Keep the good times going with super-efficient USB-C charging, and control sound settings with the Sony | Music Center app. Music-synced Lightshows. 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. But I have to imagine that chain of connections also affects total battery life to some degree. The JBL Charge 5 is the next generation of the JBL Charge 4. It uses the JBL Connect app, as opposed to the Charge 5 that uses the JBL Portable app. The JBL Charge 5 is the latest evolution in the long-lived Bluetooth speaker line. It boasts marginal improvements, both sonically and aesthetically, over its predecessor, the five-star Charge 4. This smart speaker is waterproof. 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. However, the Sony comes with a ClearAudio+ feature advertised to automatically adjust its sound according to your audio. The Charge 5 is smaller and more portable than the Boombox 2. Regardless of where you are positioned around the speaker, it sounds pretty good, which makes it excellent for parties. Disappointed. He writes about music, technology and movies from his home in Georgia. The first time you press and hold the power button to turn on the speaker, it will automatically enter pairing mode. That said, like many Sony speakers we've tested, the Sony has a ClearAudio+ feature advertised to adjust the speaker's sound according to your audio content and can get louder than the JBL. Specs & Features. If you really dont think you need the charging ability, you could save some money and get the Flip instead. JBL Flip 5 and Charge 5 have a USB C port and Bluetooth connectivity options. Youre not getting Wi-Fi (which means no Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, etc.) Visit Jim Coleman Toyota in Bethesda MD serving Potomac, Rockville and Washington,DC #JTMEB3FV4PD117796 Dialogue is reproduced clearly, so you can follow along with your favorite shows with ease. 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. 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. The Charge 4 is still a good speaker, even with the advent of the Charge 5. Built-in USB port plays music stored on a thumb drive. The Sonos is smaller and more portable than the JBL. And the Charge 5 doesn't include features like auxiliary inputs or Siri/Google Assistant voice input found in a more expensive model, like the $350 JBL Extreme 3 or $299 Bose SoundLink Revolve+ . That said, the Ankercan get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. You can use an audio cable to plug it into the aux input. It will take a bit to get everything fleshed out, but we will update this review (and many others!) Additionally, you can connect the JBL to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers to create a stereo pair or when you want your audio to fill a large room. Plus, it gives you access to sound customization tools in the JBL Portable app. It has a longer-lasting battery life. 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. Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. It's a little pricey though, so anyone who already has an older JBL Charge speaker shouldn't feel the need to upgrade. This review is part of TechHives coverage of thebest Bluetooth speakers, where youll find reviews of the competitions offerings, plus a buyers guide to the features you should consider when shopping for this type of product. You can tell its meant to fill an outdoor space such as at the beach or the forest on your next hike with plenty of sound: it was almost too much for my rather cramped office. Whether your season is full of trips to the beach or backyard parties, you'll need just the right speaker to DJ these events. The app is also how you manage PartyBoost, to connect to another JBL speaker in stereo mode or party mode. IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. Its an elegant and useful design touch. If the near-$200 price tag of the JBL Charge 5 scares you, wed recommend looking at the older JBL Charge 4. This may also have been a result of the chlorinated water, since JBL does not ensure that its speakers can withstand saltwater or chlorinated water. 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 only way to play music over this speaker is Bluetoothyou. It also has a better-balanced sound profile than the Anker out of the box. CHARGING. There are no racing lights, no speakerphone, and you cant plug in another audio source. 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. Having six colors to choose from is nice, though this is actually a step back from the Charge 4, which was available in 12 colors. The JBL Charge 4 can't deliver real sub-bass, but in the context of most songs it gets close enough to satisfy. It wont interface with any of your smart home gear either. If you opt for Stereo Mode, the next time you play music from the primary speaker, it will play music in stereo through both speakers. The Marshall Emberton II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 5, though they have different strengths. Plus, multi-device pairing allows you to connect it to up to two audio sources at once, making it easy to switch between listening from your phone and your laptop. Theres also no AUX or USB input, so you cant plug in another music source. Keep reading our full JBL Charge 5 review to find out if its still worth your cash. 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. Though there are no buttons to skip backward on the JBL Charge 5, it has pretty much all the other controls youd need. It also has better directivity, so you'll perceive its soundstage as more open and spacious than the Sony speaker. JBL Charge 3 is also waterproof rugged design Cons the new model is about 20 percent larger and heavier rubberised exterior will shrug off knocks and bumps the mid-range feels distinctly cold More pros & cons Key specs Bluetooth: yes Wireless network (wi-fi): no Speakerphone: yes Impedance: 80 Playback time: 20 h Battery capacity: 6000 mAh Hope this helps. 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 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. It can also get louder and offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass than the Pulse 4. Heres how it works. Aux input for non-Bluetooth(R) devices, 1/4 in. The JBL Charge 5 isn't really designed for listening to movies, but if you want to watch a video from your paired smartphone, it can get the job done. However, the Bose is a bit smaller in size and supports voice assistants through your smartphone. In fact, SoundGuys Executive Editor Chris Thomas once DJd a small wedding with a pair of JBL Charge 3 speakersthe Charge 5 could certainly pull that off. 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. Its also worth noting that tracks from services that offer lossless streaming (such as Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music) sound noticeably better on the Charge 5 than the lossy tracks available from Spotify or YouTube Music. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In this article, we compare the new JBL Flip 6 to the Flip 5. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Anker. In other words, it should be able to survive a trip to the beach or even a dunk in the pool. The biggest change is the JBL logo: its much bigger, sotheres no doubt who made this speaker. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XE200, though they perform similarly. Unfortunately, JBL stopped adding aux inputs to their portable speakers a few years ago, so the newest JBL Charge 5 only carries Bluetooth. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone. 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. Tell us a bit more about you so we can get to know each other better. PartyBoost is JBLs tool that allows you to connect multiple speakers together for a louder sound. So they do exist outside of the OEM accessories. While the Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile, the Xtreme 2 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That gives the speaker a bit more visual flair, but also causes it to lean like the Tower of Pisa if you want to stand it on one end instead of laying it flat. 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. This should trigger a flashing light when it's in pairing mode and a solid blue light once it's paired. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. However, the JBL can get louder than the Sonos with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. In addition to solid colors like black, red, teal, gray and the blue version we received, theres also a version with a camouflage finish. That said, it was a close call. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Its durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing keep the Flip 5 safe while you let loose in the great outdoors. Dimensions (W x H x D): 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm / 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inch. 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. 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. Have you ever gone on a longer, multi-day hiking or camping weekend and found yourself constantly turning your phone off, switching battery modes, trying to eke out as much juice as possible over a few days? If Id had the Charge 5, I wouldnt have had to fret so much. With the Charge 5, it makes a few small changes especially to the design while also simplifying certain features. If you have an iPhone, you can use your lightning USB cord to charge it, but make sure it has a USB-A connector at the other end. On the road You can fully submerge it without issue and its lightweight enough to throw in your beach bag. Unfortunately, many new USB Type-C dongles and headphones make use of this mode, and support isnt universal in the smartphone space either. Great sound. The IP67 rating means you can expose this device to dust and water liberally without excessive worry. . Light rain or shower jets wont pose a threat in the slightest. Party hosts should get the JBL Charge 5 as it produces exceptionally loud sound for a portable speaker. The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. touchscreen, six JBL [jbl] speakers including subwoofer and amplifier, hands-free phone capability and music streaming [bluetooth] via Bluetooth [bluetooth] wireless technology, Android Auto [android_auto] & Apple CarPlay [carplay . Your two JBL Charge speakers must be of the same generation for stereo mode to work, and it also wont work with two different models of JBL speakers released in the same year, either. 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. Cover your outdoor party with 160 watts of JBL's big pro-level sound. It also has a longer battery life, lasting over 14 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage. This, too, is more affordable than the Charge 5, despite offering Wi-Fi connectivity and voice assistant smarts. The Charge 5 delivers very good sound for a speaker its size, with easy-to-hear vocals and impressive bass. At just under $180, this isn't the most affordable speaker on the market, even in its own . Sorry bois im a bit late to the party. A subreddit dedicated to everything USB-C. Press J to jump to the feed. On the road. The JBL Flip 6s new, larger logo scuffs more easily than the Flip 5s small red badge. The other main difference is that the Charge 5 has Bluetooth 5.1 and the Charge 4 has Bluetooth 4.2. The Sony SRS-XB33 is a slightly better speaker than JBL Charge 5. According to JBL support, the range can extend to 15 meters if you're in an open environment. Just select the Charge 5 from your devices Bluetooth settings and you should hear the signature sound of a JBL speaker being connected. The speaker is nice to look at and hold, and it has the shape and approximate weight of a football. This small, lightweight speaker can be carried in one hand, making it easy to take when you're on the move. Some people dont trust the waterproofing that IP ratings promise, and we dont blame them. 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 . There are plenty of very good speakers that dont offer the same fit, finish or volume that you get from the JBL Charge 5, and many of those cost a lot less. The Charge 5 provides warm, robust sound whether inside or out. Next to them, you'll see a well-observable charge bar to indicate a low battery. 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. The result is a basic but rugged portable Bluetooth speaker, and one that sounds good enough to contend with the best waterproof speakers. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. The JBL Charge 5 is a premium speaker that sounds great, has remarkably well designed controls, and boasts an iconic design.