JBL On Stage IV Portable Speaker Dock

JBL On Stage IV Portable Speaker Dock

The JBL On Stage IV is a compact loudspeaker dock for the 30-pin generation of iPod and iPhone, built around four 1-inch JBL Odyssey transducers driven by 2 x 10 W of amplification with computer-optimised DSP equalisation. The four drivers are arranged to create a 360-degree soundstage, so the little square dock fills a room with a 110 Hz to 20 kHz response that sounds far bigger than its 210 mm footprint.

Docked devices charge whether they are playing or switched off, and the included USB cable syncs an iPod or iPhone with a computer without undocking it. Away from the mains, AAA batteries run the dock for up to 16 hours, and an IR remote controls playback from up to 4.5 metres. A 3.5 mm aux input keeps it useful with laptops, tablets and any other device with a headphone output.

Key Features

• Apple 30-pin dock for iPod and iPhone, charges while docked
• Four Odyssey transducers, 2 x 10 W amplification
• DSP equalisation for a 360-degree soundstage
• USB sync without undocking
• Up to 16 hours on AAA batteries
• IR remote control included
• Aux input for non-Apple sources
• Compact 210 x 210 x 68 mm, 0.7 kg

A note on compatibility

The On Stage IV belongs to the 30-pin era: it docks iPod classic, iPod nano (including G3), iPod touch and iPhones up to the 4S generation directly. Newer Lightning and USB-C devices cannot dock, but they play perfectly well through the aux input, which is how most owners use these docks today, as a small, good-sounding powered speaker for a desk or bedside. For collectors and classic-iPod users, it remains the tidy way to play and charge the device in one place.

Where it fits

Bedside and desk listening, classic iPod collections, and small rooms that need an honest powered speaker. The full specification is in the Additional Information table on this page.