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JBL intros first Lightning-equipped speaker docks

The $99 JBL OnBeat Micro and $199 JBL Venue LT are compatible with the iPhone 5's new Lightning connector.

David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials
  • Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
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David Carnoy

The $99 JBL OnBeat Micro has a battery option for mobile use (click to enlarge). JBL

Various accessories that include Apple's new Lightning connector are gradually trickling out onto the market, and JBL is the first to announce Lightning-equipped speaker docks.

The smaller $99 battery-powered model, the JBL OnBeat Micro, which gets about 5 hours of power from four AAA batteries, retails for $99 while the $199 JBL OnBeat Venue LT offers wireless Bluetooth connectivity and its dock can also accommodate the iPad Mini and the fourth-generation iPad with Retina Display. Unfortunately, of course, the docks aren't compatible with older iPhones unless you use an optional adapter.

I haven't played around with them yet, so I don't know how they sound, but will let you know as soon as I get my hands on review samples.

Both speakers are currently available for preorder and JBL says that the OnBeat Micro will be at major retailers such as Apple "prior to Black Friday," with the OnBeat Venue LT to follow "shortly after."

 
The $199 JBL Venue LT can also accommodate the new Lightning-equipped iPads and has built-in Bluetooth for wireless audio streaming. JBL

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