JBL's Duet II speakers look a little like silver footballs sitting vertically in a tee, but that doesn't mean I want to kick them—for $99.95 (list), they're a pretty solid deal. There's no subwoofer and the drivers are modest, so there's a predictable lack of deep bass response; the overall audio performance, however, is balanced, with nice clarity in the mid-to-high frequency. The speakers look interesting (possibly silly?), and you shouldn't expect any extra features like Bass or Treble controls. The cables are all hardwired, which is an annoyance, but the Duet II fares well up against identically priced competition such as the Genius SP-T1200.

The speakers, which measure 4 inches in diameter and are 10 inches tall, are actually more slender and oblong than a football, and the top end of each is flat. The front panel consists of a non-removable silver cloth grille, while the back panel of each speaker is shiny black plastic. The only control on the entire device is a cheap-feeling plastic wheel, which doubles as the power switch and the volume knob. A tiny green LED lights up behind the right speaker's grille when the system is on.

The aforementioned hardwired cables all stem from the back of the right speaker's base—but thankfully, the two speakers are not hardwired together, as is the case on the Genius SP-T1200. In fact, for hardwired cables, the three lines (for power, connection to PC, and connection to the left speaker) have ample slack, which is rare. Still, if any of the cables ever has an issue, the system is pretty much useless. An included AC adaptor plugs into the jack at the end of the power cable.

While extra features are nonexistent—all you can do is turn it up and down, on and off—the Duet II offers a more pleasant sonic delivery than the Genius SP-T1200. Both pairs distort at high volumes—particularly if the content involves deep bass—but the Duet II does a better job of portraying acoustic low-frequency sounds from orchestras, upright basses, and even electric basses playing higher notes. In the mid-to-high frequency ranges, the Duet II has a crisper, clearer response than the SP-T1200, which can at times sound a bit muddled. The Duet II's distortion issues more or less disappear when deep bass is out of the equation; songs like "Queen Bitch" by David Bowie or Beethoven's Ninth Symphony sounded fantastic at high volumes, but this pair is probably still not ideal for powering your next party.

Both the Genius SP-T1200 and the JBL Duet II are decent budget offerings, ideal for work areas where volumes shouldn't be too high to begin with. Neither has booming low-end—if you want a subwoofer sound on a serious budget, check out the Hercules XPS 2.1 Lounge speakers, which cost $40 less. Nothing in this range will impress an audiophile, but that's hardly the point: If performance matters most to you and $100 is your limit, the Duet II is a worthy option. If a sleek design with touch-panel controls appeals to you more than a slight audio upgrade, the Genius SP-T1200 is worth considering.

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