JBL On Time - Time Machine Dock for iPod

Reviews: Multimedia

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Mark Korff
Kurtis
JBL
May. 24, 2006

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Introduction

So you just couldn't resist running out and buying an iPod after reading our recent review of the nano and now you're itching to run out and get some sort of cool accessory since you have all that extra money burning a hole in your pocket, right? There are hundreds of accessories for the various iPod models, ranging from carrying cases and arm bands to attachable FM tuners and boom-boxes (and that's barely scratching the surface)! If you are one of the millions of consumers who've purchased an iPod and feel the urge to accessorize then you'll want to read on for our review of the JBL On Time - it could be just what you're looking for.

The JBL On Time acts as a docking station, charger, and speaker system for your iPod. It also functions as an alarm clock and a radio. As you can see, the JBL On Time combines a number of different features into one unique device, but how well does it perform these functions?

First Impressions

Although the On Time can be used with many different media players through the use of the auxiliary sound input, it's immediately obvious that it was built from the ground up to be used in conjunction with Apple's iPod. The physical design of the On Time complements the iPod very well. The white iPod nano I used during testing matches the color and texture of the On Time perfectly and owners of black iPods need not feel left out because it's also available in black. The On Time comes with multiple docking adaptors, so it can be used with iPods of any generation. The On Time also comes with an AM antenna, an auxiliary audio cable, and of course an external power supply.

As you can see from pictures of the device, the On Time has a unique circular design. There are three speakers enclosed on the "halo" portion of the On Time that surround the iPod when it is docked. The two matching speakers that are on opposite sides reproduce the low to midrange frequencies, and the tweeter on top doubles as the snooze button. There are ten buttons in addition to the snooze button, all located at the foot of the unit hugging the sides of the display. The four to the left of the display are for volume, mode selection, and power. The four buttons directly to the right of the display are used to navigate the On Time menus, and the final two buttons to the far right are for the dual alarms. On the back of the On Time you will find connections for the power supply, AM antenna, auxiliary sound input, subwoofer out, and last but not least, the iPod USB connector so you can even synch your iPod to your PC while it's docked in the On Time. Finally, flipping the On Time over will expose the cover for the three AAA batteries which can be used for battery backup in the case of a power failure.

While the display for the On Time is not overly large, it will be quite pleasing to anyone who's a fan of bright blue LEDs. It provides a clear, albeit slightly small display which can be adjusted for contrast and brightness to the user's liking. The buttons are all backlit in blue as well, and there is even a small blue LED on the underside of the speaker "halo" that shines down on the iPod when docked. The brightness of all these light sources can be tweaked through the On Time menu options. One of these options even includes an "auto" setting which makes use of a light sensor on the front of the unit which increases or decreases the brightness depending on how much ambient light is present in the room.

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Page 1: Introduction & First Impressions
Page 2: Testing
Page 3: Conclusion

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16 User Comments

1 - Posted by Nick on May 25, 2006 - 12:47 pm

If I give that thing 1000volts will a portal open up and suck my nano into another dimension?

Does it make a comfy hat? Would you wear it with the display in front or in back if it did?

2 - Posted by Kalo on May 25, 2006 - 5:36 pm

Nice all-in-one, but bad name. :P

3 - Posted by Kurtis on May 25, 2006 - 6:36 pm

It's actually just called the JBL On Time; Time Machine Dock for iPod is like the catch phrase for the product - but yeah it's not a great catch phrase :-P

4 - Posted by Mark on May 26, 2006 - 3:38 pm

The only way it would be a fitting catch phrase is if it could actually perform time travel. If it could do that, they might actually be able to justify that ridiculous price too. :-p

5 - Posted by fr00zen on May 27, 2006 - 5:31 pm

I think the name is a bit silly. If anything, the name is a "turn off". I would not buy an item with that name. It just sounds stupid.

6 - Posted by Kurtis on May 27, 2006 - 9:31 pm

and someone once laughed at the idea of a "mouse" for a human interface device for computers :-P

I'm not defending the product in question, but to judge a product by its name is silly.

7 - Posted by Brian on May 27, 2006 - 10:40 pm

Yeah... just look at the Playstation...

8 - Posted by tiamat on May 28, 2006 - 5:22 pm

Nintendo named it's new machine Wiii, and people are still buying it.

I would not judge a product by the name. It would be like judging a book because of it's cover.

9 - Posted by kerma on May 31, 2006 - 11:53 am

A weird name can draw attention to a product. I think that is what Nintendo is doing.

10 - Posted by mheade on June 3, 2006 - 4:29 pm

You know, for about 1/2 the price, you can get an iHome which has near all the same functionality. With a name like JBL, I'd expect the extra $$$ to go towards the sound.

11 - Posted by Kurtis on June 3, 2006 - 5:05 pm

lol... funny you mention that. we got one for review. keep your eyes out for it :)

12 - Posted by DirtCrashr on September 26, 2007 - 10:16 am

We got this, we hate it. The iPod is continuously going on the fritz and the clock-display goes to bit-salad and everything has to be re-set. Since it does it even without the iPod I'm not sure what the problem is - something in firmware - it's unreliable as an alarm-clock and doesn't catch the automatic time-set.
But mainly you can't set the alarm volume at a level of your own choice. It comes on loud and gets louder and louder as the alarm proceeds until it's too damn loud, whether it's the radio/iPod/beeper. It's loud enough to wake the neighbors through three layers of insulation and sheetrock. There should be a cutoff volume.
This is meant for a 17-yr old slumber hog who could sleep through a nuclear blast, not an adult with neighbors.

13 - Posted by harvester on December 15, 2009 - 7:33 am

Does anyone know if you can use the 5th gen. ipod nano with the jbl on time? I would like to get my daughter the nano for Christmas.
TIA, harvester

14 - Posted by scoopfest on January 15, 2010 - 4:21 pm

How much is it retail?

15 - Posted by nickw on January 15, 2010 - 4:22 pm

How much is it retail?

16 - Posted by Max Slowik on January 15, 2010 - 9:29 pm

It's actually pretty hard to find this 2-year-old gadget. JBL has a newer On Time with a different aesthetic for $180 on Amazon.com.

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