Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

JBL Creatures II vs. Harman Kardon Soundsticks

ryannel2003

ryannel2003

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 30, 2005
1,815
388
Greenville, NC
I've decided to upgrade my JBL Duet speakers on my eMac to something that has more bass and clearer sound. I've decided between the JBL Creatures and the Harmon Kardon soundsticks. The JBL's are on sale for $56 and the Soundsticks are on sale for $98 (both are refurbished; the Duet's I purchased were refurbished and have been great!). I was wondering which pair I should buy? I've read nothing but good reviews about both, but I wanted to add some RAM to my HP laptop which would mean that couldn't happen if I purchased the Soundsticks. I've listened to both before and they were excellent. But I'm still not sure. Which pair should I get?
 
best way to decide, go to a store and listen to the sound on both, get whichever sounds better to your ear. simple as that.
 
PlaceofDis said:
best way to decide, go to a store and listen to the sound on both, get whichever sounds better to your ear. simple as that.
Click to expand...

That would be a good idea, but the closest Apple Store is 130 miles away and I don't plan on driving that far to listen to a set of speakers. Plus there are no stores around here that carry him so I'll just have to get opinions from everyone on the boards.
 
keep in mind the ones at the store have often been overplayed and//or damaged by customers... doesn't apple have reviews on their store website?

ya here they are:

creature speakerscreature speakers

soundstickssoundsticks

fyi i've heard the creatures before and they sound great... can get very loud. i've never heard the soundsticks tho...
 
ryannel2003 said:
That would be a good idea, but the closest Apple Store is 130 miles away and I don't plan on driving that far to listen to a set of speakers. Plus there are no stores around here that carry him so I'll just have to get opinions from everyone on the boards.
Click to expand...

no Best Buys? no Comp USA? no Circuit City? they all carry them both last time i checked....
 
ryannel2003 said:
Nope
Click to expand...


wow, sorry!


well i have the Creature IIs and i was debating between the two, they sound very similar, and in the end i couldn't tell the difference, but thats why i recommended you hearing them for yourself, i know people who think one or the other sounds like crap, but maybe its just individual units too. who knows.
 
PlaceofDis said:
wow, sorry!


well i have the Creature IIs and i was debating between the two, they sound very similar, and in the end i couldn't tell the difference, but thats why i recommended you hearing them for yourself, i know people who think one or the other sounds like crap, but maybe its just individual units too. who knows.
Click to expand...

A buddy of mine has the Creature II's and he says that they are only a tiny bit better than the Duets, but when I listened to them a couple of months ago the difference was very noticeable. But the Soundsticks literally blew me away. I just don't want to spend $100 on speakers when I don't have a ton of money (15 years old an no job; it sucks). I think $56 is a good price for the Creatures, yet $98 is excellent for Soundsticks.

BTW, sorry if I sounded rude before. I live in a small town and the only place to buy electronics around here is Wal-Mart or Staples! :(
 
iPodounge (sorry, it's iLounge now) reviews of them both are here http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/jbl-creature-ii-21-speakers-ipod/
and here http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/comments/harman-soundsticks-ii-21-speaker-system-ipod/

I haven't experienced the soundsticks, but my dad has the creature speakers at home and I have been very impressed by them, but you would be saving loads of money on the soundsticks, and they are (by most accounts) better, so I'd probably go Harman if I were you. This isn't a win-lose choice; either way you'll get great looking speakers with very good sound.
 
i bought the soundsticks, and they're great. i got 'em for...$125 new iirc from amazon. it's so awesome being able to see inside them, especially the sub. plus they sound awesome, at least to me.
 
Depends on the type of music you like...

I found the SoundSticks to be much better for the type of music I like. And overall I think they are the better speakers.
 
Congrats on the buy. The Harmon Kardons are going to have a much larger soundfield because of the multiple speakers in each tower, thus sounding better and more full. They also connect to the computer using USB, so you'll get a better signal and cleaner sound. I hope you enjoy them!
 
fanbrain said:
Congrats on the buy. The Harmon Kardons are going to have a much larger soundfield because of the multiple speakers in each tower, thus sounding better and more full. They also connect to the computer using USB, so you'll get a better signal and cleaner sound. I hope you enjoy them!
Click to expand...
sorry, had to jump in and say this--that was the original soundsticks. the current soundsticks (soundsticks II) use a standard 3.5mm jack.
 
I had a set of the origianl SoundSticks, and the quality was amazing, but they had to be pointed right at you. Fortunately they were really easy to aim. They stopped working right after a little over three years, but till then I loved them. Oh yeah, and I paid $200 for em, so $98 is an awesome deal.

Ken
 
I have the JBLs and have been very happy with them - I find the sound quality to be excellent.
I've heard the HKs in the store, but it's difficult to really evaluate it with all the ambient noise.
One factor you mentioned was wanting to save $ - even if I was sure the HKs were better, I'm not sure they're $42 better than the JBLs.

Good luck!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back