Charge 2 is a high-quality, stylish and generally glamorous thing for lovers portable audio. The latter is always a compromise, mainly between sound quality and portability. In this case, in addition to all this, JBL also offers a stylish appearance, as well as additional functionality. Which one? We'll talk about this in the review.
Equipment
The bright packaging made of thick cardboard with high-quality printing hides, of course, the speaker itself, as well as an impressively sized power supply (5V, 2.3A), a one-meter long Micro USB cable and a bunch of accompanying documentation. Where would we be without this? By the way, all accessories are made to match the gadget. For example, the red column comes with adapters and wires of the same color.
The kit included another adapter for English sockets. You never know who might find this useful.
Design
Barrel! This is one word that can describe the appearance of the gadget. Of course, this is almost a standard form factor among similar devices. This is primarily due to the nuances of sound extraction. Therefore, manufacturers can only play up the appearance of their creations through the materials of the body, various inserts and frills.
Let's start with the materials. The speakers here are covered with a metal mesh, and the rest of the body is made of plastic with the familiar soft-touch coating. The speaker is pleasant to touch and hold in your hands. You can feel the quality of the item and the glamor it exudes.
On the sides there are passive radiators that are responsible for transmitting low frequencies. When playing audio, their vibrations are very noticeable to others and this especially impresses everyone. By the way, it is strongly not recommended to touch the surface of radiators.
In the video below you can clearly see what it looks like in real life.
On the top plane are all the controls with their own icons. First things first (from left to right).
The first is the power button. Like the other keys, it is not touch sensitive, but simply bends under pressure until it clicks. The ride is soft and precise.
Next comes the activation key Bluetooth connections. And after it are minus and plus, of course, responsible for adjusting the volume. Of course, the sound power is adjusted either on the Charge 2 itself or on the sound source. Everything is synchronized.
There is also a strip of LEDs located here, which are an indicator of the remaining charge. By default, they light up in white, lunar color, and when there is a minimum charge remaining, the outermost one is illuminated with a red light.
Next comes an icon of three men. This key is responsible for activating Social Mode. Later I will tell you more about this feature.
The last key is responsible for accepting (rejecting) calls. At incoming call the speaker starts playing something like a MIDI melody to the paired device. Such a cheerful and cheerful anthem.
Since we are talking about challenges, it is worth talking about the following.
Let's return to design. We ended up with white acoustics and this is not the best color option. Yes, the appearance is very nice.
Pure white adds a special charm and airiness, but it is completely impractical. Quite quickly the body becomes covered with stains of unknown origin.
Actually this is normal. Don't keep the gadget under a glass.
On other colors, this will most likely be much less noticeable. Actually, the following palette is available: black, white, red, blue and purple.
On the bottom of the acoustics there are connectors: Micro USB port, standard 3.5 mm audio input, as well as regular USB. Why the last exit is installed here, I will tell you in the section about power.
The speaker should be installed either on a rubber edging stand located below, or vertically. Especially for this purpose, small ribs are provided at one of the ends. The position does not affect the playback quality in any way.
Inside the edging stand there are various Technical information. It's nice that the manufacturer took care of partial Russification of the text here.
JBL Charge 2 Specifications:
- 2 x 45 mm (1.75 in) speakers
- total power 7.5 W
- reproduced frequency range 75 - 20,000 Hz
- signal/noise ratio 80 dB
- Bluetooth 3.0 with the following profiles:
- A2DP V 1.3, AVRCP V 1.5, HFP V 1.6, HSP V 1.2
- Bluetooth transmitter power is 0 - 4 dB/mW
- battery (lithium polymer)
- dimensions 185.2 mm in length and 79 mm in diameter
- weight 540 g
Pairing
Connection via Bluetooth is clear and fast. No additional codes are needed to establish a connection. On the speaker, just hold down the “blue tooth” key, and on your smartphone (tablet) just start searching for devices.
That's not all.
Charge 2 has support for connecting to three devices at once and playing music from each of them in turn (Social Mode).
In fact, it turned out that three devices located in close proximity interfere with each other, so playback from some devices causes noticeable stuttering and interference. Two gadgets in a grid do not have any mutual influence on each other.
I almost forgot to tell you something else. If a call is connected to one of the connected devices, playback from the other stops and the speaker starts working in Hands-free mode.
Playback and sound quality
The most important and interesting.
Firstly, the speaker is very loud. It is very difficult to communicate in a room with the volume turned up to maximum - you have to shout.
In addition, such a seemingly miniature contraption can pump up a rather impressive-sized apartment.
Secondly, there really are low frequencies. Moreover, if some similar speakers need to be installed on a resonating surface (wooden shelf, parquet floor) to extract bass from them, then Charge 2, in principle, does not need this. The acoustics can deliver bass right out of your hands.
However, the speaker is not very well suited for deep and rich music.
For example, the same AC/DC sound quite good, but the acoustics can no longer cope with something faster, for example, with Nightwish. The instruments merge into a continuous viscous audio mush. However, it is worth paying tribute: squeaks, whistles and various wheezing do not appear even at the highest volume.
The gadget copes well with other melodies that are simpler in terms of richness. It plays, it rumbles, and it doesn't hurt your ears in any way.
Battery life
Power is supplied by a built-in lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 6000 mAh (3.7 V). On the one hand, this is not much, on the other hand, the manufacturer promises 12 hours of continuous audio playback. Of course, this will vary depending on the volume level and quality of the content.
Practical tests have shown that the device is completely discharged in less than 9 hours of playing music at maximum volume. Of course, the content was broadcast to the speaker via Bluetooth. Full charging takes about 3.5 hours at a current of 2.3A.
There is another nice functionality. The acoustics can recharge third-party devices using any Micro USB cable. I tried this trick with Sony Xperia Z3 (3100 mAh battery). The gadget gave all its charge to the smartphone in less than an hour, while the phone was charged only 67 percent. In theory, the charge volume should have been enough for almost two full charging cycles of the Sonya. Most likely the reason is that the output current power is 2.1A, which provides uneconomical consumption of the power supply capacity, but quite fast speed replenishment of energy.
In other words, gadgets charge quickly, but Charge 2 consumes its capacity, so to speak, irresponsibly.
Bottom line
IN this moment official JBL Charge 2 price settled at around 6,990 rubles. For this money you can get a cool, loud and bassy sound that will not let go for half a day. And here the body is stylish and pleasant both to the eye and to the touch.
As a portable battery, the speaker did not perform well. Its capacity is not enough for a full charge modern smartphone, where 3000 - 3500 mAh have already become the norm. However, such functionality will definitely not be superfluous.
It is unlikely that such a thing is bought for a loved one. Again, almost all such electronics are an excellent and cool gift. Of course, music lovers will be most pleased with the gift. However, you should not give it to fans of hard and intense rock for the reasons I mentioned above. People are capricious because they like to distinguish between rhythm and bass guitar playing by ear. Or something like that. Do you need it, then to be the object of secret insults from the gifted?
For many, JBL Charge has become a household name for any portable speaker system. This is not surprising, since portable speakers from JBL combine excellent sound quality with small dimensions, add to this protection from water and capacious battery and you will get an almost ideal acoustic system for outdoor recreation. In this review, you will learn about one of the most popular portable speakers in the JBL line - Charge 2+.
Characteristics of Charge 2+
- Dimensions: 79 x 184 x 75 mm
- Weight: 540 grams
- Sound power: 2 x 7.5 watts
- Signal to noise ratio: 80 db
- Frequency range: 75Hz – 20kHz
- Emitters: 2 x 45 mm
- Battery capacity: 6000 mAh
- Time battery life: 12 hours
Equipment
- Portable speaker
- microUSB cable
- Instructions
- Block charger with replaceable forks
JBL has already released Charge and Charge 2, the third version with the prefix + received protection against water ingress and became a laconic continuation of the line.
Appearance
As I already said, the main difference between the Charge 2+ and other models in the line is its water protection, which allows you not only to use it in the rain or in the shower, but also to wash it with running water. For a wearable device, this feature is really useful.
And, although the speaker can be washed, it cannot be immersed in water, so you are unlikely to be able to listen to music under water.
Despite all the tests under running water, the speaker plays great. It’s not clear what will happen to the connectors, since they are not covered with anything - time will tell.
At the ends of the speaker there are two bass reflex ports, covered with a metal plate with the company logo printed on it, which vibrates to the beat of the music. It looks very cool.
A total of 8 different colors of JBL Charge 2+ are available.
Bright colors and a matte rubberized surface that does not leave fingerprints leave only a pleasant feeling.
Connectors for charging and connecting external sound sources are located at the bottom, control buttons are at the top.
Autonomy
The speaker confidently fulfills the 12 hours of continuous playback declared by the manufacturer. The acoustics can also be used as an external power source to recharge other devices, but keep in mind that this will reduce operating time.
Connection
There are two ways to connect a portable speaker:
- Via a 3.5 mm jack using an aux cable, which unfortunately is not included.
- Via bluetooth. The speaker supports bluetooth 3.0, with the ability to simultaneously connect up to 3 devices thanks to Social Mode technology.
Sound quality
JBL Charge 2+ is loud, you wouldn’t even expect a strong sound from such a size, but the speaker is quite capable of filling a room with sound - just what you need at a party. Moreover, the sound is dense with enough bass. The only thing missing is the mid frequencies, but for the music this device is aimed at, this is not critical.
Dance and electronic music sound great.
Thanks to the built-in microphone, the speaker can be used as a speakerphone, and the built-in SoundClear noise reduction system will improve sound quality in noisy places.
conclusions
It’s up to you to decide whether to take it or not, but for me, the speaker is worth the money (at the time of writing, you can buy JBL Charge 2+ on the contact website for 7,190 rubles). Which manufacturer will still offer you excellent sound in a housing protected from water and dirt, and even powerful battery with powerbank function.
Now there are many analogues from Chinese manufacturers, which offer identical options at prices several times lower. An example in the screenshot below (the picture is clickable, follow the link for a description).
On the right and left there are passive radiators (emitters). They are located slightly in the recess to make them more difficult to damage. Also, the right edge of the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker has small feet to stand it vertically.
Reviews about JBL Charge 2 can be read on any forum or online store. Users are happy to share their impressions of using the speaker. Therefore, if you want to know exactly what purchasing it will bring you, do not be lazy to familiarize yourself with them.
“I chose this speaker because of its power and sound quality. I looked at a lot of reviews before ordering, but the abundance of positive comments convinced me that I should buy it.
Wireless speaker JBL Charge 2 leaves a good impression. With its help you can not only listen to music, but also use other functions. Its other advantages are:
Ergonomic design High-quality and loud sound Autonomous operation Ability to recharge other devices.
The product has a stylish design and rubberized material that is pleasant to the touch. The price of JBL Charge 2 may not seem small to you, but in terms of cost-quality ratio it is most attractive to buyers.
How to purchase JBL Charge 2?
At the bottom, if you place it horizontally, there is a rubber stand, so the speaker will not slide. At the top there is a control panel with several buttons. They are not touch sensitive, they are just slightly raised and need to be pressed until they click. The very first one is the power button standard icon.
It has high-quality stereo sound and can play music for 12 hours straight. It’s easy to connect any device to it, and you can even charge it from it. When traveling to the beach or nature, this universal device Suitable for listening to music in any conditions.
It’s worth buying the JBL Charge 2 speaker, if only because, despite its compactness and low weight, it has very powerful and clear sound (more than 80 dB).
A non-original device may have another slot - for a flash card. It will also have a different design color for the passive radiators (they may be glued crookedly) and different case materials. There may be no battery or volume indicators. The packaging must have high quality printing and there must be one. There is also an image of a party on the back of the box lid, which is missing from the fakes.
Reviews from real customers.
JBL Charge 2 is portable acoustic system, protected from moisture and working via Bluetooth. It has high-quality stereo sound and can play music for 12 hours straight.
JBL Charger2 - portable wireless speaker
JBL Charger2 is a portable wireless speaker.
Payment is made upon receipt of the product.
How to distinguish JBL Charge 2 from a fake? You can pay attention to the location of the connectors - the original has Micro first, then regular USB port, and between them there is an audio input.
The remaining 2 buttons are the Social Media function and receiving calls (if your phone suddenly received a call while you were listening to music). The first function is the ability to listen to tracks from 3 devices at once. This happens without much pause or stuttering.
In any JBL Charge 2 review you can also find a description of the product as a speakerphone, i.e. It is possible to receive incoming calls. The voice is transmitted clearly, noise and echo are suppressed. But a person should be no further than 1 m from the device. The last thing worth mentioning is the 3 connectors at the bottom of the speaker system.
The JBL Charge 2 speaker can replace 2 regular ones, and the quality or frequency power will not decrease as a result. It is easy to carry and weighs only 600 g. Other characteristics:
Diameter - 79 mm, length - 185 mm Dimensions of converters - 45 mm (2 pcs.) Rated power consumption - 15 W Frequency characteristics- from 75 Hz to 20k Hz Li-ion battery Power supply - from battery or USB Operating time in playback mode - up to 12 hours Charging time - about 4 hours.
The JBL Charge 2 device works with version 3.0 of Bluetooth and can simultaneously connect to 3 devices. It has a 6000 mAh battery, so you can even charge your phone or tablet from it. The speaker is very comfortable to hold in your hands; almost the entire body is made of plastic with a soft-touch coating.
Clear bass, even if you don't know it's simple portable device, you might think that speakers with a subwoofer are playing. As a connoisseur of high-quality sound, I really liked it. I recommend it to everyone!"
Whether it's dubstep, hard rock or classical, thanks to the two 45mm speakers you can enjoy any track. The product is splash-resistant, but this does not mean that it can be completely submerged in water. This will cause permanent damage.
JBL Charge 2 is a portable speaker system that is waterproof and works via Bluetooth. It has high-quality stereo sound and can play music for 12 hours straight. It’s easy to connect any device to it, and you can even charge it from it.
JBL Charge 2 is a portable speaker system that is waterproof and works via Bluetooth.
Its acoustics are higher than its analogues, and its functionality meets all modern requirements. It won’t be difficult to understand how the speaker works, and it also comes with instructions in several languages.
Characteristics of a portable speaker.
Bluetooth speaker JBL Charge 2 - modern device, which can produce music of any genre.
I have never regretted the money spent: with such a size, it produces an unrealistically loud sound. Charging on full power Enough for 6 hours for sure, haven't checked again. The only thing that upsets me is that there is no case in the set."
“For going out into nature or to the countryside, it’s simply an irreplaceable thing. Without charging, it worked for us for 2 days, and we listened to music quite often. I also really like the design, I bought myself a red speaker.
JBL - famous trademark with more than 50 years of history, originates in America. Its creator is American James Bullough Lansing.
The company itself has long been part of the large concern Harman International and has been developing audio equipment in all its forms: from headphones to car speakers.
This development of the company belongs to the segment of portable equipment and will be of interest to those people who want to accompany their life with high-quality and loud sound of their favorite music.
It’s spring now - the weather is warm and light, and I want to finally get out of my apartment and into the fresh air, enjoy the parks, the beach or walks in the forest with friends. Or ride a bike, climb a mountain or walk along the streets of the city?
If you are a music lover and want to not be separated from your favorite music even when the environment changes, and want to enjoy clear and loud sound whenever and wherever you want, then this article is for you.
JBL once again pleases us with a high-quality development - these are speakers JBL Charge 2+ - universal, portable and with a lot of interesting and useful functions, which is suitable not only for listening to music.
What else does it offer you? new development, read below.
Everything is as in the photo - a neat cardboard box with a description of the main characteristics and color of the speaker being purchased.
If you buy a speaker in a different color, it will be shown exactly like this on the box:
This is what you will see when you open the box:
Inside you will find the boom box itself, as well as instructions with a mandatory part in Russian, a warranty card for recharging or connecting to other devices, and a power adapter with a plug for a European socket.
If you have a speaker that is not black, but, for example, red, the components will also match its color - which has already become traditional and pleasant, especially for perfectionists. Please note that if parts are lost or replaced, it is still easier to find another black one.
Design, materials
A classic and familiar to the eye design a la “cola bottle”, or as it is also called “audio sausage”.
There are many speakers of this shape, both from the company itself and from competitors.
The surface is made of pleasant-to-touch rubber-like plastic and metal.
Together with its convenient shape, it fits comfortably in your hand, you can place it anywhere, vertically or horizontally, and it won’t take up much space.
On the side there is a metal circle on which the company logo is indicated.
It is attached to a membrane that vibrates with sound- vibration is transmitted to the membrane itself, which looks very beautiful from the outside.
The lower part is rubberized, and a small “stand” is made of rubber to provide stability in a horizontal position.
On the side of the rubber is the name and type of model.
Ergonomics
Thanks to its portability, it is perfect for any place - it will complement your laptop and improve the quality of sound, watching videos, will be instead music player on a walk, while riding a bike or having a picnic in nature.
One of the individual advantages of this new product is JBL Charge 2+ moisture resistance - the manufacturers hint at this even in the design of the product box (on it the speaker seems to be dipped in water).
Of course, you shouldn’t experiment and completely immerse the speaker in water - it may not survive this.
Manufacturers provide a guarantee for the uninterrupted operation of the device in elevated conditions - i.e. when caught in the rain, or listening to music in the bath or swimming pool, you can also take it with wet hands after exercising.
It fits very comfortably in your hand, is compact - it will fit in an average bag and will not cause problems with transportation.
Weight 600 grams (slightly heavier than a half-liter bottle of water).
Control
Manufacturers have taken care to make the controls clear to the touch - the buttons are convex and easy to feel.
They allow you to decrease and increase the volume, stop, change and start a new song.
Supports Connect function- if you have a compatible speaker, then the sound will be even more powerful!
In the photo you can see from left to right: the on/off button, volume down, volume up, Connect function and answering calls via speakerphone.
On the bottom side, on the side of the rubberized base, you will find MicroUSB connectors (the speaker is charged through it), a microphone connector and a full-size USB for charging gadgets.
A noise-canceling microphone can be used, for example, when answering a call while on the move, such as in the pool or on a bicycle.
Connection, controls
Music is played in two ways: when synchronized using Bluetooth technology or using a mini-jack cable.
Via Bluetooth you can synchronize with three devices simultaneously- very convenient in a group to change the music to suit everyone’s wishes.
Please note that the device that was connected first will be played in priority; when playback ends, then the next one. Thus, several participants will not be able to join at the same time - they will wait for their turn.
Sound
The sound of the speakers will be written about because this manufacturer has proven itself very well and all of its previous products had excellent sound.
Therefore, there are no major discoveries here.
The boombox has two 45 mm speakers - the sound is beautiful, high-quality and clear.
Let's add something special for fans of rock and metal - the low frequencies are well-developed and sound great, the volume is enough for a company of more than 10 people outdoors.
Those who were familiar with the previous portable speakers from this company will notice that the speaker has become slightly larger in size - however, this was done to improve the sound and increase the volume (instead of the previous 15, we now have a power of 20 watts). In addition, there has been an increase offline time work - up to an incredible 12 (!) hours at moderate volume; at maximum it can safely last up to 8 hours.
In addition, you can charge yours directly from the speaker - this is a huge plus if you climb further into the fresh air - i.e. In addition to the speaker, you also get a Powerbank.
Moisture resistance
Moisture protection - designed to work in conditions of high humidity and when exposed to rain. Cannot be completely immersed in water.
Functionality
The main purpose is a speaker, but now you won’t surprise anyone with monofunctional devices.
There is an additional function when connecting a microphone - you can act as a speaker.
There is a function to recharge your phone or tablet from the speaker via a USB port.
Price
The average manufacturer price is $150.
The price is considerable, but this is also a payment for signature quality and functionality, and even in the presence of a large number of competitors, this acquisition is desirable for true connoisseurs of pure sound.
Autonomy
A 6000 mAh battery is built-in - this provides a battery life of up to 12 hours at medium volume, and up to 8 hours at maximum volume.
If you use it in parallel as a recharger for mobile devices, the operating time will be reduced somewhat.
Main technical characteristics
Available colors: indigo blue, red, white, lilac and classic black.
Unusual color solutions- lilac and white colors look beautiful.
All colors are matte due to the top coating being plastic.
conclusions
This device is a combination high-quality sound, ergonomic and attractive design with a wide range of colors.
It will delight you with its long operating time, additional functions and will definitely justify itself in its main purpose - as a company with half a century of production experience.
At the beginning of the season of picnics, beaches and outdoor recreation, this can be a pleasant gift for yourself and your loved ones.
JBL has released a second, improved model of a portable speaker that can also charge your mobile device. The JBL Charge 2 mini speaker is a more powerful device, reinforced by massive speakers located on two sides.
Speaker JBL Charge 2 – Reviews
It is worth noting that the price remained unchanged - the same $150. So, Charge 2 is “take No. 2” of the popular portable speaker from JBL. What’s remarkable is that literally every parameter of the original has been improved.
Portable JBL acoustics The Charge 2 looks almost exactly the same as the Charge, which is immediately noticeable as soon as you open the box. However, upon closer examination, the differences still become noticeable. First of all, these are, of course, silver side panels and a couple of additional buttons on the case, as well as a panel with ports, including USB and Micro-USB.
JBL Charge 2 characteristics and design
The JBL Charge 2 wireless speaker is slightly larger in size than its predecessor, has a comfortable shape and a pleasant surface. The device is very comfortable to hold in your hand. The system has become exactly half more powerful overall. Up to 3 users can connect to the device simultaneously via Bluetooth.
Audio performance
Like previous JBLs, we immediately appreciated the bright and rich uppercase. However, some sounds sometimes seem too harsh. When we switched to listening to heavier tracks, we found that the bass was transmitted excellently mainly due to the side vibrating membranes. Moreover, the sound can be called the best in its class. New additions allow the device to deliver surprisingly rich interpretations of complex melodies.
Rock or hip-hop music also sounds powerful due to the bass, moreover, the sound is perfectly smooth, especially considering small sizes Charge 2. We were really surprised that such a small device produces such clear and pleasant sound: realistic guitar sounds, rich bass, etc., in essence, the JBL Charge 2 is a speaker system.
On the most audio-challenging tracks, we heard some extra ringing, which mainly accompanied the bass lines. However, the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker is one of best devices, which we have tested recently. Accordingly, it makes sense to expect ideal sound in all respects from a speaker that is at least twice, or even three times, larger than the JBL Charge 2 wireless speaker system.
Bottom line
As we have seen this year, since the release of the original Charge, the capabilities and requirements for Bluetooth devices have grown significantly. JBL also did big step forward to keep up with the times. JBL Charge 2 is a more powerful device with improved features.
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