Digital Lifestyle > All Reviews > Hardware > Audio > Speakers > OnBeat Air review

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 OnBeat Air review

Does this neat dock and speaker need AirPlay?

Nick Spence

Manufacturer: JBL
Manufacturer: JBL
Pros: Good sound quality; built-in WiFi connectivity; built-in charger; portrait or landscape mode docking; OnBeat iOS app
Cons: No horizontal iPad viewing; pricier than previous non-AirPlay model
Price: £229.99
We rate this 0 out of 5.Star rating:

An updated version of the OnBeat speaker dock, JBL’s OnBeat Air adds AirPlay technology and a significant price hike. The move, although welcome, might be seen as overkill. Many are likely to use the unit for what it was designed for – docking an iOS device – rather than streaming music from iTunes.

The OnBeat Air has a rotating arm for horizontal and vertical viewing, although you can’t rotate an iPad for horizontal viewing. The unit is powered by two 7.5 watt speaker drivers. The build feels solid, and the dock is sturdy and compact. Equally small is the supplied remote control, which feels cheap and brittle in comparison to the main unit.

Does this neat dock and speaker need AirPlay?

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