The JBL Bar 1300XMK2 has a lot to live up to. Its predecessor completely blew me away with its movie-theater-accurate sound and unbeatable ease of use. So is the MK2 enough to be one of the best soundbars?

If you couldn’t tell from the 4.5-star rating, yes. Yes it is. This is the easiest (and, arguably, the most affordable) way to achieve cinematic Dolby Atmos at home. Dialogue is crystal-clear, even in bombastic action scenes, and high-frequency detail sounds aren’t swallowed by bass. The sound is just unbeatable at this price.

At $1,699, this isn’t a cheap product by any means. But if you know anything about home theater, you’ll know that this actually isn’t too expensive for an 11.1.4 channel configuration — with 25 individual drivers. Want to find out more? Keep reading this JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Specs

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Price & availability

The JBL Bar 13000XMK2 is $1,699 from Amazon U.S. In the U.K., you’re looking at an MSRP of £1,299, but it’s currently “Coming Soon” on JBL’s site. Strangely, though, you can grab it from Amazon U.K. for around £1,160.

Although this four-digit MSRP looks expensive, I promise you, it’s worth every penny and is actually cheaper than similarly spec’d soundbars. The power in this speaker is almost unparalleled. Of all the soundbars I’ve tested, only the $900 Samsung QS750F has a better performance-per-penny ratio.

I’ve also tested the KEF XIO and the Yamaha True X Surround 90A ($3,499), both incredible soundbars in their own right, but both will set you back considerably more than the JBL — without a sub and rears, too.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Design

In a word, the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is powerful. This soundbar was rattling my floorboards, vibrating my skeleton, shaking my walls. With a whopping 2470W of power, this is a killer sound system. Thankfully, the soundbar also knows where to put that power.

There are a whopping 23 drivers in this 11.1.4 channel setup. The subwoofer itself has two 8-inch drivers, on top of the 19 drivers in the soundbar itself. In real terms, this means the 1300XMK2 is a behemoth, with sound worthy of a movie theater.

In terms of looks, the 1300XMK2 is your average soundbar. It’s not particularly gorgeous or particularly revolting. The bar itself is 40 inches long, so I’d recommend using it only if you have a 65” TV and up, otherwise it might look strange.

The subwoofer is huge and a frankly massive 26 pounds, so, again, only get this if you have space.

Controls

You can control the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 via either the remote or your phone. The remote is long and lightweight, with pleasantly tactile buttons. It’s much bigger than Bose’s soundbar remote, but feels more plasticky than Samsung’s.

Unlike the KEF XIO, you can control the soundbar settings while watching TV. You can adjust subwoofer volume and surround volume directly from your phone. I found this responded instantly with zero stuttering.

The on-bar buttons are minimal: just volume up and down. I don’t miss the buttons on the bar — I only really ever use my phone and remote anyway.

Features

I’ll discuss the app features in detail just below, but the Bar 1300XMK2 has a huge range of features. There’s automatic room calibration, broadcast mode, EQ adjustment, night mode, PureVoice mode, and smart mode.

One feature is missing, though: 4K / 120Hz pass-through for gaming. The Bar 1300XMK2's pass-through HDMI port is limited to 60Hz, so if you wanted to run your console through the soundbar (if you’re short on HDMI ports), unfortunately, you won’t be able to play at a 120fps frame rate in 4K. Not great news for FPS or other fast-paced games.

In fairness, this feature isn't ubiquitous with soundbars, and it'll only be an issue if you have no HDMI 2.1 port free on your TV. But this was a complaint we had about the previous model, so it's disappointing to see no improvement here on the new one.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: App

I’ll go through all the main features one by one: room calibration is exactly as it sounds. The soundbar sends out sonic pulses to the rears, which helps position the sound waves for 360° audio. This was the first thing I did when I unboxed the soundbar and it made my movies sound super immersive.

As you can see, the JBL One app is well-designed and visually appealing, and I experienced no connectivity issues.

Next: broadcast mode. This enables you to keep the surround speakers connected to the soundbar even when you’re in different rooms. So, in theory, you could listen to a movie playing in the living room while you’re in the bathtub. Not sure why you’d want to, but you can.

You can also connect your phone to the surrounds and use them as individual speakers, and they have Auracast. In theory, you can link them up to JBL speakers like the Xtreme 5.

Of course, night mode and EQ adjustments are exactly what you might think — night mode reduces bass for fewer subwoofer-related sleep interruptions, and EQ allows you to completely customize the soundbar’s output.

Smart mode is interesting — it’s effectively a “standard” “Music” and “Movie” mode you can toggle to come on automatically or manually. Smart mode adjusts the sound mode based on the input. For example, if it detects a DVD player, it will activate movie mode, and if you play via a music streaming service, it will activate music.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Sound quality

I test every soundbar with “Top Gun: Maverick” on 4K Blu-Ray, TV shows on Netflix, and music on Qobuz via AirPlay.

Movies

As always, I watched “Top Gun: Maverick”. The opening scene was bassy and powerful; the male vocals in “Danger Zone” led the soundscape, with the delicate metallic clinking and whooshing ropes present in the high-end.

Every flying scene was particularly outstanding. The first scene, with Maverick flying in hypersonic, rumbled through the subwoofer with immense energy and depth. Each siren blare and alarm was clear over the pounding bass. Equally, the Bar 1300XMK2 balanced high-frequency diegetic sounds like rustling papers and ticking clocks with similarly-diegetic dialogue perfectly.

Dolby Atmos performance was also phenomenal. In the first dogfighting scene, the planes raced overhead as if I were truly outside. The soundtrack was bombastic without overpowering the screeching jet engine sounds, and the radio dialogue was surprisingly clear. I wanted a touch more width in the rears, even when I increased the surrounds’ volume to max — but this is me being pedantic. The overall performance was astounding.

Next, I watched “The Wild Robot”, which has exemplary Dolby Atmos performance. During the swimming scenes, I could hear the main character goose splashing in the water as if the water was all around me.

After, I watched “No Time To Die”. The opening scene with the wind whistling over the snowy lake was fantastic; the crunching snow underfoot was delicately balanced over the tense, string-heavy OST. The shattering lake sounded piercing and, of course, the famous car chase scene sounded powerful and dramatic. I actually physically jumped when the grenade exploded. The subwoofer was putting in overtime; every bullet, engine rev, and collision made the entire room shake.

TV

To test the JBL Bar 1300XMK2, I watched several TV shows on Netflix, NOWTV (a U.K. streaming platform), and Disney+. NOWTV has full Dolby Atmos, so really brought the best out of the Bar 1300XMK2.

When I watched “Heated Rivalry”, the skating sound effects were clear over the synth-heavy electronic soundtrack. Softer diegetic sounds like clothes ruffling and clinking of cutlery in restaurant scenes were audible and separated from dialogue and soundtrack. This is one of the best surround-sound soundbars I’ve ever tested. dialogue felt like it was coming from around me, and scene texture effects were balanced and natural. No notes — this was a perfect experience.

I also watched “Euphoria”. The dialogue, soundtrack, and bullet sound effects were all clear. I never needed to rewind for missed dialogue even in loud scenes, nightclub scenes, or action scenes.

Music

This is kind of cheating, because it’s the theme song of “No Time To Die” (one of the movies I used to test the 1300XMK2), but it sounded utterly marvelous through this soundbar. Billie Eilish’s voice was melodic, textured, and I could hear her every breath, every layer of her vocal cords. The bass and percussion in the second verse were balanced and emotive.

On Qobuz, I played “Hexagons” by Muse, a track built over arpeggiated guitar notes and rolling synths. The vocals were clear and emotive, just like the previous track, and the percussion was clear. The bass wasn’t as well-rounded as you’d expect from some of the best speakers, but, of course, this is a soundbar.

JBL Bar 1300XMK2 review: Verdict

Overall, I have nothing bad to say about the JBL Bar 1300XMK2. Sure, the 4K pass-through is limited to 60Hz, but if you’re not a gamer, this might not be an issue. For me, and most other movie lovers, you’ll be oh so pleased with the Bar 13000XMK2.

I loved the previous version, and one of its two flaws has been fixed: audio doesn’t stutter after long pauses. While the second “flaw”, its lack of 4K pass-through at 120Hz, remains, I’m not overly concerned with this for movie lovers. Gamers might need to check out something like the Samsung Q990H ($1,1997).

If you value movie-theater-accurate sound, a wide soundstage, immersive Dolby Atmos, and great smart features (AirPlay, calibration), then the JBL Bar 1300XMK2 is the one for you. This is one of the easiest ways to get a full home theater experience at home.

It isn't often that I come across a product that makes me say, "Damn, I want to keep that on my desk forever."

That very thing happened last week, when I tested the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2, one of the best Bluetooth speakers around. I took one look at it and said, "Mine! Mine!" like the seagulls from Finding Nemo.

Up until that point, I was using the JBL Go 5 to blast my favorite tunes, but now, I'm not sure I want to go back to the JBL — for a few good reasons.

JBL is arguably one of the biggest names in the audio sphere and when it comes to pure, full-bodied sound, the Go 5 upstages the Retro Cube 2.

8BitDo, on the other hand, is known for making retro-looking gaming and computing peripherals, and isn't a big player in the audio world.

So why do I still want to stick with the Retro Cube 2? Allow me to tell you why.

A 10/10 NES-inspired design

When it comes to design, the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 is easily the winner. Sure, the JBL Go 5 looks sleek and attractive, and doesn't draw eyeballs, but does it have an NES-inspired design? D-pad-style controls? A charging dock that's good-looking and practical? No, but the Retro Cube 2 does.

The Retro Cube 2's design is inspired by the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), and it comes in a combination of beige, red and black. It looks utterly fantastic, and it's the cutest, quirkiest speaker I've tested so far. If you have an 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard, there's no better speaker to complement it.

Unlike any other speaker I've used, it comes with a charging dock so you can keep the speaker powered at all times. What's more, the charging dock has a slot for the Retro Cube 2's 2.4GHz dongle so that you don't lose it — neat!

But perhaps my favorite stylistic choice on the Retro Cube 2 is its D-pad-like buttons to control playback. They give great tactile feedback when pressed, and given how much fun they are to press, it's like having a fidget toy and speaker all-in-one.

The best part? When you power on the speaker, it sings, “8BitDooooo.” Does the Go 5 do that? No way.

The Go 5 naturally has a couple of aces up its sleeve — waterproofing and a rugged design, as well as better Bluetooth connectivity and support for advanced codecs. But given just how lovely the Retro Cube 2 looks, I'm OK living without them.

All-day listening? Yes, please

One of the key differences between the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 and the JBL Go 5 is the battery life — and truth be told, it isn't even close.

The Go 5 is rated for just 10 hours, while the Retro Cube 2 achieves thrice that. At 30 hours, the Retro Cube 2 lasts a long, long time, and as it comes with a charging dock, you can keep it powered on at all times.

Question is, would you want to listen to music through the Retro Cube 2 all day long? Yes and no. Given that JBL dominates the audio space, it's not surprising that it sounds better than the Retro Cube 2 — but that doesn't mean the Retro Cube 2 is all bad. Treble is crisp and shiny without overpowering the rest of the soundstage, while the midrange is refined and tuned to make songs sound spacious.

The only real complaint I have with the Retro Cube 2's sound profile is the bass, which sounds muted. It's true that small speakers struggle to reproduce powerful bass, but the Go 5 does just that. The bass packs plenty of low-end impact on the Go 5, which feels non-existent on the Retro Cube 2. And as someone whose favorite bit of a song is the bass, the Retro Cube 2 left me wanting more.

You can read my in-depth sound quality analysis in my full 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 review.

The price is right

Given everything I've said so far, I think it's pretty clear that I adore the 8BitDo Retro Cube 2. It looks fantastic, it sounds almost great, and it can comfortably last an all-day listening session. In fact, because of how beautiful it looks, the Retro Cube 2 has earned a permanent spot on my desk. Unlike most products that I promptly box up when I'm done testing them, the Retro Cube 2 is here to stay.

And the price is just right. The Retro Cube 2 is available for just $49 / £39 at Amazon, making it an affordable and attractive speaker-cum-centerpiece package. As I write this, I'm listening to Lana Del Rey on the Retro Cube 2, and playing with those outstanding D-pad buttons.

Don't know about you, but I love my 🎶 8BitDooooo 🎶.

More from Tom's Guide

• I’ve never seen a speaker as cute and quirky as the NES-inspired 8BitDo Retro Cube 2 — and it boasts surprisingly good sound for just $49
• I tested the JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4 budget Bluetooth speakers — and there’s a clear winner under $60
• I’m soundtracking my summer with the $54 JBL Go 5 — it’s one of the best budget speakers I’ve ever used

The JBL Live 780NC are a huge improvement upon their predecessor, the 770NC. Now, they’re good enough to be some of the best headphones under $250. With punchy, rich bass that no longer overpowers the rest of the track and a huge array of customizable features, I’m really impressed.

So why not a 5-star review? Well, a couple of things: one, with a price increase of $50 over the predecessor, the competition is much stiffer. Two, unfortunately, like the previous model, they can feel a little clampy after a few hours’ wear.

But I still love the Live 780NC. They’re exciting, modern, and most importantly, fun. I love the fact that they come in unabashed, free-spirit orange rather than the sad muted tones we expect with headphones these days. Want to find out if they might be the headphones for you? Keep reading this JBL Live 780NC review.

JBL Live 780NC review: Specs

JBL Live 780NC review: Price & availability

The JBL Live 780NC are $249 from Amazon U.S. and £169 from Amazon U.K. This is a price increase of $50 from the Live 770NC (or a £10 increase in the U.K.), which is disappointing to see. $249 places the Live 780NC firmly in the “upper midrange” category rather than the “midrange” placement of the previous model.

There have been some upgrades to (somewhat) justify this price hike, namely the introduction of LDAC and a 30-hour battery life increase.

Even so, at $250, there’s stiff competition. You’ve got the Bose QuietComfort (not Ultra) headphones at $349, the Soundcore Space One Pro at $199, and the Skullcandy Crusher ANC 2 at $239 — so the JBLs have a lot to prove. Why wouldn’t you save money for the bona-fide-incredible Soundcores or spend a bit more for big-name Bose?

These days, you can even get the Sony WH-1000XM5 for around $250 on sale, which is dangerously cheap for such premium headphones. I might suggest getting them if you catch them on sale — they’re a couple of years old at this point, but are still great. I’ve also tested the super-budget Soundcore Space 2 and CMF Headphone Pro (both $99), which offer similar performance to the JBLs but at a much lower price.

JBL Live 780NC review: Design

Like their predecessor, the Live 780NC look pretty striking. As you can see from the images, I tested the gorgeous orange shade, but these fashion-oriented headphones come in: green, orange, purple, black, blue, champagne, and white.

There’s no IP rating, but this is pretty standard for over-ear headphones. The only headphones I’ve tested with IP ratings are the IP52 Nothing Headphone (a) ($159) and the IPX2 CMF Headphone Pro. To get an IP54 rating, you’ll need to splash out mega bucks on the $1,200 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95.

Unfortunately, the JBL’s carry case is still a flimsy little bag, which is annoying. If that’s a dealbreaker for you, you might have to spend a little extra to get a hardshell case.

Comfort

At just 9.2 ounces, the Live 780NC are comfortable enough. I wouldn’t go so far as to claim they’re noticeably more comfortable than others, but I was able to wear them for a couple of hours without needing a break. After a while, the headband feels quite heavy and the ear cups can become clampy, but not as uncomfortable as the Nothing Headphone (a).

The most comfortable headphones I’ve ever tested are the Bose QuietComfort/Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($459), but the Soundcore Space 2 are also supremely comfy for a budget option.

Controls

Thankfully, JBL opted for button controls instead of the egregious touch controls I’ve seen on other newly released over-ears (looking at you, Bose, Sony, Sennheiser). You can play/pause by tapping the right ear cup, but for the most part, it’s a button-control system.

These controls are wonderfully easy to use: there’s a volume button on the left earcup, a Bluetooth/off button on the right, and an ANC toggle. That’s it. Hallelujah!

Connectivity

Another notch on the Live 780NC’s belt: Bluetooth 6.0. I know, new headphones releasing with the most recent Bluetooth version shouldn’t be this surprising, but after Apple released the AirPods Max 2 with Bluetooth 5.3, we can’t take any chances anymore. Bluetooth 6.0 provides a longer range and improved reliability: in reality, I was able to get out of my apartment and down the stairs before the headphones disconnected.

Setting up multipoint was super easy, too. After connecting to my iPhone 16 Pro, I only had to hold down the Bluetooth button and the headphones automatically popped up in my laptop settings.

JBL Live 780NC review: Sound quality

I was so impressed with the sound quality on the Live 780NC. I tested the previous version, Live 770NC, which sound great — if you love bass. But the Live 780NC are a much more well-rounded pair of headphones, with clarity in the low-end, melodic vocals, and, while a touch muted, a clean treble.

To test sound quality, I listened to a variety of genres on Qobuz, our best music streaming service for audiophiles, but I’ll just discuss three examples here.

First, I played ‘Save Me’ by Muse on my iPhone. As iPhones don’t have LDAC, I was only able to listen to this in standard AAC. Even so, the vocals were pronounced, with delicate, balanced structure over the arpeggiated guitar instrumental. I could even hear scratchiness at the back of the vocals, showing a fantastic level of detail.

For the next test, I listened with LDAC on my Samsung Galaxy S25+. I listened to ‘Baiana’ by Nia Archives, a jungle track with sibilant percussion and deep bass. This song sounded remarkably clear. The bass, although heavy, was never cluttered or muddy, and the vocals were handled with skill. I was really impressed.

Although these are predominantly wireless headphones, they do come with a USB-C-to-3.5mm cable, so it’s only fair I checked out wired performance, too. I listened to ‘A&W’ by Lana Del Rey, a pop track with Del Rey’s iconic deep, vintage-tinged voice and a mixture of electronic and acoustic instruments. I could hear every vibration of the acoustic guitar, every layer of vocal, but I did want a touch more expansiveness.

Even so, for $250, this performance is fantastic. I love when an ‘updated’ headphone is actually an improvement. The Live 770NC were mostly bass, but the Live 780NC are bass, mids, and detail. Top work, JBL.

JBL Live 780NC review: ANC

ANC is fine — nothing to write home about, but nothing disappointing either. When I was walking around the city, I could still hear some high-frequency sounds like passing conversations and squeaky brakes, but the headphones are pretty good at neutralizing lower frequencies.

When I was testing the Live 780NC at home, I could hear my air fryer (but it is a relatively loud air fryer) and myself typing.

Of course, if you want industry-leading ANC, it’s gotta be the Bose QuietComfort. But for $250, the Live 780NC aren’t half bad.

JBL Live 780NC review: Call quality

I tested the Live 780NC’s call quality on work calls. My colleagues reported that my voice was clear and free from interference, but my AirPods Max 2 sounded much better — you would hope for $549!

I do love that you can customize ‘VoiceAware’ — this controls how much you can hear yourself speaking during calls. This is one of the things I love, as I often worry I’m shouting when I’m out and about. You can also do this on the $399 Sennheiser Momentum 5 and the $449 Sony WH-1000XM6, so the Live 780NC are in good company here.

JBL Live 780NC review: App

As with other headphones by JBL, the Live 780NC use the JBL Headphones app. This is not the same as the speaker app, JBL Portable.

JBL Headphones is fairly standard, as far as companion apps go. There’s a range of features like customizable EQ, ‘Relax Mode’ (white noise, ocean sounds, forest noise, etc), Auracast, and completely customizable touch controls.

As with other JBL headphones, you also get PersoniFi, which is a gamified personalized audio feature. You listen to a series of tones and the app generates an EQ based on your hearing level — here are my results. This actually made my music sound more immersive.

I never had any connectivity hiccups or update headaches — the JBL Headphones app just knew what it was doing.

JBL Live 780NC review: Battery

And, finally, onto one of the most impressive features of the Live 780NC: the battery. These headphones have a whopping 80 hours of battery (ANC off). With ANC on, you still get 50 hours.

This is miles ahead of the premium crowd: AirPods Max 2 play for just 20 hours, and the QuietComfort Ultra and WH-1000XM6 up to 30. The best battery life I’ve ever experienced is the Nothing Headphone (a)’s 135 hours — but 80 hours is still good.

I listened for 8 hours and the battery dropped to 90%.

JBL Live 780NC review: Verdict

I’m really impressed with the JBL Live 780NC. While I liked the Live 770NC, they weren’t perfect — but the successor is a major improvement. Sound is now more balanced across the frequency range, and, although you’ll find a more expansive sound profile in pricier headphones, it’s a much more immersive experience.

Although at $249, the Live 780NC are a little more expensive than I’d like, you still get a fantastic performance for the price. I just think there’s too much competition at $250 — $199 would have made this a 4.5-star review, without a doubt.

But if you want that lively, fun, colorful design, then I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the Live 780NC. They last for days and days, they sound great, and they also look super cool.

JBL just announced its latest line of premium earbuds — the Live Buds 4, Live Beam 4, and Live Flex 4. These earbuds are all the same flagship earbuds with premium sound, strong ANC, AI-enhanced call quality, and sleek design.

But this doesn't really set them apart from AirPods Pro 3, Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro, Sony WF-1000XM6, and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2. All those bigger-name earbuds do all that, too. So what makes the JBL Live series special? What sets it apart from the oversaturated earbud market?

The design. While AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds 4 Pro are stem earbuds with a silicone tip, the AirPods 4 and Galaxy Buds 4 have no silicone tip — but also fewer features. The Sony XM6 and Bose QC Ultra 2 are stemless pebble earbuds, and you can't get them in any other style.

The Live 4 series isn't available yet, but it should launch any day now for an estimated MSRP of $199.

JBL said "Enough!" — and changed the game

Now, you can get flagship earbuds in whichever style you want. Want the best features but no silicone ear tip? Get the JBL Live Flex 4. These earbuds have the same hardware as the Beam 4 and Buds 4, but they don't have the silicone ear tips.

Previously, if you didn't want the silicone ear tip, you'd need to get the non-flagship model, like the AirPods 4 or Samsung Galaxy Buds 4. This means you'd miss out on "Pro"-level sound and smart features. For example, the AirPods Pro 3 can take your heart rate and live translate into the buds themselves — but AirPods 4 can't do this.

Of course, the Buds and Beam styles will inherently have better ANC than Flex. This is the nature of silicone ear tips — they create a seal that blocks sound waves. Without this, you won't be able to get that snug fit.

But all is not lost! A JBL representative confirmed to me that Flex have a different ANC algorithm from the Buds and Beam, which strengthens the noise-blocking signals to keep your music front and center, even in noisy environments.

I'm watching you, Sony, Apple, Bose, Samsung...

If JBL can do it, why can't Apple, Bose, Sony, and Samsung? Why must silicone-tip haters be forced to buy the cheaper line and miss out on premium features? Why must pebble earbud haters be forced to buy AirPods Pro 3 instead of Sony WFXM6?

Now that JBL's created the same line of earbuds with mostly the same specs, I'm waiting for everyone else to do it. Take a look at the specs below — you can really see how the entire line has the same features.

Of course, there are natural differences in battery life. This is because the Buds have less space for battery, and the Flex have a stronger ANC algorithm due to the lack of a silicone seal. But everything else? Identical.

Now that JBL has changed the game, I want to see it everywhere. AirPods Pro 4 with pebble, stem, and stem + silicone tip. This level of versatility and choice is the future, and I want to live it now.

On top of all of this, you also get a touchscreen charging case that lets you choose ANC modes, EQs, skip tracks (while playing music), and check battery (without needing to connect to your phone). I'm so excited to try these earbuds out and review them.

Which kind of earbuds do you like? Personally, I'm a stem + silicone tip person. I have super small ears, so pebbles are a no-no for me, and I like the tight ANC seal.

More from Tom's Guide

• JBL has fixed the biggest problem with wireless headphones — the Tour One M3's USB-C transmitter has changed the game
• AirPods Pro 3 just got put on notice — JBL launches new premium earbuds that give Apple a run for its money
• You don't have to buy the most expensive Bluetooth speaker for awesome sound — here are my top picks under $30, $50 and $100

JBL's newest premium headphones, the Tour One M3, have broken my brain. Not because they're terrible — quite the opposite. Because they come with the one thing I wish all the best Bluetooth headphones would include: a USB-C transmitter (alongside Bluetooth, of course).

With a transmitter, I'm never fumbling for a Bluetooth connection or unpairing on one device and pairing on another. All I have to do to change my output device is literally move the transmitter. As it has a USB-C connector, I can switch from my work MacBook to my iPhone 16 Pro to my personal laptop in literally seconds. And... it doesn't stop there. In theory, you can connect these headphones to anything that has a USB-C port — Bluetooth or not.

On a long-haul flight, and don't want to use the airline's nasty headphones to watch your movie? USB-C port. Want to hear the TV in my headphones? USB-C port (as long as your TV has one, of course). I wish all audio brands would take heed and do a JBL.

Sony, Bose, Apple, I'm watching you

The USB-C dongle is such an easy addition, I don't understand why other brands don't make it more of a "thing". We reviewed the AKG N9 Hybrid last year and loved them — especially the USB-C dongle for 2.4GHz listening.

The eagle-eyed amongst you will know that AKG is owned by the same parent company as JBL — Harman — so I'm not surprised that AKG and JBL are leading the pack here. If one audio brand can do it, and do it well, why wouldn't the sister brand do it too?

With the dongle, forget switching between devices in your Bluetooth menu. Just plug and play, and you've got music all day long. Of course, this still transmits over Bluetooth, so you'd need Bluetooth switched on and your headphones topped up with battery, but this removes any connectivity headaches.

There's even a 3.5mm jack!

Yes, that's right — the Tour One M3's transmitter has a 3.5mm aux port so you can connect your headphones to literally any analog output device with an aux. Think: your record player, your PC — as long as it has a 3.5mm port, you can connect the transmitter, which will then relay the sound to your headphones.

But it's not just for the Tour One M3

Even though the transmitter comes with the Tour One M3, you can actually use it with any AuraCast headphones or devices. AuraCast is another wireless technology that connects devices from the same source. So, in theory, you could link it up with your JBL Flip 7, JBL Charge 6, JBL Xtreme 5, JBL Go 5... the list goes on. If it's a recent JBL release, it'll have AuraCast — and you'll be playing from any source into any device in no time.

What do you think about JBL's new smart transmitter? Would you use it, or do you think it's a gimmick? Let me know in the comments.

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• My Pixel Buds Pros are awesome for music, but they're also just as good at protecting my ears at concerts — and they're 37% off right now
• AirPods Pro 3 just got put on notice — JBL launches new premium earbuds that give Apple a run for its money

If you're bored with the AirPods Pro 3, JBL has just announced three alternatives that could sway you. JBL has launched its newest line of premium earbuds: the Live 4 series. The Live Buds 4, Live Beam 4, and Live Flex 4 boast JBL Smart OS 3.0, new and improved Personi-Fi, a Smart Charging Case and more colors — which I'll talk about later. JBL has also stuffed four mics with AI noise-reducing algorithms for crystal-clear calls.

Unlike other brands, JBL makes the same earbud in different wearing styles. "Buds" are Sony WF-1000XM6 bean-type, "Beam" are similar to AirPods Pro 3-competitor with silicone ear tips, and the "Flex" style is like the tipless AirPods 4. Now, you don't have to compromise premium features or sound if you don't like silicone ear tips, unlike Apple and Samsung's earbuds.

All styles of the Live 4 — Buds, Beam, and Flex — are available in black, blue, silver, and sand. The Beam (stem and silicone tip) and Flex (stem but no tip) are also available in green, purple, and orange.

We haven't got confirmed U.S. pricing yet, but going off previous models, I'd estimate the Live 4 line will be around $199. Take a look at all the announced features below.

The feature I'm most excited for? The Smart Charging Case

The Smart Charging Case is the feature I'm most excited about. Even though the Smart Charging Case screen was seen on the Live 3 series, it still feels truly new and innovative. I hope this design element comes to other earbuds in time. One of my biggest gripes with the AirPods Pro 3 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro is that you can't adjust any settings without a phone.

With the JBL Smart Charging Case, we can now see battery life at a glance — without needing to pair to any device — control EQ, ANC, and skip songs. Of course, you'll need to be connected to your smartphone to use any of the audio-related features.

Although this isn't a new feature for the Tune 4 series, I'm glad to see it return improved. You can now add backgrounds to the screen or customize it with an original photo.

I will say I think the screen could look a little more modern. As it stands, it looks like something from five years ago. On future versions, a more glass-like appearance and sharper text will make the Live a must-have.

Stay tuned for our JBL Live 4 Series review

Of course, it's not just the case that I'm excited for. With Smart OS. 3.0, the Live 4 series have improved Personi-Fi. Personi-Fi is JBL's personalized hearing EQ. I've used this on previous models like the JBL Live 770NC, and I seriously love it. Personalized EQs are one of my favorite things to play around with when I get new headphones — they literally change your music to suit your tastes.

I won't be able to comment on things like sound quality, mic quality, and comfort until I've given the Live 4 series a fair test. I should be reviewing all three of the new earbuds soon, so keep your eyes peeled for our comprehensive review landing shortly.

What do you think about the new Live Buds 4, Live Beam 4, and Live Flex 4? Will you be grabbing a pair? In which color? I'd choose orange!

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I've tested tons of the best Bluetooth speakers, but none hold as special a place in my heart as the JBL Xtreme series. I loved the Xtreme 4 back when it was released in 2024, and I love the Xtreme 5 in 2026. Though pricey, these are the two boombox-meets-portable party speakers I'd invest in for myself.

But the Xtreme 5 comes with one major upgrade I've never personally seen on a speaker before — not one I've tested myself, anyway. The Xtreme 5 has an IP68 rating, meaning it has the highest-possible durability rating. Yes, this speaker is not only 99.9% waterproof, dustproof, it's now drop-proof, too.

I hope this upgrade comes to every major speaker in the future, because I don't want to live without it now.

Xtreme 5 is surviving the apocalypse

An IP68 rating is pretty cutting-edge. It means the Xtreme 5 has the highest possible waterproof and dustproof rating. The "6" means the speaker is as protected as physically possible from dust ingress, while "8" means the speaker will survive sitting at the bottom of a pool.

Here's the caveat: while there is "technically" an IPX9 rating, this is an industrial-grade rating not really seen on consumer tech because it means the product can withstand high-pressure jets of near-boiling water. This just isn't a scenario most people will experience during backyard parties, so speaker brands don't really bother with IPX9.

IP68 is, generally, the best you can get.

But JBL went one step further — the Xtreme 5 is also "drop-proof". To test this out, I dropped it onto gravel from a height of 5-and-a-half feet, and it bounced. My music didn't stop playing. Honestly, I was a bit scared to drop it from a higher height — I was wary of dropping it out of my first-floor window to avoid hitting a passerby — but surviving a five-and-a-half foot drop is more than I can say for my iPhone screen. RIP.

This advanced level of durability is what makes it perfect for pool parties, beach parties, backyard parties, full moon parties, and anything else you could think of.

And, now that JBL has done it (JBL Xtreme 5, JBL Charge 6, JBL Flip 7), and Tribit has done it (Tribit StormBox Micro 3), hopefully, we'll start seeing an IP68 rating more and more.

But it's not just about durability

Of course, one thing is even more important than durability: sound quality. As a speaker, the JBL Xtreme 5 literally has one job — sound incredible.

And, boy, does it sound incredible. I adore this punchy, bassy, ferocious speaker. It's wide, expansive, and room/park-filling. When I use this speaker, I spend half my time worrying I'm going to get a noise complaint from my neighbors, but the other half of the time, I'm having way too much fun to care.

In my 4.5-star review of the Xtreme 5, which you can read if you want more information, I wrote, "When the beat dropped, my entire desk started shaking. The bass squelched and oozed out of the speaker, a bouncing quagmire after sucking down a few amps."

While you won't get the clarity you'd expect for bookshelf speakers or the best smart speakers (like the Denon Home 400, which I recently tested and love), but if you want a portable, meaty, and fearless speaker, I completely recommend the Xtreme 5.

That being said, if JBL can do it, why can't everyone else do it? Bose, Marshall, Sonos, I'm waiting!

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Upon its release in 2024, the JBL Xtreme 4 instantly positioned itself as one of the best Bluetooth speakers ever made. Well, now the JBL Xtreme 5 is here, so it got me thinking: Can JBL top near-perfection?

I'm not going to answer that right away — magicians don't reveal their secrets at the start of the show, do they? — but I am going to give you some hints. The Xtreme 5 comes with a smattering of changes, both big (literally) and small. Surprisingly, the Xtreme 5 has grown a few inches in both length and girth, gained a few pounds, and acquired a semi-drunken light show, kind of like me at Christmas.

But those extra pounds aren't for nothing. The Xtreme 5 is, pardon the pun, xtremely loud. And bassy. And ferocious. When I was testing the speaker in my apartment and in the local park, I worried I'd get a few noise complaints. I didn't, but if that's the kind of speaker you're after, you'll want to keep reading to figure out if you should buy the JBL Xtreme 5 or JBL Xtreme 4.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Specs compared

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Price

The JBL Xtreme 4 launched in 2024 with an MSRP of $379. You can buy it on Amazon right now, still for that launch price of $379. Comparatively, the JBL Xtreme 5 launched at $399, available on Amazon.

I was disappointed to see this 5% price increase over the previous model. The Go 5 launched on the same day as the Xtreme 5 with a $5 increase, which works out to 10%. I suppose we should be glad the Xtreme 5 didn't get this 10% increase, but $20 is noticeable.

As the Xtreme 4 is now the older model, we should start seeing great discounts. I'm not sure when said discounts will kick in, but keep your eyes peeled as we approach major sales events like Black Friday.

Winner: JBL Xtreme 4.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Design

As you can see from the 'Specs compared' section above, the Xtreme 5 is considerably larger than the Xtreme 4. I'm not entirely sure why JBL did this, as the brand already has the Boombox 3, which is 19 inches long and weighs 14.7 pounds. As the Xtreme 5 is 13.6 inches long and 6.4 pounds, it's still a lot smaller than the Boombox, but it's also a lot bigger than the previous model.

The whole "point" of the Xtreme line is boombox performance without boombox size. Yes, it's not quite boombox size, but every little helps, right? When I unboxed the Xtreme 5, the first thing I thought was, "Oh darn, that's bigger." If you already thought the Xtreme 4 was too big, then I don't think the 5 will be for you either. For seriously portable speakers, you might want to check out the Flip 7 or Charge 6, just 1.8 and 2.7 pounds, respectively.

This extra weight has its advantages: The Xtreme 5 is louder, bassier, and more durable than its predecessor. You're looking at an IP68 rating, the highest durability rating a speaker can get. Essentially, this means it can be buried in sand, thrown in the ocean, dropped from a great height, and will still keep the party going. You won't find a more rugged speaker.

Speaking of ruggedness, both the Xtreme 4 and 5 have the durable carry strap for traversing across beaches, parks, deserts, mountains, and wherever you might want to take this speaker.

Controls are just as straightforward on either speaker: you've got some nice tactile buttons on the speaker body for play, pause, volume, and AuraCast.

Last but not least, there are two built-in LED strips. Yes, the Xtreme 5 keeps the party going in sound and also vibes. You can adjust the light color and style in the JBL Portable app. This light show isn't as extravagant as, say, the Tribit StormBox Blast 2, but it's still fun.

Even though the 4 is considerably lighter and more portable than the 5, I'm going to give the 5 the win. It's literally the most durable speaker you can buy, and it has lights.

Winner: JBL Xtreme 5.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Features

As the Xtreme 4 and 5 are both party speakers, you'll be pleased to know they both come locked and loaded with AuraCast. If you ever find yourself at a party with multiple AuraCast speakers, you'll be able to sync them up using JBL's 'PartyTogether'. I found this very straightforward to set up in the JBL Portable app: the speakers just knew what they were doing and sorted themselves out.

The Xtreme 5 also comes with Bluetooth 6.0, which provides a decent range for outdoor usage. I was able to get out of my apartment and a little down the street before the speaker disconnected.

The Xtreme 5 has 'PartyBoost', which is effectively a battery longevity mode. The Xtreme 4 doesn't have this. With PartyBoost, the sound quality decreases slightly, but you can squeeze an extra four hours of playtime. You win some, you lose some, right?

As the 5 has PartyBoost, I'm giving this win to the newer model.

Winner: JBL Xtreme 5.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Sound quality

Both the Xtreme 5 and Xtreme 4 are characterized by loud, propulsive bass. If you want to soundtrack your house parties, pool parties, beach parties, or anything in between, I think you'd get on just fine with either speaker. However, the Xtreme 5 just ekes out the win, and let me tell you why.

Because of its size, the Xtreme 5 has a more expansive, wider sound that reaches every corner of your house. When I played 'REAL MOVE TOUCH' by Confidence Man, the bass pummeled through the Xtreme 5 like an uncontrollable conflagration intent on setting the dancefloor alight.

This isn't to say the Xtreme 4 performed badly — not in the slightest — but, as the 5 has those extra two inches over the 4, you've naturally got more width.

Similarly, when I played 'All I Am' by Ninajirachi, the Xtreme 5 made the song feel bigger and bolder. The bass pounded through my desk without overpowering the female vocals.

In contrast, the Xtreme 4 had a little less bass and more roughness in the treble. Please don't think the Xtreme 4 sounds bad, because it sounds frankly divine, but the Xtreme 5 is just so darn near perfection.

I also played 'Artificial Angels' by Grimes, which is another party-ready electronic track. The glitchy, crawling bassline and frenetic synths stole the show on the Xtreme 5, compounded by the mesmerizing LED light show.

I really can't fault the Xtreme 5 — it's the best party speaker I've ever tested.

Winner: JBL Xtreme 5.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Battery

This is an objective win: the Xtreme 5 is going to scoop this round. As the Xtreme 4 has 24 hours of battery life and the Xtreme 5 boasts 28 (with PartyBoost), I can't really do anything but name the 5 the champion here.

Winner: JBL Xtreme 5.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Verdict

I love the JBL Xtreme 5. It's one of my favorite speakers of all time, and it's definitely the "best" party/outdoor Bluetooth speaker you can get right now.

However, if you've already got an Xtreme 4 and you're considering upgrading, I think you should stick with your 4. Sure, the improvements are nice — lights, better sound, and more durability — but are they worth $400 when you already have a $380 speaker? Although the Xtreme 5 won every round, as you can see from the ratings scorecard, the results were closer than I'd predicted.

But if you don't have a party speaker and you're considering it, then you should 100% get the Xtreme 5. It's the best new speaker on the market.

JBL Xtreme 5 vs JBL Xtreme 4: Ratings scorecard

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JBL knows how to make a good speaker. From chunky speakers, like the JBL Xtreme 5, to small ones that can be clipped onto a bike handle, like the JBL Clip 5, there's no dearth of options in JBL's lineup.

In April 2026, JBL revealed the successor to its two-year-old JBL Go 4 pocket speaker, the JBL Go 5, and I've tested it for a week to come to the conclusion that it's the best budget Bluetooth speaker you can buy today.

But how does it compare to its predecessor? After all, the Go 4 is a formidable speaker that you can still buy today — often for less than $40 when it's on sale. I put the Go 5 and the Go 4 through their paces in this face-off to find out which is best value for money. I don't think the winner will surprise you that much.

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Specs

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Price & availability

The JBL Go 4, at the time of writing, is two years old as it first came out in early 2024. At launch, it had a retail price of $49 / £39, but as the speaker is a little old now, you can find down to $39 / £29 during sales events, like Black Friday. In April 2026, JBL revealed the JBL Go 5 with a launch price of $54 / £39 — a $5 price hike over its predecessor, which is practically unnoticeable.

In terms of sheer value for money, the Go 5 is the winner. It's newer and it improves on the fourth-gen model's shortcomings while introducing a couple new upgrades, as you'll soon see throughout this face-off.

Winner: JBL Go 5

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Design

If you weren't already familiar with the design differences between the JBL Go 5 and the JBL Go 4, and you were to put both speakers side-by-side, you probably wouldn't be able to tell which is which. The Go 5 bears striking resemblance to its predecessor as it continues to sport a boxy, rectangular design with mesh covers over the front and rear faces.

One of the key visual differences is that the Go 5 now features two strips of LED lighting which run along the base and the top plate, with four lighting effects. Rubber strips are located on both speakers. The Go 5 is a little heavier at 8.16oz, versus the Go 4 which weighs 6.7oz, but the difference is hardly noticeable. You can still carry both with ease, even in your jacket's pocket.

Controls are fairly similar too, so you can change the volume, enable Auracast, and swap between Bluetooth sources easily. Build quality of both speakers is sublime. In my opinion, the Go 5 is the winner as it's still pocketable and the LED lighting strips are a nice, classy touch.

Winner: JBL Go 5

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Features & connectivity

The JBL Go 4 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC and AAC codecs, while the JBL Go 5 utilizes Bluetooth 6.0 with added support for LC3 for improved sound quality at lower bitrates. Both speakers are Auracast-enabled which means you can link multiple speakers together for bigger sound — or if you want to play the same song in different parts of a room.

In my testing, I found Auracast pairing to be a little finnicky on the Go 4, as it took a few tries to do so and I ended up using the companion app to make the process easier. On the Go 5, though, I found the process to be more straightforward as it took me hardly any time to pair multiple speakers together. The Go 5 has another ace up its sleeve too, in the form of AirTouch stereo pairing. If you have another Go 5, you can touch two Go 5s together to instantly create left and right stereo channels.

Both speakers are durable too. The Go 4 is IP67-rated while the Go 5 is IP68-rated, making the latter the better choice if you want to submerge it in 1.5m of water for 30 minutes. It's also drop-proof, and having dropped it from a height of approximately 2m onto a wooden floor, I can confirm that the Go 5 remained unscathed.

Winner: JBL Go 5

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Sound quality

The biggest difference between the JBL Go 5 and the JBL Go 4 is the sound quality. Both speakers are highly competent, and they can get very loud, but the Go 5 is simply better because it delivers better sub-bass and general bass response. This was instantly clear in my testing.

To start, I listened to ‘Elma’ by Yin Yin, an atmospheric psychedelic rock and funk track. The Go 5 boasted impressive separation between the shimmering guitar and synth waves. There was plenty of low-end impact to each string plucked on the bass guitar too. Listening to the track on the Go 4 right after revealed a lack of warmth to the groovy bass, and it sounded hollow rather than full-bodied. I also noticed that I couldn't really hear the kickdrum through the Go 4, which made the track feel soulless, but this wasn't the case through the Go 5. The sub-bass sounded thick, warm and very enjoyable, and it gave a good backbone to the track.

Lana Del Rey's ‘First Light’ sounded fairly similar through both the speakers. "T" and "s" sounds remained crisp without becoming hissy, and the vocals shone through the track and didn't get drowned out by the orchestration. The treble sounded crisp, clean and vibrant without cutting through the rest of the track, lending the song a lovely energy.

An area where the Go 5 upstages the Go 4 is dynamic management, as in ‘Who Will You Follow' by Evanescence, I noticed the distorted, low-tuned guitars sounded a little muddy through the Go 4. This wasn't an issue on the Go 5, as the newer speaker handled the song with aplomb. There was a great balance between Amy Lee's high-pitched vocals and the gothic metal guitar riffs.

Based on sound quality alone, the Go 5 is a no-brainer. For such a tiny speaker, it can get very loud without music sounding distorted or too tinny at high volumes, and it quashes the Go 4 in every aspect.

Winner: JBL Go 5

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Battery life

Both the JBL Go 4 and the JBL Go 5 are tiny speakers, so you shouldn't expect extensive battery lives from either. JBL has added a bigger battery pack to the Go 5, so you get 8 hours of playback time or 10 hours with Playtime Boost enabled via the app — a three-hour improvement over the Go 4.

In my testing, I was prompted to charge the Go 5 after 9 hours of listening to music at 50% volume, and to charge the Go 4 after 7 hours of doing the same.

The Go 5's playback time will also depend on whether the LED lighting is turned on or off, but both speakers should last you comfortably if you're hosting a barbecue or a poolside party with friends. Playtime Boost is a handy feature too, but note that it sacrifices some of the bass to last longer.

Winner: JBL Go 5

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Verdict

As you've seen throughout this face-off, and based on the ratings scorecard below, there's a clear winner, and it isn't even close. The JBL Go 5 wins in every category, from value for money and design to sound quality and battery life. While the Go 4 is good and can be a great speaker when picked up during sales events, the Go 5 is simply better.

If it's outstanding sound quality you're after, the Go 5 should be your port of call. It doesn't compromise on sound, boasting excellent sub-bass, meaty bass and vibrant treble. The Go 4 struggles when it comes to reproducing warm sub-bass, which can make songs feel hollow.

At the end of the day, both the Go 4 and the Go 5 are superb budget Bluetooth speakers, but the Go 5 is crowned the winner in this face-off because JBL has improved it in basically every way possible. Personally, it's my new favorite budget speaker that I'll be using for a long, long time.

JBL Go 5 vs JBL Go 4: Ratings scorecard

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The JBL Xtreme 5 is one of the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy. There you go. I’m clocking out now; you don’t need me anymore. I jest, but seriously, the JBL Xtreme 5 is a sonic machine. If you care about bass-heavy sound that doesn’t skimp on clarity across the mids and highs, it’s all about the Xtreme 5.

Although it’s considerably larger and heavier than its predecessor (not to mention $20 pricier), the Xtreme 5 is perfect for taking to every party on your calendar. It’s got a carry strap that alleviates as much weight as possible, an improved 28-hour battery life, and is daring enough to fill any room with its bassy sound.

If you’re a student, partygoer, or simply living room raver, let me do you a favor and put you onto the Xtreme 5. Want to find out more? Of course you do. Keep reading for the full story in this JBL Xtreme 5 review.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Specs

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Price & availability

The JBL Xtreme 5 is a wince-inducing $399 from Amazon U.S. and £299 from Amazon U.K.. In the States, this is a price increase of $20 over the previous model, which was already expensive at $379.

In the U.K., you’re getting a better deal — and you’re actually getting a discount from the Xtreme 4. Although on JBL’s website the 5 is listed at £329, it’s £299 on Amazon (sold by Amazon, not a third party), so I’d recommend buying on Amazon.

Even for a boombox speaker such as this, $399 is really, really pricey. I have the Tribit StormBox Blast 2, $299, which is just as loud as the Xtreme 5. Although it doesn’t have as much clarity in the mids and treble as the Xtreme 5, it’s a fantastic, cheaper option. Even cheaper is the JBL Flip 7 ($129). Another more affordable option is the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, which is $249 and packs a major bass-shaped punch.

If money is no object, may I interest you in the Marshall Bromley 450? This $799 speaker is literally the size of an amp (which it can also double up as), has rave lighting, and can be a karaoke machine.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Design

Like its predecessor, the JBL Xtreme 5 is a gorpcore delight. This rugged speaker looks like it will survive the apocalypse. In 3026, it’ll just be a few Nokia bricks and the JBL Xtreme 5 left.

However, unlike its predecessor, the Xtreme 5 is weirdly massive. It’s 2 inches longer, 0.3 inches deeper, and 1 inch taller than the Xtreme 4. The Xtreme 5 is also two pounds heavier than the Xtreme 4. I’m a weakling, so I’m perhaps not the best point of comparison. But if you, too, have arms built like string beans, you will probably be better off sticking with a lighter speaker like the Marshall Middleton II $329) or opting for JBL’s uber-portable Flip 7 ($149).

I’m not really sure why JBL did this, because the iconic brand already has a line of bulky speakers — the JBL Boombox 4, $549 — and there should be more of a distinction between each model.

You even get a nice LED light show now! The Xtreme 4 didn’t have any lights, but I’m seeing it more and more these days, even on cheaper brands like Soundcore and Tribit. You can change the lights using the JBL Portable app — I chose pink, obviously.

Last but not least: IP68. This is an upgrade over the Xtreme 4, which had an IP67 rating. IP68 basically means this is the most durable speaker physically possible. It’s completely dustproof, you can bury it in sand, and it’ll live to tell the tale, and it’s fully waterproof.

Oh, and before I forget — the Xtreme 5 is literally dropproof now, certified and everything. Remember what I said about it surviving the apocalypse?

Connectivity

As you might expect from a $399 speaker, the Xtreme 5 comes pre-loaded with a litany of features. Of course, you’ve got AuraCast — the technology that allows you to sync up your speakers with as many devices as you physically can get in one room — an IP68 rating, a huge array of EQ presets (including a completely custom option), the aforementioned light show, Playtime Boost, and now USB-C lossless audio.

Playtime Boost is effectively a battery extender. It reduces the quality of music playing (even if the JBL Portable app claims it “boost[s] up sound”, which it most certainly does not) to extend your battery life — but more on that later.

Another fun feature is AuraCast. I was able to connect the Xtreme 4 with the Xtreme 5 instantly, with no connectivity issues.

The Xtreme 5 boasts Bluetooth 6.0, which is refreshing to see. Bluetooth 6.0 basically means the Xtreme 5’s range and reliability are both as high as possible. I was able to get out of my apartment and down the street before the speaker disconnected.

Controls

The Xtreme 5 looks a treat, with a bulletproof-looking fabric grill and high-quality metal-meets-plastic carabiners. I particularly like the radiators on either side, and found myself mesmerized by their bouncing.

You can control the Xtreme 5 by tactile buttons on the top: these include play/pause, volume up, volume down, and Auracast.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Sound quality

Alright, now let’s get into the good stuff. The Xtreme 5 sounds just as good as the Xtreme 4, with powerful, earth-tremoring bass and clarity in vocals and mids, even in bass-heavy tracks. It sounds notably better than the Tribit StormBox Blast 2, EarFun UBoom X, and the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus.

As for EQs, you can select from: ‘JBL Signature’, ‘Chill’, ‘Energetic’, ‘Vocal’, and ‘Custom’. ‘Custom’ lets you create an EQ from a 7-band frequency range. I found ‘JBL Signature’ sounded the best.

As this is a party speaker, I had to start with some party bangers. ‘Can’t Get You Out of My Head’ by Kylie Minogue sounded thrilling through the Xtreme 5; the plucky synth instrumental and keyboard motifs weren’t lost in the bass-heavy speaker. Clarity across the bass, vocals, and synth riffs was high.

After, I kept the energy high but switched genre. ‘Flight fm’ by Joy Orbison is a UKG/jungle-inspired electronic track not afraid of starting a fight. As it’s almost entirely bass, I worried the Xtreme 5 might struggle discerning between the layers, but oh boy, was I wrong. When the beat dropped, my entire desk started shaking. The bass squelched and oozed out of the speaker, a bouncing quagmire after sucking down a few amps.

Last, I knew I had to test a lower-energy track (even though the Xtreme 5 is a party speaker first and foremost). I played ‘Kick the Curb’ by NewDad, which is a slow, shoegazey track with atmospheric acoustic guitars and breathy vocals. This sounded fantastic, despite the lack of frenetic, club-ready bass, with extreme clarity in the top of the frequency range — I could hear every rattle of the lazy tambourine, every layer of the airy vocals.

Overall, the Xtreme 5 sounds fantastic… but I knew it would. It’s just as fun and addictive as the Xtreme 4.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: App

As with other speakers on JBL’s roster, the Xtreme 5 uses the JBL Portable app. This app is as you’d expect. User-friendly, easily navigable, not glitchy.

Here are a few screenshots so you can see for yourself.

I found changing my EQ and light settings to be incredibly easy, and I never struggled to figure out where each feature was hiding.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Battery life

While the Xtreme 5 ‘technically’ has a 24-hour battery life, you get an extra 4hours with ‘Playtime Boost’, making the overall max battery life 28 hours. This is four hours longer than the Xtreme 4 and eight hours longer than the Soundcore Boom 2 Plus, but two hours less than EarFun’s UBoom X.

This is much better than the Flip 7’s 16 hours, but not as impressive than the Boombox 4’s 34 hours. Oh, and the Boombox 4 lets you replace the battery, essentially futureproofing the speaker for years and years. If you’re serious about using your speaker to death, I’d invest more in the Boombox 4.

JBL Xtreme 5 review: Verdict

I said this about the Xtreme 4, but the Xtreme 5 may be my favorite portable(ish) speaker to date. The sound quality is fantastic, with extreme height and width and bass that’ll make your bones shake.

While yes, it’s expensive, it’s a price I’d be willing to pay for a speaker of this caliber. For house parties, pool parties, beach parties, street parties, I’m not sure you’d get much better at this price. Sure, you could spend a bit extra for the Boombox 4 or the Marshall Bromley 450, but for $400, it’s the Xtreme 5.

So if you want rich, room-filling sound and don’t mind that the Xtreme 5 is a bit bigger than its predecessor, I wholeheartedly recommend this music monster.

As temperatures soar, many of us are looking forward to spending time with our friends and family outdoors, perhaps at a barbecue, or by a friend's pool.

And I don't know about you, but anytime I hang out with my friends or my partner's, we love having some jazzy tunes playing in the background. No gathering, during the summer or otherwise, is complete without one of the best Bluetooth speakers.

Don't have one yet? Don't fret, because I've found the finest speaker to soundtrack your summer without breaking the bank: the new JBL Go 5.

The Go 5, in my opinion, is the ultimate summer speaker. It's extremely portable and pocketable so you can take it anywhere, and it gets very loud — perfect for large gatherings. The build quality and design are sublime, and the sound quality is nothing short of outstanding.

I've spent a couple of weeks listening to my favorite tunes on the Go 5, and I'm here to convince you to get one for yourself if you love music.

Take anywhere-able

One of the key reasons why the JBL Go 5 is the perfect summer speaker is its size — the Go 5 measures 3.98 x 3.05 x 1.7 inches and weighs just 8.16 oz.

The small size and light weight make it highly portable, so whether you're taking it to a friend's house or to a beach party, you should have no problem carrying it in your backpack or pocket. It's also got a strap for clipping to a carabiner, in case you want to travel with it that way.

Even though it's compact and light, the Go 5 doesn't compromise on build quality. It's well-built, and I didn't notice any hollow-sounding parts when I tapped the speaker with my fingernails.

It looks fantastic too, sporting a minimalist design with two low-key LED lighting strips which light up to correspond with the speaker's color: If you buy the blue model, the lights will be blue, and if you buy the red model, they'll be red, and so on.

Controls on the Go 5 are extremely straightforward too, and you don't need to be tech-savvy to use the speaker — so don't worry about people at your party struggling to figure out how to adjust the volume or swap between Bluetooth sources.

Oh, and did I mention that the Go 5 is IP68-rated, so it can be submerged in 1.5m-deep water for up to 30 minutes, and it's highly dustproof and drop-proof? Yep, it's the ideal speaker for the outdoors.

Surprisingly powerful bass for such a tiny speaker

Size isn't everything, and you shouldn't underestimate just how loud the JBL Go 5 can get. For its size, it can get loud enough to soundtrack a large gathering of people and you can pair multiple Auracast-enabled speakers to it, or grab another Go 5 and pair them together instantly by simply bumping them together. It's that easy.

As for the sound quality, the Go 5 boasts powerful bass response and sub-bass too, something its predecessor, the Go 4, struggled with.

In songs like 'Elma' by Yin Yin and 'Loser' by Tame Impala, I appreciated the clean bass, and the fact that I could hear every string plucked on the bass guitar. The bass had plenty of low-end impact in both tracks, and the kickdrum was clean and warm too.

Of course, I couldn't feel the sub-bass in my chest as the speaker goes down to only 100Hz, it still provided a good backbone to both songs, and ensured that the tracks didn't sound hollow.

Alongside the bass, the treble is crisp and vibrant. 'First Light' by Lana Del Rey and 'Time' by Pink Floyd sounded beautiful through the Go 5.

The sibilance was clean, and "t" and "s" sounds didn't bleed into one another. Along the same lines, plosives didn't pop too much to detract from Lana's vocals. In my favorite song by Pink Floyd, the hi-hats and cymbal hits didn't sound too shrill and they didn't pierce through the rest of the soundstage.

Unlike the StormBox MIni+, the Go 5 doesn't sound too tinny or distorted when it's being played at high volumes. I say "too tinny" because small speakers are limited by their hardware, and you should expect some level of tinniness at 100% volume.

Having said that, it isn't unpleasant at all. The Go 5 gets a 10/10 from me in the sound department.

So good and cheap that I'm buying two

The JBL Go 5 has quickly become my favorite budget Bluetooth speaker. It earned a 4.5-star rating and the coveted Editor's Choice award from me in my JBL Go 5 review thanks to its stellar sound quality, beautiful design, sturdy and durable build.

And it isn't a hefty investment either. The Go 5 retails for $54 / £39 at Amazon, so even though it's $5 more expensive than its predecessor, it's well-worth the extra spend. For the price, I'd be happily buying two so that I can pair them together and create left and right stereo channels.

Not sure how to take your music with you outside in 2026? The Go 5 is, without a doubt, the perfect speaker to soundtrack your summer.

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• The only Bluetooth speaker you need for pool parties costs less than $40 — no, I’m not joking
• I've spent 300 hours testing the best portable Bluetooth speakers — these are the 11 that are worth your money

As someone who loves music, I don’t think any party (or shower karaoke session) is complete without a speaker. The JBL Go 5 is one of the best budget Bluetooth speakers you can buy today, period. It improves on its predecessor by offering more refined sub-bass, and the overall sound quality is dynamic thanks to the wide soundstage.

The Go 5 retains most of the Go 4’s design while adding LED lighting strips. It’s highly waterproof, dustproof and even drop-proof, so it’s perfect for the outdoors. Small and compact, the Go 5 is pocketable so it’s great for your travels. Auracast-enabled, it can be paired with other JBL speakers, and creating stereo channels with another Go 5 is easy as pie too.

Should you buy it? Yes! Why? Read my full JBL Go 5 review to find out.

JBL Go 5 review: Specs

JBL Go 5 review: Price & availability

Launched in April 2026 alongside the JBL Xtreme 5, the JBL Go 5 succeeds the two-year-old JBL Go 4. Priced at $54 / £39 at Amazon, it’s $5 more expensive than its predecessor, which isn’t a huge jump (and is justified by the Go 5’s improved sound). It’s available in a range of colors, including Black, Blue, Pink, Squad (camo) and White.

The Go 5 is a budget Bluetooth speaker, and it finds itself competing with the likes of the Tribit StormBox Mini+ ($39), the Tozo PE1 ($39) and the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 ($59). There’s no dearth of speakers in the sub-$50 range, so why should you buy the Go 5 and not, say, the StormBox Mini+, the PE1 or the Go 4 ($49)? The Go 5 is more rugged thanks to its IP68 durability rating and it boasts loud volume and better bass performance.

JBL Go 5 review: Design

• Compact and pocketable
• Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC and LC3
• IP68 waterproofing and dust resistance

If you put the JBL Go 5 next to the Go 4, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. The Go 5 bears striking resemblance to its predecessor as it continues to sport a boxy, rectangular design with mesh covers over the front and rear faces. The rear face, however, doesn’t feature two grip rubber strips anymore. Instead, they extend down from the top and bottom, lending the speaker a more premium look.

The base and top of the Go 5 are also fairly similar to the Go 4’s. There’s textured rubber feet at the bottom to make the Go 5 stand upright. In terms of size, the Go 5 remains pocketable and portable, measuring 3.98 x 3.05 x 1.7 inches and weighing 8.16oz. It’s a little heavier than the Go 4 which weighs 6.7oz but the difference is hardly noticeable. I’ve had no trouble carrying the speaker in my backpack, a tote bag, and even in my jacket’s pocket. The Go 5 is smaller and more portable than the Tribit StormBox Mini+, the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 and the Tozo PE1 too.

JBL has added two strips of LED lighting which run along the base and the top plate. There are four effects to choose from, within the companion app (more on that shortly): Bounce, Loop, Freeze, and Switch. You can’t change the color as the default is blue on the Blue model (red on the Red, pink on the Pink, and so on). I don’t mind that as it makes the speaker look classy. If you want customizable RGB lighting, I’d recommend the Tribit StormBox Mini+ instead.

Weatherproofing

If you want to use the Go 5 to soundtrack a pool party, a karaoke session in the shower, or a bonfire in the Sahara, you can confidently do so as the speaker is IP68-rated. This means that the speaker can be submerged in 1.5m of water for 30 minutes, and it’s dust-proof too, so it won’t get damaged by dirt and dust. Oh, and it’s drop-proof. Although JBL doesn’t specify how much of a tumble the Go 5 can sustain, I dropped it from a height of approximately 2m onto a wooden floor and it was unscathed.

Controls

The playback controls (play and volume) are located on the top plate. Other buttons — power, Bluetooth and Auracast — can be found along the Go 5’s left edge. Straightforward enough that you shouldn’t have any issues getting to grips with them.

Connectivity

The Go 5 utilizes Bluetooth 6.0 as opposed to its rivals utilizing older versions. Alongside support for SBC and AAC codecs which you can also find on the Go 4, the Go 5 supports LC3 for improved sound quality at lower bitrates.

Just like its predecessor, the Go 5 is Auracast-enabled which means you can link multiple speakers together for bigger sound — or if you want to play the same song in different parts of a room. Auracast pairing is simple as all you need to do is press the triangle on two (or more) Auracast-enabled speakers and et voilà. While we found the process on the Go 4 a little finicky, I had no problem pairing the Go 5 with my friend’s JBL Clip 5 ($79).

The Go 5 also features AirTouch stereo pairing if you have another Go 5 at hand, as I did. All you need to do is touch the two speakers together and left and right stereo channels are instantly created. It worked flawlessly in my testing, and considering the Go 5 doesn’t cost a lot, you might as well buy two for a more immersive experience.

JBL Go 5 review: Sound quality

• Better sub-bass than the Go 4
• Crisp treble and refined mids
• Can get very loud!

One of our complaints with the JBL Go 4 was that the sub-bass was practically non-existent, but thankfully, the JBL Go 5 doesn’t suffer from that problem. The sound quality is refined and fine-tuned and straight out of the box, it doesn’t give you much to complain about. The Go 5 can get very loud too, especially for the size, and it doesn’t sound tinny at high volumes either, unlike the Tozo PE1.

To test the Go 5, I listened to my range of testing songs on Qobuz, in our opinion the best music streaming service for hi-res audio. I kicked things off by listening to ‘Elma’ by Yin Yin, an atmospheric psychedelic rock and funk track. The Go 5 handled the track beautifully, with the shimmering guitar and synth waves boasting impressive separation. Each string plucked on the bass guitar had plenty of low-end impact. While I couldn’t feel the sub-bass in my chest due to the Go 5’s frequency response going only as low as 100Hz, it still sounded thick, warm and enjoyable.

I then listened to ‘First Light’ by Lana Del Rey and the song felt remarkably intimate, with Lana’s vocals shining and not getting drowned out by the David Arnold-produced orchestration. “T” and “s” sounds remained crisp without becoming hissy. The Go 5 also did an excellent job at reproducing the high-frequency tension of the string section with plenty of agility, and the song sounded energetic throughout.

‘Who Will You Follow' by Evanescence proved to be a good test for the Go 5’s dynamic management, as in this gothic alternative metal, Amy Lee’s vocals compete with a dense wall of sound. The Go 5 handled the distorted, low-tuned guitars with surprising grit, and the track never sounded muddy — something small speakers, like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2, can get overwhelmed by. Amy’s high-pitched vocals never pierced through the soundstage either, and they didn’t sound too shrill or unpleasant.

If you want a compact speaker that doesn’t compromise on sound quality due to its size, the Go 5 should be your port of call. It sounds better than the Tribit StormBox Mini+, a speaker I use nearly every day, and doesn’t feature poor bass reproduction like the Tribit StormBox Micro 2.

Listen along to my review with the JBL Go 5 testing playlist:

JBL Go 5 review: App

• JBL Portable app on iOS and Android
• User-friendly
• Straightforward EQ customization

To customize the JBL Go 5, you’ll need to download the JBL Portable app for free on your iOS or Android smartphone. Intuitive to use thanks to its clean interface, the JBL Portable app lets you update the Go 5’s firmware, customize stereo channels and group speakers together, customize the equalizer, and choose an EQ preset. That’s about it and it’s all you really need for a portable, budget speaker.

JBL Go 5 review: Battery life

• 10 hours of battery life
• Rivals offer longer

According to JBL, the Go 5 offers up to 8 hours of playback time and 10 hours with Playtime Boost enabled via the app. This is a three-hour improvement over the Go 4. To test the battery life, I played the Go 5 at approximately 50% volume, and after nine hours, I was prompted to charge it. If you’re planning on soundtracking a barbecue or party, the Go 5 should last you comfortably.

It’s important to note, though, that the Go 5’s rivals offer longer battery lives — but not by much. The Tribit StormBox Mini+ lasted 13 hours in my testing; the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 nets you about 12 hours of usage; and the Tozo PE1 lasts around 15 hours at moderate volumes.

JBL Go 5 review: Verdict

I’ve tested my fair share of Bluetooth speakers: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The JBL Go 5 falls into a secret fourth category: the excellent. Compact and pocketable, the Go 5 can be taken anywhere, and its robust IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating means you can use it by the pool or in the desert.

The Go 5 boasts a wide soundstage too, and while its predecessor struggled with sub-bass, the Go 5 thankfully doesn’t. The bass is meaty, especially for the size, and the treble is crisp and refined. Pairing the Go 5 with other Auracast-enabled speakers is a walk in the park, which is great for large gatherings where you want everyone to listen to the same tunes.

While the battery life isn’t the best, I don’t believe that should put you off from buying the Go 5. That’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make for the dynamic sound quality.

JBL is a brand with a long tenure in the audio space. The company doesn't make the most expensive headphones and speakers, but it does offer a solid blend of value and sound quality. These solid speakers often find themselves featured on best Bluetooth speaker lists for the powerful bass relative to the cost.

Seemingly out of nowhere, JBL's Bluetooth speakers are going viral on TikTok. And users aren't gushing about the audio quality of the company's models — it's the customizable nature of JBL's speakers that has the internet all excited.

Instead of just offering vibrant colors, JBL lets you create a custom design on four of its Bluetooth speaker models (and one pair of headphones).

Viral JBL Bluetooth speaker

You can see all kinds of videos on TikTok of people showing off their customized JBL speakers. As you might expect, people are getting creative with the various models, and a hot dog-themed speaker is gaining a lot of views and engagement on TikTok.

One person even designed a bunch of speakers and shared a slideshow on TikTok, asking viewers to help them choose the best option. And it is a tough choice, because they all look great.

We actually looked at the now-viral speaker a few months ago for a YouTube video showcasing gifts under $100 (we chose the JBL Clip 5, which is currently on sale for $69).

You can also customize the Grip for $129, the Flip 7 for $144 and the Charge 5 for $169. And if you're looking to make a pair of Bluetooth headphones your own, the JBL Tune 520BT is $49.

As mentioned, the Clip 5 is only $69, so you don't need to break the bank to get in on the viral speaker fun. And who knows, maybe your design will be the next one to grab millions of views on TikTok, Instagram or another vertical video platform.

I think I'm going to grab the Charge 5 with a photo of my dogs, this way when I hear loud music blaring from a speaker, I can think of them barking at absolutely nothing for no reason as soon as I join an important meeting.

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I've loved music for as long as I can remember. My earliest memories of music involve me sitting in the backseat of my dad's car, and singing along to songs like 'Eleanor Rigby' by The Beatles, 'A Horse With No Name' by America, and 'Comfortably Numb' by Pink Floyd. My love of music and singing along grew exponentially as I grew up, to the point that I was the lead vocalist of my high school band.

Though I'm a lead vocalist no longer, I still love singing, whether that's at a karaoke bar after a few drinks or performing a full-blown concert in the shower (yes, accompanied by air guitars and air drums). But to make that happen, I need one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers that won't get ruined by steam or splashes of water.

Since joining Tom's Guide almost two years ago, I've tested my fair share of waterproof speakers, so if you're on the hunt for one, I'm here to assist. I've picked my top-rated speakers which are waterproof and in some cases, dustproof too — and they start at as low as $39!

A quick rundown of IP ratings

A device's, or speaker's (in this case), durability is defined by an IP score. "IP" stands for Ingress Protection, and it's the level of protection against dust and water getting in. The first number that follows "IP" determines the speaker's protection against dust, and it's measured on a scale of 1-6, with 1 being least protected and 6 being most protected.

Another number then follows the first, and the second number after "IP" represents water protection. This is measured on a scale of 1-8, with 1 being least protected and 8 being most protected. If you want to use a speaker in the shower or by the poolside, I'd recommend either an IP54 or an IP67 speaker, as you'll soon see below. One of the following recommendations is rated IPX7, which means it's waterproof but not protected against dust — but that's the bare minimum you'll want in a waterproof speaker.

For a more detailed breakdown of IP ratings, check out our best waterproof Bluetooth speakers buying guide.

My top picks for shower-proof speakers

The cute speaker with reactive RGB

The 'hook-it-anywhere' speaker

The inconspicuous, lowkey speaker

The 'more-than-a-pretty-face' speaker

The 'can-withstand-anything' party speaker

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Wander into any tech shop, and scores of the best Bluetooth speakers line whole aisles. They’re small, versatile, and often excellent value for money, and manufacturers face a cruel cycle of delivering innovation and sound quality while keeping prices down in this highly competitive audio segment.

I recently went hands-on with JBL’s mid-range Flip 7, successor to the Flip 6, and it has humongous shoes to fill. The Flip 6 was extremely well-received and struck an impressive balance with its portability and sonic performance.

So can the Flip 7 build on its success? Or is this one speaker that’ll be overshadowed by its Bose, Sonos, Ultimate Ears, and Marshall brethren?

JBL Flip 7 review: Price & availability

The Flip 7 is available from JBL.com for the reasonable sum of $149. It represents great value for money for such a compact speaker, perfect for those looking for a balance of great sound quality without wanting to drop $400 on a high-end model.

JBL Flip 7 review: design and build

The Flip 7 doesn’t stray too far from the form factor of JBL’s mainline Bluetooth speakers, like the Grip, Charge, and its predecessor, the Flip 6, with a tubular design and a slightly bulbous middle. It’s a more rugged, casual look, replete with the large and bold JBL logo on the front, so if you’re looking for something a little more elegant, you could go for something like the Sonos Roam 2.

The large can-sized boomer is still designed to be grabbed single-handedly, though it’s heftier than it looks. Thankfully, there’s a new PushLock system with interchangeable accessories, including a fabric looped strap and carabiner, for more secure carrying. Still, it’s fine for slipping into the side pocket of a backpack.

The grill comprises thick, interwoven fabric with rubber bumpers at the edges. There’s also a small rubber backstop, so it’s less prone to rollover when placed down.

The speaker also comes in a choice of seven colors, including Red, Pink, Blue, Black, White, Purple, and the camouflaged Squad.

Everything from the weightiness, fabric grill, and the solid rubber bumpers oozes quality, so while the Flip 7 isn’t the most subtle speaker around, you know you’re getting a good product just from holding it.

The speaker is absolutely ready to rough it up too, whether at the beach, the pool, or a bike trail. With its IP68 rating, it’s built to be protected against water and dust ingress, so it can shake off a tumble down a sand dune or fall into a hot tub and keep going.

New to the 7th-gen Flip is AI Sound Boost, which analyzes and optimizes speaker performance in real time, creating fuller audio at lower volumes and minimizing distortion when cranked up.

Another addition over the Flip 6 is lossless audio using a USB-C cable and a compatible platform, which is a boon for Spotify users enjoying its fairly new lossless service. Plus, its battery life has been tweaked up to 16 hours — 14 without the Playtime Boost option, which lessens the power draw from deeper bass notes.

Finally, JBL adds to its Auracast-compatible range with the Flip 7. This feature allows one device to broadcast to an unlimited number of other speakers without the standard Bluetooth pairing process.

JBL Flip 7 review: Controls & connectivity

Controls-wise, we have the usual power, playback, and volume buttons. I also adore the separate Bluetooth button, super handy for those who second-guess the varying pairing hoops speakers make you jump through — “was it the power button or both volume buttons?” An Auracast button also makes its debut on the Flip series, letting you connect compatible speakers quickly and with no fuss.

Like its forebears, the Flip 7 still lacks skip buttons, with those features embedded within the play button itself — skip ahead with a double press, go to the previous with a triple press.

The JBL Portable smartphone app is also there to coordinate proceedings, letting you select preset equalizer settings or customize your levels, while the Playtime Boost option extends your listening time at the cost of your bass power. You can also hook in another Flip 7 for stereo listening, though sadly, alternate JBL speaker models won’t work for this function.

JBL Flip 7 review: Sound quality

Sonically, the Flip 7 impressed me right from the outset. For a compact, mid-range boomer under $150, it performs like it was at least twice the price and twice the size. Thanks to its USB-C output, I was also able to test out non-compression playback via Spotify Lossless, which did not disappoint.

While so many sub-$100 speakers deliver reliably, with decent volume and bass, the Flip 7 rewrites the script on what’s possible with the portable variety. And while it’s easy to be skeptical of its AI SoundBoost feature, it does work. Even at low volumes, the bass rumble of The Prodigy’s Breathe pleasingly tickled my eardrums.

When you crank it up, every thud in Massive Attack’s Teardrop feels like a wallop to the ribcage, thanks to those visibly pulsing passive radiators and the woofer delivering that big sound that betrays the Flip 7’s smaller size.

Trebles and mids also feel detailed, complex, and well handled on the Flip 7. The haunting yet floaty notes of Alicia from the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 soundtrack are rendered in crystal clear ethereal quality — at volume, I could really appreciate soprano Alice Duport-Percier’s emotional performance, clarity, and control. And that slinky yet eerie Latin percussion really cuts through in that first minute of Steely Dan’s Do It Again. In Michael Jackson’s Thriller, the complex and layered arrangement of synths, drums, guitars, and Vincent Price’s distinctive voiceover shines to great effect.

Only at the 85% volume does the bass start to buckle, but that level is honestly way more than you’d typically use (or find tolerable) in most settings. Speaking of bass, when plugged in with a USB-C for lossless playback, the speaker rested on my protruding cable instead of its rubber grip, and I’d find it spinning away on my desk when at high volume.

I was also itching to pair my JBL Grip with the Flip 7 to enable a proper stereo mode, but it’s a little disappointing that you need the exact model to unlock this feature. Still, I enjoyed using Auracast for wider coverage.

Naturally, the Flip 7’s smaller form factor has limitations — it won’t reproduce the lowest notes as there’s no subwoofer. It’s also still a mono speaker, so don’t expect much of a soundstage, though I’m seriously considering a second Flip for that stereo goodness.

As you might expect, this sadly isn’t the speaker for amping your laptop when streaming video or playing games. Its slower audio codecs mean voices and effects are delivered out of sync — not hugely, but noticeable enough to distract. Maybe we can have a low latency mode for the Flip 8?

JBL Flip 7 review: Battery life

The Flip 7 can go 14 hours (16 with Playtime Boost) between charges, which is respectable given its size and about accurate from my play testing. Still, it’s a middle of the pack stat for a Bluetooth speaker. Its bigger brother, the Charge 7, manages an impressive 24 hours of juice (28 with PlayBoost), so eking out even 2 or even 4 more hours would have earned it some extra credit.

JBL Flip 7 review: Verdict

Despite its already impressive speaker portfolio, JBL has cranked out another winner in the Flip 7. Vocals and trebles are detailed, crisp, and clean, while its bass performance is dynamic and carries plenty of punch for its size. Plus, its volume capabilities won’t leave you wanting more. Build quality is once again excellent, despite what we’ve come to expect from this major speaker manufacturer.

Even if you own a Flip 6, I’d argue the sonic and future-proofing upgrades of the Flip 7, namely the updated tweeter redesigned 16mm tweeter dome, lossless playback, and Auracast compatibility, make upgrading worth it.

Plus, it’s built like a rock, meaning it can survive dips and dunks in sand, dirt, and water, making it perfect for enjoying outdoors or in the backyard. And while the slightly aggressive design isn’t going to suit everyone — it’ll feel out of place at a dinner party — its rough and tumble readiness will be a big hit for many.

Finally, the Flip 7 cuts a swathe through much of the competition, even some of the more premium rivals — you’re getting a lot of speaker for your money here, so it’s a no-brainer.

At the end of 2024, I attended a listening session hosted by JBL to check out the audio company’s new Modern Audio A/V receivers and Stage2 speaker system. JBL pitched the receivers and speakers as a "baby’s first sound system" for those looking to upgrade from a soundbar to something more robust.

I’ve had an ancient LG soundbar hooked up to my TV for years, and a set of Sonos One smart speakers for music. I am that baby looking to upgrade their home theater.

To help ease me into the world of Hi-Fi, JBL sent me the mid-tier MA510 receiver, a pair of bookshelf speakers, a center channel, a 10-inch subwoofer, and two floorstanding speakers in a white colorway. It was far more than I was expecting and... it turns out, more speaker than my home can handle.

Introducing myself to the MA510

Off the bat, the MA510 receiver looks great and feels like a stalwart piece of equipment for first-time buyers. JBL has gone for a clean aesthetic, reflected in the large volume and input knobs on the front, but also the reduced number of ports on the back (that's a good thing for someone like me). Plus, it comes in slick espresso (blackish) or latte (white) colorways.

During the listening session, JBL told me that it designed the MA receivers to be less overwhelming for newcomers by limiting the number of ports available on the rear. As someone who recalls my dad’s giant Onkyo receiver from the 1990s, this is a blessing.

The front of the 5.2-channel receiver only has five buttons in total, plus the two giant knobs. The rear has five HDMI ports, USB-A, optical, and Ethernet ports alongside a coax in, analog, and two sub out plugs. For speakers, there are only plugs for two surround, center, and two front. All in all, fairly compact. Of course, the larger and more expensive MA9100 and MA710 versions offer a few more inputs, but not by much.

The Stage2 speakers, also available in latte or espresso, are equally sleek-looking with grey speaker grilles that attach magnetically.

The painful setup process

Part of upgrading from a simple soundbar to a 5.2-channel system means organizing cables and double-checking your connections. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing in my book, but it did require more learning on my part.

I'll admit, one of the joys of a soundbar system is that you pull it out of the box, plug it in, and, in general, you’re ready to rock. By comparison, the Modern Audio system doesn’t offer out-of-the-box readiness: While the JBL quickstart guide and owner’s manual are well-written and feature handy diagrams and images, they don’t include everything.

For one, neither the receiver nor the speakers comes with speaker wire. Which also means that you need to buy a wire stripper; two things I didn’t have.

For wires, I bought a reel of Rocketfish 30-foot 16-gauge pure copper wire, mostly because that’s all my local Best Buy had in stock. The audio guy on the clock vociferously told me not to buy banana plugs. I wasn’t planning on it, but that is advice you might get. He strongly insisted they were “unnecessary” and for people looking for “an aesthetic.”

The store did not have a wire stripper, which necessitated a different trip to the local Ace Hardware, where I picked up a pair of Klein cutters.

Y’all, I had forgotten how frustrating stripping wire can be, especially if you either a.) don’t know what you’re doing or b.) are deeply out of practice like me. My setup area was littered with strands of copper as my initial attempts to get appropriate lengths of wire unsheathed from their tubes proved destructive.

It is a pain point that I don’t know if anyone unprepared for the step up in connectivity difficulty will be ready to tackle. Plus, the plugs on the back of the JBL speakers are slightly angled which turns trying to slip the wires in before tightening into a ‘thread the needle’ level of frustration. Perhaps I should have bought those banana plugs.

JBL does have a Premium Audio app that you’ll need to use so that you can finish setting up the receiver. It also lets you enable and connect streaming apps via your phone — perfect if you don’t want to plug your phone in.

Once you’ve hardwired everything and stretched wire from speaker to receiver, you are — for the most part — ready to go.

Here's where I ran into a problem

My current furniture situation does not allow for every speaker in the system to be plugged in. The console table under my TV has a lot of small cubbies, but not a larger open one like you see in most media centers.

I couldn’t properly set up both the receiver and the center channel speaker on the console table without some finagling. And you’re not going to stack them, or at least, I’m not. Additionally, I have a narrow living room with a fireplace I hate, which forces certain furniture arrangements, especially when you’ve invested in a sectional couch.

The floor-standing speakers don’t fit my current living room layout, and thus, the bookshelves became the main speakers. I did try a precarious setup with everything connected, and I admit, these JBL Stage2 speakers sound great — and, with the receiver, are easy to use. But my partner is not interested in buying new furniture just so I can set up speakers better.

Unfortunately, when you start removing speakers, like the center and the floorstanding, the receiver gets confused. It wants to default to Dolby sound, which means it pushes movie dialogue to a non-existent center channel. Everything sounds fine when you switch to Stereo 2.0 or 2.1, but the receiver refuses to stay on that setting. It has to be manually switched every time I turn the TV on.

In the end, I figured out this is a settings issue you have to change in the menu by disabling the center channel. I also turned the surrounds off since I didn’t have that setup.

What I’m saying is that unless I buy a new seating situation and a new console table, I can’t really use the speakers in the way JBL intended for them to be used or the system in full without some very ugly finagling. All of this is before you get into EQ testing your room, which can require a whole other app and an understanding of the physics of sound.

Not quite the easy step-up I was searching for

If the soundbar is meant to be your first step into the world of home theater audio, is the JBL Modern Audio system the next rung on the ladder to a full AV system? Yes and no.

The home theater audio world is a rabbit hole that goes past Wonderland and into the ethereal. On one hand, the capped JBL receiver with its sleek design and limited inputs takes an overwhelming device and makes it far friendlier to beginners like myself.

On the other, the leap isn’t a toddler learning how to waddle faster as JBL would have you believe. If you’re interested in a system like this and you are upgrading from a soundbar to a full home theater system, it takes research, practice, extra tools, and possibly additional furniture.

For my current situation, a setup like this may not be entirely possible, but for folks like me there are many excellent soundbars out there to choose instead. In fact, JBL has the awesome JBL Bar 1300X built for movie lovers — even if it does cost nearly double the cheapest setup of the Modern Audio system.

More from Tom's Guide

• JBL Charge 6 review: JBL's got greatness playing on repeat
• I wore JBL's new Quantum gaming headset — and they may be my next favorite way to play games
• JBL's new can-sized Grip could be my pick for budget Bluetooth speaker of the year

JBL has a slew of new products launching later this month to take on the likes of Sony and Sonos in the Bluetooth speaker range.

The cheapest of the bunch is the JBL Grip, a small yet feature-rich device built for sunny poolside staycations, and 14 hours of battery life means just that. JBL's new Boombox 4 takes up after its predecessor, boasting serious performance with AI Sound Boost and two bass-boosting settings to keep the party active.

A renewed PartyBox is also hitting the market at a $1,099 price. It will be the first of the bunch to launch on September 21, while the other two speakers will hit store shelves on September 28. You can preorder them all starting today on JBL's store page.

JBL Grip: Audio perfection wrapped in a durable $99 package

Compact as it might look, the JBL Grip still packs a punch. It's built to last not just in terms of battery life, thanks to a 14-hour playtime, but also in durability. JBL's kitted the Grip with an IP68 rating, making it one of the most durable Bluetooth speakers I've seen in the market yet.

That's better than Sony's ULT Field 1 and the Marshal Emberton III, which are just IP67. The JBL Grip is also cheaper than these two Bluetooth speakers, priced at just $99. You can also get it in a slew of colorways, including purple, red, teal, pink, and even camo.

Just like its more expensive counterpart, the Grip will also have AI Sound Boost, which can measure the environment to predict the best possible sound accuracy for that space. It will optimize this output for larger outdoor spaces, so you get clearer, more accurate sound with minimal distortion.

Even at night, the JBL Grip will keep the mood alight with a handy ambient light on its side that can be customized to a wide degree. Within the JBL Portable app, you can make several changes to the color and themes so the music and lighting can match the atmosphere, which is a particular highlight as most ambient lighting is often reserved for premium speakers.

You can preorder the JBL Grip starting today at just $99 on JBL's store page. It's set to officially launch in stores on September 28.

Ready to Party

If the budget Grip wasn't enough, JBL's also bringing to market two premium quality Bluetooth speakers in the Boombox 4 and PartyBox 720. The former takes up after the JBL Boombox 3, which launched back in 2023, and targets a similar market to the Sony ULT Field 7.

AI Sound Boost also makes its debut on the new speaker system, pumping up the vibe with not one but two levels of bass-boosted delight. And, just like the Grip, the JBL Boombox 4 will also be IP68, which can handle everything from water to dust without breaking a sweat.

Within it, you'll find a pair of tweeters, woofers, and a passive radiator, giving it that extra boost in clarity and dimensionality. You'll also have lossless audio playback via the USB-C input, which means you can plug in your laptop or similar device to get the best quality sound, so the party never falters.

The Boombox 4 also has a replaceable battery if the initial 34-hour capacity doesn't live up to your standards. You'll have to buy these replaceable batteries separately, but it's a nifty addition for those who need that extra power.

The Boombox 4 launches officially on September 28 at $549, but you can preorder today on JBL's online store.

Last but certainly not least is the PartyBox 720, the crème de la crème of party bopping speaker systems. At a starting $1,099, it's quite a hefty investment, but it makes itself known with some of the most enticing specifications.

While it's not as durable as its other counterparts, leveraging just a mere IPX4 splashproof rating, it's still built to be the center of the action. It features a 15-hour playtime and has seamless high-quality audio connectivity. Karaoke never sounded this good.

Similar to the Grip, you'll also get a sophisticated lightshow that you can customize to your heart's content in the JBL Party app. While karaoke is at the forefront of its feature set, you can also connect a guitar or DJ console to the speaker so you can make your own music and bring it to life for all your friends.

Like the others in the lineup, the PartyBox 720 is available for pre-order starting today and will hit store shelves come September 21.

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With Gamescom 2025 well underway, we've had the chance to test out the ROG Xbox Ally and upgraded Nvidia GeForce Now. But on the audio front, we may see a new contender in the best gaming headsets, as JBL has announced its new JBL Quantum gaming headsets.

Announced during Gamescom 2025, JBL revealed three new gaming headsets: the JBL Quantum 950, Quantum 650 and Quantum 250. Each caters to different price ranges, with the Quantum 950 being the flagship headset to keep an eye out for.

There's the upgraded JBL QuantumENGINE, adding spatial sound, 3D head tracking and active noise cancellation (ANC), along with its AI noise reduction tech to keep noise that isn't your voice to a minimum. Plus, there's even a hot-swappable dual-battery system providing 25 hours of battery each, and a wireless base station

I was able to check out the JBL Quantum headset and was immediately drawn in by its comfy fit and lightweight design (I also took a shine to its white colorway). As for how they actually sound? That will be saved for when I test these cans out.

However, JBL is known for its pinpoint audio (as with the JBL Charge 6), and that should translate quite nicely to clear, detailed gaming audio.

JBL Quantum Gaming Headset: Specs

Comfort is in focus

First things first: how do the JBL Quantum Headset lineup feel? About as comfortable as they look, I found. That's an essential for anyone looking to dive into a long gaming session.

The thick memory foam ear cushions completely covered my ears and rested comfortably without feeling too tight, and I barely noticed their weight. And just like the recent SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless I've been using, all the Quantum headsets come with a hammock headband and breathable mesh suspension that makes the headset feel lightweight and snug on the head.

They still feel premium, though, which is what I'd want from a pair of gaming headphones that cost up to £299.99 / €349.99 (likely around $349).

What I did find is that the upgraded 6mm boom mic on all the models isn't flexible, and it does seem a tad long and in the way. Still, this is detachable, so that easily solves that small annoyance of mine.

In terms of comfort, I'm impressed by what the JBL Quantum gaming headsets offer, and I'm a fan of their various colors (too bad the Quantum 950 only comes in black and white, though).

Premium specs for premium audio

Now, onto what's under the hood. JBL aims to level up the playing field in multi-platform gaming headsets with the new Quantum 950 headset, delivering the kind of audio precision that esports players and casuals after top-level audio expect — albeit at a premium price tag.

I expect these headphones will be able to track footsteps in multiplayer titles and subtle sounds in narrative-driven AAA games. Along with JBL's Quantum Spatial Sound and 3D head tracking, audio should be top-level.

What's more, that 6mm boom mic wants to make sure your callouts are crisp. However, the real game-changer is the integrated AI Noise Reduction feature. It intelligently filters out the click-clack of your mechanical keyboard and other background noise, so your team doesn't hear your setup.

It's all useless without a good battery life, so the Quantum 950 introduces a hot-swappable dual battery system. When one runs low, simply swap it for a fresh one from the wireless charging Base Station without ever dropping a match. With up to 25 hours per battery, there's a lot of gaming to be done, although the 45 hours on the wireless Quantum 650 is also impressive.

There's all the connectivity in there, too, with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 or a wired connection (with the Quantum 250 being purely wired). That means it should be able to connect to all gaming PCs and consoles, including PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and other platforms.

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The best gaming headsets may see a new contender, as JBL has just announced its new JBL Quantum gaming headsets at Gamescom 2025 — including a fresh redesign, upgraded drivers and multi-platform spatial sound.

As part of its new Quantum lineup, JBL has released three new gaming headsets: the JBL Quantum 950, Quantum 650 and Quantum 250. It's the 950 that stands out, with the 50mm carbon drivers providing incredibly detailed, Hi-Res certified audio. Apparently, this isn't just about booming explosions; it's about hearing the game-winning details others can't.

That's something I'll have to explore myself on the Gamescom 2025 showfloor, but considering the pinpoint audio precision JBL is known for, like the JBL Charge 6, I expect these headphones to deliver the gaming goods.

The JBL Quantum headset lineup is expected to arrive this fall, with prices starting at £49.99 / €59.99 (U.S. pricing is yet to be announced).

JBL Quantum Gaming Headsets revealed

JBL aims to level up the playing field in multi-platform gaming headsets with the new Quantum 950 headset, delivering the kind of pinpoint audio precision that pro-level esports players expect — albeit at a premium price tag.

According to JBL, gamers will be able to track subtle footsteps, pinpoint the direction of a reload and react to positional shifts before their opponents even know they're there. Combined with JBL's Quantum Spatial Sound and 3D head-tracking, it's a gaming headset worth paying attention to.

The Quantum 950 aims to solve comfort woes with a hammock headband and breathable mesh suspension that makes the headset lightweight. Paired with cool memory foam ear cushions, it looks to be comfortable — like the recent SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless I adore.

Moreover, the upgraded 6mm boom mic wants to make sure your callouts are crisp and authoritative. However, the real game-changer is the integrated AI Noise Reduction. It intelligently filters out the click-clack of your mechanical keyboard and other background noise, so your team doesn't hear your setup.

It's all useless without a god battery life, so the Quantum 950 introduces a hot-swappable dual battery system. When one runs low, simply swap it for a fresh one from the wireless charging Base Station without ever dropping a match.

As JBL points out, whether you’re on PC, console or mobile (expected to be PC, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and other platforms), the Quantum headset lineup will adapt with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 or a wired connection.

Otherwise, here's the key upgrades you can expect:

• Lightweight comfort: A unique hammock headband design distributes weight, stopping pressure points for those marathon sessions.
• Crystal-Clear comms: The enlarged 6mm mic with AI-powered noise reduction means your team hears your callouts.
• Long-living battery: A hot-swappable dual-battery system lets you change batteries mid-game.
• Versatility: Instantly switch between PC, console and mobile with lossless 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.3 and wired options.

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There's rarely a better time to save on your favorite tech than during Prime Day sales, which are (almost) in full swing. We're a day away from Amazon's biggest sales event of the year, and if you want one of the best Bluetooth speakers to take traveling with you, you've come to the right place.

Hi, I'm Nikita, and I listen to music almost throughout the day. I also love singing along to my favorite tunes in the shower, and I never go anywhere without a portable speaker.

My pick that checks all these boxes (waterproof, portable, and amazing sound)? The JBL Clip 5, which is currently 25% off at Amazon U.S. and 18% off at Amazon U.K. Yep, you read that right. I'd even pay full price for it, so this deal is too good to pass up.

• See all Amazon Prime Day deals right now

As its name suggests, the Clip 5 features a useful carabiner so you can hook it onto your belt loop, backpack, your bike's handlebars or even your shower head. Yes, you can literally hang it in your shower — something I've done plenty of times. And the reason I've been able to use it to perform a mini concert in my shower is thanks to its IP67 rating (waterproof down to 3 feet).

The Clip 5 sounds fantastic too, regardless of the genre you're listening to. Its bass and sub-bass are powerful for such a tiny speaker. I could feel the rumbling sensation coursing through me as I listened to songs like 'Royals' by Lorde, and the vocals in 'The Great Gig in the Sky' by Pink Floyd sounded ethereal, sending me into orbit.

The Clip 5 is accompanied by the JBL Portable app, which enables you to swap between signature (default), chill, energetic and vocal boost EQ presets, so you can tailor the sound to your liking. With the energetic preset enabled, bass notes in Twenty One Pilots' 'Jumpsuit' and Vantablack's 'Intervals' sound more prominent and clear, making for a more enjoyable listening experience.

If you have another Clip 5 (or buy two thanks to this deal), you can sync them up as the Clip 5 is Auracast-enabled, so you can create your own surround sound — who needs big, bulky, expensive speakers, right? The battery life is long too, with a single charge lasting nearly 12 hours, or 15 hours with Playtime Boost enabled.

I'd highly recommend snagging the Clip 5, which is down to just $59 in the U.S. and £49 in the U.K. You won't regret it! Also, if you're on the hunt for more deals, be sure to tune into our Amazon Prime Day deals live blog for discounts on TVs, home appliances, instant cameras, and more!

Soundbars are really expensive, there's no doubt about it, which means the best time to get a soundbar is 100% during a sales event like Prime Day or Black Friday. Right now, some awesome sales are coming in, like the Sonos Beam 2, just $369 on Amazon.

Because soundbars are so pricey, I've rounded up some of the best deals this Prime Day. These deals include iconic brands like Sonos, Samsung, Sony, and JBL, and the sales extend to both the U.K. and the U.S., so keep scrolling!

Quick links

• shop all Prime Day deals at Amazon

• Sony HT-S100F: was $159 now $97 @ Amazon
• Samsung HW-B650: was $397 now $229 @ Amazon
• Sonos Beam 2: was $499 now $369 @ Amazon
• Polk Audio Signa S3: was $299 now $249 @ Amazon
• JBL Bar 2.0: was $219 now $149 @ Amazon
• Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: was $899 now $699 @ Amazon
• Bose Smart Soundbar 2024: was $499 now $399 @ Amazon
• JBL Bar 9.1: was $1,199 now $759 @ Amazon

Best soundbar deals

Shop more Prime Day sales

• shop Prime Day deals at Amazon
• YETI sale: up to 25% off
• Prime for Young Adults: 50% off
• Amazon Haul: Adidas, Columbia, from $5
• Lego: deals from $8
• Carhartt sale: deals from $9
• Amazon devices: from $14
• Switch 2: games/accessories from $14
• Outdoor String Lights: just $21
• Samsonite: travel essentials from $31
• Ninja appliances: deals from $44
• TV sale: from $69
• Garmin: from $149

If you're feeling in the mood for some Amazon deals, be sure to check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog for major savings. We've rounded up discounts on everything from kitchen appliances to TVs. You can get freebies this Prime Day, too!

Researchers have discovered a security flaw in Bluetooth headphones and earbuds from Sony, JBL and more, allowing attackers to hijack audio devices, eavesdrop and steal phone numbers and contact information.

Cybersecurity firm ERNW identified vulnerabilities in audio products using a Bluetooth System on a Chip (SoC) from manufacturer and supplier Airoha, allowing threat actors to manipulate devices without needing to pair with them.

This SoC is used among many popular brands, with affected devices confirmed to include the Sony WH-1000XM6, Link Buds S, Jabra Elite 8 Active, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and more.

As noted in the report, the vulnerabilities allow cybercriminals to hijack headphones over Bluetooth, with BLE GATT services and BD/EDR (a.k.a. Bluetooth Classic) missing authentication and leaving these devices open to be taken over without any need for pairing or authentication.

"The vulnerabilities can be triggered via Bluetooth BR/EDR or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Being in Bluetooth range is the only precondition," ERNW reports. "It is possible to read and write the device’s RAM and flash. These capabilities also allow attackers to hijack established trust relationships with other devices, such as the phone paired to the headphones."

The security flaws can lead to threat actors knowing what is currently playing on devices via RAM reading commands, eavesdropping on conversations when the Bluetooth Classic vulnerability is exploited and being able to see a connected device's phone number and incoming calls.

It's important to note that these vulnerabilities can only be exploited if an attacker is within Bluetooth range of a device (around 10 meters), and requires several steps to achieve hijacking without being noticed — with ERNW noting that it would take a "high technical skill set."

So, while it's possible for cybercriminals to take advantage of these flaws in headphones or earbuds using Airoha Bluetooth SoCs (especially if they're wireless), they would need to be in close range.

What devices are affected?

While many audio products, including headphones, earbuds, speakers and wireless microphones, are known to use Airoha's Bluetooth chip, the cybersecurity firm has confirmed a list of devices that are affected.

Here's a look at the devices that are exposed to the vulnerability:

• Beyerdynamic Amiron 300
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
• EarisMax Bluetooth Auracast Sender
• Jabra Elite 8 Active
• JBL Endurance Race 2
• JBL Live Buds 3
• Jlab Epic Air Sport ANC
• Marshall Action III
• Marshall Major V
• Marshall Minor IV
• Marshall Motif II
• Marshall Stanmore III
• Marshall Woburn III
• MoerLabs EchoBeatz
• Sony CH-720N
• Sony Link Buds S
• Sony ULT Wear
• Sony WF-1000XM3
• Sony WF-1000XM4
• Sony WF-1000XM5
• Sony WF-C500
• Sony WF-C510-GFP
• Sony WH-1000XM4
• Sony WH-1000XM5
• Sony WH-1000XM6
• Sony WH-CH520
• Sony WH-XB910N
• Sony WI-C100
• Teufel Tatws2

However, it's expected that many more audio devices with the SoC are also exposed to the security flaw, but it's virtually impossible to test them all with the amount out there. ERNW states that "some vendors are not even aware that they are using an Airoha SoC," due to parts like the Bluetooth chip being outsourced for development.

Since these headphones, earbuds and more are from popular brands, including the latest Sony WH-1000XM6, it's likely that many people are at risk of the vulnerability.

How to stay safe

While many of the best headphones and best wireless earbuds are affected, an attack that exploits these security flaws would only take place if a cybercriminal is in range. So, as with any Bluetooth attack, it's a good idea to be cautious when in public spaces, such as public transport, cafés and more.

The only real way to stay safe from these types of attacks is to disable Bluetooth, which isn't ideal for wireless headphones and earbuds. Of course, it's also best to use wired options that don't require Bluetooth, such as the Sennheiser IE 200 wired earbuds.

As this leaves many audio products open to attack, Airoha has now fixed the vulnerabilities in a Software Development Kit (SDK). A new version with the fixes has been sent to manufacturers as of the first week of June, meaning brands such as Sony, JBL, Marshall and others should have a firmware update available with the fixes so users can update their devices with the latest patch.

Currently, ERNW isn't aware of any fixed firmware releases, but as soon as one is available, users with affected devices should update their headphones, earbuds and more to make sure they aren't at risk.

To keep yourself safe from any online threats that these security vulnerabilities may exploit, it's best to use the best antivirus software and best password managers, too.

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JBL has just launched the new Bar 1000 MK2 soundbar that brings incredible performance enhancements to your home entertainment setup, and it might rank among the best soundbars.

As with its predecessor, the new soundbar boasts Dolby Atmos with a wireless subwoofer, detachable side speakers, and tons of extra features, like MultiBeam 3.0, PureVoice 2.0, and Night listening.

It will be available later this month and will cost $1,199. But before you click buy, JBL's also launching a suite of alternative speaker systems slated to debut later this year.

The Bar 1000 finds its successor

Like its predecessor, the Bar 1000 MK2 is equipped with a 7.1.4-channel speaker system kitted out with Dolby Atmos.

To make audio even punchier, JBL has added a 960W max power output. That includes a large 10-inch sub too, so there's going to be plenty of low end. Then there are the removable extra speakers attached to the bar.

JBL envisions users bringing the sounds of their movies and shows with them around their home if necessary, but they also serve as rear speakers for that surround sound kick. They also work in tandem with the MK2's handy Night Mode, allowing them to act as front speakers for a quieter experience if needed.

It also has a new PureVoice 2.0 feature that enhances dialogue to greater effect, a feature that is fast becoming a top seller on a variety of different soundbars and even some of the best TVs.

In terms of connectivity options, the Bar 1000 MK2 is equipped with AirPlay 2, Roon compatibility, and works with the JBL One App.

A slew of soundbars coming from JBL

The new Bar 1000 MK2 hits store shelves later this month at a retail price of $1,199. Expensive as it might sound, it pales in comparison to other models among the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, where the likes of a fully equipped Sonos Arc Ultra hit well over the $1,500 mark.

At least JBL has more affordable options in the works, including a $449 JBL Bar 300 MK2 and $899 JBL Bar 700 MK2, both arriving in late September. You can also expect to see the JBL Bar 500 MK2 launching on Aug 3 at $649.

An improved JBL Bar 1300X is slated for release in the fall, which will put the Bar 1000 to shame with an 11.1.4-channel system along with detachable speakers that have built-in Bluetooth support. As you can expect, this model will launch at a premium of $1,699.

We'll try to get all of them in for testing upon release, but until then, we're optimistic that JBL's latest model might have a shot at dethroning the Sonos Arc Ultra as the best soundbar in 2025.

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JBL makes some solid wireless earbuds and headphones (Tom’s Guide recommends the 4-star Live 770NC), but its portable speakers are even better and more coveted. The all-new JBL Charge 6 follows suit with notable improvements that elevate this carriable bass-blaster to top contender status.

The speaker delivers vibrant sound that can be customized through the JBL Portable app (iOS/Android) while additions such as an artificial intelligence sound mode and lossless audio really impress sonically. A full charge was enough for me to entertain crowds for an entire weekend, and I also really liked that the Charge 6 doubled as a power bank to juice up handheld devices and play music simultaneously.

Sadly, however, digital assistance and a speakerphone are MIA. The lack of backwards compatibility may also be a dealbreaker for those who already own previously released JBL speakers. The new Playtime Boost battery-saver mode also requires you to make a sacrifice on the audio quality front.

Despite those minor issues, though, the Charge 6 is an excellent value and one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy under $200.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Price and availability

You can purchase this speaker for $199 / £149 / AU$310 directly from the JBL website or at online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy.

The speaker is available in nine colors: Black, Blue, Funky Black (with neon pink and blue accents), Pink, Purple, Red, Sand, Squad (aka camo), and White (pictured above).

The variety of bright and bold colorways is something you won’t find on many competitors and I think the Miami-Vice-inspired Funky Black design looks awesome.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Design

• Damage-proof protection
• The handle strap is useful

JBL portable speakers are built with durability in mind: The Charge 6 is composed of hard post-consumer recycled plastic and dons a rugged woven fabric wrap that protects the drivers. IP68 certification keeps the speaker drop-, dust-, and waterproof up to 1.5 meters submersion for 30 minutes.

It’s not something you’ll want to want to submerge for hours at a time, but know it’ll survive an accidental drop in the water.

The Charge Series' signature details like the embossed logo and physical buttons on the top remain present in the Charge 6.

While the Charge 6 weighs about the same as the Charge 5 (est. 2.2 lbs.), it is heavier than most other handheld speakers like the Beats Pill (1.49 lbs.) and Sonos Roam 2 (0.93 lbs.). Luckily, it isn’t cumbersome to lug around, thanks to the removeable handle strap.

The strap isn't the highest quality, but it’s dependable for transporting the Charge 6 from one location to another and the speaker’s sturdy shell should assure you that it won’t break if the strap doesn’t hold up.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Controls and connectivity

• Updated control scheme
• Reliable operation
• Compatibility restrictions with older JBL speakers

The control scheme is a simple one: All controls are placed on the top. The playback button is flanked between the volume buttons. Above them is a flat backlit control strip with three buttons: Bluetooth, power on/off, and Auracast. Each button produces solid tactility and responds to intended commands.

You'll need the buttons, as the Charge 6 does not come with voice assistance. (For comparison, the Beats Pill supports Siri and Google Assistant.)

Thankfully, connectivity remains a strong point for the series. Range extends to about 40 feet before stuttering. You can pair two Charge 6 speakers together through Auracast for stereo sound or pair up to 100 Auracast-enabled JBL speakers at once.

The Charge 6 isn’t backwards compatible. In other words, you can’t pair it with the Charge 5 or any JBL models programmed with Party Boost. Also, multipoint technology is absent, so you can’t pair the speaker to two media devices at the same time.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Sound quality

• Big sound matched by monstrous bass
• Enhanced audio modes work well
• Multi-speaker pairing is nearly unlimited
• Battery-saving mode affects sound

I loved the bassy, full-powered sound that the Charge 5 dished out. JBL’s latest speaker is just as dynamic on the audio front and hosts a handful of features that heighten the listening experience.

Bass is impactful right out of the box. JBL’s 20mm tweeter and newly designed woofer transmit deep lows to your ears, along with crisp mids and highs. Instruments sound more distinctive, and vocals have more depth.

Bangers like Travis Scott’s “Butterfly Effect” reverberate with intensity. The Charge 6 doesn’t hold back on the track’s immense boom effects and synths, which create a euphoric vibe the longer you’re immersed in the track. I thought the heavily emphasized low end would create mass distortion, but that wasn’t the case.

Despite its reliance on thumpy sound, the Charge 6 demonstrates fantastic frequency range. The tinny hi-hats on Tupac’s “I Get Around” remain transparent over the prominent and punchy snares, while chill reggae bops like Q’s “be with ya” have resonant midrange that make the singer’s falsettos more impactful and personal.

Live performances are equally satisfying to hear — Fleetwood Mac’s rendition of “Everywhere” at Warner Brothers Studios made for a serene listen.

Employing the customizable EQ or pre-engineered presets will either increase or decrease quality, depending on recordings.

The default Signature gets you the most balanced sound. Chill brings the bass levels down a few notches and Energetic raises them higher, causing minor distortion at high volume. Another feature that can affect output is Playtime Boost, a new mode that prioritizes power preservation over sound quality.

JBL’s AI Sound Boost mode adjusts sound in real time based on your listening environment and is mostly effective. Anyone with detailed hearing can pick up on the clearer-sounding lows and mids.

Lossless audio is becoming more common on wireless Bluetooth speakers. I loved testing the feature on the Beats Pill and found it just as enticing on the Charge 6. The differences in clarity and depth are obvious when it's connected to a wired device.

One speaker is enough to fill an entire room with loud, engaging sound, and connecting two or more speakers (up to 100) creates broader 360-degree sound.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: App and special features

• Decent companion app
• Could benefit from more features

The JBL Portable app is easy to navigate, looks attractive, and provides access to some features. I already touched on big ones: AI Sound Boost, Auracast connectivity, custom EQ, lossless audio, multi-speaker connectivity, and presets.

Other extras include a battery level indicator, firmware updates, and the Playtime Boost mode. Everything you need is in the app.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Battery life

• Longer battery life via Playtime Boost
• Sufficient quick charging

A full charge gives you up to 24 hours of battery life – the same as the Beats Pill. This is more than enough listening time for a weekend’s worth of day parties. Bear in mind that high volume and special features reduce playtime by about 3 to 4 hours. Even then, you’re given plenty of power to keep jams bumping at the family cookout.

Playtime Boost mode extends listening time to 28 hours. Turning it on will decrease sound quality; I noticed a huge dip in bass response.

The Charge 6 lets you recharge portable devices, including MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, and your dead portable chargers. Its built-in battery isn’t powerful enough for laptops.

According to JBL, a 10-minute quick charge nets you 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of use.

JBL CHARGE 6 review: Verdict

There is no denying the Charge 6’s greatness. Updates to audio performance, battery life, connectivity, and portability cement it as a top pick for brand loyalists and consumers who want a speaker that sounds as robust as it looks. AI Sound Boost does an impressive job optimizing playback based on surrounding ambient noise, while lossless audio results in hi-fi bliss over USB-C connection. Longer playtimes and widespread pairing of up to 100 speakers make this a terrific mini party speaker.

Still, I think it's not the be all, end all of Bluetooth speakers. It’s baffling why there wouldn’t be a speakerphone or voice assistance on a sixth-gen product. Not having a USB-C cable bundled with the purchase is chintzy, especially when JBL is pushing lossless audio, which requires the accessory. Not having backwards compatibility with last-gen speakers also feels like a betrayal to fans who’ve already invested heavily in JBL’s wireless audio ecosystem.

Those who own the Charge 5 are within their right to stick with it since the speaker holds up well against the competition, though everyone else will want to consider picking up the Charge 6 for its futureproofing and premium perks that are unavailable on older JBL models.

More from Tom's Guide

• The best outdoor speakers in 2025: Great sound and durability
• JBL Bar 1300X review: A lesson in how to make home cinema accessible
• Best Bluetooth speakers 2025: Top recommendations for great sound

We're always hunting for the best Father's Day deals, whether that be apparel, outdoor gear, or TV gadgets. However, I'm a bit of an audio nerd, so I've got my eye on some of the best speaker deals out there.

Way back in July 2024, I reviewed the JBL Xtreme 4 Bluetooth speaker. It's easily one of the best Bluetooth speakers — in fact, it's best for bass on our guide. The only cons are its weight and its price, and this massive discount eradicates the latter.

Let me put you onto this incredible Bluetooth speaker — the JBL Xtreme 4 is the speaker I'd want to take home out of all the speakers I've reviewed, and for just $240? It's an utter steal and just in time for Father's Day.

My favorite JBL speaker

Thanks to the double woofers and JBL's proprietary Bass Radiators, the Xtreme 4's bass is utterly stonking. When I was testing this speaker, I could feel its bass in my jaw. I also filmed a video about the Xtreme 4, and you can literally see the woofers pounding in slow motion. I was utterly gobsmacked by this bass performance.

Just look at that passive radiator. This is what makes the speaker's bass so darn good. I upped the bass on JBL's app to max, and I felt like my house was going to fall down.

Don't get me wrong — it's not a perfect speaker. It weighs a pretty hefty 4 pounds, which was a little too much for me to carry around. That's why I'd buy this speaker for my dad, though — he can carry it! (See, there are always ways to get around these things.)(I jest, but it's a worthy justification.)

The button on the far left of that image is 'AuraCast', which is basically a technology that allows you to link up multiple Bluetooth speakers for an earth-shaking, face-melting, physics-defying loudness performance. If you have other JBL speakers, you'll be able to sync all the speakers for mega-loud listening.

Bass for days

While there's so much more to love about the JBL Xtreme 4, the bass is definitely my favorite aspect. There's a reason I fell in love with the Xtreme 4 when I tested it for a week. However, I did think it was way too pricey. But at just $240? Now I'm tempted to get two — one for me, and one for my dad.

More from Tom's Guide

• I tested the JBL Xtreme 4 speaker for a week and fell in love — there's just one problem
• JBL Xtreme 4 Review: Could this be THE party speaker?
• I've spent 300 hours testing the best portable Bluetooth speakers — these are the 11 that are worth your money

I think I’ve just found the cheapest way to treat your ears to hi-res audio: the JBL Tune 305C wired earbuds. They’re great for anyone who isn’t fussed about wireless connectivity and doesn’t want to spend too much money on the best wireless earbuds. I love that they have a built-in DAC, an anti-tangle design, and a wide soundstage that makes a range of genres sound very pleasing to my ears.

But I don’t think they’re perfect. The lackluster and loose-fitting design means they tend to keep falling out of ears, and I couldn’t fully appreciate hi-res audio. They also sound scratchy at high volumes, making for an unpleasant listening experience.

For all the details, read my full JBL Tune 305C wired earbuds review.

JBL Tune 305C review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A pair of wired earbuds with a USB-C connection and built-in DAC
• Who is it for? For people who want very cheap wired earbuds
• How much does it cost? $21 / £16
• What do we like? The cheap price tag, anti-tangle design, wide soundstage and built-in DAC
• What don’t we like? The loose fit, scratchiness at high volumes, and not being able to appreciate hi-res audio

JBL Tune 305C review: Specs

JBL Tune 305C review: Price & availability

The JBL Tune 305C wired earbuds are ridiculously cheap. At $21 / £16, they cost less than the average takeout. The Tune 305Cs are the cheapest earbuds we’ve ever tested at Tom’s Guide. The earbuds come in a variety of colors: black, blue, red or white.

So what do the Tune 305Cs compete against? Other cheap earbuds include the Google Pixel USB-C Earbuds ($30), the Final VR500 ($34) and the SoundMagic E80D ($45) — but these are all still nearly double the price of the Tune 305Cs. JBL’s offering is a (very) inexpensive way of streaming hi-res audio.

JBL Tune 305C review: Design & comfort

• Lackluster looks
• Anti-tangle design
• Loose fit

The JBL Tune 305Cs won’t win any awards at Paris Fashion Week for their looks. These are simple-looking earbuds that have a very plasticky feel to them. You may want to consider other options, like the Final VR500 and the SoundMagic E80D, if you want aesthetically pleasing earbuds.

I love the anti-tangle design, though. The flat cable doesn’t tie itself into knots when thrown into a bag or jeans’ pocket. I carried them around in my cargo pants’ pocket — which also included keys and my wallet — and when I took them out? No tangles. I wish all the wired earbuds I used as a teenager had this feature. You wouldn’t believe how much time I’ve spent unknotting wired earbuds in my life.

Sporting a look similar to Apple EarPods, the Tune 305Cs are loose-fitting, and they don’t come with eartips to help negate that issue. You’ll need to get the JBL Tune 310Cs ($24) if you want eartips. While I didn’t experience the Tune 305Cs falling out of my ears when sitting stationery at my desk, this quickly became a big issue while walking.

The loose fit also means that you can’t fully appreciate the earbuds’ soundstage as the sound isn’t concentrated enough in the ear canal, which I’ll get into in the sound quality section below.

JBL Tune 305C review: Connectivity

• USB-C connection
• Built-in DAC

The JBL Tune 305Cs launched in 2024, so it’s only right that they have a USB-C port to connect to most modern smartphones. If you have an older iPhone, though, you’ll need to get a USB-C to lightning adapter, which costs as little as $9 / £7 at Amazon. I used the earbuds with my Google Pixel 7 Pro (with the case on) and my MacBook Air M2 without any hiccups.

One of the Tune 305Cs’ biggest selling points is the built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC), housed with the USB-C jack. This allows for hi-res streaming when listening to music on one of the best music streaming services, therefore improving the overall sound quality.

JBL Tune 305C review: Controls & app

• Volume, play/pause, EQ and mic controls
• No app

The JBL Tune 305Cs come with a neat little controller located on the wire emerging from the right earbud. You get volume buttons that double as EQ buttons. If you keep both pressed for two seconds, you’ll be able to swap between bass, standard and vocal modes. It’s quite rare for wired earbuds to have EQ settings — neither the SoundMagic E80D nor the Final VR500 have these — so it’s nice to see that JBL includes a few.

There’s also a circular button that triples as a play/pause button and to answer calls or hang up. And unlike the SoundMagic E80Ds, the buttons on the Tune 305Cs are easy to press too. They seem small, but I had no problem using them. They give good tactile feedback as well.

Unlike most other JBL products, there’s no app support for further customization, which isn’t uncommon for wired earbuds — and I wouldn’t expect that at such a low price point, anyway. I’m grateful that you can at least change the EQ because that’s what matters to me most of all.

JBL Tune 305C review: Sound & performance

• Surprisingly good bass
• Clean, clear vocals
• Scratchy at high volumes

As someone who usually uses over-ear headphones, I was pleasantly surprised by the JBL Tune 305Cs’ wide soundstage. The earbuds have a great frequency response (20Hz-40KHz) so they can reproduce most sounds accurately.

To test the Tune 305Cs, I listened to my usual testing songs (including a variety of genres such as rock, dance, indie, etc.) on Qobuz which is the best music streaming service for hi-res audio. For the most part, the Tune 305Cs make music sound lovely and you can get lost in the tunes, but they have a glaring flaw when it comes to pushing the volume past the halfway point. Let’s get into it.

Bass

Bass-heavy tracks sound fantastic through the Tune 305Cs, thanks to JBL’s signature Pure Bass technology. The earbuds don’t reproduce the heaviest of basslines, but keep in mind that these are very cheap, so sub-bass gets lost. But overall, it’s great. The bass line in Porcupine Tree’s ‘Haridan’ had solid depth. It didn’t overpower the vocals either.

I could appreciate every single note in the bass line in Pink Floyd’s ‘Money’ especially when I switched to the bass EQ. As opposed to the default standard EQ, the bass EQ provides a lovely warmth to the heavier notes.

I also like that, even with the bass boosted, it never sounds too loud or distorted over the other instruments in the track, like the saxophone solo. But a problem arises due to the Tune 305Cs’ loose fit. As the earbuds don’t create a seal in your ear canals, there’s audio leakage and the hi-res aspect is lost.

Vocals

Listening to vocals-first tracks through the Tune 305Cs is enjoyable. Paris Paloma’s vocals in ‘Labour’ sound as powerful as the artist intended. Her high notes are balanced well against the guitar and subtle bass line.

To test how the earbuds handled very high notes, I listened to ‘The Great Gig in the Sky’ by Pink Floyd. Clare Torry’s voice sounds beautiful and her high notes never once pierced my ears, even when I switched to the vocal EQ.

I listened to all of these songs at 50% volume, which is when they sounded their best, but pushing above revealed some problems.

The bad parts

I never thought I’d see the day when a Linkin Park song made me remove my earbuds and stop listening. But that’s exactly what happened when I listened to ‘Casualty’ at a high volume. I usually listen to music loud enough that my coworkers have to wave frantically to get my attention. The volume was at 75% when I noticed Emily Armstrong’s vocals sounding extremely scratchy through the Tune 305Cs.

I then tried listening to a softer, acoustic song at 75%-90% volume, so I gave Lana Del Rey’s ‘A&W’ a spin. And I experienced the same issue. Lana’s voice sounded too pitchy while the guitar in the second half of the song sounded too distorted, making for an unpleasant listening experience.

You shouldn’t really be listening to music past the 90% volume mark as that isn’t good for ear health, but when music sounds distorted at even 75% volume, that isn’t a great indication of a pair’s sound quality.

JBL Tune 305C review: Verdict

If you want a cheap pair of wired earbuds and you don’t mind sacrificing some aspect of the sound, then the JBL Tune 305Cs could be perfect. They cost less than a takeout on a Friday night, and they have a built-in DAC for hi-res streaming. They also feature an anti-tangle flat design, so you don’t need to worry about them getting knotted up in your pocket.

These earbuds have surprisingly good bass that impressed me, and vocals sound clean and clear too. But listening to music at high volumes makes it sound scratchy and unpleasant. Also, because these earbuds have a loose fit, you can’t fully appreciate hi-res audio as sound isn’t concentrated enough.

The loose fit also means that they tend to fall out when you’re walking. Having removable eartips would have solved this problem.

If you want excellent sound throughout the volume range, however, you’ll likely want to look at the Final VR500 which earned a perfect score from us for having practically no flaws.

Overall, the Tune 305Cs are a decent pair of earbuds that don’t break the bank. If you aren’t too fussed about the loose fit, lackluster design and scratchy sound at high volumes, then these are the buds for you.

The JBL Charge and Flip series of Bluetooth speakers are in for several upgrades and colorways that are bound to get audiophiles jazzed up.

The cheapest of the two is the new JBL Flip 7, which comes out to a mere $150, looks slightly different from its predecessor with an improved pill shape and Auracast button. Meanwhile, the Charge 6 costs just a bit more at $200 and offers a larger woofer and wider frequency range over the previous model.

Are they among the best cheap wireless speakers? It's hard to say without hearing them for ourselves, but the upgrades are certainly enticing and you'll be able to hear them yourself when they officially release on April 6.

Improved battery and lossless audio

JBL's bringing some major enhancements to these budget Bluetooth speakers, namely in the battery department. The Flip 7 is getting as much as four hours extra over its predecessor at a total 16 hours of playtime and (owing to its name) the Charge 6 can last as long as 28 hours.

Playtime Boost will also increase the battery life on both models. JBL claims the feature increases volume while diminishing battery usage, which is particularly helpful on the Charge 6 and its charging capabilities for connected devices. With the Flip 7, you'll have to forgo any EQ settings to use Playtime Boost, though.

Lossless audio is also making its way onto both models through a firmware update that will allow for CD quality audio when not using Bluetooth connection. It arrives thanks to the included USB-C port, which is still somewhat of an anomaly on Bluetooth speakers these days. JBL said this will come a bit later after launch.

The Flip 7 will have some improved audio quality, as well, taking up a maximum 35W output. If that wasn't enough, JBL's new AI Sound Boost aims to make sounds feel more life-like and real, with JBL stating it "optimizes the speaker driver without distortion."

And the Charge 6 is no different in terms of its improvements, especially in the low-end with a larger woofer and increased frequency response, which has a range of 56Hz to 20Hz. Similar to the Flip 7, it's also bumping up the wattage to 45W max output, up from 40W on the JBL Charge 5.

These upgrades will cost you $20 over their predecessors, which seems worth it for those needing a new set of portable outdoor speakers.

New chic and portability improvements

Hardware upgrades aside, the duo look particularly buttoned up this time around as JBL has given the two wireless speakers some much-needed design changes and new colors to boot.

The JBL Flip 7 is a bit of a standout taking on more of a pill-shape with rounded edges and a locking mechanism on its side for some increased portability. The mechanism allows you to connect new accessories, like a carabiner loop and wrist strap (at no extra charge).

JBL's Charge 6 is a bit bulkier than its counterpart and doesn't need a locking mechanism as it has a full strap equipped, just like the Sony ULT Field 1. The strap is also attached to lanyard rods, making it super easy to move with it on-the-go, whether at the beach or in your own home.

If you do take either speaker to the beach, you won't have to worry about dropping either in the water. The Charge 6 and Flip 7 are now both rated at IP68, which means they can handle practically everything from the highest water grades to even dust.

A range of new colors also ensure you can bring out your own personality with both the Flip 7 and Charge 6, which includes black, blue, white, red, purple, and a cool camo. Just don't leave that one on a bundle of leaves — you might never find it again.

JBL's new speakers are dropping today, but won't officially ship until April 6. They're $20 more than their predecessors, with the Charge 6 now $200 and the Flip 7 just $150. At this price, they're bound to give the best Bluetooth speakers a run for their money.

More from Tom's Guide

• I just tested this AirPods 4 alternative and they actually sound better
• EarFun Air Pro 4 review: Budget earbuds for audiophiles
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The JBL Bar 1300X is one of the best soundbars you can get — there’s no doubt in my mind. It’s JBL’s top-of-the-range home cinema setup, with an 11.1.4 channel sound. The 12-inch subwoofer is phenomenal at making the floor shake, and the two surround speakers translate Dolby Atmos surround sound with true immersion.

The 1300X is by no means a cheap soundbar — it’s $1,699. However, it’s not as expensive as some of the dedicated hi-fi setups that can set you back thousands. For a first home cinema setup, I think the 1300X is one of the best you can get.

It’s not just a movie soundbar: with the JBL One app, the soundbar can transform into a smart speaker with Google Assistant and Alexa compatibility. However, you won’t be blown away unless you use it for its intended purpose: bringing the movie theater home.

$1,699 is a lot of money to spend, though — is the soundbar system worth it? Let me walk you through everything in this JBL Bar 1300X review.

JBL Bar 1300X review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A complete home cinema setup with a soundbar, subwoofer, and two wireless, rechargeable surround speakers
• Who is it for? Serious cinema enthusiasts, considering the price and sound quality
• What does it cost? $1,699 / £1,269
• What do we like? The sound quality is to die for
• What don’t we like? Sometimes there’s 1 second lag after unpausing

JBL Bar 1300X review: Specs

JBL Bar 1300X review: Price & availability

The JBL Bar 1300X is pretty pricey: it costs $1,699 from Amazon U.S. and £1,269 from Amazon U.K.. It’s worth noting that you do get the soundbar, subwoofer, and two surround speakers included in that price, so you don’t need to worry about buying extra channel speakers or a subwoofer.

The 1300X is the priciest home cinema setup on JBL’s roster. If you want to get it with an 8K HDMI cable, it’ll cost $1,799. I tested with a standard eARC-compatible HDMI 2.1 cable.

The JBL Bar 1000 is $1,199, which has a 7.1.4 channel instead of the 1300X’s 11.1.4 channel. The 1300X’s subwoofer is 12 inches versus the 1000’s 10 inches, which results in deeper bass.

Similarly, Bose’s Smart Soundbar + subwoofer + two surround speakers will set you back $1,347, or $1,547 with the 700 surround speakers. However, those looking to own an upgradeable, versatile setup might want to check out Sonos Ultimate Immersive Arc Ultra at $2,561. Sonos’ closest competitor is probably the Premium Immersive Set with Beam at $1,796, which is a 5* product all round.

JBL Bar 1300X review: Design & controls

The JBL Bar 1300X has four different parts: the soundbar itself, which is 39 inches long, a 19-inch tall subwoofer with a 12-inch transducer, and two dinky 2-inch-high speakers.

The surround speakers magnetically attach to the soundbar itself when you’re not using them for 360° sound. When you are using them, they connect wirelessly to the soundbar, and can hook up via Bluetooth to compatible devices, doubling up as wireless speakers.

The soundbar itself has a range of inputs: eARC, HDMI ARC, Optical, Bluetooth, and USB. I tested via eARC connected to our Panasonic MZ1500 4K OLED testing TV.

There’s nothing striking about the look of the sound system: the soundbar itself is quite chunky, not as streamlined in appearance as the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Samsung HW Q990B ($1,599). However, then again, there’s nothing wrong with the appearance, either.

JBL Bar 1300X review: Features & setup

While most of the features are app-selectable, so I’ll discuss them in the ‘App’ section below, there are a few features on the remote control.

In testing, I found the setup really simple, despite the user reviews I’ve seen that report a complex process. All you have to do is plug in the soundbar and subwoofer, then place all the speakers in their ideal locations, which the app/user manual will tell you.

The two surround speakers attach magnetically to the soundbar when you’re not using them, and charge via USB-C cables. When you are using them, they need to go behind wherever you’re watching from.

Before listening, you can calibrate the setup with the remote (which will walk you through what buttons to press and when), which sends a pulsing sound between all four of the speakers to get optimum sound.

There’s a ‘Night Listening’ mode, which effectively turns off the subwoofer and the main soundbar, instead only playing through the separate channel speakers.

JBL Bar 1300X review: App

The JBL Bar 1300X is compatible with the JBL One app. I really liked this app due to its ease of use and functionality. It just worked, unlike some other smart home soundbar apps, like Sonos’.

I set up the soundbar, subwoofer, and speakers, then calibrated using the app. Initially, the app said ‘Calibration unavailable’, but I closed and re-opened the app and that seemed to fix whatever was going on. I calibrated the speakers and then started watching.

The JBL One app has options for ‘Night Listening’, which mutes the soundbar and subwoofer for quieter listening. There’s also an ‘Audio Sync’ option to correct out-of-sync picture and sound, which is a slider that alters the delay to match the video.

There’s also an EQ setting, in–app music, and a remote control page on the app, for ultimate smartphone control. With this app, you wouldn’t need the remote control again.

Unfortunately, the in-app music doesn’t have Spotify, but you can connect to the soundbar using Spotify’s native speaker control. JBL One is compatible with: Qobuz, Tidal, Amazon Music, Calm Radio, Napster, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. It’s strange that there’s no Spotify or Apple Music compatibility given these are two of the most popular and best music streaming apps.

If you don’t fancy listening to music, the JBL One app has a range of ambient soundscapes (city life, forest, beach etc) for some calming background noise. I particularly liked the tinkling ‘rain’ soundscape.

JBL Bar 1300X review: Sound quality

Considering the premium price of this soundbar — and that it’s an 11.1.4 channel setup — I had high hopes for the JBL Bar 1300X. Thankfully, the soundbar lived up to my expectations.

Movies

As standard with our Dolby Atmos soundbar testing, I watched ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ to put the JBL Bar 1300X through its paces.

From the very first scene, I was blown away by the 1300X’s sound quality. The jet engines rumbled through the floor so I felt the bass in the sofa underneath me. It wasn’t just loud, though — I could hear every clink of metal and the whooshing of ropes.

There was balance between the booming bass notes and the softer, high-frequency sound effects. Even with ‘Danger Zone’ booming in the background, I could still hear the quiet tinkling metal sounds.

In the scene where (spoiler alert) Tom Cruise reaches Mach 10, I could hear/feel the fighter jet’s fire in my bones. I didn’t need to adjust the volume between the interior jet scenes and the quiet sky scenes, which is an issue with cheaper soundbars.

The soundscape was balanced but not flat, dramatic but not overpowering, and room-filling but not deafening. I was thoroughly impressed with the sound.

After ‘Top Gun: Maverick’, I watched ‘Alien: Romulus’. I was blown away by the spaceship sound effects in this movie. Every time spacecraft airlocks released, I felt like the air was brushing against my skin. When one of the characters was crawling through a zero-gravity tunnel, I felt the stillness of the vent around my body.

The harp notes in the OST were sonorous, but didn’t overshadow the actors’ spacesuit breathing noises. There was a delicate balance between the soft fabric noises, tense violin notes, and sci-fi jitterings of control panels.

I was absolutely gobsmacked by the 1300X’s quality in both these movies, and was super disappointed when the movies ended. My only qualm during the experience was that the soundbar took a second to start up after being paused for a while. However, this was literally one second, and I found it easy to live with.

Dolby Atmos

As briefly discussed in the previous section, the 1300X’s Dolby Atmos performance is stellar. I was truly immersed in the movies I watched. In ‘Alien: Romulus’, there’s a scene where a character has to maneuver through clumps of acid in zero-G. The liquid acid sound effects floated over my head as they followed the character, and when the character was hovering in an elevator shaft, I could feel the tension in the air.

Thanks to the two channel surround speakers, I could hear the Xenomorphs breathing in my ears. However, I do wish you could increase the volume of these surround speakers more than the JBL One app allows.

There’s one scene in Alien Romulus that I actually couldn’t watch — body horror and gore fans will love the immersive Dolby Atmos in this scene, but it was way too much for me and I had to pause the movie for a while. Of course, this shows that the 1300X has incredible surround sound, but is it good for wimps like me? Not always.

TV

I tested the 1300X while watching TV on Netflix. While the 1300X excels at translating cinematic experiences, I must note that it still performed fantastically with less movielike production.

I watched ‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ and ‘Toxic Town’ on Netflix. In the opening credits of ‘Toxic Town’, I was really surprised by the closeness of Jodie Whittaker’s voiceover: despite not being Dolby Atmos, the voice sounded like it was coming from right in front of me. Even the vintage clips of demolition sites sounded clear.

‘Apple Cider Vinegar’ was less immediately impressive than Toxic Town, but it still sounded fantastic. The dialogue was not muffled or overpowered by the soundtrack.

In general, I think the 1300X did a fantastic job at both movies and TV, but it’s only mind-blowing with Dolby Atmos encoded movies — as you may expect.

Music

I linked the 1300X up with my Spotify app and played a range of songs. When I played ‘Alice’ by Sleepazoid (one of my favorite Aussie indie bands at the moment), I upped the bass to accentuate the track’s heavy chorus. I wasn’t disappointed; the floor started shaking in the heavier parts. I wanted to increase the volume even more, but didn’t want to disturb my floor-below coworkers more than I already had.

Obviously, the soundbar is tailored towards cinema, so doesn’t have the same music proficiency as a dedicated audiophile setup, but it’s still pretty good for a soundbar.

When I played the synth-heavy indie pop track ‘In Love With A Memory’ by SASAMI & Clairo, I was impressed with the vocal clarity, but there was a little tinniness in the percussion. I lowered the higher frequency in the JBL One app EQ settings, which fixed the tinniness issue.

I also listened to ‘Yosemite’ by KETTAMA and Interplanetary Criminal, which is a bass-forward electronic track. The percussion and synths were balanced and infectious, and I was really impressed with the vocal proficiency, too.

It’d be worth noting that you might need to alter EQ based on genre, or stick to one genre at a time if you want the best listening experience. However, I’m sure true audiophiles would argue that listening to music on a soundbar is not the best start for über-fidelity listening in the first place.

JBL Bar 1300X review: Verdict

The JBL Bar 1300X is probably the best non-ludicrously-priced home setup I’ve tested. If I was decking out my home cinema for the first time, this is where I’d start. For $1,699 you get an 11.1.4 channel sound system, which translates to phenomenal sound in real-terms.

The Dolby Atmos is truly 360°, and the soundbar doubles up as a great smart home system and music speaker in a pinch.

While true audiophiles won’t be hugely impressed by the music playback, I found it a great way to combine both my movie watching and kitchen disco-ing. The device links seamlessly to Amazon Music, TIDAL, and more — it doesn’t have built-in Spotify, but that doesn’t stop Spotify working with its ‘find speaker’ feature.

To truly hear the benefits, you’ll need to watch 4K HD with Dolby Atmos audio, obviously, but I was also impressed by the lower-production-value TV shows I watched. The 1300X is a fantastic all-rounder, and a great place for a hi-fi enthusiast to start.

The JBL Bar 1300X is top-of-the-range for a reason. What’s the reason? Because it sounds awesome.

The AirPods Pro 2 have been on the market for over two years, but remain one of my favorite wireless earbuds thanks to some compelling updates. For example, the AirPods Pro 2 can now act as OTC hearing aids for users with hearing loss.

But there's a newer pair of Apple-owned earbuds that seem to beat the AirPods Pro 2 at their own game: I'm talking about the Powerbeats Pro 2. Available now for $249, the Powerbeats Pro 2 pack more than a few upgrades (such as integrated heart rate sensor) that the current-gen AirPods Pro can't match.

Both models are great picks that deliver active noise cancellation, sound quality, and special features. In fact, these are two of the best wireless earbuds money can buy. As for which ones is the better purchase for you, my in-depth comparison of the Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2 below has your answer.

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Specs compared

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Price & availability

Apple originally launched the AirPods Pro 2 at $249, but the buds are almost permanently on sale for as low as $169. Meanwhile, the newer Powerbeats Pro 2 have a $249 price tag as well, though they will be harder to find on sale, at least for now.

You can purchase either model at major online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, or on each brand’s website (the Powerbeats Pro 2 are available on both apple.com and beatsbydre.com.)

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Design

The Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2 design differences are rather significant in terms of size, comfort, fit and colors. Most obviously the Powerbeats Pro feature the product line's iconic ear hook design, but the whole profile is way more slender than before. It has more natural curves to it to almost resemble the shape of an ear. The hooks are more flexible than before, too, which makes them really comfortable for longer periods of time.

AirPods Pro look a lot more low-profile between the singular color option and smaller size. If you're just sitting down, AirPods are more comfortable and feel more "barely-there," but when you get moving, without an ear hook, they're definitely more prone to falling out.

To make sure the Powerbeats Pro 2 fit properly, they come with 5 total eartip sizes. That’s a first for Apple — the AirPods Pro 2 only have 4, and it was a big deal when they offered the extra small eartip. The Powerbeats Pro 2 have an added extra large option, meaning these should fit properly for a larger population of people.

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Controls and compatibility

For controls, the AirPods Pro 2 feature force sensors that produce excellent tactile feedback that ensures listeners of intended commands are being met. The touch sensors allow for seamless volume adjustment with small swipes on the eartips. Then there’s “Hey Siri” voice activation to instantly fire up the feature when speaking the wake-word phrase and registering voice commands as quickly as it executes them.

The Powerbeats Pro 2, by comparison, have two physical control buttons on each bud. One of them is a volume rocker, while the other can be assigned controls like switching between ANC modes or navigating playback. You can make these assignments, for both Powerbeats Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2, within settings when the buds are paired to your source device (ie. iPhone, iPad or Mac.)

Thanks to the H2, both wireless earbuds also offer multi-point connectivity that lets the buds automatically switch playback source depending on what device you're using. The H2 chip also powers Find My, Audio Sharing, and other helpful connectivity features.

One major difference however, is that there's a Beats app for Android that lets the Powerbeats Pro 2 work for non-Apple devices. If you're like me and think that Bluetooth earbuds should be ecosystem-agnostic, this is a big advantage the Powerbeats Pro 2 have over AirPods Pro 2.

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Sound quality

When it comes to sound quality and audio-specific features for a pair of wireless earbuds, I think the AirPods Pro 2 are pretty phenomenal and very well-rounded. But on the Powerbeats Pro 2, in typical Beats fashion, the extension in the bass frequencies is incredible.

I’m talking rumble from bass guitars and low-end synths, punchy kick drums and pounding bass beats, especially in the genres that you might typically associate with working out. For hip-hop fans, expect sound that has weight and bounce to it. Vocals are clear, although high-range sounds can come off overly sharp especially after a while, I’d say for most ears, there’s a lot to like.

The fact that the Powerbeats Pro 2 get some established AirPods Pro 2 features like Spatial Audio is awesome, and of course active noise cancellation coming to the Powerbeats line was pretty much non-negotiable for the price (even if the ANC performance isn’t going to win any awards.)

That said, there are certain things on the audio front that are remaining reserved to AirPods Pro 2. The main ones I’d consider when making a buying decision are Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, and all the hearing aid functionality.

When you consider that for the same price, and if we’re honest for a lot less since AirPods are almost always on sale, you might feel a little ripped off by the Powerbeats Pro 2. Not to mention, the noise cancellation quality and balanced sound profile of the AirPods Pro 2 are among best-in-class.

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Additional features

One of the more interesting differences between the AirPods Pro 2 vs. Powerbeats Pro 2 is the latter's heart rate monitor. This is far from a first in the earbuds market, but it is a first for an Apple-made pair of earbuds. Based on experience running 150 miles with the Powerbeats Pro 2, this functionality is a bit of a mixed bag.

You can basically use the Powerbeats Pro as your heart rate sensor for certain third-party apps such as Peloton and Nike Run Club. But it’s important to differentiate that you can’t use the Powerbeats Pro 2 to get an instant heart rate reading the same way you can with your Apple Watch. In fact, you can’t even use them as your heart rate monitor for Apple Fitness Plus which includes audio and treadmill running workouts.

I’m predicting that the AirPods Pro 3 will get a heart rate monitor, and that Apple is reserving some applications of said sensor to generate hype around that launch. For now, both are still some of the best running headphones, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are officially the best ones overall.

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Battery life

The AirPods Pro 2 have a respectable battery life of up to 6 hours of playback, with 30 hours total provided by the charging case. However, they fall short of Powerbeats Pro, 2 which last up to 10 hours. The Powerbeats Pro 2 charging case also provides up to 45 hours of listening total.

When it comes to Fast-Fuel charging technology, AirPods Pro get 1 hour of use on a 5-minute charge while Powerbeats Pro get 90 minutes of use in the same amount of time.

Both charging cases support wireless charging, but only the AirPods Pro 2 case has dedicated Find My (complete with a speaker that'll ping to help you locate it.)

Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Verdict

When two products from two well-known brands are the same price, making the right shopping decision might not seem easy. To summarize the Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2, it comes down to a few key factors.

Compared to the AirPods Pro 2, there are a lot of instances where I’d definitely go with the Powerbeats. Although I wouldn't consider the heart rate monitor a huge asset, the secure fit and long battery life make the Powerbeats Pro 2 the superior choice for working out. The solid sound quality and compatibility with Android help justify the price, too.

I still think AirPods Pro 2 are incredible, especially if you’re talking about versatility. The additional audio features paired with the caliber of ANC in a small package make the AirPods Pro 2 a tried-and-true recommendation, though only if you're getting them on a great sale price.

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The JBL Live 770NC headphones have one key user in mind: Bass fanatics. Whether they’d be best suited as our best headphones for detail or bass has a very clear-cut answer. I am usually a detail-oriented audio girl, but the Live 770NCs gave my premium-sounding Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2s a run for their money.

JBL makes some of my favorite speakers, including the earth-shaking bass-booming Xtreme 4, so I wasn’t surprised when the Live 770NCs rampaged through my ears with bass to rival much bigger speakers. If you’re a bass addict, you’re going to want to listen to what the Live 770NCs have to say.

Although the ferocious bass means a lot of clarity and detail is lost on some tracks, for those bass lovers, it’s an easy sacrifice. The $199 price point makes these cans noticeably cheaper than pedigreed rivals like Bose QuietComfort Ultra, AirPods Max, and Sonos Ace, and bass lovers could be snagging a fantastic deal with the JBLs.

Are they the right headphones for you, though? Well, are you the kind of person who always cranks up bass on custom EQs? If you are, you’ll want to keep reading my JBL Live 770NC review.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? Mid-range headphones
• Who is it for? Sorry, detail listeners: these are only for the bass lovers.
• What does it cost? $199 / £159
• What do we like? More bass than a slow-moving river
• What don’t we like? The advertised wear detection simply straight-up does not exist

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Specs

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Price & availability

The Live 770NC headphones are available on Amazon U.S. for $199, and Amazon U.K. for £159. At $199/£159, the JBL Live 770NC headphones straddle the line between budget and mid-range. This price means I don’t expect incredible audiophile-level sound quality, but I do expect good sound and comfort. JBL’s priciest headphones are the $299 Tour One M2s, which I gave a 3* in my review due to the poor wireless sound quality. Our best mid-range headphones are the $179 Sennheiser Accentums, whose punchy sound and battery life paved the way for a 4* review.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Design & controls

The first thing I thought after unboxing the Live 770NCs was, “Oh, these are really flimsy.” The headphones lack the premium weightiness I liked when testing the Tour One M2s. The inner foam over the drivers is noticeably thinner than on the Tour One M2s, and the material is less silky. Still, these are $100 cheaper than the latter, so it checks out.

While there’s certainly a lack of premium feel you might expect from $199 headphones, in actuality, the Live 770NCs are pretty comfortable to wear. They look a little strange while wearing, almost like they’re clamped on your head (think the Cybermen from Doctor Who), but you can’t feel this during wear.

Overall, the headphones look pretty nice; there’s nothing particularly impressive or off-putting about their basic yet effective appearance. They’re not as stylish as Marshall Monitor III or AirPods Max, but they get the job done.

The controls are what you’d expect from a pair of JBL cans: there’s a customizable touch panel and action button on the right cup. I found the touch panel a little too sensitive during usage, but you can turn this off should it irritate you.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Features & connectivity

The Live 770NCs have wired and wireless connectivity in the form of a 3.5mm jack and Bluetooth 5.3 respectively. I found the range to be at least two flights of stairs during testing, so about the same as my AirPods Pro 2.

In terms of features, you get the standard JBL fare: customizable touch controls, a range of EQ presets and a customizable one, Personi-Fi (a hearing test that adjusts playback based on your needs), and spatial audio. Spatial audio is a take-it-or-leave-it feature in my opinion; it negatively affects sound quality but could be great for TV and gaming.

Sadly, there’s no LDAC or aptX compatibility, which I’d like to see on a pair of headphones with nice 40mm drivers and a good frequency range.

However, despite lacking in hi-res features, the Live 770NCs do perform their namesake role exceptionally well: ANC. When I was listening to Scowl (more on that in the ‘sound quality’ section), I was blown away by how little I could hear outside of the music. This is a great ANC performance.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Call quality

I tested the Live 770NCs on a work call and was promptly told that my built-in MacBook Air M2 microphone was far superior. My colleagues reported a distorted voice and warped sound. I would not recommend these headphones for professional usage.

When I called my boyfriend with the headphones on, he reported he could hear me and understand me, but my voice definitely sounded distorted and tinny.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Battery

Battery life is pretty good at 50 hours with no ANC. Not as much as the Marshall Monitor III headphones, but much, much better than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. I listened to these headphones for about 24 hours with ANC on and I’m down to 30%, so I’d report this battery life as pretty darned good.

Obviously, the battery is not used when listening via wired playback so no need to worry about recharging with the USB-C cable if you’re a solely wired listener.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: App

As you’d expect on a pair of JBL headphones, you get access to the creatively-named JBL Headphones app. This app is where you control things like EQ, spatial audio (leave it), and undertake your slightly-sci-fi-inspired ‘Personi-Fi’ hearing test. I just like the diagram it generates after examining you, to be honest.

As you can see, there’s a standard fare of customization. It’s worth noting that if you listen via wired playback, you don’t get access to the app — it’s Bluetooth only.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Audio quality

To test the Live 770NC headphones, I listened via Bluetooth and the 3.5mm headphone jack. As these are predominantly designed to be wireless headphones, it makes sense to discuss wireless sound quality first.

As the Live 770NCs run on Bluetooth 5.3, the audio quality should be better than a pair of headphones with 5.0. As soon as I put the headphones on, I immediately thought the sound quality was better than the JBL Tour One M2 headphones I reviewed recently. But the Lives are $100 cheaper, I thought. Despite this difference in price, it’s true: the Live 770NC headphones sound much better than the Tour One M2s. If you’re torn between these two JBL products, it’s a no-brainer: with the Live 770NCs, you get great sound quality and you save $100.

Obviously, that’s not to say the Live 770NCs sound anywhere near as good as the phenomenal (and $450) Sonos Ace headphones, or the AirPods Max. I’d actually say the Live 770s sound most similar to Bose QuietComforts; there’s clarity in the vocal and high mid-range, but the bass is a little muddled and messy. Likely this is from JBL desiring a super punchy, thumping bass performance and taking it too far.

However, this is a bass performance some listeners will crave. I slapped on ‘Bass boost’ EQ and played ‘Von Dutch’ by Charli xcx. I was blown away by the ferocious bass that leaped into my eardrums. It was like a rabid animal baring its teeth and pounding the walls — if you’re into take-no-prisoners bass, then these could be the headphones for you.

To mellow myself out a little, I headed on over to Deezer for hi-res (or, as hi-res as you can get with Bluetooth sans LDAC) listening. After activating JBL’s ‘Extreme bass’ EQ, I felt ready to take on whatever the Live 770s decided to throw at me.

Just to give my eardrums a real rough-housing, I played ‘Backbone’ by Chase & Status and Stormzy. If you don’t know who either of those artists are, let me just say: this track is a beautiful, fierce grime and DnB lovechild. With the extreme bass EQ turned on, I could feel the rampaging breakbeat percussion and electronic brass squelches in my jaw. This is a set of headphones ripe for bass fanatics.

To bring me back down to earth, I switched off the bass EQs and let the headphones shine with their default sound. I played ‘Not Hell, Not Heaven’ by Scowl, which is an emo/punk track. The lead guitar was clear and strong, but the rest of the track was a little blended. I suppose this is just a symptom of these headphones: they’re not for the detail listeners, they’re for true bass lovers.

Next, I switched genre to a more down-tempo acoustic vibe — all that energetic rock and DnB really took it out of me. I played ‘I Was Neon’ by Julia Jacklin, who has the syrupiest vocals you’ve ever heard. I found it a little muffled in the low end of the frequency spectrum, again, and there was a slight pinch to the upper mids. I turned on the ‘bass boost’ EQ and this pinching immediately stopped, which suggests to me that these cans were designed to be a bass-fest.

I connected the Live 770NCs to my MacBook Pro and loaded up Spotify, which I know lacks audio quality, but my phone has no aux connection. As with the JBL Tour One M2s, upon plugging in the aux cable you lose access to the app, EQs, touch controls, and voice assistant, but you also aren’t using up battery. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.

I played ‘Teardrop’ by Massive Attack, as it’s such a special song with heart-wrenching motifs. The vocals were clear and affecting, with none of the pinchiness I experienced while listening to Julia Jacklin via Bluetooth. The bass still overtook the song, eclipsing a little of the treble, but if you’re a bass lover you’ll want this.

I put on ‘Blaxploitation’ by Noname, who is the master of jazz-rap. The double bass — you guessed it — dominated the song, and I felt like the strings were vibrating in my brain. Lastly, I listened to the Sprechgesang croons of Wet Leg’s ‘Chaise Longue’, and my opinion was solidified: the Live 770NC headphones are fantastic for bass lovers. Detail fans, though, will be left unimpressed.

JBL Live 770NC headphones review: Verdict

Are you a bass fanatic who doesn’t really mind squashed mids and trebles in favor of excellent bass performance? And you don’t want to spend over $200? Well, these are the headphones for you.

The Live 770NCs perform their bass-bouncing job really well. Yes, you lose clarity in exchange of a fierce bass performance, but that’s kind of expected at this point. No, detail listeners and audiophiles will not be impressed. But for your $199, you get headphones that strut into the middle of the room, break everyone’s eardrums (a la Marty McFly in the opening scene of Back to the Future), and strut back out again.

If that sounds like something you’d be into, these are ideal. I’d skip the spatial audio features and ramp up the bass on the custom EQ, and then you’d be good to go. The JBL Live 770NC headphones know what they are, and they’re not sorry about it: this is a bass fest.

The JBL Tour One M2 headphones have what it takes to be one of the best headphones in 2025. Testing headphones is one of the best aspects of my job, and especially when said headphones are from JBL. JBL is a stalwart of the audio world and makes some of my favorite speakers to date — the Xtreme 4 and the Flip 6.

As you can imagine, I was pretty excited to try out the high-mid-range $299 Tour One M2 headphones. At this price point, you’d expect great sound quality, comfortable wear, and a range of premium features. However, the Tour One M2 headphones are a little… lackluster.

Let me explain. There’s no LDAC or aptX support. True, the battery life and ANC are great, but I can’t get over the lack of premium features at this price. You need to listen via the provided aux cable if you want great sound quality — but then you miss out on the app controls.

Still, the Tour One M2 headphones could still be a good option if you don’t want to shell out $400+ for AirPods Max or QuietComfort Ultra. Could these be the right headphones for you? I’ll discuss everything in full in this JBL Tour One M2 headphones review.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A pair of mid-range high-quality headphones from audio stalwart JBL
• Who is it for? Want high-quality audio but don’t want to spend $400+ on Bose QuietComfort Ultra or AirPods Max? These are the ticket
• What does it cost? If you’re in the U.K., you’re getting a great deal: just £179. U.S. folks, though, you’re looking at $299.
• What do we like? The cups are soft and the sound quality is good — not amazing, but good
• What don’t we like? The aux input is, bizarrely, 2.5mm instead of the standard 3.5mm

JBL Tour One M2 review: Specs

JBL Tour One M2 review: Price & availability

The JBL Tour One M2 headphones are wildly different prices depending on where you are. If you’re in the U.S., these cans are $299 at JBL U.S.. However, if, like me, you find yourself in the U.K., they’re just £179 at Amazon U.K.. It’s unclear right now why there’s such a discrepancy in pricing (maybe there is a new model coming?) but if you’re in the rainy British isles, you’re getting a much better deal.

Our best overall headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5, which are available for $399 at Amazon. Perhaps the most famous high-mid-range over-ear headphones are the Bose QuietComfort Ultra ($429), or the standard Bose QuietComfort ($349). If you really want to splurge without spending $$$$ for audiophile-level headphones, the $549 AirPods Max are your best bet.

$299 makes the Tour One M2 headphones relatively expensive, but a cheaper option than Bose or Apple products. If you wanted to save serious bucks but still get high-quality sound, you could check out the $179 Sennheiser Accentum instead.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Design & controls

• Customizable touch controls
• Comfortable cups
• Quite heavy

As soon as I put on the Tour One M2 headphones, I was blown away by the sheer comfort of the soft fake-leather cups. The material felt smooth and silky against my skin and didn’t seem to press on my cartilage piercings, which is a major plus and something I don’t see often in over-ear headphones — usually it’s a pain fest.

While these cans were really comfortable for the first hour or so, after that, they started getting heavy. They never pressed down on my skull or ached, like other over-ears have done in the past, but they weren’t as comfortable as I’d hoped long-term. At 9.8 ounces, they’re not massively heavy, but they are a little heavier than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra’s 8.9 ounces. These headphones are still comfortable, but they’re not as comfortable as the $79 JLab JBuds Lux ANC headphones I wore for hours on end.

The touch controls are easy to use and customizable in the JBL app. You can customize the button on the left side to cycle through ANC modes and you can set up voice assistant with the right side touch panel. It’s worth noting that if you’re listening in wired mode, you don’t get touch controls.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Features & connectivity

• No hi-res Bluetooth codecs
• Personi-Fi hearing test
• Custom EQ and spatial audio

Given that these headphones are $299, I was surprised to see a lack of premium features to match the price.

I did enjoy the ‘Personi-Fi’ feature in the JBL Headphones app. This is basically a hearing test that creates an optimal EQ to suit your particular hearing ability. I assume my test results are standard, as I got the same results as my coworker Nikita when she tested the JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds. I do wish JBL explained your results in-app, but that could border on medical advice territory — so I understand why they don’t.

The JBL Tour One M2 headphones have spatial audio, which I was able to test out on my MacBook Air M2. I tested out the spatial audio using a range of YouTube videos and then compared with a pair of headphones without spatial audio — the EarFun Wave Pros.

While I was mostly impressed with the spatial audio while watching TV on my phone, it didn’t blow me away as much as my Dolby Atmos-enabled AirPods Pro 2. For music-listening, spatial audio massively affects audio quality and makes everything sound warped and metallic. So I’d switch it off for music sessions.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Call quality

• Mediocre call quality
• Audible but not impressive
• Mics pick up deep tones

I tested the Tour One M2 headphones out on a work call. Arguably not the best time to test out the mic on a new pair of headphones, but we live and we learn.

My colleagues reported the mic distorted my words and enhanced the deeper tones in my voice. The general consensus was that my MacBook Air microphone was superior. I would not buy these headphones based on mic quality alone. You’ll be audible, but you won’t sound good.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Battery

• Impressive battery life
• 30 hours with ANC
• 50 hours without ANC

The battery life on the Tour One M2 headphones is pretty impressive. I absolutely rinsed these during testing: I listened for three days straight. Literally, three working days, so 24 hours, and then two evenings, so upwards of 32 hours in total. I charged them right out of the box, and then never again. This was with ANC enabled the whole time, and I listen to my music at around 60dB.

The rated battery life is 30 hours with ANC and 50 without, so I’d say this is a conservative estimate. As I’m writing this, I’m pretty sure I’ve surpassed 30 hours of Bluetooth use and the Tour One M2 headphones are still going strong. Then, obviously, during wired playback, the battery did not drain at all.

This battery life makes these cans better than more pricey rivals like the AirPods Max’s 20 hours and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra’s 24 hours. If you want some mid-range headphones with great battery life (but don’t want to spend an extra $50 on Marshall Monitor III for the 70 hour battery life), the JBL Tour One M2 headphones will perform well.

JBL Tour One M2 review: App

• Easy to use JBL app
• Range of modes
• Hearing test

The JBL app is an easy-to-use piece of software with a range of features. Whether you want to enable those features or not is up to you. I found that spatial audio massively affected sound quality, so I turned that off right away.

There’s an option for Auracast, which means you can broadcast your music to other Auracast-compatible products, like the JBL Xtreme 4 speaker.

If you have hearing difficulties, you can increase the volume in each ear independently. I found this feature to make my music sound tinny, but it would be useful for those who need it.

The JBL app is a good addition to these headphones, but I wouldn’t say it’s a necessity. You also don’t get app access if you’re listening via wired connection.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Audio quality

• Bluetooth quality only decent
• Wired connection clear, bassy, and powerful
• Some EQs muffle tracks

As I have been impressed by JBL’s sound quality over the years (namely the Xtreme 4, which I still dream about on the reg, and the Flip 6, which I use on the reg), I had high expectations for the Tour One M2 headphones.

I listened to ‘At Night in Dreams’ by White Denim and was a little… perturbed by the hissing snares and hi-hats. I know this track is scratchy — it’s all part of the aesthetic — but it got to a point where it actually pinched my ears. I quickly put in my AirPods Pro 2 earbuds to check it wasn’t my ears. It wasn’t. The Tour One M2 was turning the stylistically-scratchy guitar and percussion… grating.

So I changed the EQ to JBL’s ‘Bass’ in an attempt to correct this issue, and played the track again. I was relieved to hear the track a second time with minimal grating, but still, there was a stickiness to the bass, like spilt honey muffling the track.

I switched genre to something a bit more bassy to give the JBL Tour One M2s a fair fight. I listened to my usual bass-testing track, ‘flight fm’ by Joy Orbison. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: this track is almost entirely bass. I turned off my custom EQ for a direct comparison: without EQ, the song was a little tinny and sharp. Then I turned ‘Bass’ EQ back on; the bass was heavy, sure, but it didn’t groove and thump through the headphones. Overall, I really wasn’t that impressed with the Bluetooth audio quality.

Now, the Tour One M2 headphones come with a 2.5mm to 3.5mm headphone jack (I know, annoying) so I knew I had to test out the wired quality. Let me tell you, after being unimpressed by the wireless audio quality, I was beyond thrilled to hear not just good, but great audio quality from the wired connection. Just a warning: with the wired connection, you cannot customize EQ, activate spatial audio, or do any of the special JBL app things. What you see (hear) is what you get — but it’s so much better.

I listened to ‘Holiday + Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ by Green Day to start off. The guitar was scratchy but not grating, the bass was powerful and clear, and the kick drum pounded in my brain. Next, I switched to hip-hop with Doechii’s ‘NISSAN ALTIMA’. The heavy bass squelched and vibrated through my eardrums and Doechii’s voice was balanced yet emotive. I also played Sky Ferreria’s ‘Leash’. I can best describe this as a sun-soaked grunge track with elements of mid-2010s dream pop (a la Best Coast). There’s little maneuver in this track: it’s quite flat and squashed, but that’s the point. However, through the JBL Tour One M2’s 40mm drivers, I could feel the modulating synth, Sky’s silky voice, and the grunge stormy guitars as one.

If you’re not impressed by these headphones’ Bluetooth performance, connect them via headphone jack. You won’t be disappointed.

JBL Tour One M2 review: Verdict

For a pair of Bluetooth headphones, the Bluetooth sound quality is pretty disappointing. Especially as these headphones are $299 — that makes them only $50 cheaper than Bose QuietComfort headphones (not Ultras, which are $429). For this price, I really do expect fantastic Bluetooth quality. I was really surprised to find no hi-res codecs like LDAC or aptX.

However, if you’re someone who loves sitting at home with wired headphones, these could be a good way to get that high-quality sound without spending too much. I will only listen to these headphones with the headphone jack plugged in now, because the audio quality is frankly apples to oranges.

While wired connection means you miss out on features like ‘Personi-Fi’ and spatial audio, I really don’t think it’s something that should hold you back. Are these good headphones? Yes, but only with the aux plugged in. So if you need wireless, you’d be better off with something else.

I've seen loads of different ways of improving Bluetooth connections in a pair of headphones in my time, but none quite as fascinating as the JBL Tour ONE M3. These headphones, just announced at CES 2025, promise to provide "the ultimate blend of innovative audio technology and seamless connectivity" thanks to a little box with a screen that JBL is calling the "JBL SMART Tx".

What does it do? The black box is a wireless audio transmitter which can be used to add Bluetooth to a device that doesn't feature the standard. You could plug into the USB-C port of a TV, for example, or the headphones socket of your airplane seat. The screen lets you control different device settings without having to dip into the app, such as EQ and broadcast to Auracast devices.

The headphones at the core of the experience

The biggest thing you get when you order the headphones isn't going to be the little audio streaming box though — it's the Tour One M3 headphones themselves. Reading through their specs sheet, they look to be a very impressive pair of headphones for a very reasonable price.

There's "JBL 360" on board for Spatial Audio representation, which should be interesting to see. This sounds, much like the Bose "Immersive Audio" option, to be an implementation that makes its own Spatial Audio versions of music you're listening to rather than using pre-mixed tracks from the likes of Tidal or Apple Music. Head tracking is also on board — we'll have to see how it all works when we get the headphones in our hands (or on our heads).

There's noise canceling on board in the form of JBL's True Adaptive Noise Canceling 2.0, which will monitor outside noise and then adjust accordingly. That's a very premium ANC feature missing from some of the competition at a similar price, so it's be interesting to see how well its implemented. Then there's so called Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes to help you stay engaged with your surroundings.

Sound wise, we're looking at a pair of 40mm drivers, which seems to be becoming the norm for over-ear headphones as 2025 beds in. Battery life is looking to be a highlight though, and really shows how the AirPods Max 2 and the Sony WH-1000XM6 will need to step their game up — you'll get up to 70 hours of playback with the Tour ONE M3.

You'll be able to order a pair starting April 15th, and they'll cost £379 ($TBA) with the JBL Smart Tx box. If you want to save some money and don't need to add Bluetooth to everything, then you'll be paying £329 ($TBA) — which undercuts their biggest rivals in the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones. We'll be thoroughly testing them to see if they make the cut for the best wireless headphones.

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The perfect pair of wireless earbuds doesn’t exist. Sure, there are near-flawless releases like the AirPods Pro 2 and Sony WF-1000XM5, but both sets of buds still have their fair share of flaws. The same goes for every flagship model from the industry’s top audio manufacturers.

Some companies manage to fix their issues, while also creating new ones in the process. Others continue to neglect criticisms in key performance areas. Then there are those who make matters worse by drastically changing things that were already impeccable.

If Apple, Bose, Sony and numerous others want to improve their upcoming true wireless creations, they should start by addressing their biggest imperfections. Here is the top issue for each major audio brand that they must fix on their next-gen wireless earbuds.

Sony

Biggest problem: 3D audio setup

The Sony WF-1000XM5 might be the closest thing to perfection in the true wireless space. Most criticisms about these buds were fixed via software updates, which brought new features and stronger connectivity into the mix. There’s only one problem, and it’s a problem that remains present on all Sony wireless headphones and earbuds: the 360 Reality Audio setup.

Sony’s spatial audio technology delivers convincing immersive sound. It isn’t better than Apple’s or Bose’s spatial audio formats, but it’s respectable and works well with most Sony products that support the Headphones Connect app (recently rebranded as Sound Connect).

If only the setup was as simple as other spatial audio alternatives that require scanning your ears to create a sound profile. The feature struggles to capture selfies of your head and ears. Even worse is the head-tracking test that requires several tries to register movements. We request that Sony develop a more effective solution for the rumored WF-1000XM6.

Apple

Biggest problem: Battery life

Apple’s kryptonite remains battery life. Yes, it has increased ANC playtime on the AirPods Pro 2 by about 1.5 hours and total playtime by 6 hours. However, that has been the industry standard for battery life on wireless earbuds for the past three years. Meanwhile, the class-leading Sony WF-1000XM5 boast up to 10 hours per charge and budget noise-cancellers like the JLab JBuds Sport ANC 4 generate up to 14 hours on a single charge. Apple’s battery management is terrific at optimizing performance and squeezing out every bit of juice from the MagSafe charging case, but the playtime complaints won’t stop until the AirPods start matching their competitors.

Bose

Biggest problem: Call quality

It’s a controversial take, but the call quality on current Bose wireless earbuds has not lived up to the brand’s legendary reputation. The first-gen QuietComfort Earbuds are still some of the best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls and they outperform newer rivals with stronger mic arrays and wireless technologies, including the AirPods Pro 2 and the Bose’s recent releases. Performance has dipped with every new QC model. ANC on the QC Earbuds 2 wasn’t as strong on calls. Additions like adaptive filters, dynamic microphone mixing and more intelligible voice pickup didn’t strengthen voice calling on the QC Ultra Earbuds. Going back to the beginning might do Bose some good to get things right.

JBL

Biggest problem: Buggy companion app

JBL is one of the few brands that check almost every box. Adequate battery life. Endless features. Great sound. Reliable call quality. Strong noise cancellation. Unfortunately, the company has yet to develop a reliable companion app. Every version of the JBL Headphones app tends to be plagued with bugs, as we witnessed firsthand when testing the Tour Pro 3. If it wasn’t crashing several times, it would display the wrong battery life or would not connect to the buds. These are issues that should have been fixed several generations back.

Samsung

Biggest problem: The Cybertruck design

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro were some of the sleekest oval-shaped buds ever made and provided IPX7 protection for top-level waterproofing. However, Samsung felt inclined to follow every other AirPods wannabe and make both the Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro long-stem buds. The slimmer and more angular stems are eye-catching, but the buds’ overall appearance is a weak true wireless impression of the Tesla Cybertruck. Furthermore, the lower IPX5 rating and standard-looking case are huge downgrades compared to the previous flagship, which our Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 Pro comparison breaks down in detail.

Sennheiser

Biggest problem: Lack of spatial audio

No audio brand is more under-appreciated than Sennheiser. The German sound specialist has released several excellent flagship buds under its Momentum True Wireless imprint, while also developing top-tier personalization features that elevate sound performance. For all its ingenuity, the brand can’t seem to add spatial audio to its wireless earbuds.

Sennheiser’s Ambeo 3D sound technology is used in loudspeakers and soundbars and “translates an original immersive or surround mix into two channels of audio that deliver a spatial experience far beyond stereo.” Netflix’s spatial audio is also powered by it. Not having it on the Momentum True Wireless 4 has hurt the product’s appeal. Sennheiser can steer its true wireless ship in the right direction by making Ambeo available on the Momentum True Wireless 5.

Beats

Biggest problem: No wireless charging

Why is it that all AirPods models come with wireless charging, yet the technology has been excluded from every Beats true wireless SKU? As huge fans of the flagship Fit Pro, this is incredibly frustrating, especially when we’re wirelessly charging several devices at work throughout the day. This makes Beats’ buds look inferior from a functional standpoint. More so, it’s a disservice to not allow Beats users the right to power up their case by dropping it on a wireless charger or the Apple Watch charger.

Google

Biggest problem: Gemini AI integration

Wireless earbuds with artificial intelligence will be a huge trend in 2025. Google tried getting ahead of the competition this past year with the stellar Pixel Buds Pro 2, which featured the company’s generative AI assistant called Gemini. The results were somewhat mediocre. It doesn’t always produce the most accurate answers and can often misinterpret requests. Gemini is a noteworthy glimpse of the future, but for now, don’t expect Gemini to replace your favorite chatbot (*cough* ChatGPT *cough*) until Google makes several improvements.

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I have the heart of an audiophile and the wallet of a college student who buys Ramen in bulk when his mom comes to town and takes him to Costco.

So when JBL announced its new Modern Audio line of speakers and AV receivers in July, my attention was piqued. The initial announcement pitched the MA series as extremely easy to use and set up with a variety of configurations while still offering audiophile and cinematic sound.

Recently, JBL invited me to a listening experience at Interscope Studios in Los Angeles where I got to go ears-on with a variety of Modern Audio set ups to see how they sounded. There we were walked through the idea behind the new line of speakers and receivers by Jim Garrett, senior director of product strategy and planning at Harman International, which owns JBL.

Part of the appeal, to me, of this line is the seeming affordability and the claimed ease of use. At the low-end, the basic MA310 5.2 receiver plus a pair of bookshelf speakers will only set you back $700. This feels affordable.

Garrett told me that an all-out version that starts with the powerful MA9100HP 9.2 receiver with Dolby Atmos paired with two floor standing speakers, a center channel, two height module speakers, two subwoofers, and at least two stand-mounted speakers will run you $5,800. At that point, he mentioned you might even start getting into in-wall speakers and ceiling speakers. Which…I’d need to move out of my apartment and into a real house.

We were told by Garrett that JBL wants to bridge the gap between younger buyers who are looking to upgrade from a soundbar to more complex speaker systems that tend to feature a variety of parts from a number of builders. The MA system is a “single brand solution.”

The design simplifies the receiver eschewing a million logos and connections for a clean interface and fewer connections in the back. The less expensive MA310, for example, only has 5 HDMI ports (one being ARC out), 5 speaker channels, and a few analog ports. It’s amazingly clean. The top-of-the-line MA9100HP adds a touch more 8K HDMI ports, and some extra channel inputs — but that’s it.

Garrett says that design was inspired by gaming consoles, since that’s where JBL has found younger people are consuming their media. It’s also why there are two colorways — espresso and latte (white) — since JBL figures people will want speaker systems that match their consoles.

Before we get into how the speakers sounded, I want to call out a couple of concerns I had coming out of this experience. First, these setups are wired, which is more conducive to producing quality sound. However, I was told that they are not sold with speaker wires, and looking at the JBL website, it appears to ring true.

Most people, especially first-timers, are not going to know how to strip wires or know which ends are positive and negative to plug into the terminals on a receiver, even a simple one. Additionally, if this is your first AVR system, JBL doesn’t have a guide for what setup might be best for you. Should you get a simple 2 channel system with a receiver for music and movies? Or is a larger 5.2 system with surround sound better for your space?

The receivers and speakers are sold via Best Buy, so you could trek to the Magnolia dungeon in the back of the store to ask for help, but that takes some of the responsibility out of JBL’s hands.

Experiencing Dolby Atmos

The biggest system I saw was the 7.2 channel setup for a home theater. That one featured the mid-level MA710 receiver, a Stage 245C center channel, a pair of Stage 260F floor standing speakers (these feature 6.5-inch 2.5-way dual woofers and a 1-inch tweeter), two Stage 240H height module surround speakers, and two mounted bookshelf speakers.

This setup was meant to show off the cinematic side of the speakers with Dolby Atmos integration via the MA710 receiver. We watched the opening scene of Ghostbusters: Afterlife and a dogfight scene from Top Gun: Maverick.

I have only heard Dolby Atmos at the AMC near me, but had yet to experience it anywhere else.

During the movie scenes, I didn’t really notice the Dolby Atmos effect. The sound was great and I felt immersed in the clips, as the planes rattled and the opening ghost rumbled through the atmosphere. Unlike the songs we heard, the soundscape was almost overwhelming like in a movie theater. In that way, the system did its job.

Where I really felt and heard the Atmos experience was when we switched over to music. They played Elton John’s “Rocket Man,” Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” and Tiesto and Sevenn’s “Boom.”

"Rocket Man" was great, but mostly because it’s an excellent classic. I started to hear the difference on "Another One Bites the Dust" where specific layers of the song were highlighted on different speakers.

It was interesting, though as another listener said, “It’s like someone messing with a comfortable blanket.”

I’m not sure if it was additive to the song but I still find myself mulling over the new depth that Atmos seemed to play with. It did make me wish they’d played "Bohemian Rhapsody," which we know has even more layers of sound to play with.

Gucci Mane’s “Booms” seemed to spin around the speakers and certain drum beats hit in the front before flipping to the back and one side or the other. At one point the Booms sped up and then the song dropped out and I’ll be honest, it actually felt like the room was literally spinning and falling out. I was quite glad to be sitting down.

I’m certain there is a classical piece that can really play with the echoes on a Dolby Atmos system like this but EDM and modern pop music really seem like where you’ll see the most expanded soundscapes.

The simplest system

The simplest system we took a look at featured two bookshelf speakers and an MA510 receiver (one step up from the MA310) hooked up to a turntable. Garrett played several clips of songs off his phone and via the turntable to show how the system can handle Bluetooth streaming and analog inputs. I should note that they were streaming hi-res audio off services like Qubuz and Tidal. We didn’t get to hear songs played through Spotify or basic Apple Music, like I imagine most people will stream to the speakers.

After being blown out of the room by Boom and the Atmos system, it was a nice comedown to hear some simpler guitars on the two-speaker set-up. I would have liked to hear a movie or TV show as well, as it might be how someone stepping into the world of receivers would set up their simple soundbar-free home theater. Garret claimed he had a similar set up in his house for regular TV watching and loved it.

As it was, the music sounded great and we listened in a more realistic living room setting with a couch, lamp and console table in a smaller room that I think more accurately mimicked the average way this setup would be used.

Top-of-the-line

While the Dolby Atmos 7.2 system will cost you a mint, the last set up we heard is only marginally less expensive. This one featured the top-of-the-line MA9100HP receiver, which is capable of supporting up to 9 channels and has all the Dolby support you could want; Audio, DTS, Atmos and DTS:X. It features a front display that will show the album art of songs you’re playing and has a stealth mode for movies. On the bottom is an underglow with six available colors that was also inspired by gaming consoles.

The receiver was paired with a set of Stage 280F floor standing speakers (which feature dual 8-inch woofers and a 1-inch anodized aluminium tweeter). We listened to songs with just the floor standing speakers by themselves and coupled with the larger 12-inch Stage 220P subwoofer.

We were in a large open space with a surprising amount of angles where sound easily got lost so I didn’t obviously notice the effect of turning the sub on and off, but the floorstanding speakers still managed to fill the room and had enough bass on their own to make pop songs from Ariana Grande and Lizzo reverberate.

As the most expensive receiver in the lineup, the MA9100HP has a lot of bells and whistles that were nice to look at, and with all of the audio codec support and Class D certification (though every AVR in the MA series is supposed to have that), it paints an Attractive sonic picture.

I’m not sure anyone diving into the AVR world for the first time needs it, but someone upgrading their system might find it an intriguing piece to add to their kit.

Outlook

All in all, this was a curated listening experience, but I think it painted a fairly decent picture of what JBL is offering with the Modern Audio and Stage 2 system. And in spaces, like where we listened to the high-end speakers and receiver, the sonic flaws of the room made the power of the speakers more impressive.

I admit that walking out of the Interscope Studios building, I was intrigued and looking forward to trying the JBL system in my own home. Which configuration I'd pick remains to be seen and I’ll need to dig out my wire cutters, but it’s a start.

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The AirPods Pro 2 debuted two years ago and remain a top seller, thanks to new software updates and a USB-C refresh. Other innovative rivals have come on the scene since then, none more ambitious than the JBL Tour series, which has popularized a new sub-category experts are calling smart-case buds. The recently-launched Tour Pro 3 sit at the top of that list.

Both models are luxury options that deliver premium active noise cancellation, sound quality, and special features. The AirPods Pro 2 and Tour Pro 3 also come with hi-tech charging cases that boast their own set of unique tricks.

These are two of the best wireless earbuds money can buy. As for the better purchase, our in-depth comparison has the answer.

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Specs compared

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Price & availability

Apple originally launched the AirPods Pro 2 at $249, but the buds are often on sale for as low as $189. Meanwhile, the all-new JBL Tour Pro 3 carry a $299 MSRP. You can purchase either model at major online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy, or on each brand’s website.

Overall performance and sales opportunities make Apple’s wireless danglers the more enticing pickup.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Design

The Tour Pro 3 are more attractive. JBL composed their buds from hard plastic that features aluminum accents, multiple mic openings, protruding touch panels, and a sleek matte finish. An IP55 rating means dust-/sweat-proofing and water resistance. The buds have a loose fit, though swapping out the silicone tips for the foam tips can improve wearability. What pushes the Tour Pro 3’s design to the next level is the smart case with touchscreen display. Not only is it eye-grabbing and a reasonable size, but it also serves multiple purposes (more on that later). 

Very few aesthetic changes were made to the AirPods Pro 2. Apple added a touch volume strip on each bud, along with the AirPods 3’s skin-detect sensors for improved wear detection. The buds provide a more comfortable and secure fit than the Tour Pro 3. If only they didn’t have the same fragile construction as previous entries. The MagSafe charging case with built-in speaker is useful for when you misplace the product. It also shares the same IP rating as the buds: IP54.

Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Controls

The Tour Pro 3’s touch controls are responsive and register commands with precision. Digital assistance is just as reliable, thanks to JBL’s 6-mic array that demonstrates solid speech recognition for hands-free voice commands. Another way to control the buds is through the smart case. Users can enable most functions on the touchscreen. 

As great as the Tour Pro 3 operate, we still find the AirPods Pro 2’s control scheme more practical. Apple's force sensors produce excellent tactile feedback that ensures listeners of intended commands are being met. The touch sensors allow for seamless volume adjustment. Then there’s “Hey Siri” voice activation to instantly fire up the feature when speaking the wake-word phrase and registering voice commands as quickly as it executes them.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Sound quality

An 11mm driver, balanced armature driver, and countless audio settings provide the Tour Pro 3 with terrific, well-rounded sound. Emphasized bass gives music a lively presence. You can modify frequencies through the customizable EQ or by selecting from several fine-tuned presets. The Personi-Fi feature effectively develops a sound profile based on your hearing. LDAC codec support dynamically scales bitrate to reveal more clarity and detail in recordings (Android only). Several other features are accessible to personalize sound, such as Left/Right Sound Balance, Max Volume Limiter, and Spatial Sound, which is JBL’s 3D audio format that can benefit from better vocal delivery. Lastly, the smart case can retransmit hi-res audio to the buds when plugged into a compatible audio jack. This comes in handy for older audio devices (e.g., iPod Classic, MP3 players) and in-flight entertainment consoles.

The AirPods Pro 2 have an adaptive EQ that automatically tweaks sound on the fly, and it does this very well. A new low-distortion driver and custom amplifier create rich bass and dynamic frequency response. Highs aren’t as clear as they are on the Tour Pro 3, but features like Headphone Accommodations for tuning audio balance/range/brightness help balance frequency range. Apple’s Personalized Spatial Audio mode produces convincing surround sound when watching Dolby Atmos content and live performances.

Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3 

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Active noise canceling performance

Apple’s noise-canceling technology eliminates up to 90 percent of unwanted sounds. Adaptive Transparency widely increases situational awareness, while also reducing harsh environmental noises. The AirPods Pro 2’s listening modes don’t stop there. Conversation Boost emphasizes vocals during chats. Live Listen transforms your iPhone into a live mic that captures sounds and sends them to the AirPods. Conversation Awareness lowers the volume when detecting someone’s voice. Personalized Volume tweaks sound based on the noise levels around you. And if that weren’t enough, new health features are launching this fall to protect your hearing when listening to music.

We’re impressed with the Tour Pro 3’s noise cancellation. These buds block out 85 percent of background noise. The adjustable six-level ANC mode guarantees better results than Adaptive ANC mode. Low- and mid-frequency sounds are muted. Only a handful of high-frequency sounds creep onto the soundstage. The foam tips increase noise isolation when listening to music with ANC off. Ambient Aware opens the mics wide to hear incidental sounds loudly and clearly. TalkThru is also clutch for wanting to hold conversations without removing the buds.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Call quality

You can expect serviceable call quality from both sets of buds. The AirPods Pro 2 have clearer voice calling with decent noise reduction, whereas the Tour Pro 3 have decent voice calling with exceptional noise reduction. Either entry is sufficient for when you need to make a call in a pinch.

Winner: Tie

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Connectivity

The Tour Pro 3 are more platform-friendly, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 with dual-device pairing and one-tap Google Fast Pair for Android devices. They pair quickly with iOS/macOS as well. JBL’s buggy app is the only connectivity grievance.

Despite the AirPods Pro 2 lacking multipoint technology, they offer the more intuitive wireless experience by instantly pairing to any iCloud-linked Apple device. Auto switching makes it easy to jump from an iPhone to iPad to MacBook Pro. Furthermore, the majority of features tied to Apple’s ecosystem are placed at your fingertips.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro 2 

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Battery life

While the AirPods Pro 2 have received a boost in battery life (up to 7 hours per charge), they fall short of Tour Pro 3’s listening time, which is up to 11 hours per charge. Both charging cases hold a max of 30 hours and support wireless charging. Quick charging goes to the Tour Pro 3, which nets listeners 4 hours of use on a 10-minute charge. That’s significantly more powerful than Apple’s Fast-Fuel charging technology that generates 1 hour of use on a 5-minute charge.

Winner: JBL Tour Pro 3

AirPods Pro 2 vs. JBL Tour Pro 3: Verdict

In the end, Apple wins by a hair. Smart connectivity combined with effective noise cancellation, surprisingly great sound, and the best true wireless control scheme out there give the AirPods Pro 2 an edge that very few competitors can match. Their battery life and design could be better, but these flaws don’t affect overall performance. 

The Tour Pro 3 are a fantastic addition to the true wireless market and grant a ton of functionality for the price. Excellent sound, powerful ANC, and a multipurpose smart case are notable hallmarks. Where they lose major points is connectivity; the JBL Headphones app is marred by software bugs.

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Wireless earbuds with smart cases are growing in popularity. Leading the charge is JBL. The legacy audio brand previously launched the Tour Pro 2 to mild success. I say mild because, while the buds and their touchscreen case were well received, the product wasn’t viewed as a legit threat to the true wireless throne.

The all-new Tour Pro 3 look to change that narrative. These buds are equipped with a plethora of premium features that includes active noise cancellation, hi-res playback, multi-device pairing, and proprietary sound technologies. Furthermore, they have a terrific charging case that can double as a remote controller and wireless headphone adapter.

Certain flaws keep them a level below elite status. Even so, that doesn’t take away from their excellent performance and presentation. Here’s our full breakdown of the JBL Tour Pro 3.

JBL Tour Pro 3 REVIEW: Cheat sheet

·       What is it? JBL’s newest flagship buds with adaptive ANC, customizable sound, and a smart case.

·       Who is it for? Those who want something ultramodern and unique.

·       What does it cost? $299

·       What do we like? Sound quality is superb and the charging case can be used in numerous ways.

·       What don’t we like? The disappointing spatial audio and unstable fit.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Price & availability

You can purchase the JBL Tour Pro 3 for $299 / £236 / AU$449 on JBL’s website or popular retailers like B&H and Crutchfield. Black and Latte are the two colors sold. 

The Tour Pro 3 sell for the same price as high-end favorites like the $299 Bose QC Ultra Earbuds and Sony WF-1000XM5, but are more expensive than the $249 AirPods Pro 2, which are on sale for $189 as of this writing.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Design

• Nice craftsmanship
• Innovative smart case
• Loose fit

Composed entirely of hard plastic, these buds feature multiple mic openings, protruding touch panels, silver accents, and a sleek matte finish that exudes elegance. IP55 certification protects them from dust, sweat, and low-pressure water. The bulky cavity occupies your entire ear and affects fit by not allowing for a tight, secure seal.

JBL’s smart case is much thicker and heavier than the average charging case, but it’s still compact and portable. This block of plastic can survive hard tumbles to the ground. The magnets are strong and keep the lid shut tight. Dropping the case at the wrong angle can crack the screen, so you’ll want to be extremely careful when taking it out of your pocket.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Features

• Endless functionality
• Perk-filled smart case
• Finicky app

Downloading the JBL Headphones app (iOS/Android) grants you numerous features that enhance performance across the board. Personalized sound settings are in abundance: Ambient Sound Control (ANC/Ambient Aware/TalkThru), Ear Tip Sound Settings, EQ, LDAC, Max Volume Limiter, Personi-Fi, Personal Sound Amplification, Relax Sound, Smart Audio & Video, Sound Level Optimizer, Spatial Sound, and VoiceAware. I’ll discuss these further in the review. Other notables include auto-power off, battery level indicators, control customization, charging case settings, Check My Best Fit, Find My Buds, Smart Talk, wear detection, and Auracast to join an existing broadcast on compatible devices. 

Let’s move on to the smart case. Users can set the brightness level, feature shortcuts, lock screen wallpaper, time, and wake-up commands. You can even enable Auracast, message notifications, and the Find My Case function. The case can also be used as a dongle to wirelessly transmit audio to any aux or USB-C source (e.g., TV, gym equipment, plane console system).

Suffice to say that the Tour Pro 3 have more firepower than most luxury rivals. I only wished the app wasn’t so buggy. There were times when the program randomly crashed or wouldn’t connect to the buds.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Controls

• Responsive touch controls
• Smart case doubles as a controller
• Dependable digital assistance

A full set of media controls are at your disposal: call management, digital assistance, listening mode activation, playback, and volume. These can be assigned to the single-/double-/triple-tap and long-hold gestures. Touch accuracy is on-point and functions are executed swiftly.

The smart case has its own set of controls. There’s a media player to enable playback and volume. In addition, the case lets you swap out the EQ, switch to different listening modes, and turn on the flashlight function without entering the app.

Applying the tap-and-hold gesture on either bud will active your native assistant (Google Assistant, Siri). JBL’s mic array demonstrates solid speech recognition to precisely register voice commands.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Sound quality

• Dynamic sound with deep bass
• Serviceable sound-enhancing features
• Hi-res audio transmission via smart case
• Spatial audio still needs work

JBL stocked these buds with an 11mm driver, balanced armature driver, and countless audio features. There's a heavy emphasis on bass in the sound profile. You can tweak frequencies via the customizable EQ or by selecting from a handful of well-engineered presets: Bass, Club, Extreme Bass, Jazz, Studio, and Vocal. 

The Tour Pro 3 reproduces sonic elements exceptionally well with minimal distortion. Common & Pete Rock’s “So Many People” properly showcased the buds’ versatile soundstage. Snares were delicate and impactful and mids remained soothing; the haunting hook sounds more chilling on here than the AirPods Pro 2. Boomy tracks like Bootsy Collins’ “Pure Perfection” had a gnarly bassline and growling synths that slapped hard. That same energy carried over to sultry, bass-heavy songs like LARA’s “Good Wine,” where the singer’s airy vocals blended beautifully with the pummeling 808s.

I recommend using the Personi-Fi feature since it thoroughly analyzes your hearing to create a personalized sound profile. The differences between this and JBL’s EQs can be night and day, depending on your results. My profile dished out slightly better bass and resonant highs. 

JBL’s Spatial Sound mode has been moderately improved, but still requires a lot of polishing. Instruments and audience interaction on live performances sounded more natural. However, vocals were tinny.

LDAC dynamically scaled bitrate (up to 990 kbps) to reveal more clarity and details in recordings. SBC (Android) and AAC (iOS/macOS) also provided satisfying sound.

JBL offers other nifty sound features. Left/Right Sound Balance adjusts output on either channel. Max Volume Limiter optimizes the volume limit to protect your hearing. Ear Tip Sound Settings will set the tuning for the silicone or foam ear tips. Relax Sound has 5 different nature profiles that can be combined or played individually to calm and relieve listeners during a set time period.

Then there’s the smart case that retransmits audio to the buds when plugged into a compatible audio jack. The feature works well. Clarity and resolution were great when using an iPod Classic. It’s worth mentioning that some sound features can be activated on the touchscreen in dongle mode.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Active Noise Cancelation

• Strong noise neutralization
• Robust ambient listening modes
• Foam eartips provide better isolation

JBL’s True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0 technology isn’t competing with Bose or Sony’s ANC technologies. However, it is effective, especially for ambient listening. Ambient Aware mode lets in a vast number of external sounds, which are audible from several blocks away. I heard everything, from chatty pedestrians to fire sirens to glass bottles shattering. TalkThru was perfect for communicating without removing the buds. I talked with the missus and heard her loudly and clearly from across the room. 

There’s an adjustable six-level ANC mode and an Adaptive ANC mode that automatically tweaks noise cancellation based on your surrounding noise level. The former performed better outdoors and eliminated close to 85 percent of distractions, while the latter provided better wind resistance. Low- and mid-frequency sounds were nonexistent, but high-frequency sounds crept onto the soundstage.

The bundle foam tips form a tighter seal than the silicone tips and strengthen noise isolation. I noticed less ambient noise when listening to music with ANC off.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Call quality and connectivity

• Decent voice calling with clutch noise reduction
• Intuitive wireless performance

The Tour Pro 3 are fine for voice and video chats. I received a few complaints about muffle, but co-workers and friends were able to make out words and sentences. ANC has a strong presence, completely blocking out incidental sounds for distraction-free calls. Everyone I spoke with said they couldn’t hear any background noise. 

Bluetooth 5.3 runs fine and extends range up to 50 feet (15 meters) before stuttering. These buds pair quickly to iOS and Android devices. Multipoint technology lets you pair the buds with two devices simultaneously, allowing for seamless switching between your iPhone and MacBook Pro and vice versa.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Battery life

• Adequate playtimes
• Very powerful quick charging

JBL rates battery life at up to 11 hours, depending how you use the buds. The wireless charging case holds up to 30 hours. ANC decreases it to 8 hours and spatial audio shaves off another hour. This exceeds the AirPods Pro 2’s battery life (up to 7 hours), but falls slightly short of the Sony WF-1000XM5 (up to 12 hours). It’s enough juice for two lengthy days of listening before recharging. A 10-minute charge will net you 4 hours of listening time.

JBL Tour Pro 3 review: Verdict

The JBL Tour Pro 3 prove two things: JBL is trailblazing the path for this new product category and smart case buds are the best true wireless value out there. Between the in-depth sound personalization and the case’s wide array of functionality– for both aux-compatible and Bluetooth devices – there’s so much to enjoy and play with here.

There are a few kinks that need to be worked out. The buggy companion app is at the top of the list. Fit and spatial audio are two other areas that could use some upgrading as well.

Despite these shortcomings, the Tour Pro 3 are a fantastic addition to the true wireless market that highlight JBL’s enticing ecosystem of features and sound quality.

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Best deals

Apple's AirPods Pro 4 is reportedly launching as soon as next month, but the rumors point to a mostly similar design coming in two versions: one affordable model and one with active noise cancellation. The JBL Tour Pro 3 could blow it away — at least in terms of features. 

When JBL released the Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds last year, the audio company brought innovation to, of all places, the charging case. The addition of a touchscreen on the case is something we described in our a JBL Tour Pro 2 review as a creative game-changer that changed the way we interacted with wireless earbuds.

While JBL hasn't made our list of best wireless earbuds yet, the JBL Tour Pro 3 could. And the company has somehow crammed even more features into the new model. 

Even larger touch display

Releasing on September 22 for a lofty $299, the third-generation of JBL Tour Pro earbuds appear externally the same as the Tour Pro 2. Coming in black or "latte" the earbuds look the same, but JBL says the case has become smaller while offering a 30% larger display.

Additionally, according to JBL's announcement they've made the case a wireless audio transmitter enabling audio from USB or analog sources like an inflight entertainment system. This is a similar feature to one available in Bowers & Wilkins PI series and LG's Tone Free T90 earbuds.

Strangely, JBL claims this feature doesn't utilize Bluetooth, but their press release declines to explain how the earbuds and case are directly connecting USB or analog sources. "The direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth," they say.

Like the Tour Pro 2 case, the new touchscreen case can be used to control playback functions and features like active noise-cancelling without needing to pull your phone out.

Spatial audio, 'Crystal AI' calls 

JBL's Spatial Audio 360 has been added, too, which includes head-tracking, device-agnostic immersive audio, meant to make movie watching or game playing more in depth. 

The features list keeps coming as JBL has added support for Sony's hi-res LDAC Bluetooth codec, standard in any phone with Android version 8 and up. Additionally, JBL has apparently improved calls with JBL Crystal AI, which the company says will enhance clarity even in noisy environs.

Under the hood, The Tour Pro 3 is getting a hybrid dual driver system in each bud with 11mm dynamic drivers that are supposed to provide cleaner bass and "vivid" vocals. 

While the charging case and last year's feature list were cool, we did find that the sound was okay but paled in comparison to Bose and Apple. "Vocals sounded distant and there is noticeable echoing on most tracks," we said in our review.

Hopefully, the upgrades that JBL is bringing to the table in the Tour Pro 3 earbuds improve the sound quality to match the innovation in the case.

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I’m a self-professed music nerd. I take finding new songs with glistening vocals and thumping bass as seriously as I take finding a speaker that can do my music justice. With so many speakers out there — with varying degrees of audio quality — it can be overwhelming to find one that suits my particularities. But is the JBL Xtreme 4 one of the best bluetooth speakers out there? 

Oh, yes. 

EQ? E-Z!

I take customizable EQ seriously, and I don’t just mean EQ presets. I mean the EQ settings where you can adjust sliders for each frequency setting. I’ve tried good speakers from prestigious audio brands (*cough* Bose *cough*) that were utterly let down by their lack of customizable EQ. What if I want to have a bedroom dance party with bass powerful enough to vibrate through the floorboards? 

In comes the Xtreme 4. Whomping bass made only more formidable by a custom EQ setting… melodic, evocative treble that doesn’t pinch your ears… crystal-clear mid-range sections that balance everything perfectly. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of love for an audio product. Not since I got my first Bose SoundTrue around-ear headphones when I was 18 — a horribly long time ago now.

Music to my ears

Every song I play through the Xtreme 4 is… well, it is, quite literally, like music to my ears. The dominating, sometimes even overpowering bass of ‘flight fm’ by Joy Orbison transcends the capabilities of the human ear. Grimes’ ‘shinigami eyes’ is piercing, abrupt, and effortless through the Xtreme 4. 

Regardless of if I play music at home, at the park, or at a social gathering, it all sounds phenomenal through the Xtreme 4’s more-than-capable woofers. No clarity is lost even when an airplane flies overhead. Which might not be so fun for the people sitting next to me, but what can I say, I love being a public nuisance. (That is clearly a joke.) 

But… I must confess. I will not be purchasing the Xtreme 4. I know, I know, it’s heartbreaking. But let me tell you why.

It's a 10, but...

It's a 10, but it's expensive. 

This speaker is a whopping $379. Yes, you heard me right. $379. Whereas the JBL Flip 6 is only $169, the Xtreme 4 will set you back over double that. The Flip 6 does lack the power and volume of its big brother, don’t get me wrong, but I find parting with $169 far easier than almost $400. 

It’s common knowledge that if you want a super powerful speaker, you’re going to have to spend a lot of money. The Sonos Move 2 is $449. The Bose SoundLink Max is $399. Unfortunately, the speakers I drool over in my spare time are just a little out of reach right now. And when I already have something that is half the price, and almost as loud, I can’t fathom forking over that much cash.

For now, I’ll have to hold my Flip 6 much closer.

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There are hundreds of speakers on the market these days, so how do you find the best Bluetooth speaker? First, you need to figure out if you want something portable, semi-portable, or solely for the home. The JBL Go 4 and JBL Clip 5 are ultra portable, but their size limits their sound quality. The JBL Flip 6 or the JBL Charge 5 are relatively-portable options which don’t sacrifice audio quality. The Sonos Move 2 is a pricey, high-powered option with thumping bass. And the JBL Xtreme 4 is one of the best outdoor speakers with enough bark to match its bite. Although that bite might also take a chunk out of your shoulder, should you be carrying it.

JBL’s newest Xtreme incarnation is an accessory in and of itself. The speaker is large enough to take up an entire bag, so you better be taking two if you’re transporting this around town. But size means power. Size means volume. And boy, does it have both of those things. The max volume on this thing was loud enough to pulsate through my eardrums. I felt the bass in my jaw. My heartbeat leapt and danced along with the thumping bass. I tested this in a soundproofed room, in a park, and at home, and in every setting, I was blown away. 

The only thing letting it down is its weight and its eye-watering price tag. But let me tell you why I enjoyed my time with this speaker in this JBL Xtreme 4 review.

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A portable Bluetooth speaker from JBL
• What does it cost? Quite a lot: $379 / £329
• Who is it for? People who take sound quality seriously and want a booming speaker they can listen to at home and outdoors
• What should you use it for? This would be great for house parties, bedroom dance sessions, picnics, and (space permitting) outdoor adventures
• What are its weaknesses? Its weight and its price

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Specs

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Price & availability

At $379 / £329 / AU$429, this isn’t a cheap speaker. It’s a luxury item you’ll want to keep for years to come. It’s priced similarly to the Bose SoundLink Max and the Ultimate Ears EchoBoom, which are also high-capability speakers with great durability ratings. However if you wanted something more affordable, you could check out the Sonos Roam or the JBL Flip 6, but you’d lose some volume with these smaller models. 

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Design

Ever the sticklers for modern, durable, seemingly indestructible design, JBL have upped their already high bar for this speaker. With the robust-feeling hard mesh outer layer and silicone protective patches, the JBL Xtreme 4 certainly feels extreme. Right out of the box, I feel like the JBL Xtreme 4 could survive a drop off my roof. I’m obviously not going to do that, but you catch my drift. It’s definitely capitalizing on the current Gorpcore trend (wearing hiking/outdoor/workout clothes in everyday life) sweeping the western world, especially the camo version. This would look just as streamlined in a rugged mountainside camp as, say, a sleeping bag carabinered to a ridge. I wouldn’t take it up a mountain, though, given that it weighs 73.76 ounces.

The speaker feels robust and luxurious, with carefully designed casings and tactile, clean controls. You would hope so at $379, but that’s maybe what you’re paying for. The cables and carry strap come in thick felt pouches — not the plastic bags that ship with the Bose SoundLink Flex.

However, as I mentioned earlier, the JBL Xtreme 4 is heavy. And I don’t mean heavy in the same way the UE Megaboom 3 is heavy. The JBL Xtreme 4 weighs double the UE Megaboom (32 ounces). Although it’s lighter than the 105 ounce Sonos Move 2, it’s still a noticeable weight in your bag/on your shoulder.

The JBL Xtreme 4 comes with a handy carry strap, which feels just as robust as the speaker itself, but, my poor shoulder, I wish JBL could’ve found a lighter construction material to ease the load a little. I carried this speaker for 20 minutes and by minute 10 I was grimacing and sweating. If your shoulders have a little more muscle than mine, you might be fine, but for all petite women, I don’t think this is the best for you. Unless you have a stronger companion to offload this onto.

JBL Xtreme 4 review: App & connectivity

As with every other JBL speaker I’ve used, the Xtreme 4 was invariably easy to connect to my phone. It popped up in my Bluetooth options instantly and was a breeze to set up. It seamlessly connected to my MacBook Air M2 (2022) upon pressing the Bluetooth button. The JBL Portable app, available on iOS and Android, is easy to navigate and user-friendly. 

The Xtreme 4 has the same PartyBoost functionality you’d expect from a high-end speaker brand like JBL. With AuraCast, introduced with the JBL Pulse 4 and the Flip 5, users can connect supported JBL speakers for a surround sound experience. I tried this in the office with another reviewer’s Xtreme 4 and, while it works, it’s not mind-blowingly amazing. It would probably be most effective in a loud environment, like the party for which the feature is named.

While it wasn’t a loud environment (quite the opposite, actually) I tested the range of the Xtreme 4 in a deserted park. This could have been the lack of trees or the expanse of open space, but I managed to walk a whopping 460 feet (140 meters) before the Bluetooth connection severed. Check out the red circle — that's the speaker. I was impressed.

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Features

On top of being durable (although its bulk is an occupational hazard there), the JBL Xtreme 4 comes with a plethora of fun features. You can charge your phone using the speaker, so if you’re caught out in a field somewhere or at the aforementioned mountain ridge campsite, you’ll be able to get a little more juice for your phone. 

The Xtreme 4 carries the same durability rating as the Xtreme 3: IP67. This means it’s waterproof for up to 30 minutes in up to 3.2 feet (1 meter) of water and almost completely dustproof. 

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Sound quality

You’ll need to alter JBL’s standard EQ levels to be as blown away by the sound as I was. If you stick with JBL’s baseline settings, you’ll be left confused by my review. But it is fun to play around on the JBL Portable app to figure out what setting best suits your needs; sometimes what sounds phenomenal on one song sounds lackluster on another.

After I experimented with different levels, I settled on full bass, medium mid, and medium tremble. And I think that’s the way forward. 

I know everyone harps on about bass, but holy moly, the JBL Xtreme 4 has bass. Let me set the scene for you: I tested this in a mid-sized soundproofed room, listening to a playlist on Spotify. I was sitting on a chair about 5 feet away from the speaker; during Chase & Status and Bou’s ‘Baddadan’, I could feel the bass through the chair cushion. Sometimes the treble pinched my eardrum a little, as in ‘Boom Boom Back’ by Hinds and Beck, but the bass more than enough made up for it. Even the sultry velvet voice of Billie Eillish in ‘Lunch’ sounded fierce through the thumping woofer. Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ dominated the room through this speaker; not one layer of its hi-hat heavy beat was lost. When the bass in ‘Shinigami Eyes’ by Grimes came in, my jaw literally dropped. I rounded off the testing with ‘Starburster’ by Fontaines D.C. — I upped the treble and lowered the bass for this track and was blown away by the gut-wrenching emotion that came from the Xtreme 4’s speakers.

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Battery life

Where JBL has really improved over the Xtreme 3 is the battery life. The Xtreme 3 maxed out at 15 hours, but you can listen for an entire day with the Xtreme 4. The 24 hour playback time is one of the best on the market. Longer than the Bose SoundLink Max’s 20 hours and the Ultimate Ears Epicboom’s 17 hours, the Xtreme 4’s whopping 24 hours is a target other brands will now have to aim for. 

JBL Xtreme 4 review: Verdict

If you want a portable-ish speaker with fantastic audio quality — and you’ve got a lot to spend on it — the Xtreme 4 would be a brilliant option. I was transfixed watching the woofers bounce and vibrate when I was playing super-bassy hip-hop and EDM tracks. As a music lover and hiking enthusiast, this is definitely something I would personally be interested in buying (as long as someone else was carrying it on a trek). However, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.

Where the Xtreme 4 stumbles is its weight and its price. If you want something super-travel-friendly and a little cheaper, but aren’t so fussed about volume, I’d recommend the Flip 6 instead. As I mentioned before, this is a heavy weight to carry around. I had to carry this alongside my regular bag, which weighed down both of my shoulders. I would maybe have liked to see JBL produce a carry case for the speaker — not to protect it against water or dust, as its IP67 rating takes care of that — but just to cover up the fact that you’re carrying a valuable product around with you. It’s still a nice speaker, don’t get me wrong. Regardless, a little thought for the consumer post-purchase would have been nice. But overall, this is a booming speaker I would definitely keep on your radar.

JBL might be best known for its slew of budget headphones and for making some of the best Bluetooth speakers, but it’s set to make some waves with a new line of loudspeakers and AV receivers built for cinematic-minded audiophiles. 

Designed to be extremely easy to use, the Stage 2 loudspeakers bring the kick where it matters most, corralling a total of eight different configurations set across two gorgeous color ways. These units include everything from simple subwoofers to powerful standmounts and floorstanders for punchy, bone-shaking home audio. 

JBL is also bringing to the table a new lineup of five new Modern Audio AV receivers, which start at $399 and go all the way up to a staggering $1,599. The flagship AVR, called the MA9100HP, codifies home audio with a 140W system on 9.2 channels with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support for unrivaled sound in everything from general music to action movies. 

These new products out of JBL aim for simplicity and ease of use, leveraging all the latest connectivity and features, like VRR, ALLM, and Quick Frame Transport (QFT). They’re also set to clap back against major contenders in the audio sphere, including both Klipsch and Denon, the latter of which recently launched its new Dolby Atmos multi-room audio system. 

Home audio done the right way

JBL knows sound and it shows thanks to its newest Stage 2 range, which features eight total speakers set across two colors: “expresso” and “latte.” Just from sheer looks alone, they look like some of the best speakers in the market, leveraging a stacked spec sheet that can work for practically any budget. 

Standing tall at the top of its range are a pair of floorstanders each going for $1,199 and $999. The more premium model, the JBL 280F, uses 20-cm ribbed cone woofers in line with a 2.5-way crossover and 25mm anodised aluminum tweeter for serious audio coverage. JBL’s cheaper configuration, the 260F, notches down its ribbed woofers to 16.5cm but keeps the 280F’s aluminum tweeter. 

As for subwoofers, JBL’s got you covered. The 220P features a 30cm ribbed cone low-frequency woofer with dual rear-firing ports on a 500W power output. The more affordable 200P, which retails for $500, uses a 300W system with a 25cm woofer and dual rear-firing ports, as well. They both do well against the Sonos Sub Mini, which costs about $100 less than the 200P and features two six-inch woofers. 

For $500, you could also snap up the JBL 240H, its brand new Dolby Atmos height module that combines an 11.5cm ribbed woofer and 25mm tweeter with a precision 2.5-inch crossover for unbeatable audio coverage. Dolby Atmos support also ensures you keep immersed in the action, and JBL’s EZ Set EQ app makes set up across all devices an absolute breeze.

JBL Stage 2 loudspeaker range: 

• 280F floorstanders (per pair): $1,199 
• 260F floorstanders (per pair): $999
• 250B standmounters (per pair): $400 
• 240B standmounters (per pair): $300 
• 220P subwoofer (per pair): $600 
• 200P subwoofer (per pair): $500 
• 245C centre channel: $450 
• 240H Dolby Atmos Height Channel module: $500 

Tying it all together smartly 

If a whole new line of loudspeakers wasn’t enough, JBL is also bringing to the table a slew of AV receivers and amps. JBL has entitled this range with the Modern Audio tagline to distinguish them from the rest, while also blatantly expressing their modern features, main among them being gaming-centric connectivity support. 

Out of the gate they already seem to have qualities that will pit them among the best AV receivers, including HDMI 2.1 passthrough (not found on the MA310), Dolby Vision and HDR10+, plus Dirac Live support for simplified calibrations. Like the aforementioned speakers, these receivers also have SmartThings integration, letting Samsung users run wild with an assortment of intuitive Wi-Fi streaming and other one-touch capabilities. 

Little else is known about the general internals behind these AVRs, but JBL did cite every model comes equipped with Class D amplification. JBL also stated that the new products were designed out of its Northridge, California based Center of Acoustic Excellence with an eye for a “refreshingly simple to install” matrix that aims to “blend seamlessly into home interiors.” 

JBL MA (Modern Audio) AVR range:

• MA310 5.2-channels, 60W, 4K AV receiver: $399 
• MA510 5.2-channels, 75W, 8K AV receiver: $599
• MA710 7.2-channels, 110W, 8K AV receiver: $799  
• MA7100HP 7.2-channels, 125W, 8K (High Performance) AV receiver: $1,199
• MA9100HP 9.2 channels, 140W, AV receiver with Dolby Audio and DTS or Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, low noise Class D amplification, and broad compatibility: $1,599 

These are all clearly a shot over the bow towards Denon in its own budget and mid range AVRs and it will be interesting to see how JBL shakes up the market with these modern designs. Product pages are up on JBL’s website with pre-orders now live, so if you’re in need of a serious home audio upgrade, even in the wake of Prime Day deals, it’s the perfect time.

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JBL is on a roll with wireless speaker systems right now, and the retro-styled JBL L42ms integrated music system announced earlier this year is the latest to go on sale.

It joins the company's larger JBL L75ms ($1,500) as a more compact and affordable option ($999 / £999) in its high-end Harman Luxury Audio Group speaker line, and I've been lucky enough to be among the first to try it out at home.

We've seen several new speaker systems arrive from the maker in the last few months. From the latest versions of popular ultra-portable speakers including the JBL Clip 5 and JBL Go 4, to the JBL Authentics 300 portable wireless speaker that was announced at IFA 2023 that sports the same classic Quadrex speaker grille as the L42ms and L74ms luxury audio models. 

Several JBL speaker models rank among the best Bluetooth speakers we've tested, but the JBL L42ms is designed to rival static music systems from audiophile brands such as the KEF LSX Lite, Sonus faber Omnia, or even Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8, many of which rank among the best music systems for style I've tried.

JBL L42ms: A modern music maker with classic style

The JBL hits the mark, and the music system's minimal tabletop design is right on trend. The curved wooden cabinet housing has been acoustically treated and tuned to achieve the sonic signature of JBL's classic stereo speaker series in a single cabinet.

Hidden behind that distinctive speaker grille, the JBL L42ms has angled speaker drivers with dual 4-inch (100mm) woofers and dual 0.75-inch (20mm) Aluminum dome tweeters to help to create a wide stereo soundstage from a single speaker cabinet. The only thing that lets it down in the style stakes, is that the grille isn't available in alternative color options as with the company's L100 Classic MkII speaker series, and the likes of rival music systems such as the Naim Mu-so.      

In terms of whether the JBL L42ms is one of the best music systems for style, it has all the right credentials. The build quality is strong, and despite the vintage styling, there's a dizzying number of ways to connect to your favorite wireless audio sources and stream true hi-res content up to 24-bit/96kHz. Whether it's connecting to home-networked UPnP devices around the home over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, via Apple AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, or Tidal Connect, the JBL does it all. 

The JBL L42ms is Roon Ready too, and has Smart Things support to enable it to be integrated with a smart home app, as well as Bluetooth. Plus, there's HDMI ARC, meaning to can be connected to a TV just like the best soundbars, and line-ins via stereo RCAs and a 3.5mm jack for wired connectivity options to external audio sources.

The JBL Premium Audio app provided access to Internet Radio, Podcasts, Amazon Music HD, and Qobuz during my testing — some of the best music streaming services we've tested — and it's likely that more will be added to the app. One downside on the app, was that I didn't appear to be able to adjust the speaker's sound settings, or at least not as far as I could tell. 

Another thing to mention that some users might want to factor in is that I found the controls and pin prick lights on the speaker unsatisfactory indicators at displaying the selected source or volume level. Plus, there's no way of knowing whether SFX ('Stereo Wide') mode is enabled or not. Nope. This system gives few visible clues on its status.

JBL L42ms: Class-leading sound

JBL has rated at the L42ms at 200W Class D power output that drives a pair of dual 4-inch (100mm) woofers and dual 0.75-inch (20mm) Aluminum dome tweeters. It's a rich and more powerful sound that digs deeper than I imagined when streaming Geoff Castellucci version of "The Sound of Silence" via Tidal in CD quality.

The depth and the weight of the extraordinary vocal is surprisingly convincing, and despite being a relatively compact speaker system compared to my floorstanding hi-fi tower speakers I usually listen to, the JBL doesn't disappoint in terms of its low-end frequency delivery.

There's not much in the way of sound personalization, but there is a useful -3dB bass contour switch at the back to alleviate excessive bass should the speaker ports at the back be placed too close to rear and/or side walls. 

Percussive, uptempo tunes sound really engaging. I like the way I can hear the multiple drum stands in Nadine Shah's "Greatest Dancer." There's a lively energy to the track when played on the JBL that's sometimes difficult to capture on lesser speaker systems. I definitely got more of a sense of stereo too, thanks to the angled speakers beaming sounds out into my listening room.

Vocal clarity was great with my go-to test tracks, and I liked the way the JBL appeared to capture the acoustic space around tracks I know well like the beautiful vocal, piano, and guitar on "Dream of Sheep" by Kate Bush.

Despite some minor misgivings about the controls and tiny display lights, I love the JBL's L42ms mid-sized proportions and retro looks. This is a thoroughly modern speaker system with audiophile credentials. It can stream everything you throw at it or be placed on a stand and hooked up to a screen to bring a boost to your TV sound. It's an incredibly versatile music system and a whole lot of fun.

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In the summer of 2024, audio giant JBL announced it would be updating three popular speakers, with the ultra-portable JBL Clip 5 being one of them — not to be confused with the JBL Flip 5. The Clip 5 is the ideal companion for long hikes, beach trips and for soundtracking social gatherings.

The Clip 5 is a small but mighty speaker, boasting impressive sound quality and decent battery life. It takes what its predecessor did right and improves on it. With a stylish design and a clip that lets you hook the speaker onto most things, the Clip 5 could see itself placed amongst the best cheap Bluetooth speakers.

But at $79, is it value for money when many of its competitors offer the same features but at cheaper price points? Read our full JBL Clip 5 review to find out.

JBL Clip 5 review: Price & availability

Launched in June 2024, the JBL Clip 5 speaker is available from JBL direct or from Amazon for $79 / £59. There are six colors to choose from: red, purple, blue, white, black, camouflage. The Clip 5 succeeds the Clip 4 which has the same retail price. Its price tag pits it against the likes of the Tribit StormBox Flow ($79).

JBL Clip 5 review: Design & controls

The JBL Clip 5 is a stylish speaker made in part with recycled materials, with a circular(ish) body featuring a mesh speaker cover over the front and rear faces. On its underside are five strips of grippy rubber which keep it in place when it’s laying down. You can’t make it stand upright, though. It borrows from its predecessor’s design but also improves on it. For instance, the thicker rubber strips on the back feel sturdier.

But the biggest upgrade is to the carabiner, which has a larger opening so it can hook onto larger items. I was able to hook the Clip 5 onto my belt loop and backpack, a bicycle and even my shower head. This speaker isn’t very heavy either, weighing 10.05 ounces, so I never really noticed it when it was attached to my backpack. Measuring 5.3 x 3.4 x 1.8 inches — the same as the Clip 4 — I didn’t notice it much when it was attached to my belt loop either. However, if you aren’t a fan of the carabiner but still want a small speaker that can hook onto most things, you might prefer the Tribit StormBox Micro 2 ($59) with its integrated strap instead.

The Clip 5 has a handful of buttons which feel firm when clicked. On the front face, you’ll find volume and play buttons, and on its side are power, Bluetooth and triangular Auracast buttons.

JBL Clip 5 review: Features

Like the JBL Clip 4, the Clip 5 is IP67 rated, which means it’s waterproof down to 3 feet. Dropping it into the shallow end of a pool or using it in the shower won’t damage this speaker. I hooked it onto my shower head and had tunes playing throughout, and the Clip 5 was perfectly fine. It’s also dustproof, making it ideal for hikes and long walks. This is the same rating as the cheaper JBL Go 4, and the more expensive JBL Charge 5 ($179) and the Ultimate Ears Epicboom ($349).

JBL Clip 5 review: Sound quality

JBL claims the Clip 5 produces “JBL Pro Sound” which “packs a serious musical punch with punchy bass.” So to test this, I listened to a playlist I’ve curated on Spotify Premium, which is one of the best music streaming services, on my Google Pixel 7 Pro and MacBook Air M2. For such a small speaker, the Clip 5 boasts impressive sound quality, especially the bass. The basslines in Pink Floyd’s “Money” and Twenty One Pilots’ “No Chances” were well amplified and prominent. Kurt Cobain’s vocals in “Heart-Shaped Box” were crystal clear even as he strummed his guitar loudly and the drums kicked in.

Unlike the Go 4, the Clip 5’s sub-bass sounds are good too, as I noted while listening to “Royals” by Lorde. I could feel the rumbling sensation coursing through me as I listened to it on high volume. And when it came to testing how high notes sounded, Pink Floyd’s masterpiece “The Great Gig in the Sky” put the Clip 5 through its paces. Clare Torry’s improvised, wordless vocals sounded beautiful but never too shrill that they pierced my ears.

While you can use the JBL Portable app to change the equalizer from JBL signature (default) to chill, energetic and vocal boost, I didn’t notice a lot of difference. The chill EQ slightly reduces the bass but not drastically, while the energetic EQ does the opposite. Listening to “Momento Mori” by Fish in a Birdcage with the vocal boost EQ just sounded like it was playing on a slightly higher volume. You might like the Anker Soundcore 3’s ($51) EQ modes better — although the speaker isn’t as portable as the Clip 5.

What I really appreciate about the Clip 5 is that audio never sounds distorted, even when the volume is at its highest, and you can hear most frequencies. I say “most” because the Clip 5 has a dynamic frequency response range of 95Hz to 20kHz which means it can’t reproduce the lowest notes on some tracks. If you want a portable speaker with a bit more bass, try the Sony SRS-XB100 ($59) instead. The lack of these low frequencies doesn’t make the Clip 5 a terrible speaker, though, as I was still more than satisfied with the sound.

JBL Clip 5 review: Connectivity

The JBL Clip 5 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 to connect to your smartphone and laptop. It’s really easy to pair — simply hold down the Bluetooth button and your device should recognize it… eventually. It took me a while to connect it to my Google Pixel 7 Pro, but quickly restarting my phone fixed the problem.

Unlike the Clip 4, the Clip 5 is Auracast-enabled, which means you can connect multiple JBL devices simultaneously to boost sound. This is especially useful if you’re at a big gathering and want everyone to enjoy the tunes. JBL’s Auracast implementation is limited to its own speakers for now, so I tested this with a Go 4. Pressing the triangular Auracast button on each speaker immediately synced them up. If you or a friend have another Clip 5, you can sync the two models together and create your own surround sound too.

JBL Clip 5 review: App

You don’t necessarily need the JBL Portable app for iOS and Android to use the Clip 5. If you do choose to use it, though, the no-frills app is fairly straightforward and intuitive to use. You can use it to update the Clip 5’s firmware, change EQ settings, customize your own EQ by adjusting the highs and lows, and connect multiple speakers in tandem via Auracast. The Clip 5 has a handy Playtime Boost feature to extend battery life (more on that soon), and this can only be enabled via the app.

JBL Clip 5 review: Battery life

JBL claims that the Clip 5 will last you 12 hours on a single charge, or 15 hours with Playtime Boost toggled. This is better than the Clip 4 which promised 10 hours. While Playtime Boost is handy — especially if you’re traveling or adventuring — it significantly reduces the bass and music doesn’t sound nearly as good.

In my testing, the Clip 5 lasted just under 11 hours, and it took about two and a half hours to charge from zero to 100%. However, the Clip 5’s battery life pales in comparison to the similarly priced Tribit StormBox Flow which provides 30 hours of playback.

JBL Clip 5 review: Verdict

The JBL Clip 5 is a great portable speaker for $79, and it won’t give you much to complain about. It offers superb sound quality that remains consistent across most genres. Thanks to its large clip, it can be hooked onto many things, such as your belt loop, backpack, shower head or bike’s handlebars. Its IP67 rating means you won’t have to worry about water or dust damaging it. And while Auracast is currently limited to JBL speakers, it’s a handy feature to link up multiple speakers so that everyone can enjoy the music at a big gathering.

But there are a few areas in which the Clip 5’s competitors edge it out. While the Clip 5’s battery life is good, offering up to 15 hours of playback time, the Tribit StormBox Flow lasts almost double that time. In the same vein, the Anker Soundcore 3’s EQ outdoes the Clip 5’s, and the former is over $20 cheaper. And when it comes to amplifying low frequencies, the Sony SRS-XB100 has the edge over the Clip 5.

The Clip 5 is still a great portable speaker, though, that is easily likable, especially if you’re looking for one that you can simply hook onto your person and go about your day.

Some people travel light but I’ve never been one of them. Over the years though, I’ve significantly cut down when it comes to what I pack in my checked bag but with my carry-on, it’s obviously filled to the brim with tech.

During my recent trip to Taiwan for Computex, I brought a kitchen sink’s worth of gadgets. Of course I had my trusty ThinkPad but to be able to quickly get to work when I got back to the hotel after perusing the show floor, I also brought one of the best mini PCs and even a dual-screen portable monitor so that I could feel like I was working at my multi-monitor setup back home.

For the flight itself, I had my Nintendo Switch to help kill time and since I’m a YouTube Premium subscriber, I downloaded plenty of videos to watch on my smartphone and a few of my favorite albums from YouTube Music.

While I thought I had everything I needed to make it through the 13-hour trip from Seattle to Taipei, during my first flight from Houston, I noticed I had made a grave mistake. Fortunately though, I was able to find a workaround during my layover and I owe that to a company whose products I don’t even use.

A lucky layover

Normally, it’s better to have a direct flight without any stops in between but in this case, having a layover before the bulk of my journey really paid off.

It takes about four hours to get from Houston to Seattle by plane, so I didn’t intend on sleeping during that neck of the trip. Instead, I took out my Nintendo Switch and started playing away with a pair of wired headphones and the CRKD Neo S controller. As Luigi’s Mansion is a darker game after all though, I started getting sleepy.

If I’m sleeping on a plane, I usually listen to an album I’ve heard thousands of times before to drown out all of the background noise around me. To this end, I packed a pair of wireless earbuds to use during my trip. However, as I now work from home and drive everywhere instead of taking the subway or the bus — I do live in Texas after all — they weren’t charged fully. I had given them a bit of time on the charger before I left but I guess it wasn’t enough. 

By the time I realized I wouldn’t be listening to music on this flight after all, we had landed in Seattle. Since I had a bit of time before my even longer flight to Taipei, I headed for my favorite place in the airport: the electronics store.

I thought about buying a new pair of wireless headphones but then stopped myself as they wouldn’t be charged enough to work either. At that point, I decided to look for something I’ve always wanted: wired headphones with a USB-C connection instead of a 3.5mm one. The shop I was at didn’t have any and just when I had almost given up hope, I saw that they had USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapters. These would work with the wired headphones I brought to play with my Switch but there were two options to choose from.

The store I was at had a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter from Brookstone and one from Apple. Since I use one of the best Android phones, going with the one from Apple didn’t cross my mind until I looked at their prices. While the one from Brookstone would cost me $30, Apple’s was just $15. Then I did something I haven’t done since 2001: I bought an Apple product.

On my next flight, I unboxed the adapter and plugged one end into my Nothing Phone 2 and the other into my wired headphones. Everything worked as it should and I was able to sleep through a large part of my 13-hour flight without any interruptions.

A great last-minute purchase

After a week of exploring Taiwan and seeing all of the cool new gadgets at Computex, it was time to head back home. Apple’s USB-C to 3.5mm adapter did a great job getting me through my last flight and originally, I was planning to use it again on my non-stop flight to Houston.

However, right before my plane started boarding, I noticed there was another electronics store next to my gate. Out of curiosity, I popped in to see what they had. They had the same adapter I used on the way to Taiwan but next to it, they also had a pair of USB-C headphones from JBL.

As part of my job involves checking out the latest tech after all, I decided to pick up a pair of JBL Tune 310C USB-C headphones since they weren’t that much more expensive at just $25. Admittedly, using Apple’s adapter with standard wired headphones was a bit clunky, so I wanted to see just what real USB-C headphones were capable of.

I unboxed my new pair of wired USB-C headphones as I was waiting for my group to be called and much to my surprise, they sounded really good. Besides a second set of earbuds, these headphones also have a 3-button remote on the right side that lets you control their volume, skip songs and even answer calls. However, by pushing the Plus and Minus buttons at the same time, you can switch between three EQ presets: Default, Bass or Vocal. To top it all off, they also feature a built-in DAC for high-res audio.

Even though I now have a proper pair of USB-C wired headphones for my next flight, I still owe a lot to Apple for making a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and not charging the standard Apple Tax for it. Even at the airport, I only paid an extra $5 and that adapter proved to be a life saver during my flight to Taiwan.

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The JBL Go 4 is, as you might be able to tell, the fourth iteration of JBL’s Go lineup of compact Bluetooth speakers. While not quite as portable as the ultra-compact JBL Clip series, the Go 4 is nevertheless designed to accompany you on your travels or gatherings with friends with very little fuss.

At just under $50, the JBL Go 4 won’t break the bank, but its pricing puts it into competition with two of the best Bluetooth speakers around — the Tribit Stormbox Micro and Anker Soundcore 3, which both offer features the Go 4 does not.

That said, after testing the Go 4 for a week or two, I think this little speaker has a couple of aces up its sleeve, which might make it a good purchase for you. Read on for our full JBL Go 4 review.

JBL Go 4 review: Price & availability

The JBL Go 4 is available from JBL direct or from Amazon, and costs $49 / £39, making it relatively affordable. This is a similar price to the Tribit Stormbox Micro, our favorite Bluetooth speaker for traveling. 

The Go 4 is available in seven different colors, from relatively pedestrian black or white, through to vibrant red, blue, pink or purple, and then onto utterly garish camouflage. You can be as conspicuous as you like.

JBL Go 4 review: Design & controls

The JBL Go 4 looks fairly attractive, with a boxy design featuring a mesh speaker cover over the front and rear faces, with edges wrapped in grippy rubber. Along the rear face are two rubber strips for gripping when laid down, while the base edge also features textured rubber to allow the speaker to stand upright. Overall, while it doesn’t have the premium feel of portable speakers from higher-end manufacturers — the Sonos Roam, for instance — the Go 4 still feels sturdy and well-constructed. 

The Go 4 measures 3.7 x 3 x 1.7 inches and 6.7 ounces, so it’s easy enough to slip into a bag or a large pocket without weighing either down too much. It’s a similar size to the Tribit Stormbox Micro, although the Go 4 is slightly smaller and lighter so may be preferable if space or weight are at a premium in your travel bag. 

Along the top are controls for volume and playback, decided by number of presses, while the side hosts buttons for power, Bluetooth and speaker hookup — all of these provide firm clicks when pressed and feel decent quality. 

JBL Go 4 review: Features

The JBL Go 4 isn’t exactly feature-packed, although for $49 that’s understandable, and besides, it only really needs to do one thing: soundtrack your gathering. Still, it’s nice to see JBL has incorporated some useful features to keep the party going.

The Go 4 is IP67 rated, making it waterproof down to a depth of around 3 feet, so you can drop it into an ice bucket or the shallow end of a pool or pond without destroying it. This is the same waterproof rating as our favorite fully waterproofed speaker, the JBL Charge 5, although that speaker is more expensive than the Go 4 and subsequently brings more premium features.

The Go 4 is also made partly from recycled plastic, which is better than no recycled material, and features Auracast connectivity to link multiple speakers together, which I’ll come onto in the next section. Again, this is a no-frills speaker, but is priced as one.

While the Go 4 has a hook for clipping to a carabiner or attaching to a strap, the Tribit Stormbox Micro has a super useful hook which can be used to mount the speaker to handlebars, so if you regularly travel on a bicycle, that could be a consideration.

JBL Go 4 review: Sound quality

JBL claims the Go 4 produces “JBL Pro Sound” (referring to their professional audio lineup) with “punchy bass”, that’ll shock your friends given the speaker’s size. Make no mistake, this is a small speaker, and can’t do justice to sub-bass heavy music, like drum and bass — a summertime favorite of many speaker-wielders here in the U.K. I joined in and played “Breaking Again” by Foreign Concept, and “Floating” by Alix Perez — the sub-bass was inaudible, leaving only drums.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised by the JBL Go 4. In our Tom’s Guide testing lab, I played a selection of lo-fi songs from this lo-fi Spotify playlist, to help everyone in our office focus. The mid- and bass frequencies in “WahMagic” by manitou & Chill Select, for example, were well amplified, and I could clearly hear the jazzy, staccato bassline.

I also used the JBL to soundtrack some drinks in my friends’ garden (with them, of course). I played a range of pop music, from classics like ABBA through to indie music like Mk.gee’s album, Two Star & The Dream Police. I was again impressed by the quality of the JBL Go 4’s sound, which remained distortion free even with the volume turned up, with most frequencies audible save the very lowest. 

We all noticed that the angle of the speaker makes a huge difference to the quality of the sound you’ll hear — particularly bass frequencies. This isn’t really an issue, as speaker angle will almost always affect sound, but we found that sitting directly in front of the JBL logo with the speaker standing upright resulted in the worst sound (except for sitting behind the speaker, of course). We started placing the speaker with the JBL facing upwards, as this generated the best sound for a circle of people sitting around the device.

It’s worth noting, though, that one of the best value cheap Bluetooth speakers, the Anker Soundcore 3, produces excellent sound for a similar price. If you’re happy with a slightly larger speaker and want to maximize sound quality at this price point, we’d recommend that instead.

JBL Go 4 review: Connectivity

The JBL Go 4 utilizes Bluetooth 5.3 and is quick and easy to connect to your smartphone. You can also use the JBL Portable smartphone app, available on iOS and Android, to connect, which I found quite useful, as I could hook up and change EQ immediately based on what music I was about to play.

The Go 4 is an Auracast-enabled device. This allows you to hook up multiple speakers in tandem and boost sound, or spread it across a larger area. I tested this with the JBL Extreme 4, and found it really tricky to set up using the triangular Auracast buttons on each speaker — no matter what combination I tried to use, I couldn’t get the speakers to hook up in tandem using the onboard buttons from either speaker. The Go 4’s quick start guide wasn’t much help either, as it just tells you to press the Auracast button.

However, using the JBL Portable app, things were much easier. I was able to hook the two speakers up together quickly and boost the sound in our testing room. I then took my phone and the JBL Go 4 all the way to the other side of our studio, around 60 feet away and through several walls — our reviews writer Nikita Achanta reported that the second speaker was still playing with no interruption. This Auracast system will be highly effective for playing music throughout your house, whether at a party or just casually.

JBL Go 4 review: Smartphone app

The JBL Portable app is relatively basic, but it works well, and I’d rather have a basic app that works versus a complicated app that doesn’t — in my line of work, trust me, I see the latter all too frequently. 

The app is free, easy to connect to, and allows you to update speaker firmware, hook up multiple speakers in tandem and control or customize EQ settings. There’s also a boost setting to maximize battery life.

JBL Go 4 review: Battery life

JBL claims the Go 4’s battery will last for up to 7 hours of playback, which was borne out in our testing. I used the Go 4 for around 3 hours and was left with around 60% of the battery remaining. The Stormbox Micro, however, lasts up to 8 hours, while the portable Sonos Roam can last up to 10 — that’s a lot more partying you’re missing out on.

JBL Go 4 review: Verdict

It’s hard to look too disfavorably on the JBL Go 4 given its price. There are a couple of areas where its rivals may give you pause for thought — both the Anker Soundcore 3 and Tribit Stormbox Micro offer better battery life, while the Soundcore 3 offers fantastic audio quality for the money and the Stormbox Micro has the handy clip for mounting. That said, we aren’t talking vistas of difference here, and I don’t think the JBL Go 4 puts up a particularly weak fight.

Audio performance is fairly decent, meaning the Go 4 accomplishes its core task of soundtracking small gatherings admirably. It’s waterproof and built well, and I liked the JBL Portable app which, while relatively basic, nevertheless adds extra functionality and proved reliable in testing. The Go 4 will also be a great purchase for anyone who already has recent JBL speakers, as its Auracast connectivity allows for multi-speaker and -room setups. While it isn’t perfect, for the money, the JBL Go 4 is a very likeable little speaker.

Here at Tom’s Guide, we’ve tested hundreds of contenders for the best wireless earbuds. We’ve also reviewed and raved about a lot of JBL products, but they’re often bested by premium brands like Sennheiser, Sony and Bose. Could the JBL Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds change that?

The Tour Pro 2 boast an impressive feature set, all packaged in a sleek and premium design. With effective active noise cancelation (ANC), a handy TalkThru mode, various equalizer presets, an innovative charging case and a good battery life, these earbuds pack enough specs to rival high-end products in the price range. But there is no support for advanced codecs like LDAC and aptX for higher-quality audio handling over Bluetooth, and spatial audio isn’t the greatest. So are these worth the steep price tag?

For the full breakdown, read our full JBL Tour Pro 2 review.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Cheat sheet

• A very comfortable drop stem design
• Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and SBC codec support, but advanced codecs like LDAC and aptX are not supported
• Smart charging case that doubles as a controller, but is prone to unlocking when in your pocket
• Wear detection for automatic pausing and resuming
• Great and consistent sound quality across a variety of genres
• Spatial audio doesn’t work well

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Price & availability

The JBL Tour Pro 2 have a retail price of $249 / £199, and we’ve seen them drop to $195 at Amazon U.S. and £180 at Amazon U.K. At this price point, these wireless earbuds have some serious competition from the likes of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 (also $249) and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299). The Tour Pro 2 earbuds are available in two colors: black and champagne (off-white).

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Design & comfort

The JBL Tour Pro 2 look like a pair of ordinary earbuds, although the long stem design is sleek and looks more sophisticated than many of the best noise-canceling earbuds available. Both earbuds have a glossy, matte finish, and the black model we tested looks premium. They’re quite light, with each earbud weighing 0.42 ounces. The long stem design is handy, too, as it prevents accidental taps when you’re adjusting the fit.

The Tour Pro 2’s smart case is something to behold and it feels innovative. The robust smart case weighs only 2.6oz, and it easily slips into your pocket. With a 1.45-inch display, the touchscreen is generally responsive but given its small size, those with large hands may struggle to get a reaction from it. The case doubles as a controller, allowing you to cycle between 13 settings, so you don’t need to open up the JBL app on your smartphone every time you want to alter the equalizer or enable/disable active noise cancelation. You can even turn the LCD screen into a flashlight (albeit nowhere near as effective as a smartphone’s). Nifty!

A downside of the smart case, though, is that it unlocked twice while it was in my jeans’ back pocket. I realized this only when I heard random beeping coming through the earbuds as the alarm had somehow been triggered. This is a bit annoying as, if the case is locked, only swiping to the right should unlock it.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Connectivity

The JBL Tour Pro 2 earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 to seamlessly connect to your laptop and smartphone, and they support AAC and SBC codecs. However, there is no support for LDAC and aptX — advanced codecs for higher-quality audio handling over Bluetooth — which is surprising given the $249 price tag. The Tour Pro 2 lose a couple of points here as similarly priced earbuds, such as the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 and the Sony WF-1000XM5 (both priced at $299), support these advanced codecs.

These earbuds also support multipoint connectivity, so having them simultaneously connected to my MacBook Air and Google Pixel 7 Pro was handy as I could use both systems to play music or watch videos. I’ll give the Tour Pro 2 a point here as this is a feature missing from the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Controls & app

While you can control the JBL Tour Pro 2 with the smart case, the earbuds also have touch controls. Tapping the left earbud swaps between Ambient Aware, ANC and TalkThru, while you can go to the next/previous track or pause by tapping the right. Holding either down will mute the mic. All the touch controls were highly responsive during my testing, and the protruding touch panels are handy as they provide improved touch accuracy.

These earbuds also feature wear detection, so if you remove an earbud, the media will pause and then resume when it’s put back in.

The Tour Pro 2 earbuds are compatible with the JBL Headphones app, available for free on iOS and Android. Even though you can change pretty much every setting via the charging case, the app isn’t completely redundant. Personally, I used the app to remove a few widgets from the touchscreen and kept only the ones I knew I’d be constantly using. You can also customize the EQ and change the controls on the earbuds.

The app also conducts a test to check how the earbuds fit for the best seal, and an extensive test to help create a personalized EQ which can be applied to every song you listen to.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Sound quality

For the purpose of this review, I listened to a playlist on Spotify Premium, which is one of the best music streaming services, on my Google Pixel 7 Pro. With new upgraded 10mm drivers (up from 6.8mm in the JBL Tour Pro+), the JBL Tour Pro 2 offer an excellent listening experience, especially when it comes to the bass. As a bassist, I’m prone to noticing the bass in every song I listen to, so I was thrilled with the Tour Pro 2’s ability to amplify the bass without sounding overbearing. I’ve been playing One Pilots’ new album Clancy on repeat, and these earbuds fed into my obsession. The basslines in ‘Navigating’ and ‘At the Risk of Feeling Dumb’ sounded exceptional with the EQ set to bass.

I was also pleased with the vocal EQ, as was proven by how wonderful Paris Paloma’s vocals sounded in ‘Labour’ and the ‘Cacophony’ where the Tour Pro 2 highlighted the several singing voices in all their glory. These earbuds work so well that I noticed something new in Mitski’s ‘Brand New City’ (a song I’ve probably listened to 100 times). About 15 seconds into the song, a haunting instrument akin to an out-of-tune violin plays in the background — how had I never heard that before?!

While the overall sound is great, I found the spatial audio a bit lacking. On live albums, it works well at separating audience cheers from the artist’s vocals and guitar riffs. Give Green Day’s live performance of ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ a spin and you’ll see what I mean. But it doesn’t work with studio recordings, adding what feels like a tinny EQ.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Active noise cancelation

I rank the JBL Tour Pro 2 ANC highly. When you wear them for the first time, the app will conduct an ear canal test (you need to be in a noisy environment for this) to check for good sealing which makes ANC more effective. It also adjusts in real time based on how loud your environment is, and it works well. When someone was building shelves in the office, I could barely hear the hammer loudly striking the nails, preventing me from getting a headache. However, the ANC wasn’t as effective when traveling on a train — I could still hear the loud hum of the engine. Having used the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 in the past, I have to say Bose’s ANC is better than the Tour Pro 2’s. I’ve been able to easily fall asleep on airplanes while wearing the QuietComfort Earbuds 2, but based on my testing, I doubt the JBLs would be up to the task. but the same can’t be said for the Tour Pro 2.

In addition to ANC, the Tour Pro 2 offers two other modes: Ambient Aware, and TalkThru. TalkThru works especially well as, when toggled, you can have a conversation without needing to remove the earbuds. You can then switch back to ANC or your preferred mode via the smart case or tapping the left earbud.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Battery life

JBL claims the Tour Pro 2 earbuds give 10 hours of playback time, with the charging case giving an additional 30. With ANC on, this falls to 8 hours of playback and 24 hours from the case. I found these claims to be fairly accurate, as with ANC on, the earbuds died after 7 hours. This is better than the (6 hours with ANC on), but worse than the $219 Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 (10 hours with ANC on).

If you’re on the move and desperately need your earbuds, charging them with a 30W USB-A to USB-C adapter for 15 minutes gives you 4 hours of playback. The Tour Pro 2 also support wireless charging.

JBL Tour Pro 2 review: Verdict

It feels like JBL has struck gold with the Tour Pro 2 wireless earbuds. I now wish all earbuds came with this smart charging case. Its touchscreen is fairly responsive and it doubles as a controller, negating the need to pull out your phone and open the app every time you want to change any settings. With effective ANC that blocks out most noise and a consistent sound across a range of genres (especially ones with heavy bass), the Tour Pro 2 warrant a recommendation.

However, there is no support for advanced codecs like aptX and LDAC, which many similarly priced earbuds do (looking at you, Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds). Also, while features like TalkThru are appreciated and work well, spatial audio doesn’t perform nearly as well, and it feels like listening to music with a tinny EQ.

But the Tour Pro 2 are still worth the steep $249 price tag, especially if you value effective ANC, an innovative case, excellent sound quality, and a premium build.

Open wireless earbuds are all the rage right now, especially among fitness fanatics. Releases like the Anker Soundcore AeroFit Pro and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds have surprised critics with their expansive functionality and inventive designs. JBL hopes to leave the same impression with the all-new Soundgear Sense.

These sporty buds utilize JBL’s OpenSound technology to deliver a natural sound experience that also keeps listeners highly aware of their surroundings. Brand staples such as bass-heavy audio, durable protection, and well-rounded connectivity come part of the package. So does a new adjustable open-ear design that lets in too much ambient noise and leaves ears feeling sore after workouts. 

Read my full JBL Soundgear Sense review to discover whether they are a worthy partner for a life on the go.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Price and availability

• On sale now priced at $149 / £128 / AU$199
• Black or white color options

The Soundgear Sense are listed at $149 / £128 / AU$199, falling into a price range similar to many of the best bone-conduction headphones. They also carry a lower price than the Soundcore AeroFit Pro ($169), which have a bigger spec sheet and are among my 'air conduction' headphone favorites.

The Soundgear Sense are available in black or white color options and can be purchased directly from JBL's website or Amazon.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Design

• Adjustable hooks 
• Neckband included for secure fit
• Uncomfortable to wear

The JBL Soundgear Sense have a minimalist design with debossed branding, long touch panels, and sturdy plastic construction. IP54 certification provides dustproofing and water resistance. JBL’s charging case is long, but its compactness and slim profile take up very little space in your gym bag.

The flexible hooks latch onto ears and form a secure fit that can be adjusted at different angles. JBL even threw in a neckband to wear the Soundgear Sense a more traditional way. Unfortunately, these buds apply unwanted pressure to the outer part of the ear that hurts after an hour of wear. Both of my ears were throbbing after short workouts.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Features

• Companion app support via JBL Headphones app  
• Some useful features like wear detection are missing

Recent JBL releases like the Live 670NC showcase the brand’s monstrous feature suite and capabilities. Sadly, the Soundgear Sense don't offer such a strong feature set. While I knew they wouldn’t receive every high-end JBL feature, I expected to see more functional perks.

Notable features in the JBL Headphones app are the custom Equalizer with multiple presets, Max Volume Limiter, Smart Audio & Video mode, and volume balance to adjust the volume level between each bud. Other notables include an auto-power setting, control assignment, Find My Buds mode, power off function, and battery level indicators for each bud and the charging case. Proprietary features like spatial audio and Personi-Fi to personalize sound are absent, as are basics like wear detection to auto-pause content when removing the buds.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Controls

• Excellent touch controls
• Sensitive input feedback
• Solid digital assistance

These buds come with responsive touch panels that support multiple input methods. Single-/double-/triple-tap and long-hold gestures are instantly executed. Playback/call management (right bud), volume (left bud), and voice assistance (both buds) are accessible right out of the box, so you don’t have to assign these functions in the app. 

I must warn you that touch accuracy is sensitive. There were times when content paused because the touch panels came in contact with fabric or my skin during overhead curl exercises.

Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri are compatible with the Soundgear Sense. Android users can fire up Google’s virtual assistant via wake-word phrase (Hey Google) for hands-free usage. The function works well and JBL’s mic array demonstrates great speech recognition to interpret and perform voice commands with ease.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Sound quality

• Effective audio with a punchy resonance
• Useful sound enhancement tools
• Ambient noise is very disruptive

The Soundgear Sense could arguably be the best-sounding model in the sub-category. Their elite bass response is superior to any in-class alternative. JBL’s 16.2mm drivers pump out striking lows that will revitalize exhausted runners, plus clear-sounding mids and highs, as long as you’re in a reasonably quiet area.

The drum-horn combination on Imagine Dragons’ “Enemy” was tight, while the rising synths elevated bass for a lively listen. I was surprised by how crisp certain elements sounded; the backing chorus and teetering hi-hats remain prominent over the booming production. SZA’s “Low” boosted adrenaline levels on the treadmill with an ethereal beat highlighted by growling lows. Recovery favorites like Ahmad Jamal Trio’s “Stolen Moments” fed my ears soothing double bass and piano notes that calmed my body during stretches.

Playing around with the JBL’s sound settings can be rewarding. The Max Volume Limiter stabilizes audio output to a specified level that won’t harm your hearing, though it isn’t necessary since the buds aren’t ridiculously loud like some wireless earbuds. Smart Audio & Video is vital for improving sound quality on songs and lip synchronization on videos, and the volume balance slider adjusts volume between channels accordingly. The real prize is JBL’s EQ, which can be manually adjusted to suit your frequency preference. It also comes with five presets – Bass, Clear, Jazz, Studio (aka the default), and Vocal – each well engineered for their intended purposes.

Audio codecs are limited to AAC (iOS/macOS) and SBC (Android). The good news is you’ll get adequate streaming quality across all devices and platforms. Tracks played smoothly on the best music streaming services.

No one is purchasing open earbuds for noise isolation. However, too much transparency can be detrimental to the listening experience, which the Soundgear Sense showed. Every incidental sound at the gym was audible, from the clanking noises made by weight machines to the pounding impact of runners’ feet on the treadmill. I don’t recall other open-ear models like the Bose Sport Open Earbuds or Sony LinkBuds letting in quite as much ambient noise.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Call quality and connectivity

• Weak voice calling
• Pairing and wireless range hit their marks

According to JBL, the Soundgear Sense’s four-mic array produces “crisp, clear calls.” I beg to differ. Background noise marred indoor and outdoor conversations. Several friends also complained about muffle and poor clarity on my end. Wind only worsened call quality with harmful whooshing effects. 

Bluetooth 5.3 was a brighter spot. The buds connected and re-paired instantly to recognizable devices, specifically Android smartphones, which have one-tap Google Fast Pair. Range extended up to 50 feet before stuttering. One main reason to consider the Soundgear Sense is multipoint technology, to pair the buds with two devices simultaneously. The feature handled dual connectivity very well and didn’t scramble transmissions when switching devices.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Battery life

• 6 hours of playtime
• No wireless charging

Battery life is short at 6 hours per charge. Upscale features (e.g., multipoint, Smart Audio & Video) decrease playtime by 1 hour. That’s close to the original AirPods (5 hours) and far less than what the AeroFit Pro offer (14 hours). I had to recharge these buds every 1.5 days. 

The non-wireless charging case holds up to 24 hours, which, again, is original AirPods territory. JBL’s quick charging doesn’t impress much either; a 15-minute charge equates to 4 hours of listening time.

JBL Soundgear Sense review: Verdict

There is some value to the Soundgear Sense. A tough modular design isn’t something you’ll find on many in-class rivals. Neither is an energetic, warm soundstage that can be personalized in various ways. Then again, $150 seems a bit steep when factoring in the model’s impractical flaws.

A price drop to $120 or even $100 would make these buds a worthy pickup for active lifestylers who want to enjoy their workout music and monitor their environment at the same time. Otherwise, I recommend spending a little extra on the AeroFit Pro for adaptive sound and longer battery life.

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JBL's true wireless Live series with smart charging case may have stolen the headlines when the buds were unveiled at CES 2024, but the Live 670NC on-ear headphones also deserve attention based on price and potential.

These $129 on-ear headphones come equipped with a ridiculously large feature set that excels for the most part. We’re talking adaptive active noise cancelation, Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, multipoint technology, Personi-Fi 2.0 sound personalization, spatial audio, and various customization settings. Not to mention some of the biggest playtime in the category.

The Live 670NC are also flawed by design, causing serious discomfort, and greatly affecting ANC. Do their sonic attributes outweigh their shortcomings? Keep scrolling to find out.

JBL Live 670NC review: Price & availability

The JBL Live 670NC are priced at $129 / £119 / AU$199. The attractive price point makes them more affordable than the Sony WH-CH720N. 

They're available to buy from the JBL website as well as online retailers including Amazon and Best Buy. There are four colors options including black, blue, sandstorm, and white. Although color options are limited in some territories.  

JBL Live 670NC review: Design

• Strong JBL styling and build quality
• Poor comfort levels

These are premium-constructed headphones built from aluminum and sturdy plastic. The earpads don faux leather, while the headband is wrapped in woven fabric. Details like the debossed/embossed logos and foldable design for convenient storage via bundled carrying pouch are sleek touches. JBL’s bold colorways are also attractive, especially the black version with silver accents, which create an alluring shimmer when exposed to light.

On the flip side, there is no aesthetic distinction between these on-ear cans and JBL’s other models. Picking them out of a lineup takes a lot of effort.

The leather pads are cushy, and the extenders provide enough length to accommodate all head sizes for optimal fit. If only JBL let up on the clamp force. These headphones apply a lot of unwanted pressure around the ear within an hour of use.

JBL Live 670NC review: Features

• Class-leading companion app
• A multitude of personalization tools
• Versatile connectivity

I previously had the Sony Headphones Connect app marked as the category’s best companion app. Now, that honor is bestowed upon the JBL Headphones app for its simplicity and stack-filled feature set. Everything is categorized and laid out neatly on one page for instant activation.

Here's a list of everything you’ll find in the app: Ambient Sound Control (ANC/Ambient Aware/TalkThru), Auto Power Off, control customization, EQ, Low Volume Dynamic EQ, Max Volume Limiter, Personal Sound Amplification, Smart Audio & Video, Sound Balance, Spatial Sound, VoiceAware, and voice assistance. That’s not including the multiple settings hidden within certain features.

The Live 670NC support different wireless technologies. You have Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, multipoint to pair to two devices simultaneously, and one-tap Google Fast Pair. Connectivity is stable with a range of up to 50 feet.

JBL Live 670NC review: Controls

• Multi-faceted control scheme
• Reliable voice assistance
• Touch accuracy is off

The Live 670NC wireless headphones have physical, touch, and voice controls, giving you various ways to operate the headphones. Each button is responsive to presses. The power slider features a spring-loaded toggle with nice recoil feedback. JBL’s powerful mic array demonstrates excellent speech recognition when using Google Assistant and Siri for hands-free voice commands. 

On the right earcup is a touch panel that accepts several inputs (single/multi-tap and long hold) for playback and call management. It doesn’t perform up to par and barely registers double and triple taps.

JBL Live 670NC review: Sound quality

• Open and energetic soundstage
• Vast sound customization
• Poor spatial audio

These headphones produce a pleasant mix of lows, mids, and highs, though you’ll want to play around with the sound features to optimize sonic presentation. I recommend enabling the Personi-Fi (JBL’s sound profile creator) for top-tier results. 

Daft Punk’s “One More Time” delivered a substantial frequency response that fed my ears punchy, detailed sound. The minimalist bassline had plenty of kick, and the auto-tuned vocals were strikingly clear. Furthermore, percussive instruments like the shaker and hi-hats were prominent. I was digging the bouncy vibes on Justin Timberlake’s “My Favorite Drug,” where the funky bass and rhythmic hand claps were reproduced well and stimulated foot taps throughout the listen. 

My Personi-Fi profile was superior to JBL’s default sound profile. It cleared up the low end and emphasized vocals on most tracks. Turning on the Low Volume Dynamic EQ boosted highs and lows.

There are six presets in the EQ setting: Bass, Club, Extreme Bass, Vocal, Studio, and Jazz. Half of these are worth checking out. Club brought more thump to contemporary tracks, Jazz showed better low-frequency control than any of the bass-centric presets, and Studio offered the most balanced sound.

This was my first taste of JBL’s Spatial Audio mode, and sadly it didn't impress. There are three selectable modes: Movie, Music, and Game. Each of them diminished sound quality. Vocals were hollow and bass was heavily bloated in Music mode. Special effects lacked vibrancy when switching to Movie and Game modes.

Smart Audio & Video is a latency mode that will improve audio quality or lip synchronization when watching videos. It enhanced performance on both ends. 

Streaming on Apple (AAC) and Android (SBC) devices was on point. Tracks played smoothly on the best music streaming services. Listeners will gain the most out of Tidal due to the platform’s advanced audio format support including Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio.

JBL Live 670NC review: ANC

• Robust transparency modes
• Inferior noise reduction
• Mediocre call quality

On-ear headphones don’t always provide the best noise isolation. One would think that adding ANC into the mix would help reduce background interference, but the Live 670NC’s version doesn’t hold up to quality standards.

Regular ANC shuts out 70% of external sounds at max level. Adaptive ANC is only more effective by about 5%. I could hear birds chirping, cars strolling down the street, and people talking from several feet away. High-frequency sounds were annoyingly loud and ruined my Spotify listening sessions.

JBL does let you use ANC in wired mode, which preserves battery life and grants some noise cancelation.

There’s also a Leakage Compensation setting that will “check your leakage status” to automatically adjust sound quality. It works well. 

The real prize is JBL’s proprietary dual-transparency mode. Ambient Aware increases situational awareness by capturing incidental noises at a high level, and TalkThru lowers volume to 10%, so you can hear conversations clearly. This came in handy when sharing an office with the missus.

Don’t expect much from call quality. The feedback I received from clients and friends was mixed. Noise and wind were heavy during outdoor chats. Voice calling was clearer indoors, though that was only the case when speaking in an extremely quiet environment.

JBL Live 670NC review: Battery life

• Some of the highest ANC playtime
• Strong quick charging
• Terrific battery management tools

Battery life shines on the Live 670NC. A full charge gets you up to 65 hours of use and up to 50 hours of ANC playtime, which in terms of their ANC duration is better than the Sony WH-CH720N and about the same as the Sennheiser Accentum. I still had 15 hours of listening time left after a full week of testing (5 hours daily). Employing power guzzlers multipoint and spatial audio decreased battery life by about 5 hours. If that worries you, just know that a 5-minute quick charge can net you 4 additional hours of music listening. That nearly matches the Sony WH-1000XM5 fast charging speed, which claims 3 hours playback from a 3-minute charge.

JBL Live 670NC review: Verdict

The Live 670NC blend extensive functionality and satisfying sound into a light and sturdy package. Instruments and vocals spread across the spectrum evenly for proper tonal balance. Stellar connectivity keeps the headphones operating at a high level. Having up to 65 hours of battery life is also amazing.

Unfortunately, these headphones have as many weaknesses as they do strengths. ANC and spatial audio are marketed as huge draws, but neither live up to their hype. The soreness caused by tight clamp force on my head became unbearable after a while, and call quality could have been done better too.

What keeps the Live 670NC in consideration for your next headphone purchase is their affordability. All those features combined with enticing sound and lengthy playtimes are worth the investment, but only if you’re fine with the drawbacks.

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Along with the launch of its Authentics speaker series at IFA 2023, JBL appears to be on a roll with wireless speakers launches right now, and the high-end JBL L42ms integrated music system will be its next addition. Set to arrive by the end of March 2024, the L42ms comes from JBL's high-end Harman Luxury Audio Group speaker line and joins the larger L75ms ($1,500) as a compact and more affordable option.

I recently reviewed the JBL Authentics 300 portable wireless speaker that can be carried from room-to-room around the home, but the JBL L42ms is designed to rival static music systems from audiophile brands such as the KEF LSX Lite, Sonus faber Omnia, or even Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8, for example. Like JBL's Authentics series, it carries the company's distinctive Quadrex speaker grille, and has all the right smarts to connect to your favorite wireless audio sources as well as adding more wired connectivity options.  

The L42ms has the same great styling as its larger sibling, with a curved front baffle that's fitted with that speaker grille. The elegant cabinet is available in walnut or black wood options, and I'd say that the styling and connectivity options make it a strong contender for one of my best music systems for style.  

The L42ms integrated music system measures 6.4 x 24.3 x 9.2 inches (162 x 617 x 234mm HxWxD), and its proportions and styling make it look more like a dedicated center speaker for a home theater setup rather than a rival to Naim's similarly priced and specified Mu-so 2 speaker system. 

Speaking of home theater, this speaker comes with HDMI-ARC for easy television connection, making it a great choice if you're looking for ways to upgrade TV sound. There are also analog stereo inputs including RCA and 3.5mm for other wired sources.

Inside the cabinet, the L42ms has a built-in amplifier that claims 200W total power output (75W RMS to each woofer; 25W RMS to each tweeter). There are 2x 4-inch woofers and 2x 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeters with waveguides positioned to help the speaker deliver a wide and even stereo sound field that projects forwards to the listening area. 

The built-in DAC supports up to 24-bit/96kHz audio files for true hi-res playback with the best music streaming services when signed up to an appropriate subscription tier.

For streaming audio, the L42ms provides wired or wireless network connection via Ethernet, AirPlay 2, and Google Chromecast, or users can connect directly to their devices with Bluetooth. There's built-in access to Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect music services, and the free JBL Premium Audio setup app provides a fast and easy first-time connection of the L42ms to a Wi-Fi network.

The app also supports Amazon Music and Qobuz music streaming services as well as access to internet radio and podcasts. Users can also access music on UPnP home networked storage devices or a USB drive connected via the USB-A port on the back of the speaker. There's also a Bluetooth handheld remote control, and input selection and volume controls are provided on the top panel of the cabinet.

Samsung Smart Things integration

The JBL L42ms is Roon Ready compatible, allowing subscribers to integrate and manage their networked digital music library and streaming services from one place. Plus, the L42ms also has Works with Smart Things certification. This allows the JBL L42ms to integrate with Samsung Galaxy devices including Samsung phones, Samsung TVs and Samsung appliances for one-touch operation and functionality.

The JBL L42ms integrated music system is expected to cost $1,099 / £999 / €999 (around AU$1,679 at today's exchange rate) when it goes on sale before the end of March 2024.

Look out for my review coming soon.

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With some of the best Bluetooth speakers on the market, JBL has a strong line of speakers designed for all kinds of locations and activities. As audio editor, I get to try out all kinds of models. Few have impressed me more though than JBL's Authentics wireless smart speaker series unveiled at IFA 2023, particularly the Authentics 300 portable. 

Right now, the JBL Authentics 300 is just $349 at Amazon. That's more than 20% off the original $449 portable speaker's list price that comes with Wi-Fi smarts and 8-hours battery life between charges. 

Similar deals can be found at Best Buy, Crutchfield, and Walmart.

I discovered this great deal on the JBL Authentics 300 portable speakers while researching my four-star review which has just gone live. The $100-off deal has been running since January 28 on Amazon — other online retailers including the JBL store are also offering similar discounts. This is the biggest saving on any model in the new three-strong JBL Authentics wireless speaker series so far. 

I've been living with the middle model in the JBL Authentics multi-room smart speakers series for several months now, and I've been impressed by its capabilities. It has a pair of 1-inch tweeters partnered to a full-range 5-inch woofer, and a down-firing 6-inch passive bass radiator. It delivers high-quality, room-filling sound and  won't disappoint. In my review I mentioned that it's one of the most engaging sounds I've heard from a portable speaker at the price, which more often than not had me reaching for the volume control to turn it up when listening to tracks on my Tidal playlist. I'd say this is one of the best-sounding JBL portable speakers I've tried.

Battery life is undeniably short compared to the best portable speakers. Essentially it's a home speaker that's connected to a power outlet for day-to-day listening — but one that can travel should you desire.  

I love the speaker's design, which at 10.8 pounds weighs heavier than the Sonos Move 2 portable, but has an integrated carry handle that's wrapped in leather making it easy to carry to wherever music is needed. The cabinet is also trimmed with black leather and the Quadrex speaker grille is inspired by the company's JBL L100 speaker from the 1970s. The Authentics 300 has a luxury feel that's often missing from rival portable designs at the price, and will surely look and sound even better discounted to $349. 

Despite the retro looks, the Authentics 300 is equipped with modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity smarts. It also integrates with both Alexa and Google voice assistants, allowing users to register both assistants and communicate with either by simply saying “Hey Google,” or “Alexa” to get started. 

With this $100-off the full $449 MSRP deal still running, this is a great weekend to snag one of the best-sounding portable smart speaker while you still can.

There's no shortage of strange demonstrations at a show like CES, but few of the ones I've done this year are stranger than sitting in a mock airplane to test out the noise canceling power of JBL's new over-ear headphones. 

The headphones I was there to test were the JBL Live 770NC wireless over-ear headphones with true adaptive noise canceling. A spokesperson for the brand says that the headphones analyze and adjust the noise cancelation "up to 4,000 times per second" which helps combat loud ambient noise like a jet engine. 

Hence the reason I had to sit in a fake airplane to test them out. 

What I discovered is that, not only are these good wireless headphones for your next intercontinental flight, but thanks to extra features like JBL Spatial Sound and 50-hour battery life with ANC turned on, it might just be JBL's best answer to the Apple AirPods Max.

Affordable noise cancelation for travel at 30,000 feet

There's no shortage of great over-ear noise-canceling headphones. There's the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless and, of course, the aforementioned Apple AirPods Max. But all of these headphones cost well-over the $200 JBL plans on charging for the Live 770NC. 

I wouldn't say that the JBL Live 770NC match the noise-canceling prowess of the vaunted Bose or Sony models, but it's certainly much better than its price suggests. 

To put them to the test, JBL had me pair the headphones to my phone and throw on some music. Then, they turned on some speakers playing a jet engine sound at full blast. 

As you'd expect, the headphones weren't able to cut out the engine noise entirely — but the sound that made it through was barely noticeable when I had my music playing. 

Did JBL just make a cheap AirPods Max alternative?

Love them or hate them, the AirPods Max have a ton of great features. From hands-free Siri to spatial audio support via Apple Music, few headphones manage to go toe-to-toe with Apple's over-ears in the features department.

Surprisingly, though, the Live 770NC come close. 

Besides the surprising ANC performance, the 770NC also come with spatial audio support and a better battery life. There's no hands-free Siri or a native Find My... feature for iOS users, but I imagine a lot of folks won't miss them. Especially at this price point. 

We'll still need to put them through their paces at home and outside the crowded CES show floor to see how they stand up to the competition before they launch later this year. But at a show filled with the latest and greatest audio products, the JBL Live 770NC stood out as a budget-friendly alternative to the best noise-canceling headphones.

Check out our CES 2024 hub for all the latest news from the show as it happens. Follow the Tom’s Guide team in Las Vegas as we cover everything AI, as well as the best new TVs, laptops, fitness gear, wearables and smart home gadgets at the show.

And be sure to check out the Tom's Guide TikTok channel for all the newest videos from CES!

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