JBL Charge 5
MSRP $180.00
“Everyone will hear the JBL Charge 5 when you start it up.”
Avg
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Solid build quality
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It can be very loud
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Excellent protection against water and dust
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EQ offers certain sound adjustments
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Works with the JBL Portable app and PartyBoost
Against
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Cannot be stereo paired with JBL speakers without charging
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It doesn’t work as a speakerphone
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Not a huge upgrade over the Charge 4
Search for Bluetooth speaker and you will find different sizes to choose from. It’s up to you to decide which one best suits your lifestyle, but when you have many options, finding the best value isn’t always easy. JBL speakers come in a variety of sizes, and one of their defining characteristics is that they sound bigger than they appear.
That’s where the JBL Charge 5 comes in. It’s mid-sized and packs a lot of punch, but has JBL changed the sound too much by changing some things in design and functionality? Let’s look.
Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends
What’s in the box
You won’t find much to go by in the box. Apart from the speaker itself, JBL only includes a USB-C charging cable and a quick guide. If you’ve used previous Charge speakers, you might be wondering where the 3.5mm Aux-In cable is, and it’s not here because JBL has removed that port. This speaker is completely wireless.
Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends
To shape
JBL doesn’t reinvent the wheel with the Charge 5, sticking to a very familiar look that doesn’t differ too much from the previous version. I’m mainly referring to the aesthetics, where apart from the more pronounced logo and battery indicator on the front, plus the rubberized handles on the bottom, many of the same elements are applied.
The weight and dimensions are negligible compared to the Charge 4, except that the 5 is more robust.
The tightly woven fabric still looks and feels great, while bumpers on each side protect the passive radiators. The button layout on the top remains the same, while the back has a USB-C port for charging, along with a USB-A port that you can use to charge other devices, essentially turning the speaker into a power bank.
The weight and dimensions are negligible compared to the Charge 4, except that the 5 is more robust. Instead of keeping the previous IPX7 rating for water resistance, JBL has instead added good dust resistance for an excellent IP67 rating. That includes salt water and sand, so this speaker is just as suited to the beach as it is around the pool or bathtub.
Its overall size makes it a bit too large to be very portable. You could put it in your bag and take it with you for a ride, but it’s definitely not something you want to carry around for long periods of time. It doesn’t have a handle or any indentation for easy portability, but it’s the kind of speaker that you can relatively easily take with you on a trip or from one room to another.
Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends
Setup and configuration
It was easy to pair the Charge 5 right from the start, and I noticed an improvement in connectivity. The Charge 4 ran on Bluetooth 4.2, while the Charge 5 uses 5.1. That offset helps stabilize the connection and plays a key role in why the sound doesn’t drop out as you move away from the speaker.
It can also pair with two devices at once, but it doesn’t help with calls because it’s not a speakerphone. There’s no microphone, which means you also only hear what your voice assistant is saying and you still have to speak into your phone to issue commands. Pairing with two devices lets you easily switch from one to the other when you want to hear what they’re playing.
The JBL Portable app (formerly the Connect app) for iOS or Android offers limited features, but a key one that wasn’t there when the Charge 5 first launched was a three-band EQ. It’s modest in scope, with available bass, midrange and treble, each with five levels that you can move and adjust. You might think that’s overkill for a JBL speaker, but you might find this speaker more restrained than it looks. I’ve seen better results tilting the midrange up, but if you want more rumbling bass, you can always turn it up a notch.
PartyBoost returns and sticks to the same formula, meaning you can pair the Charge 5 with other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers for simultaneous music playback. If you want to pair the left and right channels in stereo, you must pair it with another Charge 5. Note that once you turn on PartyBoost and connect to another speaker, you lose EQ and the connected speakers revert to their default sound profile.
Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends
Sound quality
I installed a firmware update while testing the Charge 5 which probably affected the sound quality, especially focusing on the bass. I’ve never been able to test the Charge 4, so I can’t be sure of any upgrades on that front, but the portable app’s EQ can push the sound to greater depths once you start fiddling with the balance that works for you.
It’s a resonant speaker because its sound goes further than you’d expect.
The good news is that doing so makes an audible difference. You don’t get a JBL speaker for high-resolution audiophile sound. The Charge 5 only supports AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs anyway. When you’re just looking for sound that makes your tunes play loud and clear, the Charge 5 can certainly get you there because of its volume. Distortion starts to kick in at really high volumes, but lingers long enough before you get around to entertaining a group or crowd.
It’s a resonant speaker because its sound goes further than you’d expect. In smaller rooms, you don’t necessarily have to turn up the volume to feel it. You might see this as only relevant to bass-heavy genres of music, but I’d argue that’s actually not true. There’s enough here to enjoy just about anything you like to listen to, and the EQ, while limited, gives you some flexibility to tweak it to your liking.
It’s a good sign for parties and barbecues and people with eclectic tastes. No one there would expect perfection from a speaker like this, but they’d probably be surprised how well they can hear it from standing further away.
Ted Kritsonis/Digital Trends
Battery life
JBL estimates battery life of up to 20 hours per charge, but don’t expect to get that. If JBL had kept the 3.5mm Aux-In jack, that might be a possibility, but Bluetooth and volume are the deciding factors. I didn’t have to be too loud that often, so my mileage was usually around 15 to 17 hours. Not bad at all, except if you run out of juice it will take up to four hours to fully charge again. You can also plug in to charge it while playing when the battery runs out if you can place it near a wall outlet or keep a power bank handy.
The speaker’s own power bank feature plays its part in battery life. If you use the included USB-C cable and flip it the other way around to plug the USB-A side into the rear port to charge something else via USB-C, you’ll naturally lose some of its playback life.
Our opinion
You can find the Charge 5 for $180, which is a pretty standard price for a mid-sized speaker like this. Whether its size and price will work for you depends on your needs and budget, but your money definitely buys a volume that works well. Its added durability also stands out, making it versatile in terms of where and when you decide to play it. There are also six colors to choose from, including the standard camouflage finish.
Is there a better alternative?
Given the limited differences between it and the Charge 4, it’s not a bad idea to consider the latter as an option, especially if you want a 3.5mm jack. The Ultimate Ears MegaBoom 3 is $200 more expensive, but offers serious durability and more 360-degree surround sound, plus color options.
If you prefer to use a speaker at home rather than one that you take with you on trips and outings, you might want to check out the Sonos Move. It’s portable enough to move from room to room, but it’s not the kind of speaker you want too close to the water. And if you don’t appreciate its smart speaker or whole-home audio capabilities, its $400 price tag is hard to justify.
How long will it last?
JBL makes their speakers play loud without breaking down, so it’s a good thing you can keep them around for a long time. The biggest concern is water or salt somehow damaging the internal components, which you can avoid by washing off the sand or salt after a day at the beach, JBL has a one-year warranty to cover damage, but read the fine print about water damage, as the company may not cover every case .
Should you buy it?
Yes, especially if you don’t already have such a speaker. This is not the kind of product you upgrade on an annual basis. You get it and hold on to it for as long as you need. I’d think twice before doing this if you already have a Charge 4, where the upgrade probably won’t seem that significant.
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Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn