JBL Charge - the sound that is always with you. JBL Charge - the sound that is always with you
Charge 2 is a high-quality, stylish and, in general, glamorous contraption for lovers of portable sound. The latter is always a compromise, and mainly between sound quality and portability. In this case, JBL also offers a stylish look, as well as additional functionality. What? We will talk about this in the review.
Equipment
A bright package made of thick cardboard with high-quality printing hides, of course, the speaker itself, as well as an impressive power supply (5V, 2.3A), a one-meter long Micro USB cable and a bunch of accompanying documentation. Where without it? By the way, all accessories are made to match the gadget. For example, adapters and wires of the same color are attached to the red column.
In the kit there was another adapter adapter for English sockets. Whether it is not enough to whom it can be useful.
Design
Barrel! This is one word that can describe the appearance of the gadget. Of course, this is almost a standard form factor among such devices. First of all, this is due to the nuances of sound extraction. Therefore, manufacturers can only play with the appearance of their offspring due to body materials, various inserts and frills.
Let's start with materials. The speakers here are covered with a metal mesh, and the rest of the body is made of plastic with a familiar soft-touch coating. The column is pleasant to touch, to hold in hands. You feel the quality of the thing and the glamor that it exudes.
On the sides are passive radiators, which are responsible for the transmission of low frequencies. When playing audio, their vibrations are very noticeable to others and this is especially impressive for everyone. By the way, it is strongly not recommended to touch the surface of the radiators.
In the video below you can see how it looks live.
On the top plane are all the controls with their own icons. Everything in order (from left to right).
The first is the power button. Like the rest of the keys, it is not touch-sensitive, but simply bends under pressure until it clicks. The move is soft and clear.
Next comes the button to activate the Bluetooth connection. And after it, minus and plus, of course, are responsible for adjusting the volume. Of course, the sound power is controlled either on the Charge 2 itself or on the sound source. Everything is in sync.
There is also a strip of LEDs that are an indicator of the remaining charge. By default, they burn white, moonlight, and with a minimum remaining charge, the last one is highlighted with a red light.
Next comes the icon of three men. This key is responsible for activating the Social Mode. I'll talk more about this feature later.
The last key is responsible for receiving (rejecting) calls. When there is an incoming call to the paired device, the speaker starts playing something like a MIDI melody. Such a cheerful and cheerful anthem.
If the conversation turned to challenges, it is worth talking about the following.
Back to design. We had white acoustics and this is not the best color option. Yes, it looks very nice.
Pure white color adds a special charm and airiness, but it is completely impractical. Quite quickly, the body is covered with spots of unknown origin.
In fact, this is normal. Do not keep the same gadget under the flask.
On other colors, this is likely to be much less noticeable. Actually, the following palette is available: black, white, red, blue and purple.
Connectors are located on the bottom of the acoustics: Micro USB port, standard 3.5 mm audio input, and regular USB. Why the last exit is set here, I will tell in the section on nutrition.
The column should be installed either on a rubber edging stand, which is located below, or vertically. Especially for this, small ribs are provided at one of the ends. The position does not affect the playback quality.
Inside the edging-stand there is various technical information. It's nice that the manufacturer took care of the partial Russification of the text here.
Specifications JBL Charge 2:
- 2 speakers 45 mm (1.75 inches)
- total power 7.5W
- frequency response 75 - 20,000 Hz
- signal-to-noise ratio 80 dB
- Bluetooth 3.0 with the following profiles:
- A2DP V 1.3, AVRCP V 1.5, HFP V 1.6, HSP V 1.2
- Bluetooth transmitter power is 0 - 4 dB / mW
- battery (lithium polymer)
- dimensions 185.2 mm in length and 79 mm in diameter
- weight 540 g
Pairing
The connection via Bluetooth is clear and fast. No additional codes are needed to establish a connection. On the speaker, it is enough to hold down the “blue tooth” key, and on the smartphone (tablet), just start searching for devices.
That's not all.
Charge 2 has support for connecting to three devices at once and playing music from each of them in turn (Social Mode).
In fact, it turned out that three devices located in close proximity interfere with each other, so playback from some devices occurs with noticeable stuttering and interference. Two gadgets in the grid do not have any mutual influence on each other.
I almost forgot to tell you one more thing. If a call is connected to one of the connected devices, then playback from the other stops and the speaker starts working in Hands-free mode.
Playback and sound quality
The most important and interesting
First, the speaker is very loud. In a room with the volume turned to the maximum, it is very difficult to communicate - you have to scream.
In addition, such a seemingly miniature contraption can pump a rather impressive apartment.
Secondly, there are really low frequencies here. Moreover, if some similar speakers need to be installed on a resonating surface (wooden shelf, parquet floor) to extract bass from them, then Charge 2, in principle, does not need it. Acoustics can bass directly from the hands.
However, the speaker is not well suited for deep and rich music.
For example, the same AC / DC sound very good, but the acoustics can no longer cope with something faster, for example, with Nightwish. The instruments merge into a continuous viscous audio porridge. However, it is worth paying tribute: squeaks, whistles and various wheezing do not appear even at the highest volume.
With the rest, simpler in terms of saturation melodies, the gadget does an excellent job. It plays, rumbles and does not cut the ear in any way.
Battery life
The built-in lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 6000 mAh (3.7 V) is responsible for power supply. On the one hand, this is not much, on the other hand, the manufacturer promises 12 hours of continuous audio playback. Of course, the figure will vary depending on the volume level and the quality of the content.
Practical tests have shown that the device is completely discharged in less than 9 hours of playing music at maximum volume. Of course, the content was broadcast to the speaker via Bluetooth. A full charge takes about 3.5 hours at a current of 2.3A.
There is another nice functionality. Acoustics can recharge third-party devices using any Micro USB cable. I tried this trick with a Sony Xperia Z3 (3100 mAh battery). The gadget gave its entire charge to the smartphone in less than an hour, while the phone was only 67 percent charged. In theory, the amount of charge should have been enough for almost two full charge cycles of Sonya. Most likely, the reason is that the output current is 2.1A, which provides an uneconomical consumption of the power supply capacity, but a fairly fast rate of energy replenishment.
In other words, gadgets charge quickly, but Charge 2 consumes its capacity, so to speak, irresponsibly.
Outcome
At the moment the official JBL Charge 2 price was established at around 6,990 rubles. For this money you can get a cool, loud and bassy sound that will not let go for half a day. And here is a stylish and pleasant both to the eye and to the touch case.
As a portable battery, the column did not perform well. Its capacity is not enough to fully charge a modern smartphone, where 3000 - 3500 mAh has already become the norm. However, such functionality will definitely not be superfluous.
It is unlikely that such a contraption is bought for a loved one (oh). Again, almost all such electronics are a great and cool gift. Of course, music lovers will be most happy with the gift. However, you should not give it to fans of hard and rich rock for the reasons I mentioned above. The people are capricious, because they like to distinguish the rhythm game from the bass guitar by ear. Or something like that. Do you need it, then be the object of secret insults on the part of the gifted?
One of the most popular brands of audio equipment in the world markets is the JBL brand, created in 1946 and owned by Harman International. The company produces various devices, ranging from car subwoofers to headphones and portable speakers. The latest model in the line is the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker.
Specifications
- Using the Bluetooth 3.0 protocol to wirelessly connect up to three devices simultaneously.
- 3.5mm TRS connector for wired connection.
- Ability to work in wireless headset mode.
- Two passive radiators.
- Two wide range speakers.
- The maximum noise level is 80 dB.
- The frequency range is from 75 to 20 thousand Hz.
- Integrated 6000 mAh battery.
- The ability to charge third-party gadgets via USB-connector.
- Small weight - 602 grams.
- Compact dimensions - 184x76x76 mm.
Contents of delivery
Together with the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker, only the power supply, interchangeable plugs and instruction manual are supplied in the kit. No additional accessories are included.
Charge 2 design
The appearance of Charge 2 is practically no different from the previous model and is focused only on mobile and ubiquitous use. The original JBL Charge 2 looks like a cylinder, thanks to which it is easily attached, for example, to a bicycle frame using a standard holder.
A large battery negatively affected the mass of the column: it exceeded half a kilogram. Perhaps this characteristic of JBL Charge 2 is the only one that can cause inconvenience to the user.
The body is mostly made of rubberized plastic. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the JBL Charge 2 is the thoughtful shape of the case, in which the speakers are covered with plastic grilles recessed into the base material. The full-range loudspeakers are located on the side of the manufacturer's logo, while the second grille is installed only for symmetry in the design.
From above, the grilles are separated by a control panel equipped with backlit keys. The buttons are not touch-sensitive, as is customary on modern devices, but pressed in. Such a characteristic of JBL Cherge 2 as the absence of protruding parts is a good advantage, especially if acoustics are used in extreme conditions. You can distinguish the buttons tactilely, blindly, the volume swing is embossed. Next to the handset is a small hole - a microphone.
Passive emitters are placed at the ends of the column. They are not protected by anything, but at the same time they are deep enough recessed into the case, due to which, which users especially note in their reviews of the JBL Charge 2, they are not affected. During operation, the emitters vibrate quite noticeably.
On the right side of the case there are small legs that allow you to set the column in a vertical position. In JBL Charge 2 acoustics, a characteristic that marks is a special indicator located under the volume buttons.
Three connectors are hidden under the grille located on the back of the speaker: for charging third-party devices - a high-amp USB input, for connecting sound sources - TRS 3.5 mm and for charging the gadget - microUSB.
Due to the elongated base, the column does not have sufficient stability, which is why it easily overturns. Despite this, in the reviews, users note that this does not threaten the acoustics, because after several wiggles, its speakers remain directed upwards.
Column measurements
Many users in their reviews conducted various tests of the characteristics of JBL Charge 2. For this class of acoustics, the uniformity of the frequency response graph is acceptable at intervals from 75 Hz and 2 kHz and from 5 kHz to 12 kHz. It should be separately noted that the schedule reaches an acceptable level quite early.
The maximum sound pressure, which is often measured by specialists, is one of the important parameters of acoustic systems. The check is simple: the speaker is placed on a chipboard table so that the main speakers are directed towards the measuring microphone. A measuring microphone is fixed at a distance of one meter from the measuring microphone at the same height and connected to the spectrum analyzer.
Synchronizes with a smartphone with setting the maximum volume level. During the test, average dBA readings are recorded for half a minute of sound in any player of the so-called pink noise.
According to the results of the tests, we can say that the JBL Charge 2 portable acoustics are practically not inferior to their counterparts in terms of sound quality and volume.
Sound
JBL speakers have excellent sound quality: even JBL Charge 2 fakes sound more open and louder than their original competitors - for example, the Sound Blaster Roar. The lower and upper registers are more detailed, which allows you to convey the nuances of the sound of various musical instruments.
The instructions for JBL Charge 2 note such a function as simultaneous synchronization of up to three third-party devices. The gadget that was connected first remains the priority: the rest do not enter until the playback on it is completed. When you press the corresponding key, priority is given to the device that is connected to the column at the moment.
The disadvantage of the JBL speaker as a wireless headset is the reduced sensitivity of the microphone: in order for the interlocutor to hear at least something, you need to move close to the speaker. Despite the fact that the maximum volume is low, the timbre of the voice is broadcast without any distortion.
The maximum volume level is enough to sound a room of 20 square meters. The JBL speaker at a volume of 50-70% perfectly copes with any genres and compositions, delighting listeners with clear high notes, detailed bass and a good midrange. This gadget is ideal for both background sound and for creating a working atmosphere.
JBL Charge 2 is perhaps the first speaker on the acoustics market capable of playing heavy compositions at a fairly high volume level. In detail and depth of low frequencies, losses occur only at maximum volume. Despite its compact size, the speaker clearly and accurately reproduces many genres of music. Controversial compositions are best played at an average volume level.
Separately, it is worth mentioning such a feature of Charge 2 as a quick connection via Bluetooth - a pair is created in almost a second, while analogues take five to seven seconds to connect. The JBL Charge 2 instructions indicate a battery life of 12 hours, during which music playback is seamless. The mentioned time can be reduced several times if portable acoustics is used as a charger for a tablet or smartphone.
The acoustics from Harman was not just improved by the manufacturer, but completely redesigned, which made it possible to create one of the best speakers in its class and at such a price for JBL Charge 2. The gadget has good bass, plays music at maximum volume quite well for its category and comes with a capacious battery that allows you to charge third-party devices. The average price of JBL Charge 2 is 7 thousand rubles.
Autonomous operation of the column
At an average volume level, when connected to a tablet, the JBL speaker can work for 18 hours, after which the battery is completely discharged. The large, high-capacity battery allows the JBL Charge 2 to offer good battery life compared to similar devices in the same price range, slightly inferior in this indicator to some other portable speakers.
Connection options
You can synchronize the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker with any devices and gadgets via a Bluetooth connection or using a 3.5 mm cable. Unfortunately, this cable is not included in the kit - you will have to purchase it separately. The Bluetooth 3.0 profile is used for connection - a high-speed high-quality connection.
Distinctive features of acoustics
As mentioned above, the main feature of JBL Charge 2 is the mentioned Social Mode, that is, the ability to charge third-party gadgets. Using a standard USB cable, you can connect any device to a portable speaker - a smartphone, tablet, player - and charge it while listening to music. This feature is very beneficial and useful and will play a good role in situations where it is difficult to access the network to fully charge the gadget.
Review results
Throughout the years of its existence, portable acoustics of the JBL brand has been making a good impression on users, striking with its quality and excellent sound. Together with the original and unique design, the Charge 2 speaker significantly outperforms its main competitors in the same class and price category. The ability to charge third-party devices can help the user out while traveling or on long walks, which has been repeatedly noted in numerous reviews of the JBL Charge 2. The cost of Charge 2 with such a set of functions and characteristics does not look so high: the column may well compete with the expensive products of famous brands, bypassing many of them.
with a capacious battery for charging external devices
The JBL trademark, created in 1946 by American James Bullough Lansing, has been part of Harman International for most of its history. JBL products are present in many segments of the audio equipment market - from in-ear headphones to car subwoofers. In 2003, we got acquainted with JBL products using the example of a 2.1-format speaker system. Today we will turn our attention to the portable solutions segment and take a closer look at the JBL Charge 2 device.
Specifications
- Wireless connection via Bluetooth 3.0 protocol with support for A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6 and HSP 1.2 (up to three devices simultaneously)
- Wired connection via 3.5mm TRS jack
- Working in wireless headset mode
- Two full range speakers, two passive radiators
- Claimed signal-to-noise ratio: >80 dB
- Claimed frequency range: 75 Hz - 20 kHz
- Built-in battery (3.7 V, 6000 mAh) with the ability to charge external devices via USB (5 V, 2.1 A)
- Size: 184×76×76mm
- Weight: 602 g
Equipment
Together with the speaker system, only instructions and a power supply (5 V, 2.3 A) with a pair of interchangeable plugs are supplied. The box is not burdened with any additional accessories.
Design
JBL Charge 2 differs from its predecessor only in small things and is still focused on mobile use. Due to the fact that it is similar in shape to a beer can, it is easy to fix acoustics, for example, using a standard holder on a bicycle frame.
Due to the large battery, the mass of the device has exceeded half a kilogram, and this is perhaps the only characteristic that can cause inconvenience.
The main part of the body is made of rubberized plastic. The shape of the JBL Charge 2 is thought out so that the speakers are protected: the plastic grilles of the full-range speakers are recessed into the case. They are both placed on the side of the manufacturer's logo, the other grille only maintains symmetry in the design.
The grilles are separated from above by a control panel with illuminated buttons. They are not touch, but pressed. The absence of prominent parts is definitely an advantage in "extreme" use cases. The buttons are distinguishable by touch blindly, the volume keys are made embossed. The hole next to the handset is the microphone.
At the ends of the speaker system, we see passive radiators. There is no additional protection for them, but they are at a sufficient depth to minimize the likelihood of physical impact. During operation, the emitters vibrate effectively.
To install the column in a vertical position, small legs are provided on the right end (they can be seen in one of the photos). An indicator below the volume buttons shows the Charge 2's battery level.
In the recess under the rear grille there are three device connectors: Micro-USB for charging, TRS 3.5 mm for a wired connection of a sound source, and a high-amp USB input for charging external devices.
The elongated base of the speaker does not provide great stability, it is easy to overturn the acoustics. But this is unlikely to hurt her - after a few wiggles, the main speakers will simply be directed upwards.
JBL Charge 2 turned out to be both stylish and convenient device, perfect for active use. In addition to black, this speaker system is available in white, blue, red and purple.
measurements
We measured the frequency response of the acoustic system on the axis of the main speakers.
Acceptable for this class of acoustics, the uniformity of the frequency response graph is provided in the range from 75 Hz to 2 kHz and further from 5 kHz to about 12 kHz. These segments are separated by a drop in amplitude, which drops below −6 dB over a short interval. Of the positive aspects, we note the early exit of the chart to an acceptable level.
With this review, we begin to measure such an important parameter of portable acoustic systems as the maximum sound pressure. Measurements are taken in an acoustically isolated room. The DUT is placed on a chipboard table with its main speakers facing the measurement microphone (unless otherwise specified in the table). The measuring microphone is fixed at the same height at a distance of 1 m from the acoustic system and connected to the sound level meter-spectrum analyzer.
Then, via Bluetooth, the speaker system is paired with a smartphone. The speaker system and the smartphone are set to the maximum volume levels. Through a standard player, Walkman with "enhancers" disabled is launched in repeat mode, and the average value in dBA is recorded in the table for about half a minute of playback.
As you can see, according to the measurements, the JBL Charge 2 is slightly louder than the Sound Blaster Roar. When preparing the article, inexpensive Philips portable acoustics also turned out to be at the right time and in the right place, and in its main position in terms of sound pressure level it turned out to be almost identical to our hero (which, by the way, cannot be said about the sound quality, where the difference is significant).
sound
Comparative listening to JBL Charge 2 and the reference one revealed the competitive advantages of each of the speaker systems. The JBL sounds noticeably more open and in many cases louder than the Sound Blaster Roar. Creative's product responds with better detail in the lower and upper registers, which allows the Sound Blaster to better convey the nuances of the sound of many instruments.
An additional feature of JBL Charge 2 is the ability to simultaneously pair up to three devices. According to our observations, when working together, priority is given to the one that was connected first: until playback on it is paused, other "party participants" will not be able to join. When you press a button on the speaker, priority is given to the currently connected device.
JBL Charge 2 was tested as a wireless headset. The main disadvantage in this scenario was the low sensitivity of the microphone: in order for the interlocutor to hear us, we had to move almost close to the speaker. But the timbre of the voice was reproduced practically without distortion, although the maximum volume was low.
Offline work
We connected the speaker system to the tablet and played music continuously, varying the volume around the average value. In this mode, the column lasted until it was completely discharged for about 18 hours. Starting from this review, for convenience, we will summarize the data on measurements of the autonomous operation of "decorative acoustics" in a single table.
| Acoustic system | Approximate volume | Battery Life | Charging time with standard adapter |
| JBL Charge 2 | average |
JBL Charge has become a household name for many of any portable speaker system. This is not surprising, since JBL portable speakers combine excellent sound quality in a small package, add water resistance and a capacious battery to this, and you have an almost ideal outdoor speaker system. In this review, you will learn about one of the most popular portable speakers in the JBL line - Charge 2+.
Specifications Charge 2+
- Dimensions: 79 x 184 x 75 mm
- Weight: 540 grams
- Sound power: 2 x 7.5 watts
- Signal to noise ratio: 80db
- Frequency response: 75Hz - 20kHz
- Emitters: 2 x 45 mm
- Battery capacity: 6000 mAh
- Battery life: 12 hours
Equipment
- Portable speaker
- microUSB cable
- Instruction
- Charger unit with interchangeable plugs
JBL has already released Charge and Charge 2, the third version with the + prefix received water protection and became a concise continuation of the line.
Appearance
As I said, the main difference between the Charge 2+ and other models in the line is water protection, which allows you not only to use it in the rain or in the shower, but also to wash it with running water. For a wearable device, the feature is really useful.
And, although the column can be washed, it cannot be immersed in water, so you are unlikely to be able to listen to music under water.
Despite all the tests under running water, the speaker plays great. It is not clear what will happen to the connectors, since they are not covered by anything - time will tell.
At the ends of the speaker there are two phase inverters, covered with a metal plate with a company logo printed on it, which vibrates to the beat of the music. Looks very cool.
A total of 8 different colors of JBL Charge 2+ are available.
Vibrant colors and a matte, rubberized, fingerprint-resistant surface leave nothing but a pleasant feeling.
Connectors for charging and connecting external sound sources are located at the bottom, control buttons at the top.
autonomy
The column confidently fulfills the 12 hours of continuous playback declared by the manufacturer. Acoustics can also be used as an external power source to recharge other devices, but keep in mind that this will reduce the operating time.
Connection
There are two ways to connect a portable speaker:
- Through a 3.5 mm jack using an aux cable, which, unfortunately, is not included in the kit.
- With bluetooth. The speaker supports bluetooth 3.0, with the ability to simultaneously connect up to 3 devices thanks to Social Mode technology.
Sound quality
The JBL Charge 2+ is loud, you don’t even expect a strong sound from such a size, but the speaker is quite capable of filling the room with sound - what you need at a party. And the sound is dense with a sufficient amount of bass. Only the middle frequencies are missing, but for the music this device focuses on, this is not critical.
Dance and electronic music sound great.
Thanks to the built-in microphone, the column can be used as a speakerphone, and the built-in SoundClear noise reduction system will improve sound quality in noisy places.
conclusions
It’s up to you to take it or not to take it, but for me the column costs its money (at the time of writing the article on the website of the connected JBL Charge 2+ you can buy for 7190 rubles). Which of the manufacturers will still offer you excellent sound in a case protected from water and dirt, and even a powerful battery with a powerbank function.
Now there are many analogues from Chinese manufacturers that offer identical options at prices many times lower. An example is in the screenshot below (the picture is clickable, the description is on the link).
Probably, there is not a single major manufacturer of modern musical equipment that would accidentally "forget" to develop a branded speakerphone. Such microsystems have confidently entered the market and are only strengthening their positions so far. Dozens of products of this type fall out on store shelves every year. For some developers even receive all sorts of awards at exhibitions. But not all award-winning micro-speakers are destined to win the hearts and ears of buyers, which cannot be said about the JBL Charge 2. What's the secret? Let's try to figure it out. JBL Charge 2 is the second version of the beloved Bluetooth speaker. According to the already formed tradition, this young line of speakerphones has a solid sound, naturally, by the standards of a niche. Using an updated speaker as a replacement for a home speaker system is still inappropriate (it's better to save some money and take, for example, DALI KUBIK FREE). But taking it with you to nature or training in the open air is a nice thing. And regardless of whether the first or second version of the device is at your fingertips. Both have traditional features. The first so-called common feature is design. First, let's go over the errors of the older version. She had two compact speakers hidden behind a fixed grill. They occupied, though large, but not an impressive part of the front panel. All the time it seemed that the plastic edging was too big. The second version boasts a reverse engineering solution. A protective mesh of 90 percent of the "muzzle" decorates itself, hiding from the eyes of annoying viewers a duet of 7.5 watt 45 mm emitters. In this case, the grid does not "play" from direct pressing. The next moment of "stupidity" of the early model is the control keys. They are not the most convenient way placed on top of the speakerphone. The grouping was done by a method just to place, and users will get used to it. For some reason, the keys were shifted closer to the center, which promised restrictions when using the device on the go. Accidental clicks were also not uncommon, although there were not many buttons. In the case of JBL Charge 2, this principle of control keys scatter is not observed. But more on that later. First, let's talk about the speakerphone case in more detail. At the heart of the popular speakerphone from the HARMAN concern is a trio of materials. These are metal, plastic and rubber. Combining them in a variety of key moments, the user receives a solid column: with a low level of pollution - during everyday use; strong enough for travel; and not very expensive. The speaker itself comes with a portable speaker system; strong cardboard packaging; AC power supply; and a duo of socket adapters. It is also worth mentioning the USB cable with the transition to micro-USB. It has a dual function. You must have understood the first one. Well, the second allows you to transform the device into a kind of energy bank. The battery power is more than enough for this (6000 mAh "she). During the inspection, gadgets on different operating systems were attached to the device. Everywhere the result was positive. That is, charging was in progress. The port itself was not located on the side panel, but on a special pedestal from the bottom. Both the side faces are now not loaded with anything, except for the recognizable JBL logo printed on metal circles. I would like to say a few words about the newly minted mini-podium. The solution cannot be called traditional. From the point of view of ergonomics, due to it, the speaker has increased confidence in basing on flat surfaces. But now it’s not so comfortable to hold and carry in your hands.
JBL Charge 2 wireless speaker review: smaller volume, louder sound, better quality
JBL Charge 2 wireless speaker review: smaller volume, louder sound, better quality
JBL Charge 2
JBL Charge 2 is the second version of the beloved Bluetooth speaker. According to the already formed tradition, this young line of speakerphones has a solid sound, naturally, by the standards of a niche.
User Rating: 3.73 (2 votes) 0
There is probably not a single major manufacturer who would accidentally "forget" to develop a branded speakerphone. Such microsystems have confidently entered the market and are only strengthening their positions so far. Dozens of products of this type fall out on store shelves every year. For some developers even receive all sorts of awards at exhibitions. But not all titled micro-speakers are destined to win the hearts and ears of buyers, which cannot be said about JBL charge 2 . What's the secret? Let's try to figure it out.
JBL charge 2 - the second version is beloved. According to the already formed tradition, this young line of speakerphones has a solid sound, naturally, by the standards of a niche. It is still not practical to use an updated speaker as a replacement for a home speaker system ( it’s better to save some money and take, for example,). But taking it with you to nature or training in the open air is a nice thing. And regardless of whether the first or second version of the device is at your fingertips. Both have traditional features.
The first so-called common feature is design. First, let's go over the errors of the older version. She had two compact speakers hidden behind a fixed grill. They occupied, though large, but not an impressive part of the front panel. All the time it seemed that the plastic edging was too big. The second version boasts a reverse engineering solution. A protective mesh of 90 percent of the “muzzle” decorates itself, hiding from the eyes of annoying viewers a duet of 7.5 watt 45 mm emitters. At the same time, the grid does not “play” from direct pressing. The next moment of "stupidity" of the early model is the control keys. They are not the most convenient way placed on top of the speakerphone. The grouping was done by a method just to place, and users will get used to it. For some reason, the keys were shifted closer to the center, which promised restrictions when using the device on the go. Accidental clicks were also not uncommon, although there were not many buttons. In case of JBL charge 2 such a principle of scatter of the control keys is not observed. But more on that later. First, let's talk about the speakerphone case in more detail.
At the heart of the popular speakerphone from the concern is a trio of materials. These are metal, plastic and rubber. Combining them in a variety of key moments, the user gets a solid column: with a low level of pollution - during everyday use; strong enough for travel; and not very expensive. The speaker itself comes with a portable speaker system; strong cardboard packaging; AC power supply; and a duo of socket adapters. It is also worth mentioning the cable with the transition to. It has a dual function. You must have understood the first one. Well, the second allows you to transform the device into a kind of energy bank. The battery power is more than enough for this (6000 mAh). During the inspection, gadgets on different operating systems were attached to the device. Everywhere the result is positive. That is, it was charging.
The port itself is located not on the side panel, but on a special pedestal from the bottom. Both side faces are now not loaded with anything, except for the recognizable logo printed on metal rounds. I would like to say a few words about the newly minted mini-podium. The solution cannot be called traditional. From the point of view of ergonomics, due to it, the column added confidence in basing on flat surfaces. But now it's not so comfortable to hold and wear in your hands. Having stuffed the device into the side pocket of the backpack, one of the serious advantages was lost. Now it has become unrealistic to recharge phones while driving. The connectors lie in one row on the pedestal and, in fact, access to them is opened only during the “parking”. Both types of -ports present literally “pressed” the compact 3.5 mm input. True, the complete cable is not “gifted”, but they could have been put.
Whole body JBL charge 2 - plastic. On top of the case is applied a pleasant to the touch rubberized layer, also called Soft — touch -coated. Its specifications have not been announced, but we can say that the device is unlikely to be able to try on the role of a fingerprint machine. Simply put, fingerprints don't stick to the surface as much. In general, the speakerphone is easy to clean from dirt and dust.
The control keys for the wireless speaker are traditionally located at the top. As mentioned earlier, their location and number has been radically revised. Looking closely at the "header", you will notice the connect button by; sound adjustment keys; "poke" for receiving / rejecting an incoming call, also trying on the role of a playback mode manager (Start / Pause); well, the button to activate the mode Social mode . In addition, there are power indicators and a 6000 mAh battery level indicator.
What is the regime responsible for? Social mode in JBL charge 2 ? The developers have prepared a clear answer. So, drum roll... For communication with other sound sources. By pressing this key, you will have the opportunity to create a kind of complex of systems that reproduce the same composition on different devices. The connection is very, very fast. The integration is commendable. True, moving away to a solid 5-7 meters, there are minor delays. So keep your devices tighter, gentlemen.
Continuing the conversation about interesting functions, we will touch on the provided functionality for receiving calls. It is carried out through the channel. As many people know, this standard is in many ways superior to earlier versions. So, by connecting the speaker to the signal source (phone), you can use the pre-installed digital microphone. The function at first seemed absurd. But during housework on the street, there was no doubt about its need. They clicked on the button with dirty fingers, the interlocutor heard us well, clicked again and the dialogue ended without pulling the phone out of his pocket.
On this, perhaps, the main set of functions and charms of the speakerphone is already presented. Although you can say a few words about the side metal plates with a logo. They are also here for a reason. In the off state, gray plaques do not manifest themselves in any way. But in fact, rounds act as compact similarities of reflectors. Their flexibility allows them to reflect the generated air currents and push them away from themselves, thereby saturating low frequencies with decent quality. Continuing the conversation about sound quality, one cannot fail to note the fact that the speakers are located in a tricky way. Due to this, the speakerphone adequately shows itself both in small rooms and in open spaces. Aimed model JBL charge 2 , of course, to a young audience listening to modern "electronic music". There is no point in trying to play instrumental music through it. During the playback of music with an abundance of bass parts, an unpleasant drawdown was observed. Depth vanished. If the vocals and/or the percussion component prevail, then, having exceeded the mark of 50% of the power, some instruments fell out (the flute screamed at the guitar, and the violin languidly chirped somewhere there). In general, if you rummage around with the settings in the equalizer on the signal source, then these troubles can be avoided. This entry about the speakerphone comes to its logical end. I completely forgot to mention the different color variations. But sellers in stores will show them to you :)
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