JBL Horizon 2 review: A charming and functional addition to any room

If you’re anything like me, you set your morning alarm on your phone and then you wake up scrambling to find it just to turn the alarm off. It’s something I’ve gotten used to but when we were asked to review the JBL Horizon 2, waking up became a bit more elegant.

The JBL Horizon 2 is a digital clock that also functions as a Bluetooth speaker and FM radio. It also has a built-in auto-dimming ambient light on the back. I found many things that I liked about this device but one of my favorites would have to be how it looks. With its other offerings, it became quite a useful thing to have around the house,

Design

The JBL Horizon 2 is made up of a lot of interesting parts. As a whole, it undoubtedly looks impressive and its neutral design and colors are great for matching any room decor. The large LCD display is more than sufficient to check the time with just one glance. It does have a mirror finish, though, that’s quite sensitive to smudges.

There are times that the display becomes hard to read when it’s faced with harsh light. It’s best to take this into consideration when looking for the best place for the device in your home.

One of my favorite design aspects of the Horizon 2 is the fabric covering. The texture is quite obvious which gives a great contrast to the smooth mirror finish of the LCD display. The fabric covering also covers the device’s speakers.

Apart from that, another design aspect I love about the Horizon 2 is its built-in ambient light. Peek at the device’s back and you’ll see a large white light with the JBL logo front and center. Despite being quite large, the light emitted is really soft and diffused which gives the room a warm glow. You can turn this light on or off by pushing the top knob down.

The light is also auto-dimming and is soft enough that it doesn’t sting your eyes when you turn it on in a very dark room. (Just don’t look directly at it like I did)

The big knob on top also acts as the snooze button and volume control. On the sides are two buttons in the shape of bells. As you may have guessed, these are to stop the alarms. The Horizon 2 allows two different alarms to be set.

There’s also a Bluetooth connection button, 3.5mm audio jack, frequency scanner, and 3 programmable buttons for your favorite radio stations. The Horizon 2 also comes with a radio antenna and two USB ports for charging.

Performance

The JBL Horizon 2 is equipped with two 1.5-inch full-range drivers which contribute to the fullness of its sound. At its max volume, it’s loud enough to fill a small bedroom or living room.

Quality-wise, you’re getting above average performance with clear mids and highs. I found myself wanting a little more bass every now and then but it was pretty forgivable for the most part.

Quality does drop when you get further away from the device. It’s definitely not the speakers you want to use when watching movies or live concerts, but it’s absolutely perfect to use for background music during dinner parties or while working, for example.

We didn’t get much use from the radio since we’re not radio-heavy listeners but as a Bluetooth speaker, we found no flaws in our time with it. As a room clock, it looks lovely and elegant and the screen is large and clear enough that a quick glance is all you need to see the time.

I do wish though that there was an option to set your own music as an alarm tone but you’re only options are the built-in tone or a radio station.

Creature Feature

In our reviews, The Modern Creatures aims to find special features in a device that makes it stand out — something that gives it an edge over its competitors. Its Creature Feature. And for the JBL Horizon 2, it would have to be its design and multi-functionality.

The JBL Horizon 2 is a beautiful clock and speaker hybrid that’s sure to draw attention. And for those who take in lots of video calls, it’s a nice little addition to your background, too, especially with that nice soft ambient light behind it. Being a digital alarm clock also gave it more function around the house both Kevin and I could benefit from its presence.

Final thoughts

While there may be speakers out there that are better in terms of sound quality, you’re probably going to get the JBL Horizon 2 if you’re looking for a speaker that unifies form and function. As I’ve said earlier, the Horizon 2 is a great addition to any room since its simple and neutral design will fit most decor.

With different connectivity options, you have the freedom to connect to different kinds of devices well. And for those who value radio as well, this speaker clock has got you covered.

The JBL Horizon 2 clock radio is available at JBL retail concept stores nationwide and on its official website. It’s priced at PhP 5,000 with a free JBL Focus 300 with every purchase.

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Changan CS75 Plus review: Your bang-for-the-buck crossover SUV

11/02/2022

The compact SUV category here in the Philippines will have you looking at different models from different carmakers. And while there are a lot of capable vehicles from that list, Changan Motor Philippines, Inc., the official distributor of Changan vehicles in the country, has the CS75 Plus that adds more bang for your buck in value and features.

Who is the Changan CS75 Plus for? We find out.

Exterior

From the moment you lay eyes on the vehicle, you’ll notice the CS75 Plus is large. With a long wheelbase (2710mm) and a wide exterior (1,865mm), we wouldn’t be surprised if people thought this was a full-fledged SUV at first.

The next thing you’ll see is the premium vibe it exudes. The vehicle has these red accents positively highlighting its accents and give the body a sporty look at the same time.

It’s available in blue, black, grey, and white body colors. But this specific colorway further amplifies its subtle yet high-class appearance.

Your eyes will involuntarily gravitate toward its prominent grille at the center flanked by fog lights each in its large concave housing. Meanwhile, it comes with a pair of LED headlamps complete with sporty Daytime Running Lights.

The same sharp styling is found at the back. With its wing-like LED tail lamps and elements evoking that sporty feeling, I see it as a versatile approach between functionality and aesthetics.

The CS75 Plus is fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels which look decent and modestly complement the rest of its exterior. I would appreciate sportier-looking rims, but that’s just me.

Interior

Inside, the company was able to successfully pull off an elegant feel almost everywhere you look. The interior is clad in red leather from the supple and comfortable seats to the side door panels.

Blending with the rest of the elements in black and silver accents, what you get is a contrasting yet sophisticated approach to the interior. The red flavor might not be for everyone, but I personally like it and reminds me of the interior of Mazda in some of its models.

Still carrying out that sporty look from the outside, you get a D-shape steering wheel to allow more moving space, and is decked out with controls for media playback, hands-free calls, and cruise control.

The CS75 Plus employs a 12-inch  infotainment system for navigating through its media playback. Other controls for its vehicle settings are also here so you have to somewhat dig through the UI which, in itself, could potentially be a distraction while driving. But add to that its clunky software and the experience gets a bit more complicated and takes some getting used to.

It’s a shame, really, since you already have an upscale interior and the experience isn’t just the same once you navigate through its head unit.

The hardware is gorgeous, though, as the 12-inch display continues to its 7-inch driver instrumentation cluster. With an all-digital approach, you get a very modern look as the two panels stretch out the dashboard.

Below the air vents is another panel that houses mostly its controls for air conditioning in addition to its engine start/stop button.

Going back to the seats, they provide a really comfortable feeling even during long drives and effectively give support thanks to its side bolsters up front. The leather upholstery also feels very nice to the touch so it’s easy to get snug and comfy as a passenger.

Speaking of passengers, the rear seats provide the same comfort and can fit up to 3 individuals. The middle seat comes with a pull-down armrest for seating two people comfortably. Legroom, as well as the headroom, are both sufficient even for 6-foot passengers.

It comes with space for your stuff measuring in at around 620 liters, but deploy its 60/40 folding rear seats and you can extend that to up to 1,450 liters. Do take note that the second-row seats fold flat so you can really load the vehicle full if needed.

For everyone’s enjoyment on both long and short drives, the CS75 Plus features a panoramic sunroof that lets more light flood into the cabin and can also let fresh air in. My family and I went for a drive on this vehicle and they specifically enjoyed the sunroof as well as the premium red leather seats.

Features

In terms of features, the CS75 Plus has some of the basics covered which is great. It’s equipped with useful features like a 360-degree panoramic camera that shows you the vehicle’s surroundings in more than one way and cruise control for long highways.

It did skip out on Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are standards in a lot of today’s vehicles in this price range. You do get a different option that involves installing a different app to mirror content from the phone to the vehicle — but it’s still no Android Auto, though.

But on top of those, the vehicle also comes with a driver power seat, rear AC vents and USB charger, and a center console that can cool drinks with its own access to AC inside.

As a cherry on top, you also get N95-grade filters for the air conditioning system so that’s a good layer of protection against harmful elements we have today.

Performance and safety

Running the show is a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that puts out 178PS of power at 5,500rpm and 265Nm of torque at 4500rpm. Those are good numbers for everyday driving needs even with weight loaded onto the vehicle. Power is then delivered to the front wheels using a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Smooth and capable were generally the case for day-to-day drives. It’s got good pulling power that can get you a few spots ahead without breaking a sweat and is able to handle even more spirited driving while still maintaining composure.

Helping you accompany your driving style, the vehicle can switch between driving modes namely: Eco, Normal, and Sport. They are accessible through a rotating dial along with the electronic parking brake.

And as self-explanatory as they are, I would say these driving modes can definitely help in providing the right response that you currently need.

Switching to Eco easily puts you in a higher gear to aid in better fuel consumption while putting it on Sport Mode makes the throttle more sensitive and each gear is held longer before shifting up.

The compact SUV does get bouncy, especially on road humps or uneven pavement. But still, ride comfort is above average for a vehicle this size and we have already established its softly-padded seats to be partly responsible for it. But on top of that, noise insulation in the cabin was also very effective even when rolling over potholes.

Fuel economy during my time driving the 5-seater CS75 Plus clocked in at 9.3km/L on combined city and highway driving. It’s decent enough knowing I was on Normal driving mode the entire time and could probably stretch that further if I stay on Eco Mode.

As for its safety features, the CS75 Plus is equipped with a 6-piece airbag system and you also get some of the standards including a Reverse Parking Sensor, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, ABS with EBD, and even Hill Hold Control and Hill Descent Control.

We’d appreciate it if it had more safety offerings like Blind Spot Monitoring or Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, but maybe that’s asking too much for this price point.

Price and final thoughts

Speaking of its price point, the Changan CS75 Plus is available at PhP 1,379,000. For that, you get a fresh and aggressively styled exterior, premium and sophisticated interior, and comfort to ensure you only enjoy the road trip ahead.

It might not have other usual features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and might need its head unit’s software refreshed, but the CS75 Plus delivers in other aspects and satisfyingly makes up for its shortcomings. If you’re looking for a compact SUV that offers versatility in cargo space while looking sleek, the CS75 Plus should be on your list.

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