A soon as you think you're out "they pull you back in!" So it is with the recently anointed iPod Generation as they continue to clog retail shelves with stuff they've gotta have. This time, speakers from JBL and Oregon Scientific take center stage.

Harmon Kardon's JBL On Stage II ($169.95) and the Stylefi iBall wireless speaker system from Oregon Scientific ($249) give iPod cultists the opportunity to blast their music without having to use headphones or attach their players to home stereo systems.

The JBL system packs four small speakers into a small, compact enclosure that can be adapted to "dock" any of the many variations of iPods, including the nano. Its small remote allows you to control it from up to 50 feet away from the unit. Just plug it in, dock your iPod, and play.

The iBall is a bit bigger, boasting three larger speakers and will communicate with your iPod wirelessly from distances up to 100 feet. The docking station can be set up anywhere in the house and you carry the speakers with you from room to room with hardly any loss of audio quality.

Although the sound quality produced by both systems was good, the wailing and rocking sounded a bit better using the JBL speakers, which I expect has to do with their size and enclosure. The surround sound and stereo effects were definitely a lot more discernable and the audio seemed crisper. The iBall produced a bit too much bass, even when the bass was turned down, which tended to muffle the sound.

Also, the remote control is built into the top of the iBall and is not removable. This means you have to keep the speakers accessible so you can control your iPod.

On the other hand, the iBall uses rechargeable batteries so it is completely portable. The On Stage II needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet.

Will the average listener be able to tell the difference? Probably not, because they won't have the advantage of listening to them side-by-side.

That said, here are a few of the feature of both systems:

JBL On Stage II

• Its built-in amplifier delivers 12 watts of power.
• It's compatible with most docking versions of the iPod, including the nano and SG versio ns.
• A stereo mini-jack allows you to connect other MP3 or CD players.
• OnePoint iPod connectors allow you to connect the system to your computer without having to remove the iPod from its docking station.
• Your iPod is constantly being charged while it it's in the docking station, even if the system is turned off.
• Four Odyssey Transducers, computer-optimized equalization and optimized compression topology, combine to give you clean, crisp sound.

Oregon Scientific iBall

• It uses 2.4 gigahertz frequency hopping for wireless communication to avoid interference from other wireless products.
• It boasts an easy-to-read LCD display that shows the time, volume, bass, treble, wireless signal strength, input selection, play/pause status, and battery power.
• It runs for eight hours on a single charge, or you can plug it in.
• The transmitter dock continuously charges the iPod and allows you to download music by attaching it to either the USB or firewire port on your computer.
• It comes with seven iPod adapters. The adapter for the iPod Shuffle must be purchased separately.
• There's an auxiliary audio in mini-plug that allows you to connect any other audio device.
• S-Video and analog stereo line out miniplugs allow you to connect it to other audio/visual components, such as your TV or surround sound system.

More information on both of these systems can be found at www.jbl.com and www.oregonscientific.com.

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