JBL Launches First Lightning-Enabled Speaker Docks

Those who bought an iPhone 5 sacrificed the ability to use the new gadget with their existing speaker docks, thanks to the phone’s smaller Lightning connector. But fret not, tech-savvy music fans.

JBL audio has announced the first wave of Lightning-enabled speaker docks, compatible with the latest iOS devices, including the iPhone 5 , iPad mini, newest iPad, and the latest iPod nano and iPod touch devices. The company released two products: the JBL OnBeat Venue LT (left), a tabletop speaker dock, and the more compact and affordable OnBeat Micro (below).

First up, there’s the $200 Venue LT, which offers 30 watts of amplification and dual full-range drivers for “big sound,” JBL said. The Venue LT is essentially a Lightning-friendly version of JBL’s existing Venue speaker dock.

The device is equipped with Bluetooth, and can be paired with up to eight devices for wireless audio streaming. The device also has a movie button, which activates an extra-wide sound field, perfect for watching films and videos.

The Venue LT actually has a Lightning dock connector on it, so it also charges your device when it’s plugged in. And it won’t just work with the newest iDevices. It also has an auxiliary input, allowing you to plug in “practically any audio device, including an MP3 player, smartphone, tablet or laptop computer,” and get the tunes going, JBL said.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something a little smaller and less expensive, JBL has you covered with the $100 Micro for on-the-go use. The Micro can operate for up to five hours on battery power, and features a USB port for charging other devices while out and about. With the lower price point, however, you won’t get wireless streaming capability, and the dock will won’t work with an iPad.

JBL isn’t the first company to release Lightning-enabled accessories. Belkin earlier this month unveiled a Lightning-enabled car charger and charge-and-sync dock.

By Angela Moscaritolo, PCMag