amazon JBL Charge 3 reviews
JBL has been very successful with its portable speakers on the market but with the increasingly fierce competition from other brands as well as from cheap Chinese mobile loudspeakers, JBL must soon decide reposition is inevitable. With the definition of lines:
– Go: the company’s smallest portable speaker for users with the most basic needs.
– Clip: compact speaker like Go but has additional keychains and water resistant so you can take it out.
– Flip: the company’s best-selling loudspeaker line when balancing the cost-sound-feature
– Charge: The loudspeaker is bigger with the combination of portable worry and mobile charger as one. Sound quality is also improved with Flip line.
-Extreme: loudspeaker for true mobile audio lovers and not afraid of its size.
– Boombox: the sound boom of JBL when it can light up with other wired speakers. 1 boom with a terrible sound comes in a huge size.
So how did JBL reposition his Charge line? We will learn through a detailed review of this JBL Charge 3.
Design changes to be more suitable for JBL’s design language
JBL has redesigned the Charge line with a larger size. Charge 3 has a length x width x height of 213 x 87 x 88.5mm, and the size of Charge 2 is 184 x 75 x 79mm. So overall, Charge 3 is longer than 3 cm and higher and about 1 cm wider. Although the dimensions are only a few centimeters each, Charge 3’s volume is nearly 1.5 times greater than Charge 2. This is also reflected in the weight of two speakers when Charge 2 only weighs about 500grams but Charge weighs about 800 grams. The increase in size and weight will of course come with other improved features that we will explore later, but we analyze this change.
As you can see, the size and weight of Flip 3 and Charge 2 is not much different, along with the features of the two speakers are not much different. Meanwhile JBL is positioning Charge 2 in the higher segment with a higher price. This makes users choose to buy Flip 3 more and make Charge 2 compete with their own products. When you look at Charge 3, it’s completely different in size and weight compared to JBL Flip 3.
In addition, JBL has also replaced the external speaker metal with hard plastic material combined with fabric like other Flip models. This sturdy cover now runs all over the speaker body, not divided into two like the previous one. The 2-speaker rubber is also redesigned to resemble the Flip series. These 2 rubber rings are not completely round but slightly wavy so that when you erect the speaker stand, the bass can still escape. On the speaker body, the buttons are rearranged, including buttons like: bluetooth, volume down, power, JBL Connect, volume up, play / pause. The 2 power buttons and JBL Connect are located on a plastic strip while the remaining buttons are located directly on the speaker body, which is somewhat difficult to see because they are the same color as the speaker. Also located on the speaker body are micro usb ports, usb A, 3.5mm protected by a plastic cover.
1 upgrade in the design of JBL Charge 3 compared to life 2 is 2 full-range speakers have been upgraded from 45mm size to 50mm. A worthwhile upgrade because with 2 upgraded full-range speakers, the JBL Charge 3’s sound quality promises to improve a lot compared to Charge 2. Although the Charge 3 battery stays at 6000mAh but the time for playing music now Now it has increased by 8 hours to 20 hours compared to 12 hours of Charge 2. These 2 upgrades, although you don’t see it outside, you’ll feel it when you use it. So it can be said Charge 3 is an upgrade both inside and outside compared to JBL Charge 2.
The packaging and accessories are still the same as the previous Charge lines. White box combined with orange and some important front information such as battery life of up to 20 hours, IPX7 standard waterproof, talk microphone, battery status report. Accessories still include 1 5V-2A charger and 1 orange micro usb charging cable.
Upgraded technology, increased speaker capacity by more than 30%
JBL has upgraded bluetooth 3.0 technology on JBL charge 2 to bluetooth 4.1 on JBL Charge 3. Bluetooth 4.1 for longer range as well as increased stability when connected to sound setting modes such as: HFP v1 .5, HSP v1.2, A2DP v1.2, AVRCP v1.5
A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile): mechanism to transmit audio (stereo) from mobile device via Bluetooth to headphones, music speakers.
AVRCP (Audio – Video Remote Control Profile): Allows adjusting functions such as volume, play, pause, next, forward on a Bluetooth device.
HSP / HFP (Headset Profile / Hands-free Profile): This function helps us to capture and exchange via remote headset.
As mentioned in the design, JBL has increased the size of 2 speakers to 50mm, JBL has also increased the capacity of 2 speakers from 7.5 watts per speaker to 10 watts per speaker (up 33% of capacity). This also helps to increase the frequency range that speakers achieve from 75- 20,000Hz to 65-20,000HZ. This promises JBL to give a stronger bass.
In addition, JBL is also equipped with IPX7 waterproof 3 Charge. One of the highest waterproof standards available today. But one thing I wonder is why the speakers are equipped with waterproof standards and the company also encourages users to bring speakers in outdoor activities such as swimming, camping, but the distributor distributes 2 stamps outside the speaker . I wonder if when these two stamps are torn or peeled, will the speakers still be released? In my opinion, the distributor should proceed to the electronic or stamp warranty where there is less damage.
where can you get a JBL Charge 3 online
JBL Charge 3 JBLCHARGE3BLKAM Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black): Buy it now
JBL Charge 3 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker -Black (Renewed): Buy it now
JBL Charge 3 Waterproof Portable Rechargeable Bluetooth Wireless Speaker with Echo Cancelling Speakerphone, Black: Buy it now
JBL Charge 3 Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Bundle with Protective Case – Grey: Buy it now
Powerful sound full of energy
The sound on JBL Charge 3 is a big step for JBL. Let’s first review JBL Charge 2.
Through the JBL Charge 2’s response, you can see that Charge 2’s bass range at 80% volume only drops to the frequency of 45Hz. In addition, when reducing the volume, Charge 2’s bass range also decreased markedly. This is also one of the points that users complain most in JBL Charge 2, because not everyone needs to listen to loudspeakers at high volume levels.
One other weakness of JBL Charge 2 is the high range when the vertical speaker is significantly reduced. Although when you put the speaker stand, the 2 full-range speakers are not covered, but a passive bass speaker has been covered, limiting its ability to operate. Since then, the resonance in the speaker is affected and affects other bands of the speaker
With JBL Charge 3, JBL has somehow won that
JBL Charge 3’s bass range has been improved, helping it to come down later (about 20Hz) compared to JBL Charge 2 (about 30Hz).
Another opponent of the Charge line is the UE Boom, which cannot give deep down bass like Charge 3. One of the features that JBL upgraded on JBL Charge 3 to improve sound is the ability to connect multiple speakers to via JBL Connect software: you can connect JBL Charge 3 speakers together or JBL Charge 3 and other speakers also support JBL Connect.
The first song I selected is the “Mission Imposiable 4” movie. With the price and sound capabilities of JBL Charge 3, watching movies with this speaker is a real demand in the market.
With scenes of explosions or shooting in the movie, JBL Charge 3 performed very well. Although not yet able to show the 3D of the sound, the bombs that exploded in the movie when JBL Charge 3 rang out also made your heart beat.
Listen to an EDM song “Don not let me down” then this time Charge 3 will show all my power. Bass is fast, compact, full of energy. We can say the bass range on JBL Charge 3 is a bass strip that impresses me. With a small body of portable speakers, two passive bass speakers, what JBL Charge 3 brings in the bass range is great.
Conclude
It can be said that JBL has relocated the Charge line more clearly as well as increased the competitiveness of Charge line compared to competitors. Maybe have to mention the strengths of JBL Charge 3 like:
– Beautiful design than the old line
– Prices do not change but the sound is much improved.
– Bass is less lost at low volume
– High shimmering range.
– Bass is stronger, deeper than other competitors.
– Upgrade standard bluetooth to bluetooth 4.1
– Longer battery life, up to 20 hours.
– Ability to charge for other devices.
– JBL Connect software helps connect multiple speakers together.
Some limitations that speakers still have such as:
– There are not many colors for users to choose.
– 2 passive bass speakers perishable and the company also does not offer people to use bags or bags to protect the speaker.
– There are no current connection standards such as NFC, AptX.
– Still losing bass at low volume.