Hands On Review: JLab B-Flex USB Speakers

Futzing with PC speakers is no fun. Figuring out which of those little holes is the proper port, stringing cables around, and figuring out where you're going to put your desktop speakers... only to end up with low-grade audio.

Well, the JLab B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Speaker won't replace all that hassle, but it's an awesome product nonetheless. Designed mainly for laptop use if your integrated speakers don't cut the mustard, the B-Flex slips into a USB port and upgrades your audio immediately. Two largish speaker drivers (with real paper cones inside) sprout from a seven-inch-long flexible stem that can be posed any way you see fit. (This is perfect if your USB ports are in the back of the machine.)

I put the B-Flex to the test and I've been duly impressed with it. The speakers are small but the audio is very crisp and clear, better than my standard desktop speakers by far. The only real flaw with the sound is the bass, which is always a problem with tiny speakers like this. JLab reports the frequency response stretches from 200Hz to 20MHz, but if you expect to use these speakers to lay down some bass to really shake your badonkadonk, you'll be a bit disappointed. The other catch: The left and right speakers are of course right next to each other, so the nuance of music or games that make good use of left and right channels will be lost. (Though with that said, this isn't much better on a notebook's built-in speakers.)

Aside from those minor complaints, I love the B-Flex. It's sturdy, it's reasonably elegant, and the sound is as good as you can expect out of something this small. At less than $40, it's not going to break the bank either. If nothing else, I promise it'll be the best stocking stuffer you buy this year.