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JBL Xtreme review
Editor’s note: this review was updated on March 9, 2021, to add context to the sound quality section. The speaker is also wrapped in a splashproof fabric that gives it a really nice, but we doubt you’ll be holding it most of the time because it’s simply too big. This is something worth paying attention to if you think that you’re going to be carrying the speaker around a lot via the strap, as the new Xtreme 2 has slightly larger metal attachments points. Besides the overall size, the biggest differences you’ll find in design between the Xtreme and the Flip 3 can be found on the bottom of the speaker where it has a hard plastic stand built into it.
Even though I’m sure it can still be oriented vertically, this makes it pretty clear that JBL intends you to place the speaker horizontally while using it. Though it does have a solid connection and we didn’t experience too much skipping when testing out the range, there was a fair amount of stuttering when there was a wall or two in the way but that’s really nothing out of the norm.
The Xtreme is rocking Bluetooth 4.1 but unfortunately doesn’t have any higher quality streaming codecs like aptX, LDAC, or AAC. If none of this made sense to you, learn yourself something new today and read our quick explainer on the importance of Bluetooth codecs and how they affect your music.
That’s still very good considering how loud this thing can get when you max out the volume, which is kind of the point of getting a giant Bluetooth speaker. A good example of this is in The Suffering by Coheed & Cambria which has fairly loud and melodic guitar parts throughout that never make it hard to hear the lead vocals. Hate or Glory by Gesaffelstein is almost impossible to enjoy fully because the already prominent hi-hats towards the end of the song seem to be given a boost that makes them a little painful to the ears.
JBL Xtreme 3 Review
JBL’s latest update to its portable Bluetooth speaker lineup, the Xtreme 3, comes at the right time when outdoor gatherings are the norm. Available in black, blue, or camouflage and measuring 5.4 by 11.8 by 5.3 inches (HWD), the 4.4-pound Xtreme 3 has a cylindrical build with passive radiators on either end.
A large JBL logo is emblazoned on the front face of the speaker, which has wraparound grille and built-in handles for the included removable strap to latch onto.
There are buttons for power, Bluetooth, volume, play/pause (pressing it twice skips forward a track, but there’s no backward navigation), and PartyBoost, which links the Xtreme 3 with other compatible JBL speakers. On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Xtreme 3 delivers powerful low-frequency depth. Callahan’s baritone vocals receive an ideal blend of low-mid richness and high-mid crispness, and the higher-register percussive hits and acoustic strumming get a bright, detailed presence, as well.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives an ideal high-mid presence, allowing its attack to retain its punchiness. Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, get some added low-frequency punch, but not so much that they sound unnatural—the spotlight still belongs to the higher-register brass, strings, and vocals. JBL didn’t do much to mess with the recipe here, and that was wise, as Xtreme 3 earns our Editors’ Choice award for bass lovers looking for a portable, rugged speaker. If this price is a bit high for your budget, consider the $180 JBL Charge 4 or the $250 Sony SRS-XB43, both of which deliver strong audio from smaller, outdoor-friendly frames.
JBL Xtreme 3 4.0 Editors’ Choice See It $379.95 at Amazon MSRP $349.95 Pros Powerful, bass-forward audio with four drivers and dual passive radiators No speakerphone function The Bottom Line JBL’s Xtreme 3 speaker delivers robust bass depth in a rugged, waterproof build ideal for outdoor gatherings.
JBL Xtreme 2 review
On first sight, the JBL Xtreme 2 seems a little brash and out of place – an unashamed boombox in an era of reserved smart speakers dressed in grey fabric. In fact, it’s fair to say that, unless you bought one expecting bass as brazen as its initial appearance, the JBL Xtreme 2 comes as a pleasant surprise. Too large to stash in airline hand luggage for weekend breaks, and perhaps too bold for some living rooms, JBL has not gone for crowd-pleasing neutrality here.
The JBL Xtreme 2 won’t let you talk to Alexa or Google Assistant, just set a button to activate them in the manner of an earphone’s in-line remote. There’s a five dot LED battery indicator on the speaker’s underside, which allows the Xtreme 2 to function as a power bank for your phone via its USB port. The JBL Xtreme 2 is a rough and tumble speaker, and the design suggests it will have the bass response to match. JBL Xtreme 2 tech specs Water resistance IPX7 Battery life 15 hours Bluetooth 4.2 Power 2 x 20W Aux input 3.5mm Dimensions (hwd) 14 x 29 x 13cm Weight 2.4kg The Xtreme 2’s impressive stereo imaging highlights JBL’s aim of providing great audio, pure and simple.
While the Xtreme 2 extends down to the upper 55Hz sub-bass region for realistic-sounding kick drums and bass drops, that kind of juvenile excess just isn’t here. If features such as smart assistant support and multi-room audio are not a must, the JBL Xtreme 2 is a top buy.
JBL Xtreme Review
Some of these speakers may even have features and functionality that make them stand out even more in this plethora of brands and models. The cover and the rubber parts gives it a maritime feel, and it seems to be the perfect speaker to bring on a boat trip. At the back, hidden behind a zipper, you´ll find the inputs for the power supply, AUX in, and dual USB ports for charging external devices.
JBL Xtreme 2 review: minder radicale bas zorgt voor nog beter geluid
Het kamervullende geluid van deze speaker was ook heel behoorlijk afgesteld, al lag er een hoorbare nadruk op de lage tonen. Dat zal overigens wellicht geen toeval zijn geweest: er bestaat tenslotte een behoorlijk grote (overwegend jonge) doelgroep die graag hun bass-heavy muziek ten gehore brengen. De Xtreme 2 kost op het moment van schrijven gemiddeld dezelfde 299 euro die zijn voorganger bij introductie moest opbrengen.
JBL Xtreme review
JBL’s Xtreme isn’t as good at pumping out high fidelity sound as its cousin, the Infinity One, but at that, it’s still a fantastic speaker. JBL’s Xtreme isn’t as good at pumping out high fidelity sound as its cousin, the Infinity One, but at that, it’s still a fantastic speaker.
But even so, JBL’s latest lifts even the smallest details, such as the design language, button layout and the ports, from Infinity’s first portable speaker, which released last year. This cylindrical boombox is wrapped in a slick, uniform sheet of mesh fabric that echoes the more playful look of the UE Boom.
Its dual bass radiators take center stage here, detailed with a slick, spiraled etching and rather subtle brand placement. This adds versatility, making it easy to loop the speaker over your shoulder during a walk or hang it from a tree branch for an outdoor gathering.
The buttons, which are located on its top, cover the usual list of functions found in a modern Bluetooth speaker, with one small surprise in the mix. This speaker is capable of the super-loud playback that you’d expect from its size, which is perfect if you’re trying to pump tunes through a large venue or outdoors. The recipient also reported that, thanks to the noise and echo-cancelling microphone built into the speaker, my voice sounded as if I speaking into a phone.
Connecting to JBL’s mega speaker is simple and the Bluetooth tether is strong, stretching from one end of my apartment to the other without a blip of signal cutout. JBL’s Xtreme offers stellar sound performance and a long-lasting battery to keep the beat going for up to 17 hours, depending on how loud you listen to your music. Candidates like the UE Boom and the TDK Trek Flex offer a similar style and splashproof capabilities, and can act as a speakerphone, too.
However, JBL’s speaker smashes them all with superior sound quality and battery life, coming together to make for a smart purchase, if you have the money.
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