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.
Still, it’s a forgivable omission seeing how most people are bound to use the Flip 5 attached to a bag or as it hangs from a tree. 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. That’s a nice perk to have, at the cost of a few potential scuffs here and there (and a couple days’ delay in shipping).
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. That’s why we strive to help people wherever they are, instead of just publishing pretty things about the latest tech you can’t afford.
JBL Flip 5 review
For years now if you wanted a speaker that you can bring to the beach and won’t break the bank my answer has been to just get the JBL Flip. It’s wrapped in a durable fabric material that gives it an IPX7 rating, meaning: it can survive being submerged in up to three feet in water. While it’s easy enough to figure out which button is which thanks to them slightly protruding away from the fabric, I feel like they would be much easier to use in low light situations if they lit up or were at least painted a different color. Another underappreciated thing about the Flip series is that they come in a bunch of different colors so whether you want teal, all-black, or even pink you can find one for you.
Once it begins blinking and making a beeping sound that means you’ve entered pairing mode. Connection strength is solid, and I had few problems playing music anywhere in my apartment from my iPhone 11 Pro in my pocket.
Unfortunately, there are no high-quality Bluetooth codecs to speak of here so there was a huge lag while watching YouTube videos. For whatever reason, the audio never synced up with what the person was saying, and because JBL removed the 3.5mm input: there’s no real way around this issue.
Before you read too much into a heavily-smoothed chart, recognize that the Flip 5 is a budget Bluetooth speaker. The roll-off at 60Hz is something that you’re not only able to ignore completely, but you’d have to live with no matter what speaker you buy under a few hundred dollars.
JBL upgraded the driver inside the speaker to give it more of a deeper low end, and the company succeeded from what I could tell. JBL’s wireless speakers tend to follow a signature sound that’s roughly similar to the Harman target curve.
Essentially, bass notes from middle-C and lower see a bump from 2-8dB, mids are evenly emphasized, and the highs are gently attenuated. The Flip 5 doesn’t buck this trend, and you’ll likely be happy with the sound without too much futzing with any in-app equalizers or junk like that. The bass response definitely sounds like it was given more of an emphasis this time around than the JBL Flip 4, but it still isn’t going to be the greatest thing you’ve ever heard. The difference is subtle, and if you’re hanging out in the yard or the beach: chances are you’re streaming off of a lowish-quality service like Spotify or Apple Music.
Still, it was a welcome addition in The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala, where the groovy bassline is the main part of the song in my opinion. It sounded good enough to hear but wasn’t able to get super low due to the hard drop off at under around 100Hz.
This isn’t a huge deal when listening to podcasts since there wasn’t a lot going on besides voices, but in songs with a lot going on like Ghost Under Rocks by Ra Ra Riot I found that some instrumentation was lacking in clarity as things like guitars and strings were battling for volume with the vocals throughout the chorus. It has a tough waterproof fabric, good sound, decent battery life, and its portable size makes it a great option for just about everyone.
Is JBL Go worth It? (Maybe, here’s why…) – The Gadget Buyer
For many decades now, JBL has remained a leader in the manufacture of audio equipment. JBL has been known to produce some of the top headphones and Bluetooth speakers in the market today.
Besides providing quality sound, robust, and rugged design, JBL has managed to keep their prices affordable for all budget ranges.
But when JBL puts out an ultra-compact Bluetooth speaker that is not only durable but also small enough to fit in a less than one and a half inches thick casing, you have to take a closer look. If you are looking for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker that you can take with you everywhere you go, the JBL Go is worth your hard-earned money. Nowadays, Bluetooth speakers fall into two categories – those designed to be used indoors and those that can be taken with you.
While the former provides powerful audio output, the latter compromises on that front, but compensates with portability. JBL is known for coming up with uniquely designed Bluetooth speakers without compromising on performance.
The JBL Go is a Bluetooth speaker in the shape of a block that looks like an oversized matchbox.
Its look and feel is stylish and catches the eye while offering quality sound even at high volume.
Ultimately, the JBL Go’s architecture is a strong combination of functional and aesthetic elements that come together in a unique mixture to produce a speaker that can stand the taste of time. The JBL Go has a decent bass level, but it is primarily suitable for music with more treble and highs.
If you listen to music or podcasts that have more acoustic tracks or rock songs with minimal instrumental, then JBL Go is worth a shot. But for EDM and club songs that require a high bass level, they will work with the other line of JBL products like the Flip and Charge.
To get a good sound quality, you should make sure there is minimum obstructions or interference between your source device and your speaker. Despite the difference, the JBL Go is still an excellent basic Bluetooth speaker with decent sound and is worth buying at its price.
It is ideal if you don’t plan to use your speaker in the swimming pool or outside on a rainy day! Also, JBL Go 2 comes with a rubberized casing that makes it easy to grab in your hand. But just like any other asset or electronic device, how long it lasts will entirely depend on the care accorded to it. Therefore, in the speaker’s entire life, you will be required to replace the battery and accessories regularly.
The JBL Go still ranks among the most affordable Bluetooth speakers with a relatively quality sound and portable ultra-compact size.
The 3 Best JBL Speakers of 2021 Reviews
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.
JBL Flip 5 review
For years now if you wanted a speaker that you can bring to the beach and won’t break the bank my answer has been to just get the JBL Flip. It’s wrapped in a durable fabric material that gives it an IPX7 rating, meaning: it can survive being submerged in up to three feet in water. While it’s easy enough to figure out which button is which thanks to them slightly protruding away from the fabric, I feel like they would be much easier to use in low light situations if they lit up or were at least painted a different color. Another underappreciated thing about the Flip series is that they come in a bunch of different colors so whether you want teal, all-black, or even pink you can find one for you.
Once it begins blinking and making a beeping sound that means you’ve entered pairing mode. Connection strength is solid, and I had few problems playing music anywhere in my apartment from my iPhone 11 Pro in my pocket. Unfortunately, there are no high-quality Bluetooth codecs to speak of here so there was a huge lag while watching YouTube videos. For whatever reason, the audio never synced up with what the person was saying, and because JBL removed the 3.5mm input: there’s no real way around this issue. Before you read too much into a heavily-smoothed chart, recognize that the Flip 5 is a budget Bluetooth speaker.
The roll-off at 60Hz is something that you’re not only able to ignore completely, but you’d have to live with no matter what speaker you buy under a few hundred dollars. JBL upgraded the driver inside the speaker to give it more of a deeper low end, and the company succeeded from what I could tell. JBL’s wireless speakers tend to follow a signature sound that’s roughly similar to the Harman target curve.
Essentially, bass notes from middle-C and lower see a bump from 2-8dB, mids are evenly emphasized, and the highs are gently attenuated. The Flip 5 doesn’t buck this trend, and you’ll likely be happy with the sound without too much futzing with any in-app equalizers or junk like that.
The bass response definitely sounds like it was given more of an emphasis this time around than the JBL Flip 4, but it still isn’t going to be the greatest thing you’ve ever heard.
The difference is subtle, and if you’re hanging out in the yard or the beach: chances are you’re streaming off of a lowish-quality service like Spotify or Apple Music.
Still, it was a welcome addition in The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala, where the groovy bassline is the main part of the song in my opinion. It sounded good enough to hear but wasn’t able to get super low due to the hard drop off at under around 100Hz. This isn’t a huge deal when listening to podcasts since there wasn’t a lot going on besides voices, but in songs with a lot going on like Ghost Under Rocks by Ra Ra Riot I found that some instrumentation was lacking in clarity as things like guitars and strings were battling for volume with the vocals throughout the chorus. It has a tough waterproof fabric, good sound, decent battery life, and its portable size makes it a great option for just about everyone.
JBL Charge 3 review
JBL is one of the most popular audio companies among average consumers, but it’s products warrant the renown. Whether you’re looking at JBL headphones or speakers, the company offers relatively affordable, high-value products with pretty good sound quality. Now that there are newer speakers available, how does the older Charge 3 hold up to Father Time? Editor’s note: This article was updated on July 14, 2021, to mention the JBL Charge 5. It’s cylindrical and also has exposed bass radiators on either end which definitely helps push out some sound. Up top, you’ll find the familiar set of buttons that JBL puts on all their speakers.
I’m normally not a big fan of obvious logos, but this one isn’t that bad since it’s nice and small. 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. Once you throw a few walls in the way the range does jump back down to 30 feet, but it’s still very strong with no skipping. You can pause/play music, control the volume, and also skip to the next song if you double-tap the play button.
Along the “stand” on the bottom are small indicator lights that let you know how much battery life is left. Even though it has a 3.5mm input, I did all of my testing wirelessly using mobile phones since I figure that’s how most people are going to be using this speaker anyway.
They do sound a little muddled which could be because of the waterproof fabric, but vocals and lead instruments still have great detail. Crashes and hi-hats in Give Life Back to Music by Daft Punk sound fine and never become piercing. All good things must come to an end, and so has the Charge 3’s reign as JBL’s midrange Bluetooth speaker. It supports Bluetooth multipoint and has a charging bank, but unfortunately doesn’t have a microphone or the option for wired listening.
The model is slowly but surely being phased out, but if you’re in the market for a more affordable option we definitely recommend checking this out. The JBL Charge 3 has an IPX7 certification which makes it completely waterproof, but what exactly does an IP rating mean?
Limit: Device max tilt of 60° from sprays IPX4 ✓ Splashes, omnidirectional IPX5 ✓ Water jets (12.5 L/min) Even when compared to the newer Charge 4, it’s still a great option if you can get a good enough discount.
JBL Charge 3 review: Waterproof Bluetooth speaker plays louder, but sound quality takes a step back
However, using this Charge 3 outside in a big open area such as a patio, its bigger sound will be an asset; it will carry further. It does play louder, is fully waterproof, and has strong battery life, so it has a lot going for it. Enlarge Image The Charge 3 is available in multiple colors, including this blue version. The company quietly released a firmware upgrade after a few months that significantly improved the sound, but didn’t really tell anybody about it.
JBL Go 3 Review
There certainly isn’t any powerful bass depth coming out of a speaker this size, but the Go 3 does its best to muster some rich low-end presence at higher volumes. Yes, it’s true that a Bluetooth signal won’t do well underwater, but the point is that the speaker can get soaked without issue, which also means you can clean it off under the faucet or use it in the shower.
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Go 3 delivers decent thump for its size.
The acoustic strums are also bright, and generally speaking, this is a balanced sound signature for a speaker this size—there’s not much bass depth, but the low-mids are full and the high-mids and highs are crisp.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives plenty of high-mid presence, allowing its attack to retain its punchiness. The beat itself has some added thump, however, and once again the enclosure vibrates dramatically at top volumes, creating the sense of more power than the speaker actually possesses. Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, have a bright, crisp presence through the Go 3’s driver. So for what will sound like cleaner, clearer bass response, you want to place the speaker upright or hang it from the built-in loop so the back panel isn’t making contact with any surfaces. We’re also slightly partial to the aforementioned Sony SRS-XB12 in this price range, but the Go 3 delivers solid audio from a tough frame for $10 less, making both worth your consideration. Weak battery life The Bottom Line JBL’s Go 3 speaker delivers solid wireless audio performance in a waterproof, easily portable design for a low price.
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.
Be First to Comment