Jbl Charge Speakers Bluetooth Review and Buying Guide

The JBL Charge speakers are a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts and music lovers alike. They offer a range of features that make them perfect for parties, camping trips, or just lounging in the backyard.

With up to 12 hours of battery life, you can enjoy your music all day long without worrying about running out of juice. This is thanks to the high-capacity battery that charges quickly via USB.

Whether you're looking to upgrade your home decor or take your music on the go, the JBL Charge speakers are a great option. They come in a variety of colors and styles to fit your unique taste and needs.

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The JBL Charge 5 is a tubed-shaped speaker that weighs 2.11 pounds and measures 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inches (WxHxD).

It's a bit larger than the JBL Flip 5, but smaller than the JBL Xtreme 3, which comes with a shoulder strap and seems more like the outdoor party choice. The Charge 5 ships in black, blue, camouflage, gray, red, and teal flavors.

The speaker has a slight discrepancy in height due to the rubber strips that act as feet for the speaker, making it easy to place on a surface. The raised and textured controls on top of the speaker are easy to access, even in the dark.

Each control has a unique shape, making it easy to tell them apart, and the power on/off and Bluetooth pairing controls are located on a smooth strip in the middle. The JBL logo is enlarged and roughly the same color as the speaker, with a slight orange tint on the sides of the raised letters.

The JBL Charge 5 boasts an IP67 rating, meaning it's completely protected from dust ingress and can withstand being dunked in a meter of water for 30 minutes. This makes it perfect for trips to the beach or a dip in the pool.

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The JBL Charge speakers are known for their long-lasting battery life, but how does it really stack up? The Charge 6 claims 24 hours of playback at moderate volume, but our testing revealed a much shorter battery life.

In our standardized battery testing, the Charge 6 lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the claimed 24 hours. This is still enough juice for a full day of listening, but it falls short of expectations.

One feature that's worth noting is the "Playtime Boost" mode, which adds four hours of playback time by cutting bass response and shifting the sound toward mids and treble. However, this mode doesn't sound great, and it's not something you'll want to use for extended periods.

A quick 10-minute charge can get you an additional 150 minutes of playback time, which is a convenient feature for topping off the battery on the go.

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The JBL Charge speakers are known for their decent sound quality, especially considering their size. The Charge 6 earns a Timbre score of 3.1 and a Distortion score of 3.3 according to the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm.

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You can expect the Charge 6 to deliver good low-end strength, which can be further modified. The Charge 6 and Charge 5 have similar Timbre and Overall ratings, which isn't a significant difference.

The Charge 5 consistently impresses with exceptional detail and separation between voices and instruments, even on notoriously low-fi recordings. This is evident on songs like the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" and Question Mark and the Mysterians's "96 Tears".

Tracks from services that offer lossless streaming sound noticeably better on the Charge 5 than lossy tracks available from Spotify or YouTube Music. This is particularly noticeable on contemporary hits from artists like Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, and Kate Bush.

The Charge 5's ability to reproduce the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution is represented by its Timbre score of 3.1, similar to the Charge 6. This means the speaker can accurately reproduce the timing information of music.

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The JBL Charge series offers impressive connectivity options. The Charge 6 supports Bluetooth 5.4, a significant upgrade from the Charge 5's Bluetooth 5.1 connection.

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You can connect your device wirelessly via Bluetooth or opt for a wired connection using the USB-C port. This port doubles as an in/out, allowing you to charge your phone while listening to music. To listen over a wired connection, simply hold down the Play/Pause button while connecting your USB-C cable to the device.

The JBL Portable app is essential for unlocking the full potential of your JBL Charge speaker. The app allows you to tweak the equalization, alter settings when in PartyBoost mode, and even access firmware updates. By downloading and installing the app, you'll gain access to a 7-band customizable EQ, a significant upgrade from the 3-band EQ available on the Charge 5.

Here are the key connectivity features of the JBL Charge 6:

If the JBL Charge 6 is too big for your needs, consider the JBL Flip 7, which shares many of the same features.

The Flip 7 has an IP68 protection rating, just like the Charge 6.

It also offers audio over USB, a convenient feature for connecting to your devices.

You can snag a new Flip 7 for $99.95 at Woot!.

The JBL Charge series has come a long way in terms of connectivity, and the Bluetooth version supported is a key aspect of this.

Bluetooth 5.1 is supported by the JBL Charge 5, which also features A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 streaming profiles.

The JBL Charge 6 takes it up a notch with Bluetooth 5.4, offering a faster and more reliable connection.

If you're looking for a wired connection option, the Charge 6 has you covered with audio over USB, which supports lossless audio.

The JBL Portable app is required for firmware updates to the Charge 5, and it also offers a basic equalizer with studio-style sliders to control bass, mid, and treble frequencies.

The app is also necessary for using two PartyBoost speakers as a stereo pair, which is a great feature for those who want to enhance their listening experience.

Here's a quick rundown of the Bluetooth versions supported by the JBL Charge series:

Overall, the JBL Charge series has made significant improvements in terms of connectivity, and the Bluetooth version supported is just one of the many features that make it a great choice for music lovers.

The JBL Charge 5 is a beast of a speaker that can get incredibly loud without distorting. This is a major plus for anyone who wants to fill a room with music without sacrificing sound quality.

But what really sets the JBL Charge 5 apart is its solid battery life. You can expect to get plenty of use out of it before needing to recharge.

One of the things that might surprise you about the JBL Charge 5 is its ease of use. The controls are intuitive and easy to navigate, even for those who aren't tech-savvy.

Here are some key specs to consider:

Overall, the JBL Charge 5 is a premium speaker that delivers great sound and impressive durability. If you're looking for a reliable and high-quality speaker, this is definitely worth considering.

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Using the JBL Charge 6 is a breeze, thanks to its intuitive controls. The device operates via physical controls at the top of the speaker's enclosure.

The power button turns on the device with a single press, while the Bluetooth button enters pairing mode. The Auracast button pairs with other JBL Auracast supported speakers. The play button plays or pauses music, while the volume buttons control the volume up and down.

Here's a breakdown of the control layout:

The Charge 6 is also incredibly durable, with a new design that's drop-proof from a height of one meter onto concrete. It's also IP68 rated, meaning it's dustproof and can be submerged in water up to a meter and a half for 30 minutes.

The JBL Charge 5 is a solid choice for anyone looking for a reliable Bluetooth speaker. It's incredibly loud without distorting, making it perfect for outdoor gatherings or parties.

One of the standout features of the JBL Charge 5 is its durability. It's dustproof and waterproof, so you can take it with you wherever you go without worrying about it getting damaged.

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The battery life is also impressive, lasting for a long time on a single charge. This means you can enjoy your music without having to worry about running out of power.

Here are some of the key benefits of the JBL Charge 5 in a nutshell:

It's expensive for its size, which might be a drawback for some users.

While it's compact, the price tag might be a bit steep for what you get.

One notable omission is the lack of a speakerphone, which can make hands-free calls a bit tricky.

You'll need to find other ways to take calls without holding the device to your ear.

Another thing to consider is the absence of an AUX input, which might limit your music options.

If you're looking to connect your device to an external speaker or music player, you'll need to explore other options.

The JBL Charge 6 is a beast of a portable speaker, and its specs are just as impressive as its sound quality. It's waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, with an IP68 rating that can withstand a 1-meter drop onto concrete.

The speaker's dimensions are 9.0 x 3.9 x 3.7 inches (W x H x D), and it weighs a manageable 0.96 kg / 2.11 lbs. You can easily toss it into a bag or backpack for a day at the beach or a camping trip.

One of the standout features of the JBL Charge 6 is its battery life. It can run for up to 24 hours on a single charge, and if you need a little extra juice, you can activate Playtime Boost mode for an additional 4 hours.

The speaker also comes with a detachable carrying strap, which is perfect for those of us who like to make a quick trip from the car to the house. And with the JBL Portable App, you can control your speaker and access additional features with ease.

Here are the key specs of the JBL Charge 6 at a glance: