Why You Can Trust CNET JBL On Tour review: JBL On Tour
Harman Multimedia has been around the block a few times when it comes to speakers, so it comes as no surprise that the company's On Tour portable speaker set sounds great. But what about style and features? Find out how it all adds up in our review.
JBL On Tour Portable Music Box
Discriminating listeners who don't need seamless integration with their favorite player will appreciate JBL's $100 On Tour Portable Music Box. The curved, rectangular On Tour (6.8 by 3.8 by 1.5 inches and 12 ounces) slides open horizontally, revealing two 1-inch speakers. When you set it on a flat surface, the speakers point upward, presumably providing optimal sound. The On Tour has a minijack input instead of a true iPod connector, so you can use it easily with other players. (Check out Altec Lansing's inMotion iM3 speakers if you want a perfect fit for your iPod.) Also, there's no remote or controls besides the volume up/down buttons.
Discriminating listeners who don't need seamless integration with their favorite player will appreciate JBL's $100 On Tour Portable Music Box. The curved, rectangular On Tour (6.8 by 3.8 by 1.5 inches and 12 ounces) slides open horizontally, revealing two 1-inch speakers. When you set it on a flat surface, the speakers point upward, presumably providing optimal sound. The On Tour has a minijack input instead of a true iPod connector, so you can use it easily with other players. (Check out Altec Lansing's inMotion iM3 speakers if you want a perfect fit for your iPod.) Also, there's no remote or controls besides the volume up/down buttons.
Although perhaps a little tinny, the On Tour speakers sound pretty good for their size, cranking out decent bass and high-end sound at 100Hz to 20kHz and 3W per channel. You can run the speakers on four AAA batteries (rated life is 24 hours), or you can use the included AC adapter.
The Good
Innovative, compact design; high-quality sound.
The Bad
Limited controls and extras.
The Bottom Line
JBL's On Tour is a good choice if you want great-sounding music to share on the road.
Score Breakdown
Design 7Features 6Performance 8