Orb Audio Classic Two Speaker Review

Full disclaimer: Speaker reviews are tricky. It is entirely subjective on our part: we don't care (or perhaps even comprehend) the importance of frequency response, timbre, etc. Also, we don't have any way for you hear the speakers in anything approaching what they would sound like in your home.

With that said, The Orb Audio speakers sound great, and have opened up our ears to focus on the finer points of audio once again. Our default speakers set here at hq is a Kilpsch woofer and stereo speakers from a few years ago. Plugging in the Orb Audio set, heck even using the left and right speakers with our existing woofer made a huge difference. The sound is fuller, and thanks to the design has a much wider stage (hey,we know some of the terms) than what you would expect from speakers this size.

In short, the $698 classic two set sounds far better than that price, and at that price, they are tantalizing for those of who have spent most of our listening time on $200-$300 sets. Orb Audio offers a free in-home trial, which is really the best way to check them out. And as noted in the video review below, don't forget this is a speaker set: you will need to connect them to your home theater receiver, and then connect your sound source (iPod, DVD, Blu-ray, etc) to that.

Apple Offers Risk-Free Speaker Trials

As we wade through all of the good, bad, and ugly products we get to review here, it becomes clear that buying iPod accessories can be daunting. And perhaps the most difficult thing to buy sight (or sound) unseen is speakers. Let's face it - and we've said it in our own reviews - you really have to hear them to see if they're right for you.

Well, Apple gives you the chance to try speakers "risk-free," even if you're buying online. According to this page, Apple will pay for return shipping and give a full refund if you try speakers, and find they're not for you.

(Thanks to JimH for the heads up.)

Logitech Pure-Fi Speaker Review

Logitech's Pure-fi speakers promise a lot of sound in a small package, and they deliver. As we've mentioned before, it's tough to do video reviews of speakers since you can't hear them with any kind of worthwhile fidelity. At any rate, trust us: these speakers pack a lot of punch. The rechargeable battery (up to 10hrs, varies based on volume setting) is a great plus The price is a little steep, but that seems to be the case with all iPod speakers of any decent audio quality. Take a look:

Product Review: JBL OnStage IIIp Speaker system

(Speaker reviews are a tough thing to do on video. After all, once the sound as been picked up by a camera microphone, and then compressed for the web, there's really not much you'll get out of it. That's why our policy is to not play the speakers during the review, unless there's an audible issue with the system you need to hear. Now then, on with our review.)

JBL has been selling it's OnStage line of speakers for several years now. The OnStage IIIp (p for portable) continues in the traditional UFO/donut shape. The biggest selling point for these speakers is there multi-directional, room-filling sound in a tiny package. They can be taken portably with 6 AA batteries. Other than the lack of a rechargeable battery, and a slightly high msrp of $169, they're a fine small speaker set.

But why make you read anymore? Here's the video review: