JBL's On Time may be the perfect accessory for the iPod owner who has everything. We think it's a little pricey for what is basically a fancy alarm clock, but it certainly is cool. It may even make it a little easier to get up in the morning.

The On Time is generally easy to use. Set-up is a simple matter of carefully unpacking everything, putting the appropriate iPod adapter into the docking station, putting your iPod into the docking station and plugging everything in. The package includes an FM wire antenna, and you can also connect an external AM antenna if you're so inclined.

A pair of four-way button pads provides access to music (volume up/down, music input and system power) and navigation (menu) controls. There are two separate alarms, in case the first alarm and the snooze button both fail to get you on your feet. You can set the On Time to wake you to your favorite radio station or saved digital audio files.

An AC adapter powers the unit, but it has a backup battery in case of a power failure. The dome light automatically adjusts to the ambient lighting, which is convenient, but we would prefer a way to also adjust the light manually.

Sound quality is good to very good. There is little distortion present in the low- to mid-level frequencies, although there is some bass distortion at high volumes. The speaker design provides a 360-degree audio field, so you can enjoy consistent sound from any location.

The On Time has high appeal for gadget fans, but we'd rather spend another $110 or so and get the Apple iPod Hi-Fi and an inexpensive alarm clock. Still, if you're flush with cash, and looks (and the cool factor) are high on your priority list, the JBL On Time is difficult to resist.

Pros: Stunningly beautiful design, good sound quality, controls are easy to access, docking station serves as both a charging station and a method of syncing your iPod with a computer
Cons: Expensive, no remote, no manual control of dome light, LCD screen can be difficult to read at a distance or from certain angles, sound quality can't compete with other iPod speaker systems

Warranty
1 year