JBL's Creature III Speakers Reek Of Alien Endorsement

Your options are pretty close to limitless when it comes to PC speakers, but who could ever forget the original Creatures? You know--those weirdly shaped 2.1 speakers that were quite popular with the Apple crowd in that glistening white color. Now, JBL has decided to milk its hit speaker set for a bit more cash, and the third-generation of 'em have just been announced. Those familiar with the prior Creature sets will be familiar with the design; there are a pair of domed satellites coupled with a like-shaped subwoofer.

We recall previous iterations being a little weak on power and a bit light on details, but let's be honest--even JBL knows that the design is likely to win you over before you ever plug them in. According to the company, this new three-piece set boasts a "more streamlined, airy feel while staying true to its sci-fi roots," and the subwoofer is now "more compact, making it an easy addition to any desk, dorm room or small living space." JBL's design doesn't stop with the shape, as you'll also find touch-sensitive controls and a memory function that recalls the last setting where the volume was left. The speakers are compatible with pretty much any device, and of course, they'll be available exclusively at Apple retail stores and at www.apple.com for $129.99.

The quirky-cool JBL Creature III audio system features the legendary JBL sound quality combined with a funky, futuristic design. Available in black and white, these stylish speakers also glow from the bottom, adding another dimension of geek chic to their eccentric look. The Creature III is a “plug and play” solution that is compatible with Mac and PC platforms, portable music players and gaming consoles. The Creature III delivers a straightforward interconnect technology, which allows for minimal desktop wiring and an effortless user interface.

“Our inspiration for the Creature series was rooted in our weariness with static, six-sided box designs so commonly seen on desktop speaker systems,” said Kurt Solland, vice president of Industrial Design for Harman International’s consumer group. “The idea of a ‘creature’ bubbling next to your desktop with acoustic waveguides that look like face masks gives the system a distinctive personality that our consumers love.”

“Creature fans enjoyed the style of the previous designs and will be excited that the Creature III is back in time for the holidays,” said Christopher M. Dragon, director of Consumer and Field Marketing for Harman International. “The Creature III stays true to Harman International’s longstanding reputation for unbeatable sound quality and forward-thinking designs that create the best experience in music and gaming.”

The JBL Creature III incorporates the latest in Odyssey^® transducer technology and JBL’s heritage of high-quality speaker performance to produce impressive bass response and clear midrange tonality, which those seeking impressive sound can appreciate.

The JBL Creature III has the following product specifications:

Suggested retail: $129.99

• Colors: Black, White
• Input requirement: 1/8" (3.5mm) stereo minijack
• Drivers: 1-5/8" (40mm) in satellites, 3" (75mm) in subwoofer
• Power: satellites – 5 watts each (10% THD+N), subwoofer – 15 watts total (10% THD+N)
• Satellite dimensions: 3" x 3" x 2-3/4" (75mm x 75mm x 70mm)
• Subwoofer dimensions: 9" x 9" x 9" (230mm x 230mm x 230mm)
• Input impedance: >5k ohms
• Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz
• Input sensitivity: 400mV RMS for rated power