Introducing the B-Flex: Well, not really. Regular readers will recall that I blogged about the JLab B-Flex a couple of weeks ago; afterwards I contacted JLab and they very kindly consented to send me a review copy so I could check it out in person. The idea is simple: laptop speakers aren't very good. Heck, even some desktop speakers aren't very good, especially if you're stuck with something built into your case. Why not provide an economical solution that's easy to install and easy to carry around that'll give your computer a little sonic boost? At about $40, the B-Flex certainly fits the economical side of the bill, but how about everything else? Read on to find out...

Pros:

• Small, lightweight and portable


• Durable construction


• Very good sound reproduction


• No additional wires required

Cons:

• Connecting end tends to shift a bit when the neck is adjusted


• Impossible to position to get a good stereo image

Installation: Installing the B-Flex could literally not be simpler: take the surprisingly small (the head of the speaker is only 3.25 inches wide and 1.25 inches deep) unit out of its box, look at the instructions, laugh at how easy things are and, if you have Windows, Max OS or Linux, plug the B-Flex into a USB port. Windows recognized the device immediately, installed some drivers and configured everything automatically - within about 30 seconds of taking the B-Flex out of its box, I had music playing.

Using the B-Flex: Adjusting the placement of the twin speakers is pretty easy: just twist the gooseneck around until it's in the right location. The B-Flex has a well-balanced head, so you can adjust the speaker so that it's parallel to a tabletop and it won't tip over under its own weight. I did notice some weakness at the connection point with the computer when I adjusted the neck, but nothing to get too worried about; overall, this gadget is pretty solid and you shouldn't have trouble packing it into a bag and bringing it with you on your travels.

I played some music through the B-Flex and got a much more faithful reproduction than using my laptop speakers only, with a nice bass response and a much rounder sound. It wouldn't be my first choice to play music - I've got other options and the setup of B-Flex doesn't create a good stereo image - but if I was away from home, I'd quite happy to have the B-Flex to plug in. The real test, though, was audio fidelity under noisy circumstances, by far the most frequent use I run into in circumstances where I can't use headphones. To do so, I opened up MLB.tv, fired up a television broadcast and brought the laptop in the kitchen to do dishes while I watched the game.

The results were better than I had expected. At about half volume, quiet enough not to disturb my wife in the next room, there was more enough sound clarity to hear everything properly over the sounds of the running water and clanking dishes. I finished watching the game very pleased with the quality of the sound, if not the quality of the game.

Overall, I'd say that with its $39.95 price tag, the JLabs B-Flex is well worth the money if you're in the market for a set of simple computer speakers. Portable, flexible and lightweight but well made, they're perfect for use with a laptop and can help road warriors with sound enhancement during a presentation or for college students looking to give their music a little oomph during a party.

Company Website: http://www.jlabaudio.com/