Digital Trends

 

Obviously, compared to other alarm clocks, the On Time blows them all completely away. Waking up to music of your choosing can make your morning a lot easier and even fun at times. You’ll seriously be hard pressed to find a better method of waking up in the morning.

 

Sound quality is very good but isn’t as strong as the On Time’s cousin, the JBL Radial. The Radial features a cooler design, a remote for easier use, and a pounding 60-watts of sound to keep you in the groove. So, if you’re considering an iPod-dock but want more power and better features, go with the JBL Radial. Those who decide that an alarm clock with decent sound is good enough for them will be happily pleased with the On Time.

 

Another feature missing from the On Time that would have been nice, though not necessary, is the inclusion of touch-sensitive volume control that the JBL OnStage II dock has. This feature adds to the design of the product and makes volume control a bit easier, but again, it isn’t totally necessary this time around since this is an alarm clock.

 

There’s also the issue of price. $249.99 is the MSRP for JBL’s On Time, which is quite high for an alarm clock that doesn’t give you as much sound and power as the JBL Radial. If JBL merged the Radial and On Time together the price would be justified, but currently, it’s a bit high for most consumers to splurge on.

 

 

If you’re looking for a way to wake up to your own music in the morning rather than the mundane buzz of your current alarm clock, go with the JBL On Time. Though the interface is flawed and could use some reworking, overall it’s a solid sound system that you’ll enjoy using in your home. If you can get past the high price tag, you’ll begin to enjoy waking up in the morning a lot more.