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.”