JBL OnStage IV 30-Pin iPod/iPhone Speaker Dock

• Dynamic JBL Weave design
• Charges your iPod or iPhone
• AC or battery operated (batteries not included)
• Four JBL Odyssey transducers with computer-optimized equalization
• IR remote control navigates iPod menus from 15 ft (4.6m) away

I was dubious of this petite system's power (it was soooo much smaller than I imagined!) But the depth of sound produced was truly impressive! What follows are the pros and cons of the JBL On Stage IV. I hope they help you in your decision-making process.

Pros:

1.) This diminutive dock consumes very little space. Extremely efficient!

2.) Aesthetically speaking, it is surprisingly intriguing to the eye. The criss-cross pattern is quite appealing/entertaining ... and, though I am not tremendously fond of glossy plastic, it really does work in contrast to the alternating speakers (see the picture and you will understand what I mean). When a product looks this great, fingerprints wipe off:) A truly stellar example of form and function!

3.) The sound was genuinely surprising. The base was richer than I expected. Very lush, indeed!

4.) There is virtually no excess energy used. There is no LED screen. Basically, the area surrounding the iPod is illuminated in a soft, white light. That is the only indicator that the product is on. This may appeal to those focused on conserving resources/energy.

(Potential) Cons:

1.) The power button is located on the back of the device. And, it requires more pressure and depth to activate than normal. On three separate occasions, I went to use the dock ... and each time I failed to actually turn it on. One must press down firmly to make it work (it sharply "clicks" into place). This will not impact most buyers but could be problematic for those with arthritis or any type of physical disability.

2.) Other than the power and volume buttons, there are no other button on the device. If one loses the remote-control (or breaks it), the product becomes a little difficult to use. (Those with precocious children may want to consider that when purchasing this item). However, the absence of these buttons really does contribute to a "slick" appearance (which I very much enjoy!)

For most folks, this unit be ideal: it is beautiful and provides great sound. For some, those small detractions I mentioned may prove prohibitive.

Good luck in your search!

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The On Stage IV is a very simple product. There is no screen and the only ports are an input (headphone jack for inputting sound from non-iPod devices), USB (to pass through to a computer if you'd like to sync while it is playing), and power. The power cord can be ditched in lieu of batteries, which go discreetly in the bottom. While the device looks great and would be at home in a fancy hotel, it is also quite small and I had pretty low expectations. The sound is really great, though. I compared it to my much larger set with separate left, right, and bass speakers and found it completely superior. It has surprising range. Speakers this small tend to have empty bass, but somehow the sound is quite full. Turning it all the way up, the speakers showed no sign of strain. The one area it can't compete in is audio separation, since the speakers are so close together. However, the strange angling fills the room with sound and works well for what it is. I was so impressed with the sound that I think it would make great portable speakers for a laptop as well, and it even did well with action scenes.

If you want something small with an interesting modern look, I think you'll be very happy with this speaker dock.

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This ipod dock with speakers has a cool design and is very sleek in appearance. It's very user-friendly for non-tech heads like me. But most importantly, the sound is AMAZING, given the size of the speakers. The sound has the perfect balance of bass and upper register notes. With classical music, the whole spectrum of sound is reached and with vocal music, the voice is not overly echoed, but rather right in the center of the sound. I was very surprised at how this little device could fill my living room with a full, rich sound. Recommended!

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I purchased this item due to my experience with the JBL On Stage IIIP, an earlier model of the same brand. Upon recieving this product, I immediately took it to work and compared its sound quality to its IIIP predecessor.

The technical specs indicates that the newer On Stage IV has a higher frequency range, and after thorough testing, I can say that this claim is true. The sound is crystal clear at higher volumes, does not distort and maintains pleasant treble clarity where the older On Stage IIIP starts to waver. The bass has hardly any noticeable improvement, which is ok considering the bass is surprisingly exceptional for such a diminutive and portable device.

The aesthetic design serves as exquisite form, and surprisingly higher function. It does a better job at spreading sound around an entire room than its older version due to the strategically placed sound drivers.

I gave four stars due to one design aspect that I question: The indicator LED within the dock. It's very bright, and is cause for concern for those who wish to operate this speaker on a set of batteries. I feel that due to its brightness, it may drain batteries at a slightly faster rate compared to the JBL On Stage IIIP. Otherwise, if you have no intention on using this speaker sans a wall outlet, you have nothing to fear.

Overall, this is amazing sound coming from such a small device, and a lot of my friends first encounter with it is usually met with shock and positive feedback. If you are looking for a small, lightweight, portable solution, JBL On Stage IV delivers THE BEST sound, pound for pound.

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I bought this unit when I had the iPhone 3G, and it worked well with that. Now that I have the 4S, it works just as well with the new phone.

The sound quality is superb for such a small unit. It has a nice amount of bass and has good separation between lows, mids and highs. I use it at work, and it has more than enough volume for my needs. I don't usually blast it, but I've cranked it a couple of times just to see how it holds up at louder volumes, and it sounded great. It's not an audiophile's dream; but if you're an audiophile, you're going to be spending more than a hundred bucks on speakers, and you're not going to be spinning mp3's on an iPod/iPhone.

I only have two small complaints, and they're very minor--not worth bumping it down from five stars. 1) The light indicating that the unit is on doesn't show up well in bright light. 2) I wish it had a built-in rechargeable battery like the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere II (which I also own and use at home). If you're debating between the JBL and the Logitech--this unit has the edge in sound quality over the Logitech. I also thought I might use this unit as a travel piece, but it's a little bulky to pack in a carry-on. The Logitech comes with a case and packs pretty flat so it takes the edge in portability. So if you're debating between this and the Logitech, the JBL has the edge in sound quality, and the Logitech has the advantage in convenience/portability.

At work the JBL is always within arm's reach, so I rarely use the remote. When I have used it, it's worked fine. A few reviewers have had a complaint about the volume button on the back. It would be nice to have it on the front, but it's not hard for me to reach around on the back and press the ON button. And it's not THAT hard to turn on. I'm perfectly capable of exerting enough pressure with my index finger to push the power button in. In fact, my three year old can do it too. So don't let the button scare you away from a really good piece of equipment. Highly recommended!