes with adapters so many iPod models can jack in as shown in the pictures. It also comes with a short audio cable so you can attach any MP3 player.

I use this speaker in a large office, and it fills the space nicely. I don't listen to it at extraordinarily high volume, but I've occasionally startled co-workers with the sound output (loudness and quality).

One advantage I hadn't anticipated in its donut-like shape, is that if you keep your iPod in a case (as I do), you can just set the iPod in the center of the donut, and run the provided audio cable to the headphone jack on the top of the iPod. Because of the shape, it stands up nicely and is easy to see the screen and operate the iPod controls. Note that in this way, the iPod isn't charged while plugged in.

The remote was a bit of a disappointment -- it's really simple with just five buttons -- play/pause, song forward & back and volume up & down. But it works. So, as long as you don't expect much from it, it's fine.

I picked this up on a nice deal with stacking coupons and a rebate (about 75% off MSRP and 60% off typical retail). The OnStage is the best of the

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On Stage II Speaker System, Music Station for iPod...

Strengths: Compact with great sound. Remote control Works with any Ipod

Weakness: None that I found, the adaptors for the different models of Ipods is a bit cumbersome

This is a really great little unit for an Ipod. I have both the 20G 4th gen and the 30G Video and it plays both. The sound for such a compact unit is phenominal! I use it in the office all the time and when I am in the other room I can turn up the volume and it sounds terrific! A definite must for Ipod owners!

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Great Little Loudspeaker for Ipod

Strengths: Sound Quality is very good; Remote makes it easy to use

Weakness: No option to put batteries

I have been using this for last 2 months. It has great sound quality. It doesn't occupy much space. The remote works great thru the walls. My Ipod is always charged, so I don't have to worry about charging my Ipod anymore. Great buy for a great price.

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JBL On Stage II

Strengths: Acts as a docking station.

Weakness: No deep bass.

Not the most portable thing around. It has a large power brick. Decent sound, but does not have much bass. For the latest price, it is a pretty decent deal.

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Nice product for the money

Strengths: Dock for various iPod models; good sound; remote control

Weakness: Original list price was expensive; limited controls via remote; not portable

I got this during a killer sale at Office Depot, but wouldn't have bought it otherwise. I wasn't really looking for iPod speakers, but at the price I paid (< $40), I could not resist!

First off, it works just fine as a docking station. You plug in your iPod, and hook up the USB cable to your computer. Ouila, you've got a dock that allows the iPod to be held up, all the while staying connected to your computer for syncing. I think the speakers sound fine. Kind of "tinny", as there is not alot of bass. But they work, and provide a decent sound field. The remote is nice, but not complete. It allows you to control volume, pause/play and skip forward/back. It will not allow you to navigate thru the iPod's menu, which would have been really nice! Oh well, maybe in the OnState III model! :-)

If your ipod does not custom fit inside, JBL will send you inserts so that they do fit. Good, as I plan on getting a 2nd generation nano, which has moved the dock connector.

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Decent Sound Solution for iPod

Strengths: Good sound quality at high frequency; Small size; Play and charge iPod at the same time; Remote control

Weakness: Poor sound at low end frequency and base; Not good styling; Not portable

I was going to buy a iPod dock for like $40 and I found this baby on sale for only 60 bucks. It plays and charges iPod at the same time. The overall sound quality is good considering of its small package. The sound at high frequencies is sharp and crispy while low end sound and base are not that good but acceptable. I like the remote which gives me easier control. I'm not impressed by the color and the style. I think Logitech's designs are much better (but also more expensive). Since there's no battery and the AC power supply is really heavy, I don't think it good for travelling.

Conclusion: I like it and recommend it.

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Great Speaker

Strengths: Good Sound all around from something this small; remote

Weakness: Adapter is big.

This is a very good speaker and for a good price. The sound fills the whole room. The RF remote control is awesome. It is so much better than infrared line-of-site designs.

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Small little product, great little sound

Strengths: Great sound, great quality

Weakness: Heavy for its size, a bit cumbersome

So, I read reviews before purchasing this, and aside from the weight aspects, it looked like a great machine. Well, this didn't disappoint. It sounds great when my Nano is hooked up to it. But, just like they all say, it is a bit heavy. So, it's not as portable of a device as it looks. But, it still works great. I love it and think it's a device that's worth the price.

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Great product

Strengths: Compact size, build quality, good sound quality, remote

Weakness: Volume

Great sound quality for the size and price. It makes a cool docking station charge and remote is a nice feature. Overall a great value. This is a quality item from a well respected speaker company, highly recommended product.

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Great Sound

Strengths: Good Clear Sound

Weakness: None

This is a great accessory for an ipod. I own a nano and a video ipod and this speaker is the best I have owned.
The sound is very clear and loud enough for a good size room. It comes with a remote control that can be used to play, pause , forward and rewind tracks. The volume control is also great.
It comes with all the attachments you need to use it on all your ipods (except shuffle). You can also use it to connect to your PC and use it as an external speaker. The only problem I found is that the cable to connect to the PC is really short and they should have provided a longer cable. All in all for a price of $30 its a steal.

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Cute and Fun

Strengths: Compact, great sound, fits anywhere, remote control

Weakness: Sound loses a little when it is too loud.

Great product I love mine, no problems with it. I originally wanted the black one but settled on this one and it blends very well, great to use in all rooms in the house too! Very portable.

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JBL On stage II, perfect office size solution!

Strengths: Great sound, small size, charges iPod, remote, universal (works with almost all iPods)

Weakness: Cost

I bought this to use in my office, since we aren't allowed to keep MP3s on our computers. I use it with my nano, and I have also used it with my old mini. Works great! Sound quality is better then expected from something so small. Remote works great, and the fact that it charges the iPod is awesome as well. The remote is RF (so it works through walls) up to 50ft away. Now it gets a lot louder and sounds a lot better than I expected... but if you are listening from 50ft away it might not be loud enough depending on where you are. Overall I would highly recommend this speaker dock system. The price can be high (MSRP ~$160), but if you can find a good deal on it-- It is worth every penny.

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Excellent performance!

Strengths: Portable, strong base output, convenient plug and play, good sound quality, fit all kinds of ipod, responsible remote

Weakness: the adapter is little bit heavy and bulky, so that it is not so "portable",,,and only work with AC not DC.

I would recommand this speaker to all ipod users. Don't think that small speakers can't produce much sound. In fact, the sound quality is outstanding, and the base is strong enough to vibrate my desk. Also, it is very good speakers for other mp3 players uses, or even desktop or laptop users. It is perfect if it provides DC sources so that i can bring with it to outdoor..It would be very cool!

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Onstage II: great product

Strengths: I bought it two weeks ago. I found the sound is really good even in my large living room. shape is cute. It also come with several adapter. So I can use my nano. It is great product.

Weakness: bass is a little bit weak.

I got it from officedepot and only $50. It worths every penni. It works so great in the bedroom. So I don't have to use my notebook. I like its round shape and small size.

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JBL ii review

Strengths: charges and has remote control.

Weakness: speakers left a bit to be desired.

item was received from a friend. it's an excellent gift for those that have a ipod that wants a speaker. Not top of the line item. but very good for what it does.

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JBL On Stage II Loudspeaker Dock for iPod

Strengths: Cheap!! Got it for around $30 AR from Office Depot. Compatible with my iPod Nano and the sound quality is not bad, especially for the price.

Weakness: Small speakers, small sound... Sound is OK but Bass is lacking, speakers are small so.

For the money great! And it's a great way to be able to play all of your music stored on your iPod without using your computer. This is also a charger too. so at the least you get one of those! Overall I would purchase this item again, especially for the price!

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Great for the Kids

Strengths: Love the sound and is perfect for the nightstand

Weakness: Don't like the size of the adapter (too big)

I bought 2 of these for my two daughters and they love it. The sound is great, looks good and is their preferred way of charging their ipods. For its size, it can't be beat!

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JBL OnStage II - Friend to my Nano

Strengths: Geat sound, long range remote.

Weakness: Too heavy to travel with.

Like others I was a little disapointed you can't easily lug this thing around in your luggage but for a little kitchen player it works great. The power button is in a weird spot but again I can deal with that. The price seems to have come down quite a bit in the last year and for the money you can't beat what this thing does.

I am really impressed with the JBL sound.

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Good enough for my kitchen

Strengths: Sound stage impressive for size, sturdy, matches white iPods well, great remote with excellent range

Weakness: Pitiful bass response, too thin high frequency

This system will surprise you with its versatility as it will take any sound source with its 1/4" input. Naturally you won't be able to recharge or skip tracks using its remote. Its sound quality is impressive for its size as it will fill my 8x12' kitchen and 6x6' breakfast area with immersive stereo sound. Treble is not harsh like cheap sets, including midrange. As with all desktop stereos, bass is severely lacking, but that is to be expected. The remote is one of its strongest suits as well with excellent range from across the room. Overall, a great buy.

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Compact design to fit your life

Strengths: impressive sound, compact design, perfect for a white iPod!

Weakness: TOO heavy accessories, tons?

It almost perfectly fit my office desk, and I can even bring it with me during the travel. The sound is impressive, and the remote is a wonderful add-on. The only problem right now is that the adapter seems to be too heavy that I might have to go back for the gym...

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Great sound quality

Strengths: Sound, hotsync, charger

Weakness: No battery compartment

Very nice product for my ipod video, the sound quality is awesome, I like the design too, it's sitting right next to my 20" imac, I can transfer songs to my ipod through on stage easily. It charges my ipod as well. Very handy!!

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JBL On Stage II for my Video iPod (30G)

Strengths: Good size, very good sound, nice controll.

Weakness: The adaptor its a little big and heavy, i kno that the adapters isnt a big thing but...

i was researching to buy a good dock base (speakers) for my ipod and after a long search i decide that this on is the best for the price. Its amazing the sound for this little thing, th sound is very clear.
I live in costa rica and I'm enjoying it a lot.

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JBL on stage II

Strengths: great sound quality, small and portable, convenient remote

Weakness: none

i would recommend this speaker to anyone with an ipod. the sound quality is great. it is small and easy to travel with. the remote is very convenient. i have no complaints.

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jbl on stage ll docking station for ipod

Strengths: great sound, easy to use. recharges your ipod.

Weakness: you can not scroll your ipod with the remote. shuffle mode or playlists must be selected manually.

wonderfully compact unit with great sound....good for a small area like a work space or bedroom. recharges your ipod while on. easy to use remote, simple installation. comes with several snap on bases for different ipod model compatibility. a terrific product.

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Great Accessory

Strengths: slick design good sound love the small remote

Weakness: none seen yet

Strong speakers for its size, love the remote and the design is amazing. Very compact and can definitely move around, truly mobile. compatible also with 5th generation ipods and ipod gets charged whilst docked.

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Pretty Impressive - Really!

Strengths: Decent sound for a decent sized room. Little distortion. RF remote is awesome.

Weakness: Wish it had a bass boost or mini sub-woofer. The power button for the unit is in the back - weird.

Well, this little unit is pretty cool. First off, it'll work with almost any iteration of the iPod (check the tech specs). Also, while this is a speaker system for your iPod, it also charges it - nice. Believe it or not, the sound is quite decent and doesn't get very distorted, even at high volumes. But let's face it, you don't buy this to have a party in your crib, it's really meant to just give you quality sound to fill a room, and it does its job. (BTW, this isn't meant to be a portable/travel unit - you just leave it somewhere you want music.) The remote is great. It's an RF remote so you don't have to point it directly at the base and it is perfect to have if you put your mp3 collection on shuffle and want to skip or fast forward the odd song here and there. A few drawbacks though. I wish it had a bit of a bass boost for some fuller playback. Also, while the volume touch buttons on the base are stylish, the stupid power button in the back is silly. It's in the back, you can't use the remote or the unit without pushing the button, and you always forget it's on cause it's in the back! Dunno why. One last item that may annoy some people - this doesn't sync your iPod with your computer - but that's not the point. It's a speaker system, and a pretty damn good one at that.

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On Stage II Speaker System, Music Station for iPod...

Strengths: Travels well, easy to move from room to room. Can be heard throughout the house. It doubles as a charger! Great compact styling. Remote is awesome and extremely helpful.

Weakness: At times has frequency issues. iPod will be docked charging or in play mode and for some reason some kind of frequency interference occurs. Brief but annoying. The plug adapter is very heavy.

Overall, I love this product. It makes owning an iPod that much better. It is great to travel with. Made a Hotel stay feel more home like. I haven't tried any other speaker system for iPod but this one is GREAT.

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JBL On Stage 2

Testseek.com has collected 10 expert reviews for JBL On Stage 2 and the average expert rating is 75 of 100. The average score reflects the expert community’s view on this product. Click below and use Testseek.com to see all ratings, product awards and conclusions.

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JBL On Stage II

JBL's sequel to the On Stage iPod speaker dock looks like the original: small, sleek, and saucer-like. At seven inches in diameter, this device produces excellent sound at volumes more than sufficient for filling a room, while its one-pound weight makes...

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JBL On Stage II with Remote Loudspeaker Dock for iPod

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