On the turboprop plane down to Kite Boarding camp in North Carolina the hot blue and green $US70 On Ear headphones blocked out a good deal of the background noise, including Blam’s snoring in the seat in front of mine. They aren’t advertised as noise cancelling, but the smaller than average ear cups fit securely around my ears and were super comfortable (you can adjust them “DJ style” to fit behind your head). Besides being able to sleep comfortably with them on, music sounded crisp when awake. However, they didn’t make surf song classics like “Wipe Out” sound any more tolerable.

I also took along a pair of the bright pink and orange $US40 In Earphones which have a mic for making calls. The sound quality wasn’t anything to write home about and is on par with Apple’s standard earbuds. The mic didn’t pick up much background noise, even while sitting outside near the water.

The Roxy headphones didn’t make me a better surfer or kite boarder, though neither did the $US50 Roxy board shorts I bought. But at least with the help of JBL they offer good sound and should get a chiselled surfer dude, like Laird Hamilton to at least look my way. [Roxy]

One trend that seems to be taking place in the land of iPod docks is that companies seem less concerned with the high end, hi-fi iPod docks. Instead, they’re gravitating towards smaller, lighter docks that sound nice, but are intended more for casual listening. Both Logitech and Klipsch are putting most of their weight behind these smaller docks, and Altec Lansing said the average iPod dock consumer isn’t looking for overwhelming audio performance as their main reason for buying one. In our testing, we checked out:

• Altec Lansing InMotion Max
• Bose SoundDock II
• iHome iP71
• iLuv i398
• JBL OnStage 400p
• Klipsch iGroove SXT (NOTE: Updated product specs for refreshed iGroove SXT not on Klipsch site yet)
• Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2
• Sony SRSGUI0iP

That said, we still went looking for the iPod dock that sounded really good while sticking as close to the $US200 mark. Some were much cheaper, or much more expensive, but most of them all had something interesting to offer. Ultimately, overall audio quality had the most weight in helping to pick our winner, but price, design, and the usefulness of smaller features were also taken into consideration:

The Winner:
JBL On Stage 400p: At $US250, the On Stage 400p is a bit more expensive than some of the other docks, but it sounds so nice, it was impossible to give top honours to anyone else. It uses a 30w sub to push out the low end, while delivering another 30w of power to the tweeters for the highs and mids. And though it might not wow anyone with its design, it’s nice enough that you don’t have to hide it in your living room. Just might want to wait till it goes on sale later on.

The Runners Up:
Bose SoundDock II: It’s no huge surprise why the SoundDock II out performs the rest of the field: at $US300 , Bose’s accessory is outfitted with better hardware. But is the sound quality worth $US100 than the rest of the docks? And what’s the chance you’ll ever find it on sale?

Altec Lansing InMotion Max: What the InMotion Max lacks in booming low end, it makes up for in precision audio tuning and a light, slim design. Two 2-inch drivers are bolstered by two, 2-inch passive radiators which sit directly above. The result are nice mids and highs that offer much better sound than the 14w power rating would suggest. Other nice little touches include song info that appears in the backlit display, capacitive touch buttons (which include <</>> controls), battery power that lasts 3.5 hours, and a spring loaded ipod dock connector that slides out. Well done.

Honorable Mentions:
Klipsch iGroove SXT: The new, revamped iGroove SXT (hitting stores this July) packs a lot of punch into a compact bundle. Enhanced acoustics and a dedicated amplifier for each driver give the SXT a nice, deep sound, but sometimes the high-end clarity suffers. Still it’s hard not to like this one, and Klipsch is phasing out its bigger iGroove, so this is it if you love Klipsch.

Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere 2: Coming in at a lower price point and smaller size than most the other docks here, it’s hard to compare it sonically because most the other docks are bigger and more expensive . But the Pure-Fi Anywhere 2 does manage to improve over the original Pure-Fi Anywhere in the sound department and does what few other docks can do: Travel around easily with a 10 hour battery life. Besides, the larger Pure-Fi Dream system may sound better, but its clock-radio interface leaves too much to be desired.

His barn/garage, filled with vintage sports cars like a 1969 Camaro and modern Aston Martin, is also home to over 6,000W of sound. You see, Whitworth likes to listen to his music for hours on end at volumes of 120dB, or louder than a “loud” rock concert, about 5dB away from pain and right in the range of hearing loss. I said, right in the range of hearing loss!!

So his barn is filled with six JBL Pro concert models (not consumer grade stuff, which would just break on him), two 18-inch subs and two more “half-fridge-size” Velodyne Digital Drive 1812 Signature Edition subwoofers, which each contain hardware for both upper and lower bass response. Of course, there’s 6400W of amplification to support all that speaker power, but even still, this rig is technically only a stereo. There’s no surround sound processing. [Electronic House via CrunchGear]

The original 1968 design is mostly unchanged, its fibreglass shell and nylon/wool interior retaining their timelessly different style. The only structural difference seems to be that JBL speakers have been coyly hidden beneath the padding, emitting music that promises to be unobtrusive to those not sitting.

The Ovalia runs $US7700 and will only be sold to 900 lucky people. But if that price still seems expensive, keep in mind that the chair can be hung from the ceiling. The ceiling! [Panik Design via unpluggd]

Anyway, my point is that JBL speakers are pretty awesome, at least in my experience. And their new LS series of speakers look like they’re bringing the typical JBL audio quality to a pricepoint that’s (almost) attainable for the masses. Of course, not everyone wants a high-end surround sound setup in their loungeroom, but those people tend not to read Gizmodo and we don’t really care about them too much.

There’s a full rundown of pricing in the press release below, plus a bonus pic.

JBL LS Series Loudspeakers:
A New Expression of the Most Advanced JBL Technologies Available

Sydney, October 2008 – Loud, clear, stunningly realistic audio reproduction for public spaces and private homes has been a JBL hallmark for more than 60 years. One way JBL has achieved that distinction is by using the most innovative technologies and materials in both their professional and consumer systems, up and down the product line. It’s how flagship products become bestsellers, and how JBL Pro Sound Comes Home™.

Introducing the New JBL LS Series

The new high-performance JBL LS Series loudspeakers share the design philosophy and signature Bi-Radial®-horn/compression-driver configuration of the widely acclaimed JBL Project Series – K2 and Array – as well as of the Everest DD66000 (RRP $80,000 pr), the most uncannily lifelike musical instrument ever to bear the JBL name. Considering its lineage, you can be forgiven for expecting greatness from the LS Series. Greatness was a design spec, and it’s the very thing these remarkable new loudspeakers were born to deliver.

Advanced Engineering Meets Exquisite Craftsmanship

JBL LS Series enclosures are more than just beautiful to look at; the wedge shape and gently curving side panels prevent unwanted internal resonance. High-mass MDF construction minimises sound colouration. A curved lower baffle prevents acoustic interference with the lower woofer, while gracefully transitioning into the gloss-finish, streak-ebony side panels, which are finished in a rich mahogany shade. Inclusions such as a luxury new grille fabric and adjustable heavy-duty floor spike with coasters help set the LS Series loudspeakers apart from lesser alternatives.

Shouts and Whispers: The LS Experience

The ideal home audio system doesn’t favour music over movies, or small rooms over large ones. The ideal home audio system has the raw power to reproduce bass and midrange frequencies without any effort of distortion at any listening level, as well as the finesse to deliver brilliantly clean high and ultrahigh-frequency sound directly to your ears, undiminished by interaction with walls and furniture.

In the high frequencies, LS Series speakers employ a constant-directivity HF compression driver and UHF ring tweeter in a unique computer-optimised baffle that suppresses phase interference and signal loss. Whereas some manufactures use horn drivers to dramatically increase sensitivity, JBL engineers designed their new components to provide the optimum blend of the highest possible sensitivity and vanishingly low distortion.

The realism of low-frequency sound is heightened with high-performance dual pulp-cone woofers in a staggered network design for exceptionally rich bass response. Working together, these technologies ensure that LS Series speakers render ‘out-of-this-world’ action sequences and delicate, otherworldly musical passages with equal clarity and accuracy. Music and movies are made to be enjoyed, and LS Series speakers are engineered to ensure that you’ll enjoy them to their fullest, whatever your taste in entertainment may be. The new JBL LS Series loudspeakers will be available from November 2008.

The JBL LS Series comprises of five models, including the EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) award winning LS80 loudspeaker:
• LS40 – Compact bookshelf loudspeaker – RRP $2,299
• LS60 – Floorstanding tower speakers – RRP $3,799
• LS80 – Floorstanding tower speakers – RRP $4,999
• LS Centre – Dedicated centre channel loudspeaker – RRP $1,499
• LS120P – 300mm (12-inch), 400-watt powered subwoofer – RRP $1,999

Sound quality itself is fairly rich – you get a fair amount of bass and the higher end doesn’t wash out either. The dock charges your iPhone while it’s plugged in, and even though we couldn’t find any mention of GSM shielding in the JBL’s press release, we didn’t get any interference from the phone either.

The bundled remote control works well, although you need to unlock your iPhone manually to get things started. Once you’re up and running though, you’ll have your collection of Van Halen tracks blasting out to everyone in your immediate vicinity. And that can be anywhere, seeing as how the OnStage IIIP takes a heap of AA batteries for music on the go.

But the biggest question with this speaker dock is whether or not it’s worth the $299 pricetag. Well, that all depends if you’re the kind of person likely to drop $299 on an iPod dock of any description – if you are, then this is a really good start. If not, then you should probably stick with that no-name Chinese brand you picked up from Go-Lo.

But they don’t come cheap – the 400ID will set you back $450 while the 200ID (which hits shelves in September) will cost $340.

Full release is below:

NEW JBL ON STAGE™* SYSTEMS CONTINUE SOUND AND STYLE LEGACY

JBL On Stage 200ID and JBL On Stage 400ID loudspeaker dock bring the best out of your iPod.

Sydney 30 July 2008 . JBL®, Inc., the leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a wide range of high-fidelity loudspeakers for home and car, and of multimedia speaker systems for MP3 players and computers, is proud to unveil the Australian release of the JBL On Stage* 200ID and the JBL On Stage 400ID systems. The latest additions to the JBL line of high-performance iPod docking speakers or stations, the JBL On Stage 200ID and 400ID systems deliver powerful crisp sound and feature an attractive contemporary design. Both are feature-rich and come equipped with IR remotes for iPod track selection, menu navigation and volume control; a mini stereo jack for non-iPod products is also included.

Incorporating the Apple® iPod Universal Dock adapter, the JBL On Stage 200ID and 400ID systems are compatible with all docking iPod models. The JBL On Stage 400ID system charges a docked iPod (even when the system is off), while its OnePoint design enables connectivity with a USB 2.0 cable for synchronising an iPod with a Mac® or PC.

The JBL On Stage 200ID system adds iPhoneTM compatibility, enabling both iPhone and iPod charging (even with the system off), while its OnePoint design enables connectivity with a USB 2.0 cable for synchronising an iPhone or an iPod with a Mac or PC. Both units have built-in mini stereo jacks and additional cables for connecting to other digital music player devices, CD players, gaming devices, laptops and desktop computers.

Each unit integrates superior sound, stunning design and outstanding functionality, weighs slightly less than one kilogram, and has a footprint of only 359mm by 64mm. The JBL On Stage 200ID system is equipped with two 10-watt Phoenix transducers; they provide distinct high frequencies, as well as low-frequency extension for clear, deep bass. For music fans who want even more power, the JBL On Stage 400ID system features four 15-watt Odyssey® transducers for accurate high frequencies, while its 30-watt AtlasTM subwoofer pumps clean, powerful bass. The JBL On Stage 200ID and 400ID units, which are perfect for the home or office, let users experience almost anywhere a personal concert from an iPhone (200ID model only), iPod or laptop.

“We are pleased to welcome the latest additions to the already iconic On Stage family in the new form of the JBL On Stage 200ID and JBL On Stage 400ID. With audio performance driving the design, the On Stage 200ID and 400ID offer consumers the best sound from their iPod and other devices”, says Richard Metcalfe, International Brand Director for Harman Consumer Group International’s Multimedia and Headphone division.

Availability
The JBL On Stage 400ID is now available at major retailers and IT and Audio resellers at a suggested retails price of $449.95 Inc GST. The On Stage 200ID will be available in Australia in September at a suggested retail price of $339.95 Inc GST.

Each speaker by itself can fit perfectly into a corner (wall-to-wall or wall-to-ceiling) for an easy mounting. And two could make for a pretty interesting impromptu sound bar. Since each unit packs a tweeter and two woofers, the possible mixtures of stereo channel output offer some deal of flexibility beyond that whole “they stick together!” form factor. Look for the Control Now this month for US$249 a pop. An outdoor version will be available for US$30 more.

INTRODUCING JBL CONTROL NOW™ LOUDSPEAKERS:
UNIQUE INSTALLATION OPTIONS FOR MULTIPLE HOME APPLICATIONS

— 90 Degrees of Pure Ingenuity —

WOODBURY, NY — JBL, Inc., today announced the introduction of its JBL Control NOW™ indoor and JBL Control NOW AW outdoor high-performance loudspeakers. Both models feature a unique quarter-round shape that provides an unprecedented variety of installation possibilities, and incorporate innovative driver technologies to deliver clear, powerful and evenly distributed sound in any listening environment.

The all-new, uniquely versatile design of the JBL Control NOW loudspeakers enables them to be placed virtually anywhere — including areas where other speakers cannot be installed. The drivers are mounted behind a curved quarter-round front section, and the rear of the enclosure has three angled sections that enable the speakers to be corner-mounted between a ceiling and wall or between two walls. They can also be placed either horizontally or vertically on a shelf. The JBL Control NOW has a black finish, and the JBL Control NOW AW is available in a white finish.

Multiple JBL Control NOW speakers can be joined to create half-round, three-quarter-round, or fully round configurations, and they can be hung from a ceiling using an optional pole-mount bracket and standard ceiling-fan hardware. In addition, the speakers can be mounted with third-party stands, using included adapters.

When used in two-, three- or four-speaker arrays, the JBL Control NOW and JBL Control NOW AW can be configured for either single-channel or single-point stereo use, for maximum flexibility in a wide variety of home, multiroom, architectural and background-music applications, including in media rooms, kitchens, decks or patios — or wherever natural, accurate sound with a wide coverage area is desired.

Exclusive JBL® Technologies for Exceptional Sound, Anywhere

JBL Control NOW and JBL Control NOW AW loudspeakers are designed from the ground up to deliver outstanding sound quality in the most challenging installation applications.

Corner-mounting, and some multiunit speaker configurations, can have an adverse effect on frequency response across the listening area. To ensure accurate audio performance even in less-than-optimal acoustic situations, the loudspeakers feature a tweeter mounted in a patented JBL Bi-Radial® horn, and have a newly developed profile that has been optimised to minimize diffraction effects from room surfaces to deliver exceptionally smooth, wide frequency response. The speakers have constant-directivity dispersion when wall-mounted, and omnidirectional characteristics when corner-mounted or grouped in a four-speaker circular array.

The tweeter incorporates a 3/4-inch titanium-laminate diaphragm and a ferrofluid-cooled voice coil that is driven by a high-Gauss neodymium-boron-iron magnet, for high-power-handling capability, and outstanding resolution and transient response.

The tweeter is complemented by two 4-inch woofers that incorporate dual neodymium-boron-iron magnets, which completely surround the voice coil. The design of the woofer’s motor structure and suspension was optimised using Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a computer-analysis technique that is used to model complex systems such as loudspeaker drivers by breaking their intricate multipart elements down into smaller pieces, predicting the behaviour of these elements, and then combining the behaviour of all the elements to arrive at an accurate analysis of the entire system. The use of FEA enabled JBL engineers to design a unique woofer that delivers increased output capability with minimal distortion, even at high volume levels, and provides additional sonic benefits.

To further refine their performance, the JBL Control NOW and JBL Control NOW AW feature enclosures and baffles made from a thermoplastic-composite material that contains both glass and mineral fill, which provides high rigidity and damping. The enclosure’s mechanical design utilizes thick walls, cast-aluminium internal bracing and other refinements to minimize internal resonances and acoustical loss.

The JBL Control NOW loudspeakers are currently available at a suggested retail price of $249 each. The Control NOW AW will be available in late June 2008 at a suggested retail price of $279 each.