JBL unleashes a bigger beast in their range of acclaimed Bluetooth speakers. How does it compare to the others in the stable? Read on to find out…
A few months ago I had the pleasure of testing out a new portable JBL speaker; the Flip 4. This was another Bluetooth speaker from the JBL production line and followed on from predecessors seamlessly. The sound quality was great for such a small unit and the build quality was superb. It was received extremely well and JBL seem to have a knack when it comes to the type of product. Previous versions of that Flip speaker were also fantastic. JBL have released other products of this type such as the Charge series, again very well received.
But what about something a bit bigger? Something a bit meatier perhaps? Well from JBL we now have a different monster altogether; the JBL Xtreme.
When you pick up the Xtreme, you can definitely feel the quality. As I’ve come to expect from JBL, the build is superb and the splash proof nature of the product makes it ideal for taking outside. “Outside?!” you say? Yup. Simply charge it up and it will last for up to 15 hours of continuous playback. So here we have a splash proof, (don’t submerge it in water though), wireless outdoor Bluetooth speaker. But that’s not all. There are twin USB outputs so you can charge your mobile devices, alongside the ability to take crystal clear phones calls from your mobile at the touch of a button. Add in the fact that you can connect a few of these speakers together via the JBL Connect feature and you’ve really got a lot to get stuck into here.
Getting your teeth sunk into the Xtreme is one thing but it’s not a snack we’re after here, it’s the sound quality that matters most so here we go…
I easily connect to the Xtreme from my iPhone via Bluetooth and I’m playing in seconds. My first thought is how powerful this is for such a small unit. It certainly packs a powerful punch and you can definitely see where JBL are going with this. Playing my personal favourite artist, Blink 182, is an awesome listen. Those pop punk power chords and unmistakable drum riffs come smashing through the speaker without hesitation.
I get the impression that this speaker is made to be a lot of fun. It’s bold, powerful and engaging. Although it would be happy plugging along as some background music whilst you go about your daily routine, I feel the Xtreme is built to be better than that. It’s meant to be turned up and played to the max. Pushing it isn’t an issue, and I’m really impressed.
If you want to be suitably impressed then pop down to your local Richer Sounds and have a listen to the Xtreme, or test out any of the wide range of wireless speakers we have on offer.
Click to find out more about the JBL Xtreme.
Author: Bradley, Plymouth store
