Uniden’s BTS200 microphone came the closest to sounding like the integrated speakerphones in Apple’s iPhones – quite close – and JBL’s mic sounded nearly as good during most of our tests, falling a little behind only immediately after Bluetooth pairing, improving soon after the wireless connection was established. Speakerphone performance with all three units tracked with their streaming music performance. While it initially appeared to make songs feel a little richer than JBL On Tour iBT, Zephyr 550 never really sounded better, and became decidedly worse as the volume level increased. By comparison, Zephyr 550 was a disappointment, performing music with relatively bass-skewed sound that was regrettably plagued with considerable low bass distortion at higher volumes. As is JBL’s traditional practice, JBL On Tour iBT aims for low distortion in everything that it does, but it doesn’t reach as high or as low as BTS200, resulting in sound that’s a little flatter and uninspired – particularly on the low end – but also relatively clear across its entire volume range, which is roughly the same as the other two speakers, or appropriate for near-distance listening. When we compared these three speakers to one another, Uniden surprisingly achieved the best overall sonic balance at reasonable volume levels, offering just a little more treble and bass than JBL On Tour iBT when streaming stereo music, while making only slight sacrifices in midrange clarity to achieve that performance. In practice, however, the BTS200 remains the best pick in this category, with the JBL On Tour iBT close behind it, and the Zephyr 550 a distant third – the primary reason is sound quality. Unlike many speakers these days, however, JBL On Tour iBT does not include its own batteries you need to self-supply four AA cells, which will last for roughly five hours before requiring replacement. When used with this cable, JBL On Tour iBT can charge iPods, iPhones, and iPads at the same time as it’s being used for audio, assuming that it’s connected to wall power. It ships with a wall adapter, a simple plastic iPad stand, and a Dock Connector cable that unusually allows Apple device users to eschew the Bluetooth wireless functionality for a purely wired connection. JBL On Tour iBT looks like a black UFO with a roughly 6.5” diamater, containing four small JBL Odyssey speakers that fire upwards in a 360-degree ring. JBL On Tour iBT have a microphone built in that allows users to make and receive phone/FaceTime calls, as well as integrated volume and phone call buttons, plus ports for power, auxiliary audio-in, and – unusually – USB.įrom there, the speakers differ a lot in frills and functionality. They both use Bluetooth to make nearly instantaneous connections with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, streaming stereo audio from speakers mounted behind perforated grilles. JBL On Tour iBT have a number of features in common. Today, we’re reviewing JBL’s On Tour iBT, its own advantages and disadvantages relative to other ultra-portable speakers.
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