The JBL Charge 5 is a great buy if you dont already have a previous iteration of JBLs Charge line. Plus, as you crank up the volume, there's some more compression in the mix, which impacts the clarity of audio reproduction. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. Along the rubberized panel, there's a power button and a JBL Connect+ button that allows you to link up to four Flip 4 speakers, paired to a single sound source. Even after a firm dunk in a bucket of water, the Charge 5 sounds just as good as when its dryjust make sure the charging port flap is securely closed. The light fades as the power decreases a slick-looking way to see the battery life left, though its not as easy to get an accurate read as the five lights on the Charge 4. Inputs: rear USB input, rear aux input ; Outputs: 4-channel preamp outputs (2-volt front, rear) Our Overall Review. It has a Bass Boost feature to add even more thump and punch, and you can customize its sound to your liking using the graphic EQ in its companion app. Thats right, no fast charging here. The Bose offers a wider and more natural-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design. The JBL Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. JBL also tweaked the shape and dimensions. Even with the #5 in its name, JBL didn't bother to put a 5.0 module inside. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Theres no microphone, so it doesnt double as a speakerphone. It supports voice assistants through your smartphone too. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. The Bose SoundLink Revolve II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. There's a graphic EQ you can use to customize the speaker's sound profile to your liking. Toyota Yaris from 22,110. JBL's portable Charge 5 speaker delivers surprisingly powerful Bluetooth audio from a compact, waterproof frame, making it the ideal travel companion for going just about anywhere. Whether or not JBL Charge 5 is going to be the best purchase for you comes down to several factors. Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide, Monoprice Monolith Audition review: The magic of wired speakers, Tronsmart Halo 100 review: A bangin Bluetooth party speaker, Soundcore Rave Party 2 Bluetooth speaker review: Versatile and very loud. At a more reasonable 85 dB, the distortion disappeared and it was still loud enough to be heard over the din of a party or traffic. The end caps, which house the passive bass radiators, are cut at a slight angle, similar to the JBL Flip 5. Other than its power-bank ability and the proprietary JBL PartyBoost option, the Charge 5 doesnt deliver some of the features you might expect for what youre paying. + Weekly updates JBL Charge 5 Guide app. Routing audio this way is no better than using the 3.5mm audio jack (digital signals arent used) and is often worse: the audio signal is placed next to noisy power and high-speed data lines, potentially reducing performance. This speaker comes with an aux port, which may actually make it a more attractive option for some people. It's better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and can also get a bit louder. JBL has revised the design for the latest version of the Charge speaker, enlarging the JBL logo and making it roughly the same color as the speaker while giving the sides of the raised letters an orange tint. The Sonos Roam costs about the same as the JBL Charge 5 ($358 at Amazon), and even though it is significantly smaller, the Roams price comes with a lot of smart features that the Charge 5 doesnt have. Do JBL Bluetooth speakers have aux input? A rubber-capped USB input on the back of the Charge 5 allows you to charge any USB-based device, like an iPhone or tablet. The Flip 5 loses the auxiliary input that had been in previous Flip models, so you can only connect wirelessly. . Sale. Ive been using the Charge 5 as a general-purpose speaker over the past few weeks, streaming baseball games via the MLB app, audiobooks via Audible, my college radio airchecks that someone posted on YouTube, and playlists on Apple Music. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). If it flashes completely white, the battery is full. JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker. The JBL Charge 5 (available at Amazon for $179.95) is the latest poolside- and outdoors-ready Bluetooth speaker from the portable audio maestros at JBL. + Easy, clear and uncomplicated JBL Charge 5 Guide . Pairing the JBL Charge 5 is easy enoughsimply press and hold the Bluetooth symbol on the top of the speaker and select it from your devices Bluetooth menu. Go anywhere with full, crisp sound in a lightweight, stylish design. $99.99. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. If you want to sometimes use the Charge 5 by itself, set it as the secondary speaker. You may prefer either the Marshall Emberton or the JBL Charge 5, depending on your preferences. The speaker has an indicator light that glows white anytime its in use. The JBL Charge 5 doesnt necessarily have enough upgrades to be worth buying if you already have the JBL Charge 4 or even the Charge 3. Vizio M-Series All-in-One (2022) Dolby Atmos Soundbar LG XBoom Go XG7Q Bluetooth Speaker review. But generally, the approach here seems to be the age-old, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" theory. I toted the Charge 5 on a trip to northeast Pennsylvania and enjoyed it in a spacious hotel room. That said, while the Charge 5 can connect to PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers, it can't connect to those with the Connect+ feature like its predecessor. The JBL Charge 4 can't deliver real sub-bass, but in the context of most songs it gets close enough to satisfy. Unfortunately, PartyBoost doesnt work with older JBL speakers (like the Charge 4) that use the now deprecated Connect+ protocol. Vee Nuestra 2023 Valoracin Ajustada (basada en nuestro anlisis de 68 reseas de Amazon) paraTrue Wireless Speaker, Woozik Rockit Party Wireless Speake. At 8.7 x 3.8 x 3.7 inches, its slightly shorter and a little plumper in the middle than the Charge 4. While the Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile, the Xtreme 2 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. The Charge 5 gets loudlike, really loud. If the near-$200 price tag of the JBL Charge 5 scares you, wed recommend looking at the older JBL Charge 4. The 5200mAh (5.2Ah) integrated battery has a very respectable 2A input rating, although you'll need to use a charger that can output that current for the fastest charging speeds. The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. You can also pair two speakers together to create a stereo pair. If you do happen to break the speaker in a manner covered by its warranty within 1 year of buying it, JBL will send you another one. The JBL Charge 5 gets the job done if you need something that's very loud, and quite portable. This small, lightweight speaker can be carried in one hand, making it easy to take when you're on the move. Beyond what the JBL Connect app offers is the Charge 5s power bank functionality. The button layout at the top stays the same, while the back features the USB-C charging port, along with a USB-A port you can use to charge other devices, basically turning the speaker into a . However, there isn't a way to skip to your previous track. There is no auxiliary input to connect to a stereo in case we want to listen . Charge 5 comes with a USB A port as well that is used to charge the phone, but that's it. Battery life will vary due to usage patterns and environmental conditions. . On the back theres a USB-C port for recharging the battery, and under a rubber flap, a USB-A port that you can use to charge other devices. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than the Anker out of the box. . It's a portable Bluetooth speaker that's designed to bring your favorite tunes with you wherever you go. Still, if youre a fan of the JBL sound, want that power bank functionality or simply prefer its looks, the Charge 5 is a solid choice for a portable (and waterproof) Bluetooth speaker. Features JBL's PartyBoost feature. It's also better-built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in a meter of water for 30 minutes. The Charge 5 is surprisingly lightweight, though, so if you can find a place to put it, it wont weigh you down too much on a hike or trip to the beach. Locking my phone or opening up a different app like Instagram can also cause a rare hiccup while streaming music from Spotify. 2023 Reviewed, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network LLC. It uses Bluetooth 5.1, which means its slightly more energy efficient than Bluetooth 5.0. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. The JBL Charge 5 has an official 20-hour battery life, which well put to the test as soon as we get the speaker into our testing chamber. Cover your outdoor party with 160 watts of JBL's big pro-level sound. This approach is bad design, and only suitable for backward compatibility. The PartyBoost button pairs two JBL speakers together in stereo mode or multiple speakers in party mode to spread the sound more widely. The only way to play music over this speaker is Bluetoothyou. That said, the Anker can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono and offers a wider-sounding soundstage, thanks to its 360-degree design. This means it cant double as a speaker for most desk monitors. It also has fairly low latency with iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching movies and videos. Lee was Reviewed's point person for most television and home theater products from 2012 until early 2022. This disappoints me as it's a feature I really enjoy having for the convenience, battery preservation, and versatility, but I suppose the majority of users are listening wirelessly, and the updated Bluetooth version makes up for this loss. It can also get louder and has a wider-sounding soundstage. It's a little pricey though, so anyone who already has an older JBL Charge speaker shouldn't feel the need to upgrade. On the top, youll find buttons for power, Bluetooth and volume up/down. No. The $129.95 JBL Flip 5 (7.12 x 2.91 x 2.71 inches, WxHxD) is more of a personal-sized speaker, while the $319.95 JBL Xtreme 3 (11.75 x 5.35 x 5.2 inches, WxHxD) comes with a shoulder strap and seems more like the outdoor party choice. New York, It supports voice assistants through your smartphone too. On Black Pumass Fire, the horns came across bright and punchy, while the vocals were clear above the guitar and keyboards. As you may have guessed, the Charge 5 marks JBLs fifth iteration in the Charge line of portable Bluetooth speakers, and this is the best version yet. Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and relatively low latency means that you don't notice lip-synching issues. JBL Charge 5 SEE IT Punchy without being paunchy. Luckily, the JBL Charge 4 is still a great quality speaker and comes at a lower price than the newer version. At $179, its list price is lower than that of the Megaboom 3 but UEs speaker has been out for much longer, and often sells at a much lower price despite the MSRP. Sure enough, I dunked the Charge 5 in a sinkful of water and it continued to play without problem. I have it and Pixels. Its always nice to open up a new audio gadget to see that it has at least a bit of battery charge in it, and the Charge 5 lets you dive right into music listening. However, it also ends up more expensive than even better-sounding speakers with more features. For an even smaller and more portable speaker, check out the JBL Flip 6 or the Marshall Willen. It's smaller, more portable, and has a longer-lasting battery life than the Harman, though battery life can depend on your usage habits, and your experience may differ. In my case, I'm sending the audio signal to the speaker from a DAC with a line level output (this is a weaker signal than you get from a headphone output). No 3.5 aux port. In this article, we compare the new JBL Flip 6 to the Flip 5. The JBL can produce deeper bass than the Ultimate Ears, and you can pair it to multiple PartyBoost-compatible speakers, which can come in handy when you want your audio to fill a large room. Otherwise, youre getting solid audio presentation, plenty of battery to go around, and excellent attention to durability and design, making the Charge 5 a very attractive buy. It wont interface with any of your smart home gear either. but no, This is not actually the case. On its rear, there's a USB-A port in a sealed compartment and a Type-C charging port. The serial number on our speaker begins with 'TT,' and some users have reported differences in the performance and build of variants of this speaker depending on the first two letters preceding its serial number. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance. That means you can submerge the speaker in water up to 1 meter deep, for up to half an hour, without worry. The Sonos is smaller and more portable than the JBL. The Sony SRS-XE300 and the JBL Charge 5 are similar speakers with different strengths. It can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono resulting in a more immersive soundstage. The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. We also recommend checking out the UE MEGABOOM 3. The Charge 5 is better-built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. It also has a longer battery life, lasting over 14 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage. Waterproof and dustproof, JBLs sweet-sounding portable speaker is ready to shine in any environment. Like most smaller speakers, however, there isn't much rumble in the low-bass to bring bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop to life. The speaker has built-in 4800 mAh battery, providing 12 hours playtime and can be fast-charged with Type-C charging port. The Marshall is smaller and offers a soundstage that can be perceived as open and spacious. has a touch screen The JBL Charge 5 boasts an IP67 rating for complete protection from dust ingress, and it should also withstand being dunked in a meter of water for 30 minutes. Below the large JBL logo is a single light that shows the amount of battery power left. New 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE 5 for sale - only $47,919. The Charge 5 has a more neutral sound profile than its predecessor and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. The JBL has better directivity, resulting in a wider and more open-sounding soundstage, while the Sony's sounds a bit more muffled. That said, unlike the JBL Charge 4, it doesn't feature an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker. The one thing I didn't test when it comes to battery life was connecting a bunch of PartyBoost speakersI just dont have enough JBL speakers sitting around. You can pair it to your devices via Bluetooth by pressing the dedicated Bluetooth button. PartyBoost is JBLs tool that allows you to connect multiple speakers together for a louder sound. The Charge 5 has a more neutral sound profile than its predecessor and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. WATERPROOF IP67 DUSTPROOF IP67. It also has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it more suitable for watching movies and videos. Our review unit came in Blueits a handsome tone, and the (huge) JBL branding on the front has a burnished look with a reddish drop shadow on the letters that almost looks like unfiltered 3D images. If you're looking for a speaker with a fantastic soundstage, check out the Sony SRS-RA3000. That said, the Clip 4 is smaller and more portable thanks to its built-in carabiner hook. Tell us a bit more about you so we can get to know each other better. We tested the 'Black' variant; you can find its labelhere. This speaker has a great Bluetooth performance. Additionally, it supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though it doesn't do a good job of hearing you from far and in noisy settings. Otherwise, what really differentiates the Charge from something like JBLs Flip line is the built-in power bank. If you dont already have an earlier model, however, the Charge 5 is a great choice. It can also get louder than the Charge 5, with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, and supports voice assistants through your smartphone. Though there are no buttons to skip backward on the JBL Charge 5, it has pretty much all the other controls youd need. Yes No. This is worth considering if youre interested in this product: if you dont need a power bank, you could save money by buying something like the JBL Flip 5, or you could spend the same amount on a more feature-stuffed product like the Sonos Roam. I was able to get PartyBoost to work with the Charge 5 and a Flip 5, but strangely, not a Charge 4. The result is a basic but rugged portable Bluetooth speaker, and one that sounds good enough to contend with the best waterproof speakers. The Charge 5 can get slightly louder and can produce a more extended low-bass out-of-the-box. The Charge 5 received a fairly significant redesign from the Charge 4. One day JBL may produce a Charge that can be outdone by a new and plucky rival, but rest assured . When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. However, battery performance can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ. You will need to download the Sonos app in order to access them and operate the speaker at all, though, so if youre not fond of giving apps your information, its best to look elsewhere. Music-synced Lightshows. You can connect two of the same speakers together to listen in Stereo Mode, or you can connect up to 100 of any compatible speakers together for Party Mode. The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. On songs like the Byrds Mr. A rugged, waterproof option that delivers a robust, bass-forward take on music and has enough battery life to last for extra-long outings and charge the device youre playing music from, keeping the jams jamming to the jamth degree. It also needs to be paired to another unit to play stereo sound and has to downmix stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which doesn't sound as immersive. Were still ironing out our standardized speaker tests with the appropriate support equipment to update our testing and data collection. The JBL Charge 5 and JBL Flip 4 are similar speakers with different strengths. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XE200, though they perform similarly. POWERBANK. There's plenty of bass and midrange support, but without skimping on higher treble frequencies either. Unfortunately, the JBL Charge 5 doesn't have an aux port so wired listening is not an option. The JBL Charge 4 can deliver punchy dance and pop synth beats with convincing punch, but like every speaker this size, there is a limit to its bass floor. Also, while the Marshall comes with EQ presets to adjust its sound, the JBLcomes with a graphic EQ that gives you more control over the speaker's sound. The app is also required for firmware updates to the Charge 5. If the Nano does not have bluetooth, the answer is still yes. Plus, it gives you access to sound customization tools in the JBL Portable app. That said, it doesn't offer a Multi-Room function, so you can't use it to play different content on different speakers in different rooms at once. From left to right across the top of the speaker, youve got raised, tactile buttons for PartyBoost, Volume Down, Power, Bluetooth pairing, Volume Up, and Play/Pause. The JBL has a more neutral sound profile out of the box that's suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. It took me a few days to wrap my head around the key stamp that this product makes upon the Bluetooth speaker market: its really two products in one. Moreover, it can connect with many devices like phones, tablets, PC, projectors, and many more. The biggest change is the JBL logo: its much bigger, sotheres no doubt who made this speaker. To be completely fair, its a slight oversimplification to say that the JBL Charge 5 is only good for one thing; after all, the speaker can also charge a second device via a rear USB charging port thats hidden beneath a flap. The Charge 5 supports JBLs aforementioned PartyBoost feature, which allows users to pair with up to 100 speakers at once, including other JBL speakers like the Flip 5, Pulse 4, and Boombox 2 speakers. Links on SoundGuys may earn us a commission. So, it is an ideal choice for home and outdoor entertainment. Listeners who like the JBL sound but want something a bit more portable than its Charge or Xtreme line should look at the JBL Flip 6 instead ($129.95 at Amazon). No, the JBL Charge 5 plays audio in mono. Around back, youll find the small USB-C charging port and the power banks USB, the latter of which is covered by a rubber seal to keep out dust and moisture. Here you'll find a -inch AUX input, AC input, and USB-C output which acts as a power bank for charging external mobile devices. Do not expose the JBL Charge 5 to liquids without removing cable connection. Additionally, it has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. The Flip 5 is nearly the same product, minus the pass-thru charging and boosted battery life, and youre paying a not-inconsiderable surcharge for those features. Perched in the middle of JBLs Bluetooth speaker lineup, the JBL Charge 5 surprises with its big sound. Tambourine Man, the Charge 5 delivers exceptional detail and separation between voices and instruments, whereas lesser speakers tend to turn the midrange into an indistinguishable wall of sound. Luckily, there are a ton of other options available for you and your AUX needs, like the JBL Charge 4.Amazon: JBL Charge 4 ($150)Amazon: Megaboom 3 ($180) Like the LG XBOOM 360, the Xtreme 3 isnt a truly portable speaker at 2.68kg, but you can sling it over your shoulder with its strap, and it has a long battery life of 15 hours. It can be paired to two devices at once via Bluetooth and has outstanding battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage habits, so your real-world experience may differ. All your audio must be streamed from a Bluetooth device, most likely your phone. Of course, it's a bit heavier and much more durable in construction. But the Charge 5 ditches the 3.5 mm auxiliary connection that other generations included. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. The speaker is fairly small and is meant to be placed horizontally on its base. If your tastes run to more contemporary hits like those by Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, and Kate Bush, the Charge 5 sounds so good that I wouldnt be surprised to learn that contemporary mix engineers use the JBL portables as reference speakers during their mix sessions. It also has a PartyBoost button you can press when you want to connect it to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers. All rights reserved. Its a Bluetooth speaker, full stop. That said, the JBL is smaller than the Sonos, making it easier to transport with you when you're on the go. and a USB port to charge your smartphone. JBL says the Charge 5 will run for 20 hours, the same as previous models and the same as the Megaboom 3. You can pair two Charge 5 speakers together for stereo sound. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. That said, the JBL can get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels. However, the Flip 6 is smaller and has a removable carrying strap, making it a bit more portable than the Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 has a fair frequency response accuracy. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone. It's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content, thanks to its balanced mids, which ensure that voices and lead instruments are reproduced with clarity and accuracy. That said, the JBL has a more neutral sound profile out of the box. While they both have very similar designs, the Charge 5 is smaller, lighter, and more portable. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? It had a good signal up to about 50 feet indoors, with walls between my phone and the speaker. Its a little annoying that JBL keeps implementing new methods to connect their speakers to one anotherJBL PartyBoost is basically the same feature as JBL Connect+ in the Charge 4, but the two versions are not compatible with one another. as well as JBLs PartyBoost feature, which allows you to chain connections to other JBL PartyBoost-equipped speakers, creating a multi-speaker setup. It also has a better-balanced sound profile than the Anker out of the box. The Boom 3 is rated at 15 hours. Its durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing keep the Flip 5 safe while you let loose in the great outdoors. The following list of JBL speakers doesn't have an AUX input, so the only way to connect them is via Bluetooth. In addition, it only makes minimal improvements over the more affordable Charge 4, so if you want this functionality at a bit of a discount, that's worthy of consideration. The JBL Charge 5 doesnt come with a whole lotjust the speaker, a protective sock, a charging cable, and some documentation about the product. Its soundstage performance is sub-par. The only thing the Charge 5 can do that the Megaboom 3 cant is charge another device. The company puts out several new products every year, and theoretically, they keep getting better. However, the JBL gets a touch louder than the Marshall, with much less compression present at max volume, so your audio doesn't degrade as much as you bump up the volume. It's plenty loud, and maintains a balanced emphasis of bass, midtones, and trebles. The JBL offers a more balanced sound profile out of the box, suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. Under Party Mode, all speakers will play audio in mono. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great. On the road. Compared to the Charge 4, you can alsoconnect it with other PartyBoost+ speakers to enjoy sound all throughout your room. You can connect up to 100 compatible speakers with PartyBoost.