Among the objects arranged on M’s desk in Skyfall, the JBL On Tour XTB speaker is the quietly practical one. It is a compact Bluetooth sound station, black with chrome and silver speakers, set up beside a microphone as a speakerphone for Judi Dench’s M. It was never a glamorous object, and that is the appeal: well-judged desk hardware that simply does its job.
In the film
The speaker sits on M’s desk in her office in Skyfall, paired with a Sony ECM-Z60 microphone as a conference speakerphone setup. It belongs to M’s side of the story rather than to Daniel Craig’s Bond. The version on screen is black with chrome or silver speakers.
The details of the JBL On Tour XTB speaker
Wireless or wired. It connects over Bluetooth to phones, laptops and music players that support the A2DP and AVRCP profiles. It also takes a standard 3.5mm cable, which suits any source without Bluetooth.
Four drivers, 8W a channel. JBL fits four neodymium drivers and a digital amplifier delivering 8 watts per channel, with digital signal processing equalisation. The stated frequency response runs from 100Hz to 20kHz. We would treat it as a speaker for voices and background music rather than for bass.
A speakerphone, too. JBL describes hands-free calling when it is paired with a phone. It has no microphone of its own, so it relies on the handset, which is why a separate microphone sits beside it on M’s desk.
Mains or batteries. It runs from household current (100V to 230V) or from four AA batteries, good for up to five hours of continuous play at normal to high levels, according to JBL’s own figures. A USB port will also charge certain audio devices.
Small and light. It measures 150mm by 65mm by 150mm and weighs 0.6kg, a one-piece unit that asks very little of a desk.
Owning it now
Be clear about what you are buying. This speaker is out of production and found second-hand: it was reviewed by CNET in 2010, and JBL’s own page lists it as sold out. We would not call it the best small speaker you can buy today. We would call it a pleasant, period-correct piece of desk equipment for a man who likes the room M works in.
Finding the right one. It was made in black with black speakers, black with chrome or silver speakers, and white. The film’s version has the chrome or silver speakers, so confirm the finish before you pay. Check that the power adapter is included, as four AA batteries and five hours of play will not suit desk use. Second-hand is the realistic route, so judge condition from clear photographs.
Keep the desk otherwise bare: a lamp, a notebook, nothing that competes.
In the same spirit
These are alternatives, not the speaker on M’s desk, and both are in the live catalogue. If you want a small, tidy speaker beside the lamp:
- Bose SoundLink Revolve Bluetooth Speaker in Black (No Time To Die): a compact Bluetooth speaker with an all-round sound.
- Tivoli Audio Model One Bluetooth Radio (No Time To Die): a wood-cased table radio with Bluetooth, for a warmer desk.
Specifications
| Model | JBL On Tour XTB (JBL item number JBLONTOURXTBBLKE for the black version) |
|---|---|
| Film version | Black with chrome/silver speakers |
| Dimensions | 150mm x 65mm x 150mm (as listed by JBL) |
| Weight | 0.6kg |
| Drivers | Four Odyssey neodymium drivers, 2.1-channel |
| Amplifier | 8W per channel, digital amplification with DSP equalisation |
| Frequency response | 100Hz to 20kHz |
| Connections | Bluetooth (A2DP and AVRCP profiles); 3.5mm stereo input; USB charging port |
| Power | 100V to 230V AC, or four AA batteries (up to five hours of play) |
| RRP | RRP at the time of writing (October 2026): US$249.95, JBL’s listed US MSRP; out of production and shown as sold out on JBL’s site |
Full details are on JBL’s own page for the On Tour XTB.
Questions
Is this the speaker on M’s desk in Skyfall?
Yes. A JBL On Tour XTB appears on M’s desk in Skyfall, next to a Sony ECM-Z60 microphone. The version in the film is black with chrome or silver speakers.
Can you still buy the JBL On Tour XTB?
Not new. It is out of production, and JBL’s own page lists it as sold out, so the realistic route is a second-hand example. Check the finish before you buy.
How does the JBL On Tour XTB connect?
By Bluetooth to devices that support the A2DP and AVRCP profiles, or by a 3.5mm cable into the stereo input. It runs from mains power or from four AA batteries.
How much did the JBL On Tour XTB cost?
The RRP at the time of writing (October 2026) is US$249.95, JBL’s listed US MSRP. The product is sold out on JBL’s site, so current prices depend on the seller.
For more of the gadgets that appear on screen, see our gadgets and electronics pieces, or browse the full list of films.
