Customer reviews from jbl.com
JBL - Jembe 2.0 Entertainment Speaker System (2-Piece) - Black
Average customer rating
3.8
(118 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 118 reviews
5 Stars
66
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
9
2 Stars
7
1 Star
24
69%of customers recommend this product.
(
79 out of
114)
Customer Reviews for JBL - Jembe 2.0 Entertainment Speaker System (2-Piece) - Black
Customer Rating
2
Sound is great. Auto-off is terrible.
on January 14, 2015
Posted by: jjb15
from Ohio, United States
Love the quality of sound. The other reviewers aren't wrong -- the speakers definitely provide a nice depth to all audio. While they're on, I couldn't ask for anything more from a small, stylish set of desktop speakers.
Unfortunately, the auto-off is terrible. Seriously, terrible. Speakers regularly shut off with little predictability. Sometimes it's 30 seconds into a song. Sometimes it's an hour into a movie. And then again 5 minutes later. Then again 20 minutes later. Then again a minute later. Then you can make it through a full Netflix marathon with no issue. Honestly, if it were more predictable it would be less annoying.
It doesn't seem to matter what kind of machine the speakers are plugged into: phone, laptop, desktop, projector. All have the same issue.
I have found that if you jack up the volume of whatever you're watching/listening to as soon as you hear the speakers fading into the shut-down, you can convince them to stay on... for the time being.
A side note: I find it EXTREMELY suspect that a review exists specifically titled about how wonderful the auto-off is. Most people review a product because they'd like to warn others about a problem they've had. Others review because they had some kind of incentive. A very small percentage of users, brand evangelists, review just to talk about how great something is. Is a convenient and well-executed auto-off something that would inspire you to write a review? Even if your experience was better than other reviewers? Suspect.
I received these speakers as a gift. I came to this site looking for suggestions on how to fix the auto-off problem. After seeing that others had the some problem, I hoped that JBL would have some kind of response listed. After seeing an outrageous review about the awesome auto-off, I decided to put in my two cents.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from jbl.comBy Customer Support, January 19, 2015
Believe it or not, the auto on/off is a feature, and certainly should not be an annoyance. The audio on/off feature is based on sound. If the speaker hears an audio signal, it will stay on. Once it stops hearing an audio signal, it will turn off, waiting for the next time it sees a signal.
If the volume on your device (computer, smart phone, etc.) is turned way down, the speakers will automatically turn off because they don't register the signal. Try turning the volume on your device way up, and then control the volume on your speaker. The speakers will stay on, and you will also drastically improve the sonic results.
If the volume on your device (computer, smart phone, etc.) is turned way down, the speakers will automatically turn off because they don't register the signal. Try turning the volume on your device way up, and then control the volume on your speaker. The speakers will stay on, and you will also drastically improve the sonic results.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
1
Completely useless with the audio shut off feature
on January 20, 2015
Posted by: eligirl
from Los Angeles, CA, United States
I was going crazy trying to figure out if I had fiddled with some setting on my computer, because the stupid speakers kept shutting off. Then I looked up these reviews and realize this is an intended feature?? It is the most ill conceived idea I've ever encountered. First of all they take up to 30 seconds to turn themselves on when you start playing anything. I'm an editor, so there are times you don't have audio going in and then the speakers shuts off. I did a remote sound spot session from home and started panicking 'cause the stupid speakers turned themselves off. I'm very glad now know it's the speakers and not me or my computer, but that was 60 dollars wasted.... we should all get our money back!
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
2
Fair sound poor bass responce!
on January 29, 2015
Posted by: Markunder
from Bernville Pa.
I got these about a month ago to play on my pc at work, needles to say I need to keep the volume low in the office so bass will suffer. But having said that, I have a flip 2 for about 6 month now and am very impressed with the sound quality. It has very good bass response for such a small driver so I felt the Jembe's would be just as impressive given their larger size and the fact that they are not battery driven. I'm thinking about returning these and trying the Pebbles.
I have been a long long time JBL lover, my home theater is all JBL. But I'm afraid I can’t recommend these speakers.
I have been a long long time JBL lover, my home theater is all JBL. But I'm afraid I can’t recommend these speakers.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
1
What a Shame !
on March 26, 2015
Posted by: Lionel75
from Paris, France
So poor ! Those speakers are useless with this auto turnoff system. I have followed JBL advice but nothing change. The idea is not bad but the setup is terrible as it automatically turn off after one second without a loud sound.
Ridiculous.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from jbl.comBy Customer Support, Customer Support, March 30, 2015
The Auto On/Off feature is based on audio. If it doesn't hear audio, it will turn off. When it hears audio it will turn on. If you have the volume on your source/device turned down, it will not send enough signal to the speaker to tell it to turn on, or will not send enough audio to tell it to stay on.
In order for the unit to work properly, and to get the best audio quality, the volume on your device should be at maximum volume, or at least at 75%. And the volume should be controlled from the JEMBE. If you do this, you will not have any auto on/off issues, and it will sound much better because the correct level will be sent to the speaker.
In order for the unit to work properly, and to get the best audio quality, the volume on your device should be at maximum volume, or at least at 75%. And the volume should be controlled from the JEMBE. If you do this, you will not have any auto on/off issues, and it will sound much better because the correct level will be sent to the speaker.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
2
just fair
on June 20, 2015
Posted by: Ozzyoz
from mid west
wish i would have known that they shut themselves down. i would not have bought them. like the others have said too, they sound very nice (when they are on and havnt shut themselves down) but the price was sweet, 18.00 shipped
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
1
Terrible!
on July 10, 2015
Posted by: Erin
I bought this a year ago, and used it about twenty times. Then it started to shut off everytime after being on just a few minutes. I just read the reviews by others, and this seems to be a fairly common occurence. Major bummer. Because it had been over a year, the warranty was over and the store would not take it back.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
1
WORST SPEAKERS EVER
on July 21, 2015
Posted by: Moaleus
from Miami, FL, United States
Bought for good reviews but once I turned on, the speakers turned off.
I turned on again and the speakers turned off again.
I turned on again and the speakers turned off again.
I'm tired and will throw on the TRASH.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com
Customer Rating
1
Failed auto-off feature = JUNK
on December 22, 2015
Posted by: shotime
from San Francisco, CA, United States
Bought the speakers 6 months ago and the speaker went off all the time. Got a replacement and still did the same. Then realized a lot of people are complaining about that. Not even worth using as a paper weight.
Written by a customer while visiting jbl.com