JBL Creature Speakers

While true audiophiles will look at you as if you're the creature from another planet if you buy JBL Creature Speakers for yourself or give them as a gift, the three-piece unit is perfectly serviceable in a bedroom or dorm room. JBL Creature Speakers are a definite improvement on most computers' built-in speakers.

But if you want a speaker that will make your iPod sound as good in a room as it does through headphones—and can afford to spend three times as much—hold out for the Bose iDock.

JBL Creature Speakers are, in a word, adorable. In metallic red and with their vaguely priapic shape, the speakers could make a good gift for someone with a whimsical sense of humor who wants a flexible desktop unit that will work with a computer, a Walkman, and an iPod.

Initially, we were stymied in that we couldn't figure out how to turn up the sound. The knobs on the large JBL Creature unit seemed they would suit that purpose. But after glancing at the clear, well-written instructions, we realized there is a touch volume control on one of the smaller twin satellites... and voilá. What came out of them didn't sound like Carnegie Hall... but it didn't sound like the New York City subway system, either. The knobs on the large unit control bass and treble.

We tested JBL's Creature II on both a 60 MB iPod and an iPod Shuffle. Connected to the larger iPod, the Creature's sound was reasonably good and seemed to become warmer and more pleasant to listen to the longer we kept them connected.

While technically compatible, the Creature and the iPod Shuffle did not make such sweet music, unfortunately. An audible buzz could be heard from one of the twin satellites, so that particular combination is not recommended.