With its Bass Boost feature set to ‘1’, it has a boomy sound profile suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. You can use the Bass Boost feature to add extra thump and rumble to your audio, which may please fans of bass-heavy music genres.
Best outdoor speakers 2021: portable, wireless, waterproof
Whether you genuinely love a podcast in the garden or you’re calmly nudged that way when your nearest and dearest does their online yoga class, grabbing an outdoor Bluetooth speaker is the solution. Listening to music on your bike with a portable speaker is probably a lot safer than wearing headphones, and sticking a playlist on while weeding the lawn surely eases that particular job.
Whatever necessitates your music al fresco, there are plenty of portable outdoor speakers that aren’t phased by a daily dose of mother nature.
All of these relatively dinky models are great for slinging in a bag, but don’t be fooled: there are plenty of high-fidelity options if you want to really level up the sound quality outside. JBL Charge 5 Updated specs and subtle tweaks for JBL’s fifth-generation Charge Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.6 x 9.4cm Power: 30W + 10W tweeter Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v5.1, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: USB-C, USB-A TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £159 View at Amazon £159 View at Richer Sounds £159.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Clearer and more detailed sound + Wider soundstage + Updated dustproofing Reasons to avoid – Nothing at this level Its predecessor carried an IPX7 rating, meaning it could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m, but the IP67-rated Charge 5 builds on that durability by also being fully dustproof.
Thanks in part to a new 10W tweeter and racetrack-shaped driver, the Charge 5 is currently as good a sound as you can get in a portable Bluetooth speaker design for under £200 ($200, AU$300). Award-winner last year – and if all you want is a portable outdoorsy Bluetooth speaker that sounds as good as £100 can buy, you’ll still be hard-pressed to better the Flip 5. The new A1 supports Qualcomm’s latest aptX Adaptive Bluetooth 5.1 codec, there’s an IP67 rating for water and dust ingress, and Alexa is here – despite the fact that it’s Bluetooth-only. Throw in its classy, well made design, easy to use operation and the bonus of Alexa, and you’re looking at a Bluetooth speaker sequel that has very much been worth the wait. JBL Xtreme 3 JBL’s newest rugged wireless speaker serves up a sonic surprise Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 13.9 x 29.8 x 13.4cm Power: 100W Features: Bluetooth v5.1, PartyBoost for multiple connections to PartBoost enabled JBL speakers, IP67 rated Connections: 3.5mm, USB-C, USB-A out TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £279 View at Amazon £299 View at Richer Sounds £299.99 View at argos.co.uk Reasons to buy + Rugged build + Impressive detail and dynamics + Strong sense of timing Reasons to avoid – No smart features – No hands-free for phone calls Yes, it’s rugged, it’s IP67 dust- and waterproof certified and you’d be forgiven for thinking at first glance that it might be more preoccupied with the amount of bass it’s producing rather than musical quality.
The JBL Xtreme 3 gained five stars across the board during our rigorous in-house testing, never appearing out of its depth no matter how complicated the musical arrangement. The 13-hour battery life is enough for any al-fresco extravaganza, while an IP67 rating means it won’t freak out if you drop it in a pool or leave it out at the beach.
Given that it costs around £89 (and you may get it cheaper owing to its relative age), the Wonderboom 2 is still a near-perfect party speaker and ideal for outdoor excursions. JBL Charge 4 A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 22 x 9.5 x 9.3 Power: 30W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, power bank, voice assistant integration Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Check Amazon 148 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Rugged and water resistant + USB port for charging + Great sound quality Reasons to avoid – Perhaps too subtle for some Tribit Stormbox Micro A fun and bubbly Bluetooth speaker that’s serious when it comes to sound Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 9.8 x 9.8 x 3.5cm Power: 9W Features: water/dustproof, Bluetooth 5.0, stereo-pairing mode Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £42.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Mature, musical sound + Surprisingly weighty bass + USB-C charger Reasons to avoid – Short battery life Although a speaker of such dimensions is obviously limited in terms of bass weight, it does remarkably well; close your eyes while listening and you’ll picture a bigger product.
Take note, Ultimate Ears: a little-known brand called Tribit Audio has produced a budget belter of a Bluetooth speaker. As you might have twigged, it features a gargantuan 6000mAh battery – good for 20 hours playback and capable of charging dying smart devices via USB. Tivoli Andiamo Stylish speaker that sounds as good as it looks Specifications Battery life: 20hr Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 5.5 x 13.5 x 5.5 Features: Bluetooth 3.0 Power: 1 x 20W full-range driver TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £184 View at Amazon £189 View at Peter Tyson 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Fast, agile, musical sound + Premium feel and build Reasons to avoid – Not much at this price It’s smallest speaker, the Andiamo (Italian for ‘let’s go’) makes up for its lack of frills with its sonic ability, Bang & Olufsen-esque styling and durable aluminium casing. JBL Link Portable For a great, affordable, durable home smart speaker, you’ll be hard-pushed to find a product that can match JBL’s Link Portable Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 17 x 8.8 x 8.8 Power: 20W Features: waterproof, Bluetooth v4.2, Google Assistant built-in, Chromecast, AirPlay 2, music over wi-fi Connections: 3.5 mm stereo TODAY’S BEST DEALS £139.99 View at Acer UK Check Amazon Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Packed with features + Premium design Reasons to avoid – No JBL Connect support – Fussy over placement JBL Xtreme 2 A stylish spin on a waterproof boombox Specifications Battery life: 15hr Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 13.6 x 28.8 x 13.2 Features: Bluetooth V4.2, IPX7 waterproof, power bank Power: 2 x 20W TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime £241.90 View at Amazon 8 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Clean, clear sound + Balanced bass + Solid design Reasons to avoid – Chunky proportions – No multiroom
But don’t be fooled by the “Xtreme” branding: this speaker sounds controlled and grown-up, offering crisp treble and a refined soundstage. JBL Go 3 JBL’s newest soap-sized speaker sounds good – but the finish and battery life won’t wash with today’s class leaders Specifications Dimensions: HxWxD (cm): 8.8 x 7.5 x 4.1 Power: 4W Features: Water/dustproof IP67, Bluetooth 5.1 Connections: USB-C TODAY’S BEST DEALS £29.99 View at O2 Mobiles £34 View at Richer Sounds Prime £34.99 View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Sensible treble + Fuller bass + More volume Reasons to avoid – Poor battery life – Not very durable finish
Which JBL speaker should you buy? Flip 6, Charge 5, Xtreme 3, Link Portable
Bluetooth speakers and tunes are like fish and chips, Netflix and chilling, ballroom dancing and sequins: they just go together. These often inexpensive sonic boxes turn everyone’s phone into a sound system small enough to whisk away on your next adventure. Add to this the fact that many models are waterproof, (making them ideal for the beach or pool) and, all things considered, you really have to take one of these little Bobby Dazzlers along for the ride.
Generally speaking, the more you pay, the bigger the battery, giving you not only more time between recharges, but also the potential to juice up your phone or tablet directly from the speaker itself.
But considering its predecessor scored five stars in our JBL Flip 5 review, we’re expecting great things.) That means it has the same waterproof rating as the Flip 5 (surviving full submersion in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes), while also being completely dust-tight.
And it has the same PartyBoost feature (which lets you wirelessly pair it with other JBL speakers – including the Flip 5 – for a louder sound) and same 12-hour battery life. The Flip 6 comes in Dusty Pink, Grey Stone, River Teal, Fiesta Red, Ocean Blue, Midnight Black, Steel White, Forest Green and Squad. Like its predecessor, it doubles as a portable battery pack, charging up your smartphone or tablet – the clue’s in the name. The exterior has also been overhauled: the ends of its barrel-like bodywork boast a slightly more robust rubberised reinforcement, while the speaker itself is a whole 1mm taller, 2mm deeper, 3mm wider and 5g heavier than its older brother. You can either sync them to all play the same song, or split it so one speaker handles the left channel and one the right, for a greater sense of scale. Two smartphones or tablets can connect wirelessly to the Charge 5 at once, so you can share it with a friend (as long as they have a good music taste) and it comes in plenty of colours.
Behind the grille are two 7cm woofers for low frequencies and two 20mm tweeters for the highs, while at either end of the speaker you’ll find a chunky passive bass radiator that pulses enthusiastically along with every bassline. The fact they’re completely sealed around the edges, combined with the resilient exterior material means that, should the Xtreme 3 somehow find itself in the middle of a swimming pool or sandstorm, it should emerge unscathed. Just press the button, and you can summon either Amazon’s Alexa or Google Assistant, much like you can with your headphones’ in-line remote. There’s Bluetooth 5.1 (compared to 4.2 on the Xtreme 2) but no wi-fi, so you can’t stream Spotify or Tidal without going through your phone.
JBL PartyBoost comes as standard (the Xtreme 2 has Connect+, so can’t pair with its successor), as does a 10,000mAh battery that’s good for 15 hours before needing a charge. The Xtreme 3 has more features than the Charge 5, and that carry handle is a great addition to music lovers on the move.
These are smart speakers with access to Google Assistant, but like JBL’s other devices they are waterproof and have a rechargeable battery – the Link Portable even boasts a charging cradle in the box. It will survive being submerged in water for up to 30 minutes, so it’s more than qualified to accompany you to the beach or pool (or, more likely, a downpour in the middle of a barbecue).
In the bass department, there’s plenty of low-end rumble to trouble the neighbours, coupled with a healthy dose of warmth and stability. There are new reinforced rubber panels to protect the device, and the Go 2’s 3.5mm port for wired listening and the mic for speakerphone duties have both been nixed.
The 15 Best JBL Speakers in 2021 – Bass Head Speakers
These speakers are designed to deliver crystal clear sound with deep bass, and are perfect for home listening or for outdoor parties. Furthermore, this speaker is completely IPX7 waterproof and is perfect for pool and beach parties, and comes with a massive built-in battery that delivers up to 24 hours of playtime on a single charge.
This speaker sounds exceptionally good for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres with a tonne of bass response.
This speaker is designed like a tank with full waterproof covering, and is equipped with optimized long excursive drivers and tweeters for exceptionally clear sound performance. With the addition of a new tweeter, it is a completely different beast from the previous generations of JBL speakers and delivers crystal clear sound performance at any volume level. The sound quality stays consistent through and does not roll off even at lower volume levels, while the bass response feels tight and well-defined. This speaker is designed like a tank, and is IP67 waterproof and dustproof which means that it can be exposed to virtually all the outdoor elements without any issues. The volume output and bass that you get from this speaker feels almost like the JBL Boombox, and it comes with a new additional separate tweeter for crisper, more defined vocals and midranges.
Furthermore, this speaker comes with a new and improved battery that delivers up to 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, making it ideal for large parties and events. This speaker is designed to deliver powerful JBL signature pro sound with crystal clear midrange and a lot of bass response.
This speaker is equipped with four drivers and two JBL bass radiators which deliver dynamic and immersive sound performance with plenty of detail. If you are looking for a JBL speaker with plenty of power to drive large parties or for high-performance music listening, the Xtreme 3 will definitely deliver.
We also liked the PartyBoost feature that allows you to connect more Xtreme 3 speakers together without using the app to create a much wider listening soundstage. The entire speaker is built like a tank and has a full rugged durable design with wire mesh outer coating.
This speaker produces way more bass and volume than expected, and is great for listening to EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres.
To top it off, this speaker is IP67 waterproof and designed to be fully durable, allowing you to take it virtually anywhere outdoors and still get superb sound performance.
Its hands down the best JBL speaker designed for car audio and deliver a tonne of bass and crisp sound performance. The JBL BassPro Go comes is designed as both a hybrid subwoofer and Bluetooth speaker for ultimate sound performance.
The sound also feels full-range; you can get the crisp highs, nice smooth midranges and punchy tight bass that you would expect from a JBL speaker. It has a unique hybrid subwoofer design and delivers really clean audio performance with good bass.
The bass on this speaker is superb and hits really hard and low, and is a great addition to your car factory sound system.
It is also designed to deliver powerful JBL signature sound performance in every direction with its 360 degree speaker array. Furthermore, the JBL Pulse 4 is designed to deliver up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge with its built-in battery life. The highs and midranges are clean and well-defined, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sound performance at max volume levels with virtually no distortion.
We also liked the fact that the JBL Pulse 4 comes equipped a built-in battery that delivers up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge. It’s the perfect speaker with the right combination of durability, sound performance and party LED lights that makes the Pulse 4 outstanding. This speaker is great for EDM, rock and hip-hop music genres and does not distort even when you push it to maximum volume. Apart from its massive sound system, the JBL PartyBox 300 comes equipped with full panel lightning effect to create a captivating light show for your audience with a visually stunning experience.
The speaker supports full wireless Bluetooth streaming and also comes with a portable rechargeable battery that delivers an incredible 24 hours of playtime. The Partybox 300 also doubles as a portable PA system, and comes equipped with a guitar plug in and mic in for you to take the stage.
The bass hits very hard and sounds punchy, making it ideal for outdoor parties and gatherings where people can dance to the beat of the music. This speaker delivers really nice and accurate sound even at low-volume levels – the bass remains clean and well-defined.
The full panel LED lighting is also adds a really cool effect to the sound and is great for parties or yoga classes.
It’s a really powerful speaker for parties and outdoor gatherings where you can blast music and enjoy really clean sound performance with deep bass. We also liked the fact that it comes with a built-in rechargeable battery, or can be connected to an AC power output while playing music. The JBL Professional IRX is a powered portable Bluetooth speaker designed for massive sound output.
This speaker is primarily designed for concerts and as an outdoor PA sound system capable of delivering massive volume output and crystal clear vocals. Apart from its built-in PA functions, the IRX series speaker also pairs and streams audio from any Bluetooth device.
We also liked the fact that this speaker comes equipped with four real-world EQ presets which optimizes the sound performance easily for a wide range of applications.
This speaker delivers up to 12 hours of playtime on a single charge with its built-in rechargeable battery, and is great for outdoor parties or concerts.
The JBL Partybox 110 delivers really good sound performance and is consistently well-balanced across all volume levels. The highs and midranges are crisp and clear, and we thoroughly enjoyed the sound performance of this speaker even at max volume levels.
To counteract this, you can use the JBL app to adjust the EQ settings to get much better sounding performance at lower volume levels. It comes with a built-in rechargeable battery that delivers a good 12 hours of playtime on a single charge, and is also iPX4 splashproof so you can bring it to the pool or by the beach without any issues.
The sound performance on the Partybox 110 is exceptionally good – clean highs, crisp midranges and a solid all-round lower bass response. These are designed as JBL104 reference monitors which are compatible with most desktop and laptop computers, as well as for professional home studio recording.
The speakers are highly versatile, and accepts wireless Bluetooth, aux, RCA TRS or a combination of any of these inputs. It features three sets of inputs which allow connection with either your professional recording equipment, personal music players or smartphone devices.
If you are looking for monitor speakers that can pick out every single detail in the music, the JBL Professional 1 Series 104BTs are definitely a great choice. The 104BTs are designed primarily for musicians, producers, vloggers and professional sound engineers – and it shows in the quality and build of this speaker.
JBL also put a lot of effort into designing the speakers – with a proprietary coaxial driver which combines a 4.5-inch woofer and 0.75 inch soft dome tweeter for transparency and a wider soundstage. They come equipped with JBL’s proprietary coaxial driver which combines a 4.5 inch woofer and 0.75 soft dome tweeter for transparency and better soundstage.
This is a professional grade speaker that’s designed for live band performance and outdoor PA sound systems. The EON615 also features JBL’s proprietary waveguide technology which optimizes sound performance for each individual component inside the speaker.
It’s a professional two-way powered reinforcement speaker that has plenty of volume and bass, and can really boost the overall sound performance in concerts and outdoor events. The speaker sound performance is crisp and crystal clear; you get very nice midranges, smooth vocals and powerful bass response.
Overall, it’s definitely one of the best JBL speakers with the loudest sound performance and we highly recommend the EON615 for musicians and live concerts. The PartyBox 710 comes with massive dual 2.75” tweeters and 8” woofers paired with its tuned bass reflex port to deliver superb audio performance.
Furthermore, the PartyBox 710 comes with party lights that sync to the beat of your music, providing flashing club patterns and strobes for an added ambient effect. At full volume, the PartyBox 710 delivers massive sound performance without any hint of distortion – it remains crystal clear and you get crisp highs and clean vocals.
It is powerful enough to move deep notes and makes EDM music come alive with its super bass output. You can also control the full panel lightning via the PartyBox app which is useful for creating visual experiences while listening to music.
In addition the sound performance, the PartyBox app also has useul features for you to customize the color patterns of the light show and sync together with the beat of the music.
The JBL Clip 4 is designed as a portable compact speaker with rich audio sound performance.
In terms of sound performance, the Clip 4 goes a touch lower with more powerful bass, cleaner midranges and crisp highs. Although you do get a hint of distortion when turned up to maximum volume, the Clip 4 still delivers pretty clear and full-range sound performance. The Clip 4 laos comes with a Type C USB cable, quick start guide and safety sheet for easy reference. The Clip 4 is probably the most portable JBL speaker around that is fully waterproof and dustproof, and can be exposed to the outdoor elements without any issues.
The sound performance is crisp and clear, and it does deliver some nice beats and punchy bass despite its super compact size. We also liked the fact that the JBL GO 3 is IP67 waterproof and portable enough to be brough anywhere, and also comes with a built-in battery that delivers an impressive 5 hours of playtime on a single charge. The speaker has a nice output wattage of 4.2 watts, and is loud enough to fill a small room with crisp sound. It is essentially a versatile mutli-purpose speaker which you can use to play FM radio, stream music from your phone or even hook up to bicycle handle bars.
It delivers really nice highs and decent vocal performance, but do bear in mind that this speaker is relatively small and power output may be limited. It delivers clear vocals, nice midranges and some punchy notes which really enhances the bike riding experience.
The Best Outdoor Speakers for 2021
There’s a seemingly endless supply of portable Bluetooth speakers out there, most of which will work just fine after being stowed in your luggage and pulled out for use in your hotel room. The number range for solids spans from zero (no protection) to six (dustproof), and for liquids it’s zero to eight (waterproof and submersible beyond one meter for extended time periods).
If protection against dust or sand is crucial (good for trips to the beach), you’ll want to go for a speaker that actually lists a numeral rather than an X. If a manufacturer neglects to list a speaker’s IP rating but makes a claim of a water-resistant design, you can probably assume that it can handle rain, sweat, and minor splashes, as well as a quick rinse in the sink now and then. It sounds like a gimmick that shouldn’t be effective, but some manufacturers have worked magic and manage to pump out rich bass response from fairly small speakers. These modes tend to dial up the treble to make up for the lack of reflective surfaces when you’re sitting in the middle of a field or forest.
The walls in your kitchen or office do, indeed, perform a function in transmitting audio to your ears, and without them in the picture, high frequencies in particular can sound dulled, especially if you’re not terribly close to the speaker. And it’s not a bad approach—keep in mind that if your left and right drivers aren’t farther apart than your ears, you’re not likely to hear much stereo separation unless they’re angled to play off a room’s surfaces.
Many of these extra features, along with drivers that pump out big bass at high volumes, come at the cost of battery life.
But keep in mind these are estimates, and manufacturers will often list a higher battery life based on the assumption that you’ll be listening at modest volume levels.
You can argue that, beyond a strong IP rating and solid audio performance, a quality outdoor speaker needn’t have a bunch of extra features. Plenty of outdoor speakers have a threaded screw mount for tripods, or for attaching to bikes or action camera gear, for instance.
The top end of this price range will get you reasonably good bass response, and typically, the speaker will be able to transmit stereo audio. The lower end of this price range will usually feature smaller speakers, often mono, and few of them will have much low-end response to offer.
Best waterproof speakers 2021: the top outdoor speakers for any budget
The best outdoor waterproof speakers can protect the circuitry from splashes, rain and water-based wear such as being dropped in puddles or pools. And while we’re sure you most likely won’t be listening to your tunes underwater (although no judging from us if you do), the rating means that your speaker will be protected from sudden splashes or downpours. While these outdoor speakers are designed with waterproofing in mind, that also means they’re incredibly robust, and impressively resistant to wear and tear. The best speakers still need to offer solid feature sets, so expect more than just build quality and safety ratings from our picks below.
Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 2 The best portable waterproof speaker Specifications Weight: 0.93 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: 80Hz – 20kHz Drivers: Two 40mm active drivers, two 46 x 65mm passive radiators NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Dell Prime View at Amazon View at Walmart 5 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Great sound for its size + IP67 dustproof/waterproof rating + 30% better battery life than its predecessor Reasons to avoid – Restrictive soundstage for some tracks Sonos Roam The best waterproof speaker for indoors and out Specifications Weight: 0.95 pounds Battery life: 10 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: N/A Drivers: One tweeter, one mid-woofer NFC: Yes Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes (USB-C) TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Crutchfield View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Powerful audio performance + Easily portable design Reasons to avoid – Fairly pricey compared to others on the list – Bass can be overwhelming
The Sonos Roam is our pick for the best Bluetooth speaker on the planet, and with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating, it can handle the great outdoors with ease. The mini Sonos speaker boasts a powerful sound, rugged design, excellent connectivity features, and smart home control. A bass-heavy audio performance makes it ideal for use outdoors, while a clever Automatic Switching feature means it’s easily used indoors, too – though audiophiles may dislike the overwhelming low frequencies and rhythmic handling.
JBL Flip 5 A fun, no-frills waterproof speaker Specifications Weight: 1.2 pounds Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz Drivers: 40mm NFC: No Bluetooth version: 4.2 Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Sweetwater Sound Reasons to buy + Engaging, entertaining sound + Easy to use compared to others on the list Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm input – No mic for hands-free calls
JBL’s Flip 5 is a simple soul with Bluetooth-only playback and modest features, but if you desire a rugged, great-sounding portable speaker and can sacrifice voice control or hands-free call functionality, you won’t be disappointed. Anker Soundcore Flare 2 The best budget Bluetooth speaker Specifications Weight: 1.29 pounds Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: 20m / 66ft Frequency response: N/A Drivers: Dual drivers and passive radiators NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Low Stock View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Great sound quality + Speakerphone feature + IPX7 water-resistant Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm AUX jack
This is a speaker that can get loud and not distort at higher volumes; be light enough to carry on the move but remain durable enough to tumble in a bag unprotected. It’s waterproof as well as dust-proof, and has a one-touch mix button that lets you pull up your favorite playlists without needing to pick up your smartphone.
There are certainly more detailed outdoor speakers out there (see: Bowers and Wilkins Zeppelin down below), but at a price that’s relatively affordable to all, the UE Boom 3 hits all the right notes for the third year in a row. Ultimate Ears Megablast The best outdoor speaker for battery life Specifications Weight: 1.93 pounds Battery life: 20 hours Wireless range: 100+ feet Frequency response: 65Hz – 20kHz Drivers: Two 2” drivers and two 2” x 4” passive radiators NFC: Yes Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS Prime View at Amazon Prime Low Stock View at Amazon View at Walmart 1 Amazon customer review ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Convenient Alexa integration + Bigger sound, better battery Reasons to avoid – Expensive compared to rivals – Charging dock sold separately
Bass is stronger and richer than its smaller UE Boom 3 and Wonderboom 2 brothers, and this is the speaker for anybody who wants to really blare their music at a party. For the money, you get an outdoor speaker that sound great, is tough as nails, acts as a charger for your phone, and lasts all day. JBL Boombox 2 The best waterproof party speaker Specifications Weight: 13 pounds Battery life: 24 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: 50Hz – 20kHz Drivers: N/A NFC: N/A Aux-in: Yes USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart Prime View at Amazon View at Harman Reasons to buy + Loud, distortion-free sound + IPX7 water-resistant + Great 24-hour battery life Reasons to avoid – Expensive compared to rivals – No smartphone charging It’s a hefty tag to pay for a pretty one-dimensional product, but if you need an outdoor-ready speaker for a family gathering and don’t care about hi-res audio, the JBL Boombox 2 has you covered.
Tribit XSound Go This budget outdoor speaker has no right to sound this good Specifications Weight: 0.83 pounds Battery life: Up to 24 hours Wireless range: 30m or 100 ft Frequency response: 85 – 20,000 Hz Drivers: N/A NFC: No Aux-in: Yes USB charging: No TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at Walmart View at Best Buy Low Stock View at Walmart 20 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Expansive sound + Excellent battery life Reasons to avoid – Mid-forward sound – Charging takes a long time compared to rivals Thankfully, that adage has never been less applicable: the speaker gets loud enough to fill up a medium-sized room, and at full volume, there’s only a little distortion on the highs.
Braven Stryde 360 A versatile, weatherproof speaker at an affordable price Specifications Weight: N/A Battery life: 12 hours Wireless range: N/A Frequency response: N/A Drivers: 2 x full range driver, 2 x passive radiator NFC: No Aux-in: No USB charging: Yes TODAY’S BEST DEALS View at invisibleSHIELD Prime View at Amazon 286 Amazon customer reviews ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ Reasons to buy + Syncs with a second speaker + Great price-to-performance ratio Reasons to avoid – No 3.5mm aux jack – Average battery life compared to rivals Waterproof is the better of the two, as it usually carries an IP67 rating that means it can withstand to float in around a meter of water for a half-hour before it bites the dust.
Water-resistant, on the other hand, means it could survive a splash or two, but it’s not the kind of thing you’d just want to casually throw in the pool.
The 8 Best JBL Speakers of 2021
The JBL Jr Pop may need to be charged a bit more than your typical Bluetooth speaker, but its tough build and playful design still make it a clear winner for kids. The PartyBox has an IPX4 rating, which means it can withstand splashes and spills and won’t get ruined by an unexpected rain shower.
With 18 hours of battery life and an included power cord, you don’t have to worry about running out of juice.
The built-in light show feature is an added bonus that provides some extra ambiance while the music plays. Its customizable light shows automatically sync up with your music, displaying a brilliant array of colors on all sides of the device. Just choose a theme in the JBL app or create your own lighting sequence from scratch, and you instantly have a centerpiece for your room.
You can even connect it to another JBL speaker using the PartyBoost feature to enjoy stereo sound (or twice the light show, if you happen to have a second Pulse 4). Just note that the internet-enabled smart features will not work if it goes out of range of a Wi-Fi signal—at that point it would behave like a regular Bluetooth speaker.
If you’re looking for something a little more high-tech or hands-free, the Link Portable adds some fun new features to a classic JBL speaker design. There are two metal rings built into the top of the speaker and a fabric strap in the box, allowing you to carry it over your shoulder or across your back like a bag. If you don’t mind charging up every night, then the Go 3 is a durable and fun little speaker that won’t break the bank. With an affordable price tag, ultra-compact design, and solid audio performance, the JBL Go 3 lets you take your music everywhere.
That being said, the IPX7 waterproof rating makes it an excellent poolside or outdoor party speaker, and the battery lasts for a full 24 hours between chargers so you won’t need to bring along a charging cord. Bluetooth 5.0 technology supports a stable connection to your music streaming device and lets you pair the Boombox 2 with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers (if you decide you need even more audio immersion).
Available in a dozen different colors and prints, this speaker can be oriented both vertically and horizontally, delivering room-filling sound with powerful bass.
Final Verdict Our top pick is the versatile JBL Flip 5, which delivers rich sound in a durable and portable design.
If you really want the cream of the crop (and have extra money to spend), then we recommend the Boombox 2 for its huge volume and long battery life. Also, some single speakers provide enough bass as standalone options that an additional woofer isn’t required.
The brand is known for making speakers with a strong bass response, so they’re a great choice for people who listen to bass-driven music. JBL makes lots of interesting travel speakers that include clips, carrying handles, and straps for easy portability or actual on-the-go listening while hiking or cycling. If you want powerful sound and don’t need to transport your speaker very far, you may want to look into something bigger and heavier—JBL has a few models that trade portability for premium audio quality and extra features like Wi-Fi connectivity and charging ports. Subpar battery life is frustratingly common with cheaper wireless devices, and it can really take the fun out of a new speaker. Syncing features can be lots of fun because they allow you to quickly create a multi-speaker setup, but there are restrictions about which speaker models are compatible with each other.
Best wireless JBL speakers
Still, its 20-hour battery life is sure to keep the party going and Bluetooth 5.1 will maintain a strong connection between your phone and the speaker. In addition to all the standard features a wireless JBL speaker offers, the Pulse 4 has a whole-body LED light display, which allows it to put on a bit of a show for you while you listen You also get an upgraded driver system that reproduces louder bass and should sound good for most scenarios.
Unfortunately, the JBL Flip 5 lacks a microphone but it retains the beloved passive bass radiators and woven speaker cover.
This tiny speaker is still IPX7 waterproof and has a new control system that backlights the power and Bluetooth pairing buttons. You don’t get any high-quality Bluetooth codecs here, which is a real shame considering how it also lacks a headphone jack. This speaker isn’t cheap but it’s a great portable party powerhouse, with two stands on the bottom to set it up properly on a table. This uses Bluetooth 4.2 firmware and only supports SBC streaming, so you won’t get any high-quality audio playback through this.
It’s not going to compete with the Xtreme 2, nor is it going to make you forget about the Charge or Flip—sometimes you don’t have a ton of money and need something to fill the void now. In fact, JBL even has a line of much larger party speakers geared for significant increases in output and cost.
While they’re a lot bigger and more powerful than all the speakers on this list, they also have a few interesting features like lights, microphone/guitar inputs, DJ sampling pads, and more. Additionally, this list doesn’t cover studio monitors because get this: wireless speakers aren’t the right tool for the job.
This means that they can be fully submerged in water one meter deep for up to 30 minutes, making them ideal for summer activities or taking in the shower. Limit: Device max tilt of 60° from sprays IPX4 ✓ Splashes, omnidirectional IPX5 ✓ Water jets (12.5 L/min)
Editor’s note: Sara tested a JBL Flip 4’s IPX7 rating by submerging it in a pool for about 10 seconds, and it came out broken.
If you’ve got a vision of yourself creating a surround sound outdoor party with your wireless JBL speakers, make sure they play nice with one another.
For Black Friday 2021, many JBL speakers are discounted up to 55% off the original price through Amazon Canada. Occasionally, these huge promotions only apply to older models, so double-check that you’re getting the generation of headset or speaker that you want before hitting “buy.” The Flip 6 has the same IP67 rating as the Charge 5 and works with JBL PartyBoost to connect two compatible speakers for stereo listening. It comes in five colors: grey stone, river teal, ocean blue, midnight black, or squad (camo). In addition to saving a couple bucks, you also get the guarantee of an inspected product that works, backed by JBL’s warranty.
Additionally, some people don’t like the changes to the speaker designs offered by the Charge 4, Pulse 4, and Flip 5. If you’re fine with microUSB charging and want a speaker with two channels instead of one, buying refurbished is the best way possible to grab one of these models’ predecessors. Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, and our staff adheres to a strict ethics policy.
We pride ourselves on transparently outlining objective facts, while accounting for the subjective experience to contextualize an audio product’s performance. We know if you’re researching something, you just want the information and not some jerk making you feel bad for not spending a ton of money.
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