The JBL OnBeat Air speaker dock features adaptable docking clamps that can securely hold your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in both landscape and portrait orientations. The devices can connect to the dock either wirelessly through AirPlay or via a 30-pin dock connector.

With AirPLay, you’ll be able to stream music from your iTunes collection to the OnBeat Air no matter where it is in your home. The speaker dock includes an IR remote control that lets you conveniently navigate your iTunes songs and videos from a distance, while its tabletop design makes it convenient for gaming, watching movies, or video chatting through Apple’s FaceTime or Skype.

The OnBeat Air also features quality sound with dual Phoenix full-range transducers and it supports Android smartphones, tablets, and wireless MP3 players by connecting either wirelessly or through a built-in auxiliary input jack. The dock is priced at $249.95 and is available now.

[via JBL]

Other than the dock for playing music, the Xtreme also has Bluetooth technology for streaming audio from non-dockable devices and a 3.5mm input. The Xtreme also has an integrated mic to allow it to be used as a speaker phone. The microphone uses DSP and has echo cancellation for better sound quality. The Xtreme is engineered for high quality sound according to JBL.

It has dual Atlas bass drivers and Ridge tweeters both using DSP equalization. The docking station can be controlled using the OnBeat Xtreme app that is on the App Store as a free download. This app gives control over playlists, EQ settings, and the user can set alarms. The dock also has an RF remote for changing tracks from other rooms. The OnBeat Xtreme will sell for £399.99 in the UK.

The JBL On Air features a bright color screen for displaying album art as well as artist and song information. The On Air speaker dock also features three JBL transducers with a unique 360-degree HALO (horizontal acoustic level optimization) design that uniformly delivers a rich and full-spectrum sound across a wide listening area.

Other features include a clock with dual alarms, digital FM radio and USB port. And of course, a dock for your iPhone or iPod touch. The JBL On Air is compatible with iTunes 10.1 or later and iOS 4.2 or later. Priced at $349, it will be available later this month online and in retail stores of Best Buy and Apple. You can visit the JBL On Air product page for more information.

As you’d expect, the OnBeat charges your iPod while it’s hooked up, and there’s a USB connection so you can sync it with iTunes as well. There’s also a composite video output, so you can hook up a TV rather than squinting at a 3.5-inch screen.

JBL throw an infra-red remote in the box too, along with all the dock brackets you’ll need, while the speakers use a 2 x 7.5-watt amp with various DSP systems to massage the sound. The OnBeat is available in April, priced at $149.95.

Press Release:

HARMAN Brings Entertainment Experience on iPad® to Life with JBL OnBeat™ Speaker Dock

Company whose legendary JBL brand brought the first sound to cinema introduces a new loudspeaker dock, bringing the same dynamic sound to the next wave of technology: iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® devices

STAMFORD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR), today announced the release of its new JBL OnBeat™ loudspeaker docking station, a JBL® dock to bring your next-generation entertainment experience to life, delivering realistic, dynamic sound with any iPad®, iPhone® or iPod® device.

“Imagine what moviegoers must have felt when they heard sound paired with film for the first time in history. This is what we hope to accomplish for the next era of entertainment experiences with products such as the JBL OnBeat for the iPad, iPhone and more”
Bringing Netflix® movie streaming, gaming, YouTube clip watching and more to an entirely new level with HARMAN’s signature sound quality, the JBL OnBeat dock features dual Phoenix full-range transducers with computer-optimized DSP equalization, creating a richly detailed soundstage. A universal connector that firmly docks an iPad, iPod or iPhone lets you rotate iPod and iPhone screens to portrait or landscape orientation for the best video display, and an infrared remote (IR) puts you in full control of system functions and music navigation from across the room.

Stream action-packed movies and intimate family photos and videos, and share the hottest content on the Web in your living room with family and friends through the addition of an optional composite cable that can send video content from the device directly to your TV.

“Imagine what moviegoers must have felt when they heard sound paired with film for the first time in history. This is what we hope to accomplish for the next era of entertainment experiences with products such as the JBL OnBeat for the iPad, iPhone and more,” said David Slump, president, HARMAN Consumer Division. “Our goal is to awaken our senses to the power that great sound and music can have on bringing media to life through the most cutting-edge devices out on the market right now.”

The new JBL OnBeat also features a USB connection to sync and charge devices when connected to the iTunes® music library (cable not included), and a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack auxiliary input that connects to virtually all portable media devices (cable not included). The dock features a dynamic JBL Weave design styling that is as sculptural as it is conversation-starting. Brackets to attach the iPod, iPhone and iPad to the dock are included in the package. The JBL OnBeat also serves as a charging station for your iPod or iPhone while it is docked.

Pricing and Availability

The JBL OnBeat loudspeaker dock is available in April in black for $149.95. For additional information or to purchase, visit http://www.jbl.com/onbeat.

• JBL Studio 190 Dual 6.5-inch (165mm) floorstanding loudspeaker, sells for $449
• JBL Studio 180 6.5-inch (165mm) floorstanding loudspeaker, sells for $349
• JBL Studio 130 4-inch (100mm) bookshelf loudspeaker, sells for $299
• JBL Studio 120c Dual 4-inch (100mm) center-channel loudspeaker, sells for $169
• JBL Studio 150P 300-watt high-performance, bass-reflex powered subwoofer sells for $399

They are available here.

From the press release:

The Studio 190 is a three-and-a-half-way dual floorstanding loudspeaker featuring dual woofers and midrange drivers with two 6 ½-inch- PolyPlas™ cones and CMMD® Lite tweeter domes with proprietary Bi-Radial® waveguides to offer exceptional clarity and realism with outstanding bass response. The Studio 180 is designed in a similar vertical tower package and is a three-way floorstanding speaker with one 6 ½-inch PolyPlas cone.

Perfect for a bookshelf or tabletop, or for someone who is looking to pack some big sound into a more convenient space-saving place, the Studio 130 bookshelf loudspeaker will do the job. The two-way speaker system offers exceptional clarity and realism with outstanding bass response. Featuring 4-inch low-frequency transducers and 1-inch high-frequency transducers, Studio 130 speakers are ideally suited for use as satellites in a Studio 1 Series home theater system, or on their own in compact-yet-captivating music-only systems. The Studio 130s will transform your home entertainment experience with both style and substance.

The last in the series, the JBL Studio 120c system is an ideal choice for the center-channel speaker in a multichannel home theater system. Voice-matched to other speakers in the JBL Studio 1 Series, and sharing the same dynamic new industrial design, the 120c renders the dialogue, music and effects of even the most challenging movie soundtracks with confidence and style. Like the other loudspeakers in the line, the two-and-a-half-way dual center channel also features two magnetically shielded 4-inch (100-millimeter) PolyPlas cones and a 1-inch CMMD Lite dome, magnetically shielded, in a Bi-Radial constant directivity waveguide.

Unfortunately neither Microsoft nor Dell is giving any sort of delivery date, so we’ve only got the previous, vague release window from the netbook’s official reveal last week. Then, the Duo was tipped to arrive in early December, in both the US and the UK.

Your $549 gets you a 10.1-inch 1366 x 768 capacitive touchscreen, Intel Atom N550 dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard-drive. There’s also WiFi b/g/n and a battery good for up to 4hrs use. The Audio Station, meanwhile, has JBL-developed speakers and various connections, and also recharges the netbook while it’s docked.

[via NetbookNews.de]

Video demo after the cut

Up to eight channels can be independently managed, and there’s a 31-band graphic equalizer, preamp controls for system volume, subwoofer volume, left/right balance, front/rear fader and bass/mid/treble tone controls, and overriding DSP equalization, time correction and Logic 7 processing, and the ability to store five presets that can even tailor the audio to a specific seat in the car.  Alternatively users can create pseudo 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound from a stereo source.

In the box is an RF remote so you can flip between settings and tweak on the move, and it’s all apparently relatively straightforward to install.  $799 seems like a lot to pay for a set-it-and-forget-it system, so you’d have to be the kind of listener who likes to regularly tweak their audio, but it’s also potentially a lot less than you might pay for a new head-unit, speakers and amps.

[via CrunchGear]

Press Release:

JBL® MS-8 Revolutionizes In-Car Sound Experience

New Integration Solution Engineers Superior Sonic Performance for Any System

June 15, 2010 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–Harman International Industries, Incorporated (NYSE:HAR) today announced the launch the of the new JBL MS-8 integration digital processor. Unless you’re driving a classic, your car probably came from the factory with speakers, a CD player and an amplifier. If you want to make the car sound better, you have to go through a confusing, technically complicated process of choosing components from a wall of speakers, radios and amplifiers, and having the car taken apart to install the new gear.

“Literally, it is a box that encapsulates some of the most advanced technology in the world. And with it, people will never experience music in their car the same way again.”
But not anymore. JBL® engineers have found a groundbreaking way to achieve a luxurious in-car audio experience: the brand-new MS-8 sound integration solution.

For more information click here: http://press.jbl.com/ms-8

The heart of the MS-8 is a powerful digital signal processor that operates like a little computer. Intelligent custom programming within the processor maximizes frequency response, bass performance, dynamics, clarity, detail and stereo imaging – every important parameter of sonic greatness – from virtually any combination of factory-installed or aftermarket components. After an elegantly simple, step-by-step setup process that takes about 10 minutes, you’ll enjoy your favorite music like never before.

The MS-8 sends sound to the listener’s ears from all individual speakers within the car simultaneously, improving clarity and stereo imaging to a vast degree. The system includes a simple, menu-driven calibration based on detailed input from an included binaural microphone headset. It optimizes up to eight input channels, producing a full-bandwidth and flat-response signal. Its system integration processor features premier sound-optimization technology such as digital sound processing (DSP) equalization and DSP time correction – automatically improving tonal accuracy and compensating for the characteristics of your speakers, electronics and vehicle interior. The MS-8 can even store calibration settings for up to four seating positions, so you can select best-seat-in-the-house performance for almost anyone in your car. If you want to adjust the sound, the MS-8’s display and wireless controller will let you change it to suit your preferences. If you make a mistake, returning to the original settings is as simple as pressing a button.

“No one has ever invented an entirely new approach and product that transforms how consumers easily and non-invasively upgrade the music experience in their car,” said Christopher M. Dragon, director of consumer and field marketing at Harman International, parent company of the JBL brand. “Literally, it is a box that encapsulates some of the most advanced technology in the world. And with it, people will never experience music in their car the same way again.”

The MS-8 includes a sophisticated digital crossover function, which allows precise, user-selectable crossover points and crossover slopes for up to eight separate outputs. In addition, the MS-8 offers rich, crisp, realistic sound, using Logic 7® technology to create the ideal 5.1- or 7.1-channel surround-sound experience in the car from two-channel source material. “If you want to try your hand at installation, the MS-8 will let you fine-tune and manipulate the sound to customize your very own in-car listening experience, unique to your personal taste and needs,” said Gary Biggs, applications specialist, Harman Consumer, Inc. “With unrivaled, never-before-seen JBL technology, the MS-8 is redefining and reshaping the entire in-car sound customization experience.”

The MS-8 also includes capabilities such as a 31-band graphic equalizer, which allows users to adjust the system’s tonal balance to suit personal taste or to compensate for specific recordings, and the “Favorite Settings” feature, which stores up to five custom settings for one-button recall, optimizing the sound no matter what song or genre is being played.

Product Features

31-band graphic equalizer that overrides automatic equalization to suit your personal taste
Preamplifier controls that control system volume, subwoofer volume, left/right balance, front/rear fader and bass/mid/treble tone controls, and override DSP equalization, time correction and Logic 7 processing
Favorite settings to store up to five custom settings for one-button recall
LCD display that includes five-line, 128 x 64-pixel screen that displays setup menus and operation status
Wireless RF remote to control menu navigation, volume and mute function
Onboard 20 watts x 8 amplifier, eight-channel preamp-level and speaker-level inputs and outputs, full-range stereo aux input
Pricing and Availability

The JBL MS-8 system integration digital processor’s selling price is $799 and available now. For more information please visit http://press.jbl.com/ms-8

In terms of appearance, the On Stage Micro II looks little changed from its predecessor. A compact, low-profile disc – finished, in our review model’s case, in glossy black plastic and a black mesh speaker grill – hardware controls are limited to volume up/down keys on the front and a power button on the back. On the underside is a battery compartment, taking four AAA batteries – which should last for up to 24hrs solid use, volume depending – though JBL also supply a wall-wart AC adapter which plugs into a port on the back. Other connectivity includes audio in, for plugging in a third-party PMP or audio source, audio out for hooking the iPod/iPhone up to some beefier speakers, and a Mini USB port for linking your PC or Mac.

With the latter in place, the On Stage Micro II can be used to sync your iPod or iPhone as if you’d directly connected the regular sync cable, and the dock becomes a handy place to recharge the PMP and load new content. There’s also a bundled infra-red remote control, a relatively simple affair, with volume, playback and menu navigation keys. The only thing missing is a video out port, for hooking up a TV and playing back video content. JBL provide various dock adapters that slot into the top section and leave it suitable for your iPod nano, touch, classic or iPhone.

Of course, the last-gen model could do all of that, the only change being native support for the iPhone (original, 3G and 3GS). We were most interested to see how JBL’s audio changes might have affected sound quality, and happily that’s where the biggest improvement in the On Stage Micro II hides.

The first-generation Micro lacked bass, unsurprisingly, but it also fell short in terms of mid and treble clarity. Higher volumes introduced more distortion than average, and the overall feeling was that, while the setup was portable and convenient, for audio quality buyers should look elsewhere. With those expectations, the Micro II turned out to be a real surprise. Bass is never going to be the forte of a compact system like this, but it’s a real step up from what the previous version could deliver. Meanwhile mids and trebles have a clear, piping quality that feels better balanced and altogether more musical, thanks to JBL’s new Odyssey transducers.

To be blunt, JBL have taken our key criticisms of the first-gen model and addressed them in turn, while keeping the speaker dock’s compact appeal. Of course, if you’re looking for the best audio output from your iPod or iPhone there are other, larger – generally more expensive – systems out there you should look to instead, but they’re far less likely to drop comfortably into your bag or briefcase. At $99 it’s affordable, too. If you can’t sacrifice either space or sound, then the JBL On Stage Micro II should definitely be on your audition list.

The new speakers are available in black or white colors and have a 3.5mm input for connecting to Mac or PCs. The drivers in the satellites are 40mm units and the subwoofer is a 3-inch unit. The dimensions of the satellite speakers are 3″ x 3″ x 2-3/4″ and the sub measures 9″ x 9″ x 9″.

The speakers still look a lot like the Pac Man ghosts to me. JBL uses its latest Odyssey transducer technology in the speakers and the Creature II speakers are available exclusively at the Apple Store and on Apple.com. The MSRP for the speakers is $129.99.

The EQ7 takes two AA batteries and boasts up to 6hrs talktime or music playback.  It uses Class 1 Bluetooth for up to 100m range (with compatible phones, PMPs or Bluetooth dongles) and will automatically switch between music and incoming calls, resuming playback when you hang up.

As for the EQ5, it has a Li-Ion battery good for up to 8hrs talktime or music playback.  Maximum range is 10m and it has the same music/calls intelligent switching; Motorola have also given it SRS WOW HD audio processing.  Both devices have a 3.5mm input socket for plugging in a non-Bluetooth PMP.

The Motorola EQ7 is priced at €160 ($207) while the Motorola EQ5 comes in at €100 ($129).

[via Generation MP3]

The EON 500 Series speakers crank things up a notch and really make an improvement over the line that came before them. Designed by RKS, these speakers fit right in with the JBL look.

But more important than looks come impressive specs. Three speakers come in the series including the EON 510, 515 and the 518S. All of these speakers are self-powered and 10″ two-way, 15″ two-way and 18″ bass-reflex, respectively. They are also very lightweight, adding to their super portability and versatility. It’s not often that a product looks nice and packs top functionality, but these EON 500 series speakers do it with ease.

You might have an excellent surround system, but with unsightly wires poking out all over the place, it just loses a little something. But the WEM-1 is a simple solution that can be used with any speaker.

You can even use it with speakers in another room. Inputs include mini-jack, RCA and speaker level on the transmitter and the receiver has a 50-watt per channel amplifier and an output for a subwoofer. If you have $359 to spare and are dying for a wireless solution for your home entertainment system, the JBL WEM-1 will be released later this month.

[via DVICE]

With a 90 degree shape, the speakers are much easier to mount and are modular, meaning they can be connected together to wrap around a corner. Up to four speakers can bracket together in this fashion.

JBL is known for producing top quality audio products, so there shouldn’t be much of a problem there. These speakers are also known for producing evenly distributed sound and minimal distortion. But these speakers aren’t cheap. Costing $225 a piece, you’ll need to save up for a full set.

[via OhGizmo!]

The speaker system, JBL Spyro 2.1 Speaker system doesn’t give a whole lot of details. That is besides mentioning it has a subwoofer and two flower shaped speakers. However, the manufacturers seem to think that it presents rich and crisp sound quality.

Which if true, would be nice. No girl likes having a set of speakers that are pretty, but only as powerful as that of a squeaker toy you hand to Fluffy. It comes in white, black and of course, pink and is being sold for $110.19.

[via gizmodiva]

The Infinity PS212W will be selling for $679 and has a 400 watt 12-inch sub. The JBL model is a Cinema Sound CSS10W with a 300 watt 10-inch woofer retailing for $559. Like I said, they are kind of expensive, and if you’re an audiophile, you probably already know to avoid these, but if you are just looking for a simple, decent sounding, bass solution for your new system, here you go.

Infinity and jbl subwoofers go wireless [via technabob]

Like many iPod music docking system, it also charges the phone when is in use. It can be place on the table or mounted to the wall. The JBL On Call 5310 also runs on four AA batteries to provide portability and up to six hours of playback time.

The JBL On Call 5310 also takes in other audio sources such as CD players and other MP3 players using its 3.5mm mini jack. Other feature includes two 3-watt Odyssey transducers, an integrated amplifier and a computer-controlled equalizer and, to prevent unnecessary energy consumption, and an automatic power-saving standby mode. It will be available in November 2007.

[via slashphone]

They will nearly cost you their weight in gold too, ringing up at a rounded $40,000 each. JBL says they haven’t been able to keep them in stock since they began production.

Now for the anecdote, apparently the aforementioned Sheikh decided he wanted to have a small party on his small yacht, you know have some friends over to watch some movies, listen to some music, the usual gathering that requires your yacht be equipped with $4 million worth of audio/video equipment. Anyways, after the job was done, the Sheikh showed up to check out his system and basically make sure he got his money’s worth, and started flipping out when he couldn’t see any of the system, apparently everything was hidden behind panels and stuff and was out of site, in the end he heard the system and happily handed over the check.

Now for the show, JBL invited a few people out to a facility where they had dropped $300,000 on a home theater set-up. Now this setup is no ordinary setup, I mean it included theater chairs, a high end projector, and a few hundred grand worth of high end audio equipment. In the first room there was a $120 thousand worth of audio equipment including a pair of the Everest’s a $20k CD player and a $20k amp. Then in the next room there were lots of speakers surrounding everyone totaling up to 9.6 surround sound and $300k with the projector and stuff. The feature of this setup was the 3 DD66000’s.

Ears-On with JBL’s $300,000 Home Cinema Set-Up with 9.6 Surround Sound (Verdict: OMFGIWANTONE) [via Gizmodo]

The Reference 610 features integrated controls on the earpiece to adjust volume, select tracks, and play/pause your music. It’s equipped with rechargeable batteries and a universal battery charger. And should you need to be connected, it also comes with a 1.75m cable. Pricing for the Reference series ranges from $79.95 to $299.95. Shown after the break are the folded up 510 model and the 410 model.