Competition in the world of portable Bluetooth speakers is brutal. With so many brands are fighting for a slice of this competitive market the quality and value can vary a lot. Every year or two, one of the biggest and best-known names in the industry continues updating its products and the customers keep coming back for more as the quality goes up as prices hold or even fall.
That Bluetooth speaker brand with probably the most loyal following is JBL. The company consistently scores well with its customer base and despite being at the upper end of the market, JBL continues updating the hugely popular Flip and Charge models and the latest updates are here with the Flip 7 and Charge 6.
JBL is a part of the Harman International portfolio of brands which is, itself, a subsidiary of Korean electronics giant Samsung. For the past decade, JBL has built itself a solid reputation with its regular speaker updates and color refreshes. Each new generation of the speakers comes with a few new features and a more refined sound that keeps the customers coming back for more.
The latest version of the Charge 6 and Flip 7 speakers were announced back in March and they are now shipping in volume. Both models have been tweaked to deliver a bigger and more reliable sound plus there are waterproof ratings which make the speakers ideal for pool parties and days at the beach.
New AI Sound
The two new updates now feature AI Sound Boost, a proprietary technology that analyzes the sound waves of music in real-time and optimizes the speaker drivers to play the music loud and without distortion. AI Sound gives this latest generation of the speakers extra functionality changing where and how we listen to music.
Carsten Olesen is President of Consumer Audio at Harman. He says: “With the addition of Flip 7 and Charge 6, JBL is not just launching new products, we’re immersing ourselves in the heart of cultural moments with our presence at SXSW.”
“Designed to tap into the limitless places listeners go to experience incredible sound, the introduction of AI Sound Boost highlights our dedication to delivering dynamic solutions that shape the soundtrack of consumers’ lives,” he adds.
So, whether you are sunbathing in the backyard or out hiking, the new JBL Flip 7 is ready for action thanks to an ingenious clip-on finger loop that can swapped over with a carabiner hook enabling the speaker to be hung from the branch of a tree or almost anything else, making it an suitable speaker for camping, DIY or sports.
Thanks to that new AI Sound Boost, the Flip 7 has a powerful bass response that won’t distort, even when the volume levels are cranked up. The compact and cylindrical shape of the Flip 7 hides an upgraded dome tweeter that serves up a sweeter treble. The result, says JBL, is a clearer and crisper sound even when at louder settings.
Not only is the Flip 7 even more portable thanks to the new finger loop and carabiner, but it has an IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating that removes most of the limits of where the speaker can go or be used. This is a Bluetooth speaker that’s as much at home by the pool as it is at the beach.
Thanks to Playtime Boost, the JBL Flip 7 also features improved battery life and can play for up to 16 hours on a single charge. The speaker uses Bluetooth version 5.4 and supports Auracast broadcasting technology. The Flip 7 can be paired with other Auracast-enabled speakers two form a stereo pair or a multi-speaker setup for an ensemble performance with an even bigger sound. Auracast can also pick up braodcasts from other Auracast enabled devices like TVs or PA systems.
Another useful feature is the Flip 7’s ability to connect to a computer or smartphone via a USB cable. This means the Flip 7 can now play hi-res audio files streamed from a computer via USB, so it can be used for presentations as well as for streaming hi-res music from services like TIDAL or Qobuz.
The compact Flip 7 is just the right size for use as a travel speaker because it is small enough to fit in a carry-on bag but loud enough to fill a the average hotel room with high-quality sound. Even with the volume turned up, there’s little or no distortion and the treble and bass levels automatically adapt depending on volume levels.
JBL Charge 6
Launching at the same times as the Flip. 7 is the latest version of the JBL Charge. Now renumbered as the Charge 6, this slightly larger Bluetooth speaker has proved itseld as a firm favorite with JBL’s customers for some time now. The Charge 6 has a detachable carrying handle that can easily be turned into a wrist strap, making the Charge 6 even more convenient for taking to the beach or out into the back yard.
Like the Flip 7, the Charge 6 also features AI Sound Boost for lower distortion sound at louder volume levels. JBL has also upgraded the woofer inside the speaker so it now delivers a deeper and stronger bass than its predecessor. Thanks to Bluetooth 5.4, the Charge 6 also supports Auracast, making it possible to sync with other Auracast speakers to create a stereo pair or series of linked speakers.
A full charge of the Charge 6’s large battery provides an impressive 28 hours of listening time thanks to the addition of Playtime Boost. Because the battery is so large, the Charge 6 can also be used as a power bank for topping up other devices such as a smartphone.
Although the JBL Charge 6 is a larger than its Flip 7 sibling, it does produce a bigger sound and the larger battery can go longer between charges, making it a handy party speaker and power bank for that summer barbecue at the beach or party by the pool. Thanks to the IP68 rating, the Charge 6 can shrug off water, sweat, dust and sand, making it robust enough to be used almost anywhere, even in British summer rain.
Pricing and Availability:
The JBL Flip 7 Bluetooth speaker is available from Amazon and other retail outlets in a choice of Black, Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, Camo and White colors. The Flip 7 is priced at $149 / £129.
The new JBL Charge 6 is also available from Amazon and other retail outlets. It’s available in Black, Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, Camo and White colors. The JBL Charge 6 is priced at $199.95 / £169.
Tech Specs:
JBL Flip 7
- Drivers: 45 x 80mm woofer / 16mm tweeter.
- Output power: 25W RMS for woofer / 10W RMS for tweeter.
- Frequency response: 60Hz – 20kHz.
- Signal-to-noise ratio: > 80dB.
- Connection ports: USB-C.
- Bluetooth version: 5.4.
- Auracast support: Yes.
- Multipoint: Yes.
- Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.
- Battery type: Li-ion polymer 17.28 Wh (equivalent to 3.6V /4,800mAh).
- Charging time: 2.5 hours (5V / 3A).
- Playing time: Up to 14 hours.
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm.
- Weight: 560g.
JBL Charge 6.
- Drivers: 53 x 93mm woofer / 20mm tweeter.
- Output power: 30W RMS for woofer / 15W RMS for tweeter.
- Power input: 5 – 20V / 3A Max.
- Frequency response: 56Hz – 20kHz (-6 dB).
- Signal-to-noise ratio: > 80dB.
- Connection ports: USB-C (in / out) (USB cable not included).
- Bluetooth version: 5.4.
- Auracast support: Yes.
- Multipoint: Yes.
- Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.4, AVRCP 1.6.
- Battery type: Li-ion polymer 34 Wh (equivalent to 7.2 V /4,722 mAh).
- Charging time: 3 hours (12 – 20V / 3A).
- Playing time: Up to 24 hours of playtime plus 4 hours with Playtime Boost.
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 228.8 x 98.5 x 94.0mm.
- Weight: 990g.
