There are a great deal of small Bluetooth audio system on the market, with some massive, established manufacturers providing some nice choices. One such compact possibility is the JBL Flip 6, a sound cylinder that for each its dimension and worth packs in some cool options and strong sound high quality.
We’ve had a while to get to know the Flip 6, and now we’re going to try what we thought concerning the speaker and its out of doors listening credentials. Is that this among the finest Bluetooth audio system? Let’s discover out.
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JBL Flip 6: Worth and availability
The Flip 6 is priced tremendous properly – you may choose one up for nearly all the foremost stores for $129/£99. That’s a strong worth, and it implies that it is one of many cheaper Bluetooth speaker choices from one of many greater, extra recognizable manufacturers.
That places it squarely within the sights of the likes of the Increase 3, a speaker from Logitech’s UE line that prices $149. That’ll be a bigger and louder speaker, however you’ll pay barely extra. The JBL stays an excellent, barely lower-cost possibility.
JBL Flip 6: What I appreciated
This factor feels dense in my hand. Extra so than some other speaker at this worth that I’ve tried, it feels actually strong and actually rugged. That goes with the IP67 mud and water resistance, so that you’ll be capable to drop it in a stream and never fear about it getting damaged – though you’ll most likely not wish to go away it submerged for too lengthy.
It appears to be like good too, with its enjoyable bass radiators on the facet that bounce once you’re listening to music and its nearly full overlaying in a sound-transparent mesh. It is available in some cool colours to make it even jazzier, like a cool crimson, a camouflage, or a type of salmon pink. There are a complete of 9 colours general, and you’ll find all of them on the JBL web site. The model we’ve right here is black, and fairly fetching it’s too. I’d name it stealth.
Inside that cool-looking exterior lie some fairly spectacular internals. There’s sufficient battery for what JBL says is 12 hours. My testing has given me just below that, at round 10 hours, however I used to be simply above mid-volume so the componentry inside was probably sipping extra juice than they could in any other case. You may hook the speaker as much as the respectable JBL moveable app, after which you may join two or extra audio system along with the PartyBoost button on high. I, alas, was not capable of take a look at out this function, so I’m unable to touch upon its efficacy.
I can, nonetheless, touch upon how good it sounds – and I’m completely satisfied to report that it’s fairly good. Now, I wasn’t anticipating world-changing sound right here, however I’m happy sufficient with the marginally bass-heavy sound profile that the speaker has. That implies that exterior it’ll have extra punch and presence, and it makes the small speaker really feel greater than it truly is, permitting it to be extra versatile than different audio system.
Enjoying Drum & Bass on the speaker actually reveals off a few of its strengths, and there’s no higher than Excessive Contrasts’ Racing inexperienced. The monitor builds completely, and the give attention to the bass frequencies provides within the important kick that the monitor wants. It could possibly be a contact extra sparkly so as to add some extra of these tinkling cymbals in, but it surely’s in any other case a stellar efficiency.
Change gears to Kendrick Lamar’s XXX and the Flip 6 continues to impress with all that low-end grunt. The dearth of high-end turns into much less of an issue now, and the speaker has a good time with the rap monitor.
When you’ve listened to your 12 hours of music, you may cost it with the USB C port on the again.
When you’ve listened to your 12 hours of music, you may cost it with the USB C port on the again. That can cost it up in 2 hours half-hour– no quick cost, sadly, but it surely doesn’t take that lengthy.
JBL Flip 6: What I didn’t like
Whereas there’s loads of quantity headroom right here, you may not wish to use it. The upper the quantity goes, the extra the music turns into distorted, and rather less good to hearken to. Preserve it beneath about 8 o’clock, and also you’ll be nice, but it surely’s annoying that it needs to be stated. It is no worse than different small, moveable audio system.
For some genres, the reliance on the decrease register can be an issue. Jazz turns into overly bassy and loses its element, and rock and steel is usually a little too drowned out within the combine. It’s not terrible, but it surely’s noticeable.
Lastly, the lanyard on the speaker is nice and enjoyable, but it surely doesn’t really feel notably reliable. I’m undecided I’d wish to slip it on a loop on my bag, and it takes a few of the luster off the remainder of the durability of the speaker.
JBL Flip 6: Competitors
We’ve reviewed the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Discover, one other rugged open air possibility. It’s a extra luxurious possibility that sounds higher, though it is a good bit costlier. If you would like one thing that doesn’t go tremendous loud and sounds unimaginable, then that is an excellent possibility, however for worth and quantity go for this selection.
We’re nonetheless but to evaluate the UE Increase 3, but it surely’s a pleasant speaker that has glorious quantities of quantity. It does price a bit extra, nonetheless.
JBL Flip 6: Must you purchase this?
You can purchase this if:
- You desire a strong speaker for beneath $100
- You like bassy music
- You need one thing rugged
You shouldn’t purchase this…
- You wish to max out the quantity
- You want extra restrained music
- You don’t want a speaker for the outside
JBL Flip 6: Verdict
The Flip 6 is a wonderful little speaker for the value, with adequate sound high quality for most individuals, and a cool rugged exterior. It’s not good, and audiophiles aren’t going to be massive followers, however it’s a nice possibility for nearly everybody else.
Small however highly effective
We cherished the JBL Flip 6, with its outdoorsy enjoyable and strong construct. It doesn’t sound probably the most refined, but it surely’s an excellent little speaker at a terrific worth.
