This new version, which comes in many color options and costs $40, has been bulked up a bit — it weighs 184g — and has its corners rounded off. While the speaker is a little heavier, it’s very similar in size to the original and is designed for maximum portability. It takes up little room in a backpack, laptop bag or purse, and will even fit in a lot of pockets. Even so, as you might expect, this speaker overall is short on bass and won’t exactly rock a room, even a small one.
Bose’s more expensive SoundLink Micro plays bigger and sounds substantially better, but it costs 2.5 times as much. It should cost closer to $30 or about £22 or AU$40 converted (you can find the original Go for close to $25), but I’m not going to knock it too hard for that.
JBL GO 2 review
While its small size limits its audio performance potential, it can get surprisingly loud and has a handy speakerphone that help make it one of the most well-rounded ultra-compact speakers on the market. While its small size limits its audio performance potential, it can get surprisingly loud and has a handy speakerphone that help make it one of the most well-rounded ultra-compact speakers on the market. When it comes to audio performance, it’s usually the case that larger speakers sound better simply because they have more room to pack in better drivers that can move more air. Considering its size, audio performance is good … even if the bass response can’t keep up with the clean-sounding mids and highs.
On the right of the speaker is a rubber door that hides the microUSB charging port and 3.5mm aux jack for legacy devices. We found that 50% volume is comfortable for listening to music and pushing it to over 75% really offers a surprisingly full sound for such a small speaker.
If you crank it higher, expect closer to 4, which is quite short in comparison to other portable speakers, but that’s the trade off JBL made by choosing such a small form factor for the GO 2. It’s hamstrung by its physical size limits, sonic abilities and battery life but we were still impressed with how loud the speaker got.
JBL Go 2 review: Pocket-sized waterproof Bluetooth speaker at affordable price
Combined with the water-proof design — you can dip it in a bucket full of water and it works fine — the size makes the JBL Go 2 a good travel companion. The sound is one area where it is lacking, the small size is a handicap here, but there is still enough merit in it to justify that price tag of Rs 2,999. The Go 2 is also square shaped, but JBL has curved the sides of the speaker, which makes it easier for the user to hold it. The JBL Go 2 has a coating of rubbery material, which makes the speaker durable enough to take a beating or two. On the side there’s the USB connecting port and the AUX input covered with a rubber flap to save them from water, in case the speaker gets wet in rain or accidently falls inside a pool. The JBL Go 2 is a waterproof speaker and comes with IPX7 certification, meaning it can survive in meter-deep water for almost 30 minutes. JBL is usually well-known for its audio products that deliver great sound, but Go 2 isn’t one of them. The bass lovers and people who are a fan of songs with high tones won’t be very happy with the JBL Go 2.
At high volumes, the speaker produced extremely scratchy sounds, which definitely wasn’t very soothing to the ears. For instance, if you’re sitting in a room with your friends, having a house party with everyone chatting, the JBL Go 2 is loud enough to be able to heard by all. Not only that, I watched The Trip series on Bindass wheil the speakers was connected to my phone through Bluetooth, and it was loud enough for one to listen to the dialogues, but the clarity of course could have been better. The voice of the caller was, however, a little unclear at times and in such situations I had to switch between speaker and handset mode while on call.
There were, however, times when the caller’s voice was clear and I had a full 30 minutes conversion on the speaker without having the person on the other side of the call know about it. JBL claims that the Go 2 lasts for around five hours on a single charge, but in real usage that isn’t the case.
This means, if you’re planning to go on a long trip taking the JBL Go 2, be prepared to charge it in regular intervals.
Not a lot of people will mind paying Rs 2,999 for a speaker, but that’s only if it delivers a good sound performance, which the JBL Go 2 clearly doesn’t. But if you’re looking to buy a speaker that feels solid, easy to use, is loud enough and can be carried out in the rain, JBL Go 2 is a great option. The Go 2 still has merits but buy it for its compact size and waterproof design, and not for its sound quality.
JBL Go 2 review: A mini Bluetooth speaker that offers maximum portability
This new version, which comes in many color options and costs $40, has been bulked up a bit — it weighs 184g — and has its corners rounded off. While the speaker is a little heavier, it’s very similar in size to the original and is designed for maximum portability. It takes up little room in a backpack, laptop bag or purse, and will even fit in a lot of pockets. Even so, as you might expect, this speaker overall is short on bass and won’t exactly rock a room, even a small one.
Bose’s more expensive SoundLink Micro plays bigger and sounds substantially better, but it costs 2.5 times as much. It should cost closer to $30 or about £22 or AU$40 converted (you can find the original Go for close to $25), but I’m not going to knock it too hard for that.
JBL GO 2 review
While its small size limits its audio performance potential, it can get surprisingly loud and has a handy speakerphone that help make it one of the most well-rounded ultra-compact speakers on the market. While its small size limits its audio performance potential, it can get surprisingly loud and has a handy speakerphone that help make it one of the most well-rounded ultra-compact speakers on the market.
When it comes to audio performance, it’s usually the case that larger speakers sound better simply because they have more room to pack in better drivers that can move more air. Considering its size, audio performance is good … even if the bass response can’t keep up with the clean-sounding mids and highs. On the right of the speaker is a rubber door that hides the microUSB charging port and 3.5mm aux jack for legacy devices. We found that 50% volume is comfortable for listening to music and pushing it to over 75% really offers a surprisingly full sound for such a small speaker. If you crank it higher, expect closer to 4, which is quite short in comparison to other portable speakers, but that’s the trade off JBL made by choosing such a small form factor for the GO 2. It’s hamstrung by its physical size limits, sonic abilities and battery life but we were still impressed with how loud the speaker got.
Customer Reviews: JBL Go 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker Black JBLGO2BLK
With this, I am now able to listen to morning news on demand (NPR app is my choice) and hear it loud and clear without worry about water damage. The only con is that the sound clarity on the higher end is not has crisp as I would have preferred, but is understandable given that it is 100% waterproof.
JBL Go 2 Review
JBL’s contributions to the realm of tiny, inexpensive, portable wireless speakers have helped elevate the category from “why bother” status to “worthwhile improvement over your phone.” Those seeking booming bass need to adjust their expectations and spend more money on something larger, but for its size, the Go 2 pumps out some impressive volume with a full, rich sound. The hues are less ROYGBIV and more muted tones, like coral orange, champagne, and cyan, though there’s still a standard black, blue, and red. Using the Voice Memos app on an iPhone 6s, we could understand every word we recorded, but there were plenty of fuzzy audio artifacts in the mix. JBL rates the battery life for the Go 2 at a modest 5 hours—not great for a portable speaker, but not dismal, especially considering the size and price. It’s Callahan’s baritone vocals that receive more low frequency presence—there’s a pleasant richness, balanced out with solid high-mid definition.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the drum loop receives enough high-mid presence for its attack to retain its punch and cut through the layers as a prominent force in the mix. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are, as we’d expect, more implied than delivered—we get more of their raspy top notes than any real depth.
Other budget portable Bluetooth speakers worth considering include the Sony SRS-XB10 , the Polk Boom Swimmer Jr., and, for more money, the less water-friendly Ikea Eneby (8-Inch). The Bottom Line The JBL Go 2 is an affordable waterproof speaker that offers solid volume levels and a full sound signature for its size.
JBL Go 2 Review: A Diminutive Grab N’ Go Speaker
Not only does it deliver plenty of excellent sound in its lineup of sensational speakers, but JBL goes above and beyond in design. Many of the leading products from JBL are packed with extra features, like waterproofing, smartphone charging, and even party lights.
This mini speaker is about the same size of a block of soap and small enough to fit into most large pockets. On top of that, the product comes with a range of colours to choose from, including orange, red, blue, green, and many more.
Measuring around 5.6 x 3.1 x 7.1 cm and weighing only 186 grams, the JBL packs a lot of excellent performance into a miniature package. The front face of the product is a robust speaker grille, and on the top panel, you’ll find the controls you need for power, volume, Bluetooth, and more
Additionally, there’s a microphone built-in so that you can take voice memos or manage calls hands-free if you’re busy in the kitchen or bathroom. Since the JBL Go 2 is completely waterproof, there’s no need to worry about getting it wet if you want to listen to your favorite music in the shower. We didn’t take the initiative to throw it in a lake, but we do know that it stands up well to the occasional splash or some kitchen steam.
The only thing that lets the JBL Go 2 down feature-wise is the fact that it lacks some much-needed battery life.
There’s a dedicated Bluetooth button at the top of the device, so you can easily link it to your smartphone in a matter of seconds. If you’re having trouble with Bluetooth for any reason, then the JBL Go 2 will also connect to your devices via an aux cable, so you can just give up and go that way instead.
While there isn’t a great deal of bass here, you can find some smooth and tight mid and high-levels, which is enough to open up your music collection.
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