The world of speakers is a crowded one. Companies like Bose, Sonos, and Marshall put out fantastic Bluetooth speakers on the regular. Humongous conglomerates like Amazon and Google have Echoes and Nests that hold their own, even if they don’t receive as much attention as they used to. Still, it’s hard to find a speaker company with as much variety as JBL.
You can trace the company’s history back to the late 1920s in Los Angeles. It’s owned now by Harman International Industries (formally Harman Kardon), itself a famous audio company and a subsidiary of Samsung. JBL is one of the most recognized speaker brands out there, likely because of its deep catalog of audio products, everything from studio monitors to party speakers with built-in light displays. With all those options comes a lot of research to find the right speaker for you, but that’s where we come in. Whether you’re looking for something portable, loud, wireless, or an accumulation of all three, we’ve done the heavy lifting and determined the best JBL speakers currently available on the market.
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Best JBL speaker overall
JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi
Flexible and rugged
Taking the top spot is the JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi. The Charge’s durable design houses a powerful portable speaker with an impressive bass response. A reasonable price tag, dependable battery, and Wi-Fi connectivity rightfully place this Bluetooth speaker at number one.
- Full-bodied sound
- Wi-Fi makes it useful in more situations
- IP67
Read our review
JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi: A wireless speaker with welcome tweaks
A great Bluetooth speaker gets even better, thanks to the addition of Wi-Fi.
Like its predecessor, the JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi is a pretty fantastic Bluetooth speaker for its price. There are a lot of sub-$200 options out there, but like the original Charge 5, the newer JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi stands out because of how it sounds. While still relatively small, the speaker’s cylindrical design means it has more room for powerful bass at the low-end and crisper high-end notes too. In comparison to the original Charge 5, the Charge 5 Wi-Fi also has an additional woofer which helps it have an easier time filling a room with sound. And when you switch the device into Wi-Fi mode, you can listen over AirPlay 2 or Chromecast, improving audio quality and making the speaker even more useful at home where walls might get in the way of a Bluetooth connection.
The battery life of the Wi-Fi is unchanged from the older Charge 5 — it’s still 20 hours. That’s plenty of time for indoor and outdoor use, even if it takes a full six hours to recharge the Charge 5 Wi-Fi from zero. The speaker is also equally rugged. It has an IP67 rating, making it water-resistant and dustproof and the fabric on the outside is tough enough to withstand a beach or camping trip without worry too. The JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi might look exactly like the Charge 5, which is in itself kind of disappointing, but the positives easily outweigh the negatives like charging time. This should be the first JBL speaker you consider.
Best premium JBL speaker
JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi
Portable and ready for a party
JBL’s best premium option is the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, with its loud, bass-heavy sound, 24 hours of battery life, and now, support for Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Huge amounts of bass
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- Handle makes it easier to carry
Read our review
JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi: Party hard
JBL’s biggest speaker is back, and now it has Wi-Fi on board to upgrade it to full multi-room audio potential.
If you’re looking for a portable speaker capable of shaking the windows with its low end, the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is the premium speaker to buy. It’s big, almost aggressive in its design and audio output, but worth it for how it sounds. With a sub-bass capable of reaching 40Hz, it’s really ideal for the bass-heavy electronic music you might play at a dance party.
Just because it’s good at the low-end, that doesn’t mean the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is particularly bad at the high-end. The speaker has excellent frequency separation, and is great at reproducing the upper registers. With support for connections over Wi-Fi, the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi can be controlled through Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast and can even be added to a multiroom speaker setup through the Google Home app. This, along with the helpful handle, make it surprisingly versatile. And when you do decide to connect it to Wi-Fi, you’ll get better audio too.
Even though it comes with plenty of useful features and powerful sound, the Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is pretty expensive in the grand scheme of the JBL range. It’s the premium pick for a reason, but if you’re willing to pay extra, you’ll get the ideal speaker for a dance party, and one that you can still tote around if you need to.
Best budget JBL speaker
JBL Go 3
Big sound for less
The Go 3 is our pick for the best budget JBL speaker currently on the market. The diminutive size shouldn’t fool you, the Go 3 is a fantastic option that has plenty of bark.
- Super portable
- Packs a surprising volume punch
- IP67 water and dust resistant
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Read our review
Why the JBL Go 3 is my go-to beach companion
Affordable, dust-proof and water-resistant, and loud, the JBL Go 3 is a sound choice for portable summer sound.
As well as being the most affordable JBL speaker on our list, the Go 3 is also the smallest. At such a compact size, you can’t expect the world from this speaker, but that doesn’t mean it can’t hold its own where it matters. Although it isn’t going to fill the room at a family gathering, it’s still a great companion attached to your rucksack or slotted into your pocket when taking your dog out for a walk.
Like most JBL speakers worth their salt, the Go 3 is rated IP67, making it dust and water-resistant, and we believe, because of its affordability, one of the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers on the market. If you’re planning on taking it on a trip, be aware that, even with a full charge, the Go 3 will last you five hours. That’s shorter than some similarly priced speakers, but still pretty good for the size. The JBL Go 3 doesn’t offer any kind of on-board EQ and there is no way to connect the Go 3 to JBL’s companion app, but it does have physical buttons. Accept its limitations, and it’s capable of more than most people will need.
Best mid-range JBL speaker
JBL Flip 6
Excellent sound over everything
The JBL Flip 6 is an excellent mid-range contender. Offering a sturdy design and real audio clarity, this speaker is an option for anyone looking for something good and simple.
- IP67 water and dust resistant
- New design with separately powered tweeter
- Articulate, clear mid-range
- Not the longest battery life
Read our review
A year later and the JBL Flip 6 still packs the perfect portable punch
The JBL Flip 6 thinks harder about sound rather than turning to smarter features, and it makes for an ideal everyday speaker.
The JBL Flip 6 has been on our list for a minute, and that’s because it’s still a perfect option for those seeking an affordable and lightweight wireless speaker. JBL’s ethos with the Flip 6 was design simplicity — include only the features you need, and focus on sound above all else. It worked out great for the Flip 6, and a big reason why is that the driver JBL used on the JBL Flip 6 is capable of 20 watts of amplification.
Pair the driver with a separately powered 10-watt tweeter, and sonically, the Flip 6 punches well above its weight. And low-end, bassy sounds are similarly great. The Flip 6’s impressive performance is compounded by its durable body, which is protected by rubberized end caps and IP67 water and dust resistance. You get all of that without the speaker being all that heavy at 550g or losing out on 12 hours of battery life.
Best JBL speaker for showers
JBL Clip 5
Clip it anywhere
The JBL Clip 5 packs excellent audio, up to 15 hours of battery life, and a built-in clip that makes it easy to attach to a shower head, backpack, and more.
- IP67 water and dust resistant
- Built-in carabiner clip
- Auracast and stereo pairing
- Some features require the companion app
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Read our review
With the JBL Clip 5, I’ve finally found the perfect shower speaker
JBL’s Clip 5 speaker carries over the best parts of the JBL Clip 4 and improves everywhere it was lacking.
The best speaker is a versatile speaker, and there are as few as versatile in JBL’s lineup than the JBL Clip 5. The built-in carabiner clip begs to be clipped around and hung from everywhere, like backpacks, cabinets, and shower heads. Like many of JBL’s other speakers, it’s also IP67 water and dust resistant with a respectable battery life of 12 hours.
Where JBL tries to make the Clip 5 stand out from its Clip 4 predecessor is many more software features. That includes Auracast, for seamlessly pairing the Clip 5 with other Auracast-enabled Bluetooth speakers with just a button press, and the option to set up a stereo pair if you use the companion app. Inside the app, there’s also preset EQ profiles, and completely custom EQ settings if you want to dig into them. Better yet, JBL’s Playtime Boost features can extend that 12 hours of battery life to 15 hours.
Best JBL speaker for parties
JBL PartyBox Stage 320
A party on the go
The JBL PartyBox 320 offers a great balance between clear and layered sound, 18 hours of battery life, and built-in lights.
- Fantastic visual light shows
- Handle and wheels
- Clear abd loud
- Heavy
- Takes up a lot of space
Read our review
JBL’s PartyBox Stage 320 is my go-to speaker for the summer
Offering powerful, crystal clear sound, deep bass, and whole lot of extra features, my JBL PartyBox Stage 320 will deliver at every summer party.
The JBL PartyBox Stage 320 costs more than other speakers, but you’re paying for size and power. The PartyBox Stage 320 is a party speaker because if you need it to, it can drown out your guests and sound good doing it. You’ll have 240W at your disposal, the same as the PartyBox 310 that’s been on this same list, but that’s more than enough to fill a living room, and still plenty for a backyard event. The speaker supports aux-in, mic-in, and guitar-in for your input needs, but is only IPX4, which means it can survive a splash of water, but not much else.
The problem with the PartyBox Stage 320 is that it’s more than a little cumbersome to move around. Luckily, JBL’s included an extendable handle and wheels to make it easier to get from place to place. If the practical details aren’t enough, the PartyBox Stage 320 also has built-in glowing lights to add some extra pizzazz to your next event. The JBL PartyBox Stage 320, but if you know what you’re getting in to, it has a lot to offer.
Best JBL speaker with lights
JBL Pulse 5
Light up any space
The JBL Pulse 5 is an excellent bookshelf speaker that’s surprisingly bass-y and has a trippy, colorful, light-up design.
- Endlessly customizable lights
- Extra bassy
- IP67
- No physical volume controls
- Heavy
Read our review
The JBL Pulse 5 has its own lightshow, and is my portable party starter
This speaker sets the mood with lights and music.
The JBL Pulse 5 is a Bluetooth speaker that, at least at first blush, appears to put design over everything else. It’s sleek, lava lamp-style body stands out, even with a giant JBL logo. And the adjustable light show inside can be customized to your liking, synced to your music, used to set a specific mood, or matched to other phenomena like rain or fire. The speaker is heavy, but theoretically still portable if you want it to be, with a small fabric handle you can use to tote it around.
As soon as you start playing music on it, though, it’s clear JBL didn’t skimp out on audio. The JBL Pulse 5 gets loud, able to fill a room with table-thumping bass without losing out on the mids or highs when a song needs it. It also has 12 hours of battery life, which will easily get you through a day or days of use. Ultimately, the Pulse 5 doesn’t offer anything radically different from the Flip 6, but if you’re interested in both how it sounds and how it looks, you’ll be satisfied.
The bottom line: What’s the best JBL speaker?
The sheer number of speakers JBL sells can make choosing the best one for you difficult. You have to know what you’re using the speaker for and what your budget needs. Based off our testing though, and comparing our favorite JBL speakers we’ve reviewed in the past, the JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi comes out on top as the best overall speaker due to its price point, portability, battery life, connectivity options, and fantastic audio playback.
Editor’s Choice
JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi
For a bit more money, you can get the excellent JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi, which offers the same Wi-Fi streaming options of the Charge 5 Wi-Fi in an even bigger, louder, bassier speaker. It’s a little less portable, but it at least has a built-in handle. If you’re on a budget, though, your best option remains the JBL Go 3. The small size doesn’t hold the speaker back, and it’s a great waterproof Bluetooth speaker option if you plan on taking it to the beach or on a road trip.
How did we choose the best JBL speakers?
We used the Pocket-lint website and our past review coverage as a primary source for picking the best JBL speaker. The goal was to pick speakers with a variety of different features that could fit in multiple different use-cases, with a range of prices to accommodate different budgets. The best information is going to be pulled from first-hand experiences, so these reviews were critical for this process. That included considering audio output, water and dust resistance, price, sound quality, unique hardware features like clips, straps, or built-in lights, and the variety of software features that JBL makes available. This list is a result of those considerations.
FAQ
Q: How do I choose the right JBL for me?
There are a few things you may want to consider when weighing up your options when purchasing a JBL speaker.
Battery life
If your primary goal is to listen to music on the go and away from a power source, you’ll want to check out the speaker’s battery life. The JBL Go 5 has the least amount of battery life on our list, clocking in at 5 hours. On the other hand, the JBL BoomBox 3 will last a whopping 24 hours on a single charge. There is no right or wrong choice here, just whatever will be most applicable to your situation.
Recharge time
The obvious follow-up consideration after battery life is the speaker’s recharge time. A short battery life may not be the worst specification if the recharge time only takes 30 minutes. A quick recharge time can be a lifesaver. Imagine you’re about to head out for a get-together with friends, and just 15 minutes before leaving, you realize that your speaker is completely dead. If you’re forgetful, a short recharge time is certainly something to consider.
Water and dust resistance
Water and dust resistance come in handy for those days at the beaches, beside the pool, or taking a hike in the great outdoors. If you’re anything like us and are slightly clumsy, a speaker with an IP rating will save the electronics from frazzling into a useless piece of junk if you happen to splash it. Luckily, all the JBL speakers included on our list either have an IP rating, meaning they are water and dust-resistant, or, like the PartyBox 310, are IX-rated, making them splash-resistant.
Speaker output
If you’re going to be using your speaker in a vast room, catering to hundreds of people, the speaker’s output will be very important. Usually measured in wattage, the output of a speaker is essentially how much power you have. Generally speaking, the higher the wattage, the louder the speaker. Check out the PartyBox range if you’re after a powerful speaker for those larger crowds and situations.
You may be looking for a new JBL speaker to set up a multiroom speaker system. If so, it’s going to have to be Wi-Fi compatible. The BoomBox 3 has Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing it to be utilized in a Google Home multiroom set-up. If stellar home audio is your thing, keep an eye on the extra features. Also, if you appreciate fine-tuning the EQ, the JBL speaker you choose will have to be functional with the JBL One app. This proprietary app will allow you to take full control over the speaker’s settings and abilities. However, only if it has those extra features. So keep your eyes peeled for such models.
Q: Are JBL speakers better than Bose?
Traditionally, Bose has been labeled the “premium” speaker line, but JBL has some great luxury speakers, too, that produce powerful bass and clear output.
Q: Are JBL speakers worth buying?
Yes. JBL speakers are worth buying for a few different reasons. JBL speakers offer incredible value for money. The JBL Flip 6 sounds superb and has articulate audio with a clear mid-range, is water and dust resistant and is incredibly lightweight and portable. Costing around $130, the value on offer here is brilliant.
However, JBL’s range is pretty diverse and there are plenty of more expensive options if you want to splash out some cash. Check out the Authentics range if you’re on the hunt for something slightly more luxurious. JBL’s range is diverse, but you can always rely on JBL to deliver a few synonymous features; plenty of power, a great battery life, water/dustproof and will survive even the most rigorous of playing.
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