The JBL Horizon Hotel is likely a reference to the JBL Horizon Bluetooth Clock Radio that is often found in hotel rooms. This device combines an alarm clock, FM radio, and Bluetooth speaker into one unit. It’s commonly seen in hotels due to its compact design, good sound quality, and multiple functions. It usually has a multi-color LED ambient light and two USB ports for charging devices, which makes it convenient for guests. If you were looking for more details about a hotel or a specific use case related to JBL Horizon, let me know!

A clock radio that drifts, after 1965

With radio stations providing accurate time on their RDS, and with this device being wired to the wall and thus having access to highly accurate 50/60 Hz mains frequency, and with the prevalence of extremely accurate quartz real-time clocks that cost under a Euro to put on a circuit board, you'd expect this clock radio to be able to keep accurate time. It cannot. It drifts very quickly. It drifts so fast that you'll notice it within two weeks.It gets decent reception, the speaker is a bit muffled but gets the job done, the bluetooth Exists, though don't expect anything fancy like aptX HD, and yes there's USB charging ports on the side, though 5W of charging power and a lack of QC negotiation doesn't get you far these days. There's even a CR2032 backup battery for ... MoreWith radio stations providing accurate time on their RDS, and with this device being wired to the wall and thus having access to highly accurate 50/60 Hz mains frequency, and with the prevalence of extremely accurate quartz real-time clocks that cost under a Euro to put on a circuit board, you'd expect this clock radio to be able to keep accurate time. It cannot. It drifts very quickly. It drifts so fast that you'll notice it within two weeks.It gets decent reception, the speaker is a bit muffled but gets the job done, the bluetooth Exists, though don't expect anything fancy like aptX HD, and yes there's USB charging ports on the side, though 5W of charging power and a lack of QC negotiation doesn't get you far these days. There's even a CR2032 backup battery for in case the power goes out. The clock will stay exactly as inaccurate when it comes back on.The light is nice, and you can program separate alarms for the work week and weekend. At this point, those features are ubiquitous, so you're not stuck with this radio for that.There's better, cheaper bluetooth speakers, there's better-sounding radios and there's FAR-better clocks out there. Avoid.

Can't see the time display

I normally consider myself a cautious buyer and generally take time and check out most products that I buy. However, I bought a JBL Horizon alarm clock radio thinking that it’s an alarm clock – what could go wrong.Regrettably, this alarm clock is useless. Basically, in theory it all works but in practice it has one major failing – I can’t use the clock to tell the time most if the night!The clock has an auto dimming feature that makes the display bright during the day so that it can be seen in the daytime brightness. This works well and can easily been seen during the day. It then is supposed to have a dimmed display at night so that it is not too bright.The night display, unfortunately, is very, very dim and as a result it can only be seen from a very narrow ... MoreI normally consider myself a cautious buyer and generally take time and check out most products that I buy. However, I bought a JBL Horizon alarm clock radio thinking that it’s an alarm clock – what could go wrong.Regrettably, this alarm clock is useless. Basically, in theory it all works but in practice it has one major failing – I can’t use the clock to tell the time most if the night!The clock has an auto dimming feature that makes the display bright during the day so that it can be seen in the daytime brightness. This works well and can easily been seen during the day. It then is supposed to have a dimmed display at night so that it is not too bright.The night display, unfortunately, is very, very dim and as a result it can only be seen from a very narrow viewing angle. I have found that at night, the only way I can see the clock display is to pick the clock up and hold it directly in front of my face.Even in the early hours of the day, when the sun is already up, the clock still remains on its night display setting and is impossible to see the display at all. It will finally go to its bright day display if I open the blinds and allow in more sunlight.I see that many people have complained about this feature even to the extent that one user has posted a YouTube video to show how to bypass the auto-dimming feature. Unfortunately, to do this requires disassembling the clock.I have to wonder if any testing went into this clock – surely, they would have given it to some people and let them use it for a few days to get some feedback. It only took me one day to realise how impractical this clock is.This is the first time I have bought a JBL product. Well, I will never forget the name now and can say that this will be the absolute last time I will ever go anywhere near a product that has JBL name on it.For anyone considering this product, I can only recommend that you get something else. This alarm clock radio is an absolute waste.

Display brightness feature has major flaw

Liked the JBL Horizon when I saw it on display at a brightly lit Costco store. Thought it looked amazing. Was purchased to go in my family room. Little did I know that the clock display is almost completely unreadable from across the room in evening lighting levels. The auto diming feature is not adjustable and make the assumption that the clock is sitting near your bed. Not the case, I bought it for a clock in social area of my home for the convenience of having a time piece that would be visible at all times. Long story short, I had to take the front face off the clock and unscrew the display module and soldered a bridge between the light sensor posts. Crazy to have to modify a brand new product straight out of the box. My suggestion would be for JBL to make the ... MoreLiked the JBL Horizon when I saw it on display at a brightly lit Costco store. Thought it looked amazing. Was purchased to go in my family room. Little did I know that the clock display is almost completely unreadable from across the room in evening lighting levels. The auto diming feature is not adjustable and make the assumption that the clock is sitting near your bed. Not the case, I bought it for a clock in social area of my home for the convenience of having a time piece that would be visible at all times. Long story short, I had to take the front face off the clock and unscrew the display module and soldered a bridge between the light sensor posts. Crazy to have to modify a brand new product straight out of the box. My suggestion would be for JBL to make the display brightness adjustable with the auto diming being one option and then offer a scale of brightness settings to override the light sensor.

Great sound and that's about it.

I bought this because it's 1) JBL, 2) it had bluetooth connectivity, and 3) because it had a nightlight.The first problem I encountered was that the display has a reflective coating, making it hard to read unless it's at full brightness. But if you have it on a nightstand with a small lamp like I do, the light sensor isn't adjustable, so the display stays dim. And the lamp lights up the table enough that all you can see when you look at the clock is a reflection of the table. There needs to be a way to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.The second problem I encountered was that the JBL Horizon lacks any form of JBL Connect. I have some JBL Flip3 portable bluetooth speakers, and it would be nice to sync one with the Horizon so that I could have awesome JBL ... MoreI bought this because it's 1) JBL, 2) it had bluetooth connectivity, and 3) because it had a nightlight.The first problem I encountered was that the display has a reflective coating, making it hard to read unless it's at full brightness. But if you have it on a nightstand with a small lamp like I do, the light sensor isn't adjustable, so the display stays dim. And the lamp lights up the table enough that all you can see when you look at the clock is a reflection of the table. There needs to be a way to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor.The second problem I encountered was that the JBL Horizon lacks any form of JBL Connect. I have some JBL Flip3 portable bluetooth speakers, and it would be nice to sync one with the Horizon so that I could have awesome JBL sound coming from both nightstands.The reason I visited the JBL website today was to see if they had upgraded the Horizon to include JBL Connect, or if they were offering an upgraded product that included such connectivity (and an adjustable light sensor).Pros: Design, *most* functionality, features, amazing sound.Cons: Difficult to read display unless at 100% brightness, *zero* ability to pair/sync with another JBL speaker.

HOW DO I HATE THEE, LET ME COUNT THE WAYS

I BOUGHT THIS CLOCK RADIO WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS. I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH ALL MY JBL PRODUCTS IN THE PAST BUT THIS ONE DROPS THE BALL BADLY. EXCEPT FOR ITS GOOD LOOKS AND DUAL ALARMS NOT MUCH TO LIKE. ALL THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT CLOCK RADIO ARE THERE BUT WHOEVER DESIGNED IT SCREWED UP. FIRST THERE IS NO TONE CONTROL. THIS UNIT OVERALL HAS GOOD SOUND BUT THE BASS IS TOO STRONG AND CAUSES THE AMP TO DISTORT EVEN AT LOW VOLUMES. NEXT THE DISPLAYS AUTOMATIC INTENSITY SUCKS. EVEN IN A FULLY LIT ROOM THE DISPLAY DIMS SO EXCESSIVELY YOU CAN'T SEE IT. TO FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ISSUE EVEN WITH THE LIGHTS OFF THE DISPLAY IS SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO PICK THE RADIO UP AND GET IT INCHES FROM MY FACE TO SEE. I HAVE EXCELLENT SIGHT, ITS NOT ME ITS THE RADIOS PROBLEM. NEXT ON THE LIST ... MoreI BOUGHT THIS CLOCK RADIO WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS. I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH ALL MY JBL PRODUCTS IN THE PAST BUT THIS ONE DROPS THE BALL BADLY. EXCEPT FOR ITS GOOD LOOKS AND DUAL ALARMS NOT MUCH TO LIKE. ALL THE MAKINGS OF A GREAT CLOCK RADIO ARE THERE BUT WHOEVER DESIGNED IT SCREWED UP. FIRST THERE IS NO TONE CONTROL. THIS UNIT OVERALL HAS GOOD SOUND BUT THE BASS IS TOO STRONG AND CAUSES THE AMP TO DISTORT EVEN AT LOW VOLUMES. NEXT THE DISPLAYS AUTOMATIC INTENSITY SUCKS. EVEN IN A FULLY LIT ROOM THE DISPLAY DIMS SO EXCESSIVELY YOU CAN'T SEE IT. TO FURTHER EXACERBATE THE ISSUE EVEN WITH THE LIGHTS OFF THE DISPLAY IS SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO PICK THE RADIO UP AND GET IT INCHES FROM MY FACE TO SEE. I HAVE EXCELLENT SIGHT, ITS NOT ME ITS THE RADIOS PROBLEM. NEXT ON THE LIST IS THE SOFT ALARM. I'M A HEAVY SLEEPER, I NEED A RADIO THAT ALARMS AT FULL POWER FROM THE INSTANT IT GOES OFF TO WAKE ME UP. THE SOFT ALARM EVEN IF SET TO REACH MAXIMUM VOLUME DOESN'T WORK FOR ME, ITS SLOW APPROACH TO HIGH CAUSES ME TO JUST ADJUST AND I SLEEP RIGHT THROUGH IT. THEN THERE'S THE POOR ERGONOMICS, MOST OF THE BUTTONS ARE FLUSH AND DIFFICULT TO FIND UNLESS YOU ARE SITTING UPRIGHT NEXT TO THEM. THE TOP OF THE RADIO IS SLOPED AWAY AND DOWNWARD WITH THE PADS ON THE BACK LOWER EDGE SO THAT YOU CAN'T SEE THEM FROM THE FRONT. MAYBE I'M WEIRD BUT I KEEP MY CLOCK RADIO ON THE NIGHT STAND NEXT TO MY BED AND TEND TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS WHILE LAYING DOWN. ON ANOTHER TOPIC WHO EVER HEARD OF A ALARM WITHOUT AN ALARM CANCEL BUTTON? I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE I LOVE THE AMBIENT BACK LIGHT FEATURE. I FAILED TO READ THE REVIEWS PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS AND WOULD HAVE PROBABLY NOT PURCHASED THIS IF I HAD. WHAT REALLY SEEMS RIDICULOUS IS THAT MOST OF WHAT I HAVE FOUND DEFICIENT ARE REOCURRING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR YEARS WITH THIS PRODUCT. MY GOD THEY ARE ON SOFTWARE UPDATE VERSION 26. GIVING US AN OPTION TO TURN OFF THE DIMMING, TURN OFF THE SOFT ALARM AND SOME KIND OF TONE CONTROL ARE JUST SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIXES. THE BUTTONS/PADS COULD BE FIXED BY JUST MOLDING SOME FORM OF TACTILE NUB IN THE RUBBER SKIN OVER THE CONTROLS. THESE ARE SIMPLE AND CHEAP FIXES. SEEING AS THIS RADIO COSTS $100 YOU WOULD EXPECT SOMETHING BETTER FROM A COMPANY AS PRESTIGIOUS AS JBL. NEEDLESS TO SAY I'M SENDING THIS HALF THOUGHT OUT PIECE OF JUNK BACK. I KNOW FOR MANY THESE ISSUES AREN'T DEAL BREAKERS BUT FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS THEY ARE. PLEASE TAKE HEED OF MY REVIEW BEFORE YOU PURCHASE. I JUST WISH SONY HADN'T DISCONTINUED THEIR STEREO ALARM CLOCKS WHICH I HAVE OWNED PREVIOUSLY AND WOULD BUY AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.

Hate this thing!

I bought this clock a few days ago, I was hesitant because the features were not listed on the box. When I began to set it up I felt the instructions were vague and left you to figure some of it out by experimentation. It was frustrating and time consuming. It left me unsure if it was if functioning correctly. Nowhere does it mention that the display dims at night so since it sits across the room I can't read it, making it worthless as a clock. The daytime mode would have been perfect but you can't adjust it. Then there is the alarm, why wake up to music when the volume increases immediately to where it has to be shut off quickly or it's screaming at you? Again no way to adjust it. Having a display I can see at night and waking up listening to FM radio were the two ... MoreI bought this clock a few days ago, I was hesitant because the features were not listed on the box. When I began to set it up I felt the instructions were vague and left you to figure some of it out by experimentation. It was frustrating and time consuming. It left me unsure if it was if functioning correctly. Nowhere does it mention that the display dims at night so since it sits across the room I can't read it, making it worthless as a clock. The daytime mode would have been perfect but you can't adjust it. Then there is the alarm, why wake up to music when the volume increases immediately to where it has to be shut off quickly or it's screaming at you? Again no way to adjust it. Having a display I can see at night and waking up listening to FM radio were the two main features I was looking for. So very disappointed in this product and the lack of description. It's going back to the store!

It's like the designer's never used a clock radio!

To start off with I'll say the sound quality is good - not a surprise from JBL. It goes downhill from there...The buttons are, for the main part, on a flat rubber surface with printed markings. This makes it impossible to "feel" your way round the controls - really important when it's dark or your lying in bed. To make matters worse they are also on the sloped back surface so you either have to get out of bed to see what you're doing or tip the whole thing flat on it's face if you don't want to get out of bed!Has the designer never used a clock radio before??? Have they never heard that "form follows function"??? This one glaring error makes this excuse for a clock radio pitiful. I've put up with it for about a year now and still hate it.Add to that, for the ... MoreTo start off with I'll say the sound quality is good - not a surprise from JBL. It goes downhill from there...The buttons are, for the main part, on a flat rubber surface with printed markings. This makes it impossible to "feel" your way round the controls - really important when it's dark or your lying in bed. To make matters worse they are also on the sloped back surface so you either have to get out of bed to see what you're doing or tip the whole thing flat on it's face if you don't want to get out of bed!Has the designer never used a clock radio before??? Have they never heard that "form follows function"??? This one glaring error makes this excuse for a clock radio pitiful. I've put up with it for about a year now and still hate it.Add to that, for the not-small cost of it, the clock DOESN'T EVEN SET ITSELF! You have to set the time old-school and re-set it when it drifts off time. Even the cheapest model manages to set its own time from the radio signal...Then there's the volume level... Like to drift off to sleep with the radio on quietly? Forget it! The lowest volume is too loud to go to sleep too. How difficult is it to a create a wider range of volumes? Basic errors...What's also annoying is that the USB charging transformer (or whatever's in there) buzzes when you charge your phone. A quiet buzz that gets into your brain as you lie awake wondering why you ever paid money for this piece of disastrous tech.I see JBL are still selling this model on their website - trying to get rid of the last few units that the stores wouldn't stock. They also haven't come up with a new model - this may be because they got their first clock radio SO wrong.AVOID AVOID AVOID AVOID

JBL Horizon

Should have listened to all the reviews. Stupidly, I bought this radio. Everyone was right, you can't read the AUTO darkening display at night. This radio was 2 feet from my face and it was almost impossible to read the display. It also doesn't change the screen brightness until about a minute after you turn on a light. So, you have to wait until the screen brightens to read the display. JBL keeps saying, they will send the reviewers info onto some department for review, but the problem is, nothing has been done to fix this radios issues. Look at the dates on the reviews to verify what I'm saying. To add insult to injury, I had to contact them several times to get my money back. It took weeks to get my account credited. I ended up buying a radio from Australia that ... MoreShould have listened to all the reviews. Stupidly, I bought this radio. Everyone was right, you can't read the AUTO darkening display at night. This radio was 2 feet from my face and it was almost impossible to read the display. It also doesn't change the screen brightness until about a minute after you turn on a light. So, you have to wait until the screen brightens to read the display. JBL keeps saying, they will send the reviewers info onto some department for review, but the problem is, nothing has been done to fix this radios issues. Look at the dates on the reviews to verify what I'm saying. To add insult to injury, I had to contact them several times to get my money back. It took weeks to get my account credited. I ended up buying a radio from Australia that actually works like a clock radio should. If JBL would actually listen to their customers, JBL, ARE YOUR LISTENING ?, then they might actually make this radio worth buying instead of worthless. They will probably say the same thing about this review.

The nemesis of the digital design or...

...revenge of the analog engineerI discovered this product thanks to a friend of mine, who bought it to replace his old radio-clock. He felt in love of the Horizon just after turning it on: wonderful sound reproduction coupled to a cute modern design and small size, meaning excellent WAF. Being a young melomaniac and vacuum amplification addicted, it was impossible to resist...This is the first part of the story, the second starts when he decided to take advantage of the excellent timbre of the new jewel and waking up caressed by the radio notes, as it was used with the sad old crackling alarm-clock.Unfortunately, the Horizon radio alarm can remind more the effect of a siren of a ocean liner than the melodic voice of a mythological siren. And it is impossible ... More...revenge of the analog engineerI discovered this product thanks to a friend of mine, who bought it to replace his old radio-clock. He felt in love of the Horizon just after turning it on: wonderful sound reproduction coupled to a cute modern design and small size, meaning excellent WAF. Being a young melomaniac and vacuum amplification addicted, it was impossible to resist...This is the first part of the story, the second starts when he decided to take advantage of the excellent timbre of the new jewel and waking up caressed by the radio notes, as it was used with the sad old crackling alarm-clock.Unfortunately, the Horizon radio alarm can remind more the effect of a siren of a ocean liner than the melodic voice of a mythological siren. And it is impossible to control his intensity. I'm quite convinced that at this point my friend had to succumb to the fall of the inescapable Wife Acceptance Factor.So, the package box is gone, the return possibility too, a reverse engineering of the firmware allowing to change a couple of parameters in the volume setting routine is out of the economical possibility of my friend, we are now considering an old way solution: open the box and put a resistor in series to the speaker...With best regards to all the "analog" engineers of the JBL old guard...