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Great quality and very well designed speakers. The only problem that I find is using volume buttons that are hard to press. I end up using volume on my computer screen most of the time for any adjustments
first, let me address the issue of volume control that's mentioned in virtually every other review: it is initially tricky to adjust the volume level because of the non-mechanical, "touch sensitive" controls on the right speaker. I paid around $50 for this system, basically cost for a friend who had a couple left, but I would have been happy up to $100 or so. The cables connecting the speakers to the bass unit are heavy relative to the light, "flower"-style speakers, but are plenty long and appear to be of very durable construction.
Problem solved. The controls and connections are all on the bass unit, so setting the bass level medium-high and forgetting about it is the best option. so fiddle with the settings while playing music, set it as loud as you can, then use the volume control on your computer or ipod afterwards to adjust levels.
The bass unit is a pleasing dome shape, and produces more than enough bass for reasonable listening levels. That so many people appear to use the touch controls for adjustment is baffling, and unnecessary. The system is on the slight side, but produces excellent sound for its diminutive size.
EQ controls in itunes or whatever will suffice if the need for fine-tuning arises. A good deal and great sound from speakers that are virtually invisible and well-made.
This is a ding against the industry for not consolidating these ugly cables via some innovation (think HDMI).If you can live with wires everywhere :-) then I recommend these speakers. It's just ridiculous how many wires there are, and Mac users will be more sensitive to this than PC users (PC users are used to a gazillion wires; Mac users like me are spoiled).There are FOUR bulky cables coming out of the subwolfer: one to each speaker, one to the audio source, and one for the power.
But it does indeed work; you just have to understand how to control the volume, which is not at all intuitive. I agree with other reviewers that the volume control is tricky.
My only complaint is the number of wires, but this will be the case on any set of computer speakers. It seems to be some sort of touch feel, so no there is no feedback whether or not you are successfully changing the volume - well, of course, other than the sound getting louder or softer :-)If you press too hard, which is tempting thing to do, then it doesn't seem to work.
So try pressing gently.If your computer has its own volume control, then you will likely find it preferable to just use its controls instead.I regularly use these speakers both with a MacBook Pro and with a Samsung HDTV monitor (I move the speaker cord back and forth between the TV/monitor and the computer), so I primarily rely on the volume control of the MacBook and TV.The sound quality on these speakers is good. Again, this is not a ding against this model specifically, as they are all this way.
If you don't want the wires, then get a device with good integrated speakers (like an iMac).
I'm very happy with these speakers. I needed them so I could watch a DVD on my computer while I walk on the treadmill, and they needed to be loud enough to hear over the treadmill and my footsteps. Success.I only wish they had a remote so I could adjust the volume from a distance.
I bought a set of Spyro speakers after reading a number of reviews here which diverse a lot. Since I never got a normal chance to listen to these speakers - I could not comment much on them. The he asked me to do an RMA on their website and told me he could only exchanged me a pair of soundsticks II since the spyro had been discontinued, and the sound quality of the Soundsticks is much better than the Spyro.
Mine did not work too - I tried different ways as described in the good review but I still fails to adjust the volume. I received a pair of Soundsticks after two weeks, new. The major complain of the speakers is the volume adjustment keys on the right satellite do not work.
So I did an RMA and pushed JBL twice (by calling but always met Indian CSRs located in India, not the good guy any more, they are very inconfident and do not know what to do from time to time). Meanwhile, the subwoofer does not make any sound.So I gave JBL technical support a call, and a good Greek guy (native speaker) answer the call (the only good guy I met through the whole RMA process). He seems to be aware of the issue and told me if the subwoofer does not sound - then the volume adjustment keys will not work since the control board is insider the woofer and that might had been broken.
The sound quality is indeed much better, but still not comparable with my other pair of Klipsch (at about the same price).So, guys that suffering from volume key problem - do your RMA now as long as you are within year of purchase and get your soundsticks. However, thinking the size of the tweeters, I could not believe the spyros provide good sound quality - they are too tiny to do that.
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