Introduction
If you are looking for a portable wireless speaker that is waterproof, you have probably come across the JBL Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 is considered one of the best outdoor wireless speakers that are resistant to water and dust, boasting an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, a battery life of up to 20 hours, and a built-in power bank function that allows you to charge your device while listening to music – an important feature for those who enjoy long outdoor adventures. With a retail price of $179.95, the JBL Charge 5 is slightly more expensive than other portable outdoor speakers available on the market today. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth the investment, here’s what you need to know.
Appearance of JBL Charge 5
First and foremost, I am not new to the JBL Charge speaker. I purchased the JBL Charge 3 in 2017, and it has endured a lot. From boat rides and climbing trips, to road trips, and even an outdoor wedding, this little speaker delivers powerful sound … and I still use it regularly. Of course, when I was invited to try out the updated JBL Charge 5, I jumped at the chance to test it.
Sound Quality of JBL Charge 5
After charging the JBL Charge 5 for a few hours with the included USB-C cable, I was excited to test it out myself and was immediately impressed by the sound quality. It is rich, dynamic, and astonishingly clear with good bass that fills the room without overpowering the rest of the sound. The speaker features an improved long-range driver, a separate tweeter, and dual bass radiators from JBL – which may sound like gibberish to the average user – but I can tell you that it definitely translates to noticeably improved sound quality. Thanks to the built-in equalizer available in the free JBL Connect app, you can customize your sound experience even further, which is another major development from the JBL Charge 3. Compared to the JBL Charge 3, the Charge 5 is the clear winner. I did a side-by-side comparison of the two speakers and was amazed by the overall improved sound experience. While I love the Charge 3 and have used it for years, the sound quality is surprisingly not clear. The built-in “bass boost” feature helps a bit, but it’s bad enough that the Charge 3 is unusable for other forms of audio like podcasts or audiobooks when there is a lot of background noise. In contrast, the sound quality in the Charge 5 is incredibly clear, whether at low volumes or at maximum. Even when I stood next to the speaker at the highest volume level, it did not reach the same levels of distortion that many other speakers do, including the Charge 3. At a distance, the Charge 5 sounds much better, and I was able to walk down a 50-foot hallway before the Bluetooth connection started to cut out. In comparison, I could only get about two-thirds of the way down the same hallway before the Bluetooth connection faltered on the Charge 3.
Charging and Battery Life
Charging time and battery life are roughly the same between the two versions, taking four hours to charge and lasting for about 20 hours (depending on volume level). Additionally, both the JBL Charge 3 and Charge 5 provide a power bank function, meaning you can use them to charge your device on the go. Unfortunately, I could not test the speaker on a boating trip yet due to the season, but both the Charge 3 and Charge 5 are rated to withstand immersion in water for 30 minutes – and the Charge 5 has an additional dust-resistant rating – so I am confident that it will perform on par with or exceed the Charge 3 in this area as well.
Some
Things I Don’t Like About JBL Charge 5
Of course, I am a fan of JBL Charge 5, but there are some things I didn’t like from the start. First, the Charge 5 omits the 3.5mm audio input, which is not a big deal in today’s Bluetooth world, but it also makes it difficult to connect the speakers together. While both the Charge 3 and Charge 5 provide the ability to connect to other JBL devices for a multi-speaker experience, they actually have different versions of the same feature. The Charge 3 offers “JBL Connect” while the Charge 5 upgrades to “PartyBoost,” which means I couldn’t connect different models of the same device to test connected play. I usually work around that by connecting the old speaker to the new one using an audio jack, but again, JBL decided to drop this feature, which seems like a major oversight. Additionally, another major concern is what I’ve noticed in reviews on Reddit and Amazon, which is the updated rubber strip on the bottom “feet” of the JBL Charge 5. Previous models offered a more cohesive and non-slip base than the updated version. While I love the look of the new design, many users have reported the rubber strips peeling off the Charge 5 in the first months of use. Given that the JBL Charge 5 is significantly more expensive than other outdoor portable speakers, I dislike the idea that part of the base is prone to peeling over time.
Is JBL Charge 5 Worth It?
Despite its flaws, I would say yes, the JBL Charge 5 is worth it, but with some conditions. With a retail price of $179.95, the JBL Charge 5 is definitely expensive compared to other wireless speakers available on the market, but it also has a reputation that justifies its price. I have used the JBL Charge 3 long enough to justify the investment, and it has endured a lot with minimal wear and tear, so I believe it depends on how you plan to use it. If you are looking for a reliable speaker that can withstand any outdoor adventure, I think it’s worth the investment. The sound quality is significantly better than previous models, and it has a longer battery life than most outdoor-compatible wireless speakers available on the market, plus the durability is impressive. I also love that it works as a power bank, which is a standout feature for most other outdoor portable speakers I’ve found online. However, I fully recognize that it’s not the most economical option on the market, especially if you do not care about durability, sound quality, or the power bank functionality. There are definitely other options available that work for “passive” outdoor activities like sitting by the pool or meandering around the park, and I wouldn’t blame you if you chose one of those instead of the Charge 5. However, if you are looking for a speaker that delivers and lasts, the JBL Charge 5 is definitely worth considering.
Leave a Reply