The Bluetooth speaker market has modified quite a bit since JBL’s first Flip speaker entered the market a decade in the past. From built-in sensible assistants to room calibration, Wi-Fi, waterproofing and all the pieces in between, the record of transportable speaker options has grown exponentially from when a speaker with a 3.5mm jack and a USB charging level was “nuanced.”
Whereas a lot have jumped on board this bandwagon to various levels of success, JBL’s Flip sequence has considerably saved issues easy. Now in its sixth technology, the JBL Flip 6 brings with it some rigorously thought of tweaks and additions, however that does not take away from its dedication to highly effective sound on the go.
JBL Flip 6
Beneficial
The JBL Flip 6 provides an important rugged design and a punchy, highly effective efficiency. Whereas not probably the most feature-packed speaker available on the market, it delivers impressively bassy, clear, and room-filling sound in a compact, transportable physique.
- Connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Battery
- 12 hours
- Water Resistance
- IP67
- Highly effective sound for measurement
- Clear, clear midrange
- Rugged design
- Adjustable EQ
- Barely harsh treble at quantity
- Battery life might be higher
A well-recognized design that simply works
Lookswise, the JBL Flip 6 hasn’t modified rather a lot in contrast with its predecessor, or certainly the 4 that got here earlier than it — it is nonetheless a cylindrical speaker, lined in cloth (in a reasonably intensive vary of colours) with its signature seen passive bass radiators at both finish.
It nonetheless wears its outside speaker credentials on its sleeve, with its rubberized finish caps, however truly will get extra to shout about right here, with an improve to incorporate mud resistance in addition to water resistance, and an official IP67 score.
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It is also an important, grabbable measurement for on the go, sitting securely and comfortably in a single hand, with a carry wire for help with out hindering audio efficiency.
At 550g, it is comparatively light-weight with out feeling low-cost, and goes largely unnoticed when chucked in a bag or backpack. It is also an important, grabbable measurement for on the go, sitting securely and comfortably in a single hand, with a carry wire for help with out hindering audio efficiency. I make the most of the speaker’s portability and use it as my leisure fixed. It serves as my focus accompaniment, pre-game party-starter, and make-shift preparing Karaoke machine.
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JBL has gone loud and proud with its branding this time spherical, changing the small pink JBL badge with a a lot bolder emblem within the middle, and there is a new rubber kickstand that retains it steady when vertically positioned on a flat floor.
I make the most of the speaker’s portability and use it as my leisure fixed. It serves as my focus accompaniment, pre-game party-starter, and make-shift preparing Karaoke machine.
Simply above this can be a quite simple rubberized management panel, with buttons for energy, pairing and a USB-C enter for charging, plus that now sturdier anchor wire. Raised playback controls sit on the highest in the identical shade as the material, mixing in properly whereas nonetheless being tactile beneath hand, making them simple to search out with contact alone.
They cowl play/pause and quantity, in addition to one click on entry to PartyBoost, which lets you pair the Flip 6 with different JBL audio system — both in mono/Celebration mode with older technology audio system just like the Charge 5 or Flip 5, or in stereo with one other Flip 6.
These completely different modes will be arrange within the JBL Transportable companion app, which additionally homes graphic EQ controls for tweaking the treble, bass or midrange.
Transportable, however highly effective sound and battery
As for what is going on on beneath the design, the Flip 6 has a lot improved sound. The racetrack-shaped driver that has featured earlier than is again once more, with the identical 20 watts of amplification, however additionally it is joined by a separate tweeter, powered by its personal 10 watt amplifier for a complete RMS output of 30 watts.
Battery life stretches to round 12 hours, which isn’t dangerous for this measurement of speaker, though it’s a way off the 26 hours promised by the Huawei Sound Joy. So, if you’re planning on taking it to supply leisure in your pool day, we advocate bringing the charger together with you.
The Flip 6 focuses on sound, and it pays off
As a Bluetooth speaker with only a few bells and whistles, it does one factor very nicely — play your music.
The JBL wastes no time leaping into motion once we pressed play on Beyoncé’s upbeat Cuff It, and it looks like that is precisely the form of music that the Flip 6 was made for, accentuating the low drum beats and making Queen Bey’s honey clean voice sound much more velvety.
Even at a low quantity when listening to espresso store jazz at my desk, the snare drums nonetheless ship a crisp sound that fills my small area, making it really feel like I actually am working at a jazz café.
Highs, lows, and mids, are all top-tier
After all, push the amount right here and the Flip 6 rises to the problem with out lacking a beat. There’s plenty of energy readily available, with a decent, punchy and full-bodied low finish that units the inspiration for a assured efficiency all through. It has no hassle filling a room with its sound, and actually belies its smaller measurement.
As a Bluetooth speaker with only a few bells and whistles, it does one factor very nicely — play your music.
The midrange additionally packs loads of area and a barely ahead presentation that ensures vocals lower by even the richest of basslines with crispness and readability.
There’s nothing laid again concerning the JBL Flip 6. It does all the pieces it may possibly to seize your consideration and get your ft tapping, driving the music ahead with a strong deal with on timing throughout the frequencies.
It is solely within the larger registers, and on the a lot larger volumes, that you simply may encounter just a little harshness with some recordings. The brand new tweeter offers the Flip 6 the boldness to push larger into the treble, however whereas that pays off for the higher nearly all of the time, it may possibly simply tip it over to sound a bit harsh, which I witnessed when listening to Haul and Oats’ Wealthy Lady at 100% quantity.
There’s nothing laid again concerning the JBL Flip 6. It does all the pieces it may possibly to seize your consideration and get your ft tapping, driving the music ahead with a strong deal with on timing throughout the frequencies.
Fortunately, its tonal and dynamic consistency throughout quantity vary means you don’’ need to push the sound as much as inject it with life, and the EQ settings additionally make a distinction,
Verdict: The proper on a regular basis speaker
There’s one thing fairly admirable about the way in which the JBL Flip 6 goes about its enterprise as a small transportable speaker. It does not aspire to greater than it’s, by together with stacks of options that not often get utilized in a product like this. As an alternative, it focuses all of its efforts into getting good high quality, highly effective sound right into a rugged speaker for on the go, and it completely succeeds.
Now in its sixth technology, it’s persevering with to evolve — each inside and outside. For instance, it now has IP67 certification for improved safety from the good outside, and packs a brand new tweeter that helps carry improved readability and element to its punchy, energetic efficiency. That comes with some downsides, and its newly bold excessive finish can often sound harsh at high quantity. Nevertheless, contemplating this speaker can fill most rooms with a toe-tapping sound with quantity notches to spare, it is simply averted.
Total, it is a incredible little speaker that belies its measurement and solely builds additional on the legacy of excellent audio system that got here earlier than it.
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