JBL Spot Powered Satellite Speakers and Subwoofer vs Harman Kardon SoundSticks II

[bluedoggiant]

i want some thing that sounds good and lasts long, a lot of people are complaining because the soundsticks stop working after 6 months or something, if u have these speakers or had them, have you had anything wrong with them. and as for those jbl spot ones, do they produce those small speaker sound, like yoou really need to turn up the volume to listen, does that bass really vibrate, is the sound quality good? and can u turn it up loud enough so that the computer is upstairs in a room with the door open and you can hear that just at the bottom of the stairs?

 

[Alloye]

IMHO, SoundSticks sound better than Creatures, which sound better than Spots. I've owned all three and would break it down like this:

SoundSticks: Warm/natural sound with a very narrow sweet spot. Sound dull off-axis. Good, tight sub.

Creatures: A little thin/tinny for my taste. Better off-axis response than the SoundSticks but with a depressed midrange and a less capable sub.

Spots: Similar to the Creatures with a slightly better midrange. Sub comes up short, however. More audible distortion than the others.

All three sets are decent for casual, near-field listening, but depending on your budget, you may be able to do better elsewhere. I actually think the Logitech Z-4s sound better than all of the above.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

As for your specific situation I'd recommend the Harman Kardon's do iThink you are making the best choice, not really. I'd go with the Altec Lansing FX6021, I owned the second rendition of the Sound Sticks and regretted purchasing them right before Altec Lansing released these speakers. Go to the Apple Store though and compare I believe the still carry both of the products you questioned. I also have become a larger and larger fan of the Creative T40s, listened to them a couple of times and really shocked me, interested to see what Version II of those sounds like, but I listen to KRK monitors...

 

[Amigaman]

I bought two pairs of the Harman Kardon SoundSticks IIs last year and I haven't had a single problem with them. Before that, I had the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s and I wasn't happy with the weak midrange and muddy bass. The SoundSticks IIs produces a nice, clean sound that covers highs and midrange nicely, and bass that actually kicks rather than wallowing around in the mud.

 

[bluedoggiant]

Old Thread... purchased Bose Companion 2 Series II back when I got my imac almost two years ago.

 

[Fireproof!]

I bought two pairs of the Harman Kardon SoundSticks IIs last year and I haven't had a single problem with them. Before that, I had the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1s and I wasn't happy with the weak midrange and muddy bass. The SoundSticks IIs produces a nice, clean sound that covers highs and midrange nicely, and bass that actually kicks rather than wallowing around in the mud.

I have the Sounsticks II as well and have been real happy with them. I'm no audiophile, but they sound better than many other computer speakers I tried. Plus - I get tons of compliments about their looks.