That said, the Ankercan get louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. The Ultimate Ears Megaboom 3 doesn't have an auxiliary port, which means you won't be able to plug in and play from devices via a 3.5mm cable. The interface of the app is pretty easy to use and offers helpful information about each of its components. The Charge line has improved its ruggedness with each iteration. 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. Just select the Charge 5 from your devices Bluetooth settings and you should hear the signature sound of a JBL speaker being connected. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. Additionally, the USB-A port in the back is a service port, so you can charge your phone from it, but you wont be able to play music off your phone to the speaker through the port. The Charge 4 has an IPX7 waterproof fabric so you dont have to worry about water damage. POWERBANK. Dimensions (W x H x D): 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm / 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inch. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. The JBL is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. This leads to many compatibility problems that consumers experience today. The JBL Charge 5 pictured with a soda can for scale. I'll revisit this shortly. The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. That said, the JBL has a longer battery life, though this can vary depending on your usage habits. 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. No, the JBL Flip 5 does not have a USB port. Whether your season is full of trips to the beach or backyard parties, you'll need just the right speaker to DJ these events. In fact, it's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, and its long battery life is suitable for afternoons outdoors. Its a Bluetooth speaker, full stop. It can also get slightly louder, though there's some compression at max volume that may affect the clarity of your audio at louder volumes. The JBL PartyBox 310 is a large battery-powered speaker with circular RGB lights. It comes in many different colors, so you can choose one that suits your style. The cylindrical speaker has a 20-hour battery life and you can set it up for one-touch access to your streaming service of choice. MiloPeng93 2 yr. ago It is 2021 July now, JBL still havent come out with a firmware fix on this?? You can control this feature in its companion app. It also has a longer battery life, lasting over 14 hours from a single charge, though this can depend on your usage. New 2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE 5 for sale - only $47,919. While the Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile, the Xtreme 2 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. That said, the JBL Charge 5 offers a better-balanced sound profile and has a longer-lasting 14.5-hour battery life. Audio Plus with JBL [jbl] 9-in. AUX-IN and charging port. 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. 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. That said, the JBL is better built and can also get slightly louder than the Bose with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio. Unfortunately, PartyBoost doesnt work with older JBL speakers (like the Charge 4) that use the now deprecated Connect+ protocol. 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. The Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile. Monoprice DT-4BT 60-Watt Multimedia Desktop . The JBL Charge 5 is good for outdoor use. That said, the Xtreme 3 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which sounds more immersive. This speaker can withstand any rainstorm. It does, however, have Bluetooth connectivity which allows you to wirelessly stream music from any Bluetooth-enabled device. 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. 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. Perched in the middle of JBLs Bluetooth speaker lineup, the JBL Charge 5 surprises with its big sound. Its durable fabric material and rugged rubber housing keep the Flip 5 safe while you let loose in the great outdoors. 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. Ive always loved JBLs portable Bluetooth speaker design, and thats no different for the Charge 5. Unlike the Roam, theres also no wireless (Qi) charging, so cables are your only option. 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. That said, this performance is still impressive, and since battery life can vary depending on usage, your real-world experience may vary. The Boombox 2 can produce deeper bass and can get louder than the Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 is a slightly better speaker than the Sony SRS-XB23. 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. As Editor of the Home Theater vertical, Lee oversaw reviews of TVs, monitors, soundbars, and Bluetooth speakers. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The JBL Charge 5 delivers a durable, intuitive design with all of its control buttons arranged neatly in a row on top. The XB23 is IP67 waterproof, rustproof, dustproof and shockproof, with up to 12 hours of battery life, so your music never gets left behind. I toted the Charge 5 on a trip to northeast Pennsylvania and enjoyed it in a spacious hotel room. Locking my phone or opening up a different app like Instagram can also cause a rare hiccup while streaming music from Spotify. This small, lightweight speaker can be carried in one hand, making it easy to take when you're on the move. If you want to sometimes use the Charge 5 by itself, set it as the secondary speaker. It's the phones that route via analog to be the exception, and this article explains why it is in fact an inferior solution: https://www.soundguys.com/usb-audio-explained-18563/. The bass radiators do a great job of amping up the low end of your music. It gets as loud as the Sony with less compression at max volume, so audio quality sounds cleaner and clearer when you bump up the volume. The well designed controls on the top of the JBL Charge 5 allow you to control the speaker by touch. Whether I was using it inside or out, the Charge 5 provided robust sound quality with both ample volume and well-balanced frequency distribution. Below the large JBL logo is a single light that shows the amount of battery power left. Beach-goers can take advantage of the IP67 dust and water-resistant rating. However, while this Bluetooth speaker is marketed as portable, its definitely not going to fit into your pocketfor something like that, get the JBL Clip 4. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great. Next to them, you'll see a well-observable charge bar to indicate a low battery. Its sound profile is more customizable, thanks to the bass and treble adjustments featured on its companion app. The speaker has built-in 4800 mAh battery, providing 12 hours playtime and can be fast-charged with Type-C charging port. Depending on your use cases, its worth keeping in mind if you dont need the charging feature or dont think youll be away from a charging port for extended periods of time. Its sound profile is also more balanced and a bit smaller, making it easier to transport. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? The Charge 5 offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce deeper bass than the Clip 4. 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. On Apples 60s Rock Essentials playlist, the Charge 5 consistently impresses. The Sonos is smaller and more portable than the JBL. According to JBL support, the range can extend to 15 meters if you're in an open environment. However, there isn't a way to skip to your previous track. It also has a slightly better-balanced sound profile than that of the JBL. Thanks to its portable design, you can carry it with you from room to room, which is great for longer episodes. The JBL Charge 5 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers. Youre not getting Wi-Fi (which means no Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay, etc.) The JBL Charge 5 adds a silicone foot on the bottom of the speaker, which is nice and helps it stay put on flat surfaces. If you care about the subtle touches like the well designed controls and distortion-free sound that JBL has built into its entire line of speakers, then that extra money will be well spent. If you dont already have an earlier model, however, the Charge 5 is a great choice. Most folks should be able to use the Charge 5 for a couple full workdays (or play days) before they need to plug it in for revival. The $6.99 Disney Plus sale is almost over, EU 8K TV ban goes into effect heres how Samsung got around it, Succession season 4 trailer sets up the chess game for the final season, Intel leak reveals that Windows 12 could be on the way, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. The play button can also pause a track, or with a double click, advance to the next song. Additionally, it has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. 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. The Boom 3 is rated at 15 hours. 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. It has an IP67 rating and sounds great, and if you want to integrate it into your Sonos ecosystem you can. JBL's Charge 5 gets its name from its ability to charge USB-based devices like a smartphone while it plays music. 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. If the Nano does not have bluetooth, the answer is still yes. Unlike the Charge 5, the Xtreme 3 has an aux input for those of you looking to hard-wire your connection. 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. The JBL is smaller and has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box. Verdict. The Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Sony SRS-XE200, though they perform similarly. Despite all this, the Charge 5 is relatively light at a little over two pounds. The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. Unfortunately, the JBL Charge 5 doesn't have an aux port so wired listening is not an option. JBL says the Charge 5 is dust-resistant in addition to being water-resistant like the Charge 4; these are claims CR doesn't test. 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. Aux input for non-Bluetooth(R) devices, 1/4 in. Lastly, there are horizontal dots at the bottom of the speaker that light up to indicate the speaker's battery level. 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. That said, the Clip 4 is smaller and more portable thanks to its built-in carabiner hook. You may prefer either the Marshall Emberton or the JBL Charge 5, depending on your preferences. 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. 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. 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? Theres no microphone, so it doesnt double as a speakerphone. 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. It's also worth mentioning again that this model only changes a couple of things compared to the previous-gen Charge 4the Charge 5 adds dust proofing and updates its Bluetooth codecso if those aren't high on your list, you can get many of the same features for less money by opting for the older model. 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. Its audio quality is really good for a Bluetooth speaker and Im impressed with its volume output. They both offer neutral sound profiles and are well-built with IP67 ratings for dust and water resistance. 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 speaker is nice to look at and hold, and it has the shape and approximate weight of a football. Along with being waterproof, the Charge 5 adds resistance to dust, giving it an IP67 rating. The Charge 5s ability to charge up another device may earn it its namesake, but it wouldnt be worth much if it didnt sound good while doing it. The JBL Charge 5 doesn't have an auxiliary input, so wired listening methods are not available. Party hosts should get the JBL Charge 5 as it produces exceptionally loud sound for a portable speaker. If it flashes completely white, the battery is full. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio . It features a long-excursion driver, a separate tweeter, and each side houses a passive bass radiator. Does the JBL Charge 5 have a long battery life? The speaker can stay connected over a decent range too, easily handing the walk from my dining room to outside my house. F*ck increased battery life by not using BT connection while at home. The app doesnt let you make any kind of sound adjustments.