If youre looking for a single speaker to use at home and on your outdoor excursions, its easy to find a spot for the speaker on a bookcase or tabletop. Karaoke function. JBL Charge 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in power bank. Unfortunately, the JBL Charge 5 doesnt have an aux port so wired listening is not an option. The JBL Charge 5 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3. Dialogue is reproduced clearly, so you can follow along with your favorite shows with ease. The speaker has onboard controls, and while it doesnt include a button to skip backward a track, double-pressing the play button will skip forward. It isnt jaw-dropping, shelf speaker quality, but for a portable speaker that doubles as a charging bank, its darn good. 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. 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. It supports voice assistants through your smartphone too. It has an IP67 rating, can be paired to another MEGABOOM 3 for a more powerful sound, and has a strong bass response. 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. Still, you probably shouldn't bathe with itthat's just weird, right? As with the last few versions, the Charge 5 is wrapped in mesh the same as you'd get on the JBL Go 3 and has rubber end caps. The speaker ships in black, blue, camouflage, gray, red, and teal flavors. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. The Bose SoundLink Revolve II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. Everything is wrapped in a woven fabric cover with smooth silicone accents. The JBL Charge 5 is satisfactory for podcasts. The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5, though they have different strengths. It also has a much longer battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage. JBL is Americas sweetheart when it comes to waterproof Bluetooth speakers. 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. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Depends on the smartphone and the adapter. Its also worth noting the varied color schemes available. 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. JBL Flip 5 JBL Charge 5 JBL Pulse 4 JBL Go 3 JBL link 20. Its sound profile is more customizable, thanks to the bass and treble adjustments featured on its companion app. No. DAC is necessary for the signals to flow so the phones that removed the jack AND the DAC, they had to send an adapter, which has a DAC built-in, along with the phone in the box. Nothing beats the amazing JBL Original Pro Sound with deep bass. The row of controls across the top of the speaker is raised and the PartyBoost (more on PartyBoost in a moment), volume down, volume up and play/pause buttons each have a unique shape, so its easy to access the controls in the dark. So they do exist outside of the OEM accessories. Customers send back defective products and JBL fixes them before reselling them at a discounted price. Download the JBL Portable app to access JBL PartyBoost and firmware updates. Yes, you are able to use the speaker while its charging. The JBL Charge 5 is a very good Bluetooth speaker. On the road. 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. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. The power on/off and Bluetooth pairing controls are located on a smooth strip in the middle, but each control is easy to select because the shape of the logo is ever-so-slightly depressed into the strip. Now granted this only proves that units in demo/aux mode are confirmed to support it however A bit of research on the tube shows that JBL Speakers can be put into this mode via holding Play+Bluetooth while plugged into a computer via USB to in which the unit will accept PC audio via the USB-C Cable :O, Sourced from here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olkOpfYQi8Q&t=136s,. 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. The PartyBoost button pairs two JBL speakers together in stereo mode or multiple speakers in party mode to spread the sound more widely. And the Megaboom 3 is a better all-around speaker, too, in terms of both sound and features. Keep reading our full JBL Charge 5 review to find out if its still worth your cash. Depending on your preferences, you may prefer either the Ultimate Ears BOOM 3 or the JBL Charge 5. 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. If the near-$200 price tag of the JBL Charge 5 scares you, wed recommend looking at the older JBL Charge 4. The Charge 4 has an IPX7 waterproof fabric so you dont have to worry about water damage. Transducer: 52 mm x 90 mm woofer, 20 mm tweeter Rated output power: 30 W RMS for woofer, 10 W RMS for tweeter Frequency response: 65 Hz - 20 kHz Signal-to-noise ratio: > 80 dB Battery type: Li-ion polymer 27 Wh (equivalent to 3.6 V/ 7500 mAh) Battery charge time: 4 hours (5 V / 3 A) Music play time: up to 20 hours (dependent on . On notoriously low-fi recordings like Question Mark and the Mysterianss 96 Tears and the 13th Floor Elevatorss Youre Gonna Miss Me, the Charge 5 doesnt sand off the rough edges that give garage-rock classics like these their sonic teeth. This leads to many compatibility problems that consumers experience today. Regarding battery life, JBL has rated the roughly 20,000mAh battery inside the PartyBox 310 to last for 18 hours, depending on the volume and audio content, and takes 3.5 hours to charge to full. However, it also ends up more expensive than even better-sounding speakers with more features. The JBL PartyBox 110 is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker to light up a backyard party. The Charge 5 supports Bluetooth 5.1 along with the A2DP 1.3 and AVRCP 1.6 streaming profiles. 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). This robust, rubber-capped speaker earns its title thanks to its ability to charge up another device (like a phone or tablet) while simultaneously filling your space with rockin tunesits kind of like two products in one, presenting a notable value. The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. New York, 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. If you're looking for a speaker with a fantastic soundstage, check out the Sony SRS-RA3000. On songs like the Byrds Mr. It doesnt have many frills, aside from being able to charge another portable device, but it delivers impressive vocals and bass, and it can withstand the elements. All your audio must be streamed from a Bluetooth device, most likely your phone. If you really dont think you need the charging ability, you could save some money and get the Flip instead. When smartphones started removing the jack, some of them removed the DAC too, which converts the digital signals to analog signals. Its an elegant and useful design touch. What's not to like: Our testers find the Charge 5 to be. Toyota Audio Multimedia and 11-speaker JBL [jbl] Premium Audio $1410 10.5-in. The Charge 5 delivers very good sound for a speaker its size, with easy-to-hear vocals and impressive bass. The JBL Charge 5 is a great speaker for indoors or outdoors. The Charge 5 received a fairly significant redesign from the Charge 4. This, too, is more affordable than the Charge 5, despite offering Wi-Fi connectivity and voice assistant smarts. The app also offers a basic equalizer that has studio-style sliders to control bass, mid, and treble frequencies. Aux input for non-Bluetooth(R) devices, 1/4 in. The Charge 5 has an official IP67 rating, which means it can withstand dust and handle submersion in up to 1 meter of tap water for up to 30 minutesthis squares with our experience. 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. The most recent addition to the Charge series is the JBL Charge 5. With a new look, a little more ruggedness and improved sound, the JBL Charge 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers just not one of the cheapest. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Anker. It has an IP67 rating and sounds great, and if you want to integrate it into your Sonos ecosystem you can. 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. 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. It's popular for its compact, simple, and high-quality design. Toyota Yaris from 22,110. As a result, it's suitable for listening to lots of different genres, and its graphic EQ allows you to switch up its sound to your liking. The JBL Xtreme 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Clip 4 overall, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. For an even smaller and more portable speaker, check out the JBL Flip 6 or the Marshall Willen. Also, while the Flip 4 is compatible with JBL speakers that support JBL Connect+, the Charge 5 can only be paired to PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers. JBL's Charge 5 gets its name from its ability to charge USB-based devices like a smartphone while it plays music. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone. The following list of JBL speakers doesn't have an AUX input, so the only way to connect them is via Bluetooth. JBL Charge 5 (Black) at Amazon for $179.95 The JBL Charge 5 has a list price of $179.95, and as a new product you're unlikely to find it for much less than. Its play and pause button can also be double-pressed to skip to your next track. What you do get is a speaker that gets incredibly loud for its size without distorting, solid battery life, easy-to-use controls, and excellent protection against dust and water. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. 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. It offers a wider and more immersive-sounding soundstage that can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. JBL says the Charge 5 will run for 20 hours, the same as previous models and the same as the Megaboom 3. Get the best deals and the best advice dropped right in your inbox. The JBL Charge 5 does not have a microphone. Personalize Now Specs & Downloads Item# JBLFLIP5GRENAMCSTM Description General Specifications 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 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. Plus, as you crank up the volume, there's some more compression in the mix, which impacts the clarity of audio reproduction. See also our recommendations for the best JBL speakers, thebest Bluetooth speakers, and thebest outdoor speakers. Thats it. Credit: Reviewed / Lee Neikirk. The speaker has + and - buttons you can use to adjust the speaker's volume. It also has a slightly better-balanced sound profile. It also has better directivity, so you'll perceive its soundstage as more open and spacious than the Sony speaker. You can pair it to your devices via Bluetooth by pressing the dedicated Bluetooth button. No. The JBL Charge 5 has a fair frequency response accuracy. has a touch screen The USB C port is likely just for charging only, not connected with a DAC or anything else except to power the device. That doesnt mean the Charge 5 is perfect for everyone, of course. 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. Unfortunately, JBL stopped adding aux inputs to their portable speakers a few years ago, so the newest JBL Charge 5 only carries Bluetooth. You may prefer either the Marshall Emberton or the JBL Charge 5, depending on your preferences. Use the same cord that you use to charge the speaker, but plug in the USB-A side into the speakers port under the silicone flap, and the Charge 5 battery will drain to charge up your Android phone or another device with a USB-C charging port. The Charge 5 offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass than the Clip 4. The JBL Charge 5 is the next generation of the JBL Charge 4. On the top, youll find buttons for power, Bluetooth and volume up/down. Of course, a key feature of the Charge series is its ability to act as a power bank for your phone, though this draws from the same battery as the speaker itself. The JBL Charge 5 doesnt quite best our current Editors Choice for portable Bluetooth speakers, the Sonos Roam, which boasts Sonoss vaunted multi-room capabilities, a rugged design, and Auto Trueplay room-correction functionality for roughly the same price as the JBL. We tested the 'Black' variant. We added you to the list. 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)