Review of the most powerful portable acoustics JBL Xtreme. Wireless speakers JBL Xtreme Black (JBLXTREMEBLKEU) - Reviews Unboxing and packaging

The JBL Charge 3 speaker is a true classic and quite versatile. You can connect it to your computer, TV, phone, and listen to music the way you want. However, if its volume is not enough and I want something more powerful, that is, the JBL Extreme speaker.

It is much larger in size, but still quite convenient to use. Due to the difference in size (and therefore power), it doesn't hold a charge as long. If JBl Charge 3 can work for 20 hours, then this speaker can delight you with music for no more than 15 hours.

The downside is also the weight; it weighs about 2 kg, while the JBL Charge 3, in turn, weighs no more than a kilogram. However, this disadvantage is mitigated it has special “ears” and a included strap so that it can be worn as a bag.

There is a microphone in both speakers. JBL Extreme there are 2 USB and minijack outputs Therefore, it can be used as an external battery.

JBL Extreme water protection

This column is smaller than its counterpart, and has 2 speakers 10 Watt, power comes from the battery. Reproducible frequency range – from 65 to 20000 hertz. A 50mm wideband speaker is installed here. The actual operating time, as already mentioned, is up to 20 hours.

One of the largest portable speakers, JBL Xtreme, was first shown at IFA 2015 in Berlin. We have already talked about it. It's time to get to know the speaker better and torment your neighbors with bass. In this review, we will dive into the nuances of the sound of acoustics, and at the same time we will dive into the waters of the device itself. Go!

Equipment

The first thing you need to know about the gadget is the size of its packaging. It comes in a generously sized box (32 x 20 x 20 cm), so keep that in mind if you're shopping on foot or by bike. If I were you, I would park the car nearby, because you probably still need to pop into the store for milk, beer, or whatever else you usually buy at the grocery store. From the appearance of the box it is clear that we are dealing with serious equipment. From a consumer point of view, of course.

Inside the package there are many boxes, each of which hides either a power cable or a charger, and may also hide the included shoulder strap for carrying the acoustics. By the way, it is wide, adjustable in length, equipped with carabiners for fastening and, in general, very convenient.

The device itself is neatly laid out at the very bottom. There is nothing else interesting here, so let's move on.

Design

Most of the body is covered with strong fabric. Beneath it lies a plastic frame, to which the outer upholstery is simply glued. No nanotechnology for you. The remaining places are covered with rubberized plastic.

In front, right in the center, there is a metal insert with the brand name. And on the top side there are device control keys. The power buttons and activation of the JBL Connect function are placed on a soft substrate. They are illuminated with a white or blue glow depending on the currently running function.

The remaining keys are convex and are arranged in one row on the fabric base of the case.

I sincerely don’t like that JBL stubbornly refuses to illuminate the control keys on the speaker body.

Yes, of course, the rubber buttons look great, but you need to come up with something so that you can easily control playback directly from the speaker in the dark or in a room with poor lighting. Still, parties are usually not illuminated by angelic light, and darkness, as you know, is the friend of youth.

There are metal loops on the sides for attaching a strap. So I hung the speaker on my shoulder and went to the city, giving others positive vibrations from my audio library. The main thing is to wear comfortable shoes so that if something happens you can quickly run away. Suddenly, among passers-by there will be citizens who believe that it is necessary to share not only music, but also devices. Well, this is Russia, baby!

• dimensions: 283 x 126 x 122 mm
• weight 2112 g

On the back side you can find a real fly. It also makes an impression on others. What is there! Every time I picked up the speaker, I constantly unzipped and zipped it. Still, JBL came up with a very cool idea.

The following interfaces are available:

• two full USB ports
• audio input (AUX) 3.5 mm
• power socket
• service connector under the plug

In general, lightning is used here for a reason. After all, the most important feature of the device is splash protection.

It was drizzling lightly - not a reason to roll up blankets, hide alcohol and kebabs and get ready to go home indoors. Light frost at a party and JBL Xtreme is not a hindrance.

By the way, equipping portable acoustics with moisture protection of one degree or another is the latest trend of the season. Manufacturers have learned to get the most out of portable audio, so we need to look for new opportunities to hook the target audience. And I wouldn’t say that protection from moisture and dust is some kind of far-fetched marketing trick. In nature, by the pool, this functionality will definitely not be superfluous. But portable sound is still intended for the street, not for greenhouse, home conditions.

If Xtreme manages to fall into the mud, its body can be rinsed under clean running water. However, you cannot completely immerse the speaker in water, so at the very beginning of the review about bathing the gadget, I simply lied.

However, I did carry out some water procedures. Look how fun the water is jumping on passive radiators under such juicy Metalcore.

The higher the volume, the more visible the vibrations of these emitters are.

On sale you can find three color variations: black (like ours), red and blue. Each color looks interesting in its own way, so if you are about to buy, you will have to make a difficult choice.

Connection

The speaker can connect to three audio sources via Bluetooth. Of course, playback from each of them occurs in turn.

• Bluetooth 4.1 (audio profile always works)
• profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6, HSP 1.2

Don't be alarmed by the blue tooth version. Broadcasting audio content goes without problems even from a smartphone with Bluetooth 2.1. However, this is not the fly in the ointment.

The main drawback of the speaker is periodic disconnections.

I don’t know what the problem might be, but several times it happened that the speaker simply fell off the sound source and again, of course, did not connect on its own. I had to force pair the devices to continue playing. If anything, the distance from the receiver to the transmitter did not exceed two meters, so that’s not the point. Everything should have worked perfectly.

Perhaps to solve this problem, you need to update the acoustics firmware. However, you cannot do this yourself, even despite the presence of a special service connector.

Sound quality

This is by far the most interesting part of the review.

And I want to say right away that Xtreme did not disappoint. The speaker is very loud and perfectly covers the entire spectrum of frequencies, including bass.

In order for the music to boom properly, you do not need to install the device on a wooden shelf for additional resonances. The speaker booms right in your hands.

Frankly, during testing, I even got into the habit of sending audio from iTunes directly to the Bluetooth device, ignoring the 2:1 computer system connected via cable. What I mean is that JBL Xtreme may well replace home speakers, and computer speakers, that’s for sure. Of course, if you are not chasing any special sound.

Let's dilute the real listening experience JBL Xtreme technical specifications:

• reproduced frequency range 70 - 20,000 Hz
• signal-to-noise ratio >80 dB
• 2 x 35mm tweeters
• 2 x 63mm woofers
• total power 40 W (2×20 Bi-amp)
• two passive bass radiators (Bass Radiator)

Inside the speaker there are two amplifiers with a power of 20 W each. Both of them operate in bi-amping mode, that is, low and mid frequencies are amplified separately.

Let's return to the experience of using our speaker.

I liked that the acoustics cope well not only with simple dance tracks, but also with heavy types of music with a lot of instrumental parts.

I subjected the speaker to a merciless test: I launched the famous vocal and instrumental ensemble Dream Theater at the sound source. In general, this group is one of the most notable bands playing Progressive Metal, and this, believe me, is far from the easiest style of music from all points of view, including playback.

Of course, we cannot say that every instrument was heard simply crystal clear; we should not forget that we are, after all, reviewing a portable device. However, JBL delivers about an eight out of ten sound. Ten, as is clear, is unattainable, nine is very, very good, and 8 points is our case.

At maximum volume, it was not possible to detect rubble, wheezing, or other crime. Plus 15 points for sound quality.

Additional functionality

This is, first of all, the ability to recharge third-party devices. Hidden under the zipper of the JBL Xtreme are two full-fledged USB ports, each of which can charge a smartphone, tablet, camera, smart watch - or anything.

If only one gadget is charged, then the current will be equal to 2 amperes, which means charging will go faster. When two devices are connected simultaneously, the outgoing current drops to 1A per connector.

Using JBL Connect technology, you can connect several JBL Xtremes to a sound source at once, thereby pumping up an already quiet party to the level of a local concert.

You can connect other JBL laptops to the same circuit, for example.

All that's left to do is to persuade friends to buy similar devices.

Of course, a microphone with noise and echo cancellation (VoiceLogic) is built into the acoustic body. In other words, the speaker can be used as a regular Hands-Free device. I pressed the play button and answered the call. Naturally, the voice of the interlocutor is heard through the speakers built into the speaker, so take care to reduce the volume immediately during a conversation.

In practice, I have never been able to connect the device as a Hands-Free device to the phone. I tried about four different smartphones (all on Android), but immediately after pairing, the system honestly warned “no phone” every time. Most likely, version Bluetooth 4.1 has nothing to do with it, since the same OnePlus Two supports this protocol.

Battery life

The manufacturer claims 15 hours of playback on a single battery charge. Of course, it all depends on the volume level and the content being played. In my case it turned out to be 14 hours 15 minutes when played at medium volume.

The capacity of the built-in battery is 10,000 mAh (37 Wh).

At the peak value you should not expect great autonomy. Most likely, the acoustics will work in 5-6 hours.

A full charging cycle takes three and a half hours. This is provided by a complete charger with a power supply of 19V, 3A.

It is convenient to monitor the remaining charge using the indicators on the back.

Bottom line

The acoustics cost a lot - 16,490 rubles. However, if we once again recall all the advantages and capabilities of the device, it becomes clear that the price tag is more or less adequate.

The only thing that spoiled the impression were disconnected connections and the fact that the Hands-Free function didn’t work. It's probably a matter of a specific test instance. In any case, try the device before purchasing in a store for the shortcomings described above, if, of course, they are critical for you.

I don't know if you can buy such a device for yourself. Perhaps it is possible. For the sake of your beloved, you don’t feel sorry for anything. However, it's nice to receive JBL Xtreme as a gift. Travelers and people who cannot imagine their life without music always and everywhere will appreciate the device one hundred percent. It simply cannot disappoint.

The sound quality here is excellent, the speaker is very loud and has excellent bass even without installation on resonating surfaces. It can charge a phone (even two), play in light rain, and looks great. Perhaps this is the best portable speaker that came into my hand. It wasn't even that good.

If I had to choose between JBL Xtreme and Infinity One, I would buy the first one. It is protected from moisture and dirt, and this is important for a portable device. In addition, it sounds a little more powerful, despite the fact that the “date” copes with this task with five.

Already on sale Price: 16,490 rubles

The JBL Xtreme speaker is the flagship speaker system of its brand, presented in 2015 at the EISA consumer electronics exhibition.

The model is equipped with 4 speakers and allows you to get quite loud and high-quality sound.

And, thanks to the special case, it is perfect for use at home, outdoors, and in extreme conditions, without fear of dirt and water.

According to representatives of the manufacturer, the company, JBL Xtreme is a worthy continuation of the brand’s powerful portable speakers, suitable for picnics and noisy parties.

At the same time, the sound quality should not disappoint even true music connoisseurs (although for this you should listen to music with a high bitrate).

And additional benefits are Possibility of autonomous operation of acoustics for 12–15 hours.

Model parameters

Unpacking and packaging

Already from the branded box of the gadget, you can see the work of the designers who created the speaker system - although the box with the handle will be used only once, in order to bring the gadget home after purchasing it in a store (or delivering it to the post office).

Inside the package you can find:

• column;
• two power cords with different sockets – American and European;
• power unit;
• strap for carrying the speaker system.

The included power supply resembles in appearance and weight.

This is done in order to reduce the charging time of the speaker system - a regular low-current adapter will charge it for at least 10 hours.

Design

The acoustics are available in 4 colors - although the sides of all options are the same gray.

The simplest and most popular option– black, suitable for all users and conditions.

Khaki-style colors may seem more original, and red and blue speakers are intended for a youth audience.

Thanks to its original design, the gadget attracted attention at the IFA exhibition.

Although its popularity came not only because of the colors (which are repeated in different models of portable acoustics from the company), but also due to the unique demonstration of the product.

At the stand it was periodically watered, showing a high level of protection.

Looking at the gadget up close, The following can be noted:

• The “barrel” shape of the speaker is combined with massive dimensions - holding it in one hand is quite difficult (especially considering its weight of more than two kilograms);
• in the lower part there are rubber feet, on which acoustics are usually installed;
• the body is completely covered with black or colored cellular fabric;
• at the back there is an orange (for all versions) lightning, behind which there are two USB ports (with which you can charge other gadgets, but not), a headphone input, a service connector and a power connector;
• On the back of the device there is also information about it, including logos of the technologies used in the development.

The sides of the speaker have a rather original look, on which the membranes of low-frequency emitters with large brand logos are located.

Rubber on the protruding edges of the case reliably protects these elements from damage during a fall.

Although you should still be very careful when using the speaker - membranes can be called its most fragile part.

Another characteristic detail of the speaker system is the orange metal nameplate on which the company logo is located.

Apart from this element, there are no identifying marks or signs of the presence of speakers (which are located under the cover) on the front of the device.

But at the top you can see two rings to which the carrying strap is attached; there are also buttons with which you can control the sound volume, turn on wireless communication and switch tracks.

You should know: Switching the column's operating modes is accompanied by a corresponding signal. For example, when turned on, the device makes a sound similar to starting a car engine.

Sound

Already only one device specification ( range 70–20000 Hz noise-to-signal ratio 80 dB) indicates that the sound will be loud enough and of high quality.

Testing the sound in practice has confirmed the power of 63-mm membranes, the sound of which is so powerful that listening to them at full volume in a small enclosed space (an apartment or, even more so, a room) is not recommended.

Although at an average level the system is quite capable of replacing a conventional 2.1 audio system.

Sometimes when listening to music you may notice that the sound is too “dry” - especially if a classical melody is being played.

However, rock music, hip-hop or jazz (the main genres for which the system is intended) are reproduced at the highest level. Sometimes you can even hear tones that regular speakers cannot produce.

A small disadvantage of the audio system is the not very effective selection of individual instruments.

Sometimes the notes just blur together, which may not be very pleasant for you.

However, all these problems disappear when the speaker plays outdoors - much less distortion is observed, the volume increases and can even be set at the maximum level (at least in nature or a sports field it will look more natural than in an apartment).

Battery

Considering the autonomy of the gadget, we can draw conclusions about a slight exaggeration made by the manufacturer when indicating the characteristics of the JBL Xtreme.

In fact, it is possible to achieve the figure of 14–15 hours of sound only at the very beginning of use - over time, the capacity decreases, and after some time the speaker is able to work without recharging for only 7–10 hours.

However, even a previously used battery ensures the operation of the acoustics longer than almost any other analogue.

In addition, its owner does not have to worry about the need to recharge the speaker throughout the whole day (it is enough to do this in the morning).

Moreover, the gadget does not support– although you can do the opposite, that is, charge a portable charger from JBL Xtreme.

The device requires only 3.5 hours to replenish the battery charge.

However, its owner should be aware that the battery is not protected from overcharging (this, by the way, is one of the reasons for the rapid decrease in its capacity over time).

Therefore, when connecting the speaker to the network, it should be turned off after exactly 3.5 hours.

Functionality

The number of functions the speaker has is quite consistent with its price (not too high, but far from low).

Among them are:

• Possibility of placement in any position– the acoustics work perfectly when placed vertically and horizontally, when installed on a surface or suspended);
• charging other devices- for example, smartphones, mp3 players, regular phones (if you have a suitable adapter) and even power banks, although, for example, tablets cannot be charged from acoustics;
• connection via Bluetooth to 3 other devices at once– for example, 3 phones or a computer, laptop and tablet;
• play audio using a wired connection(at the same time, the sound quality does not become better or worse);
• combining two identical speakers using the JBL Connect function– this allows you not only to get higher volume, but also to provide additional sound effects;
• use as a speakerphone for a smartphone– using such a speaker and almost any phone that supports Bluetooth technology, you can, for example, hold conferences.

The JBL Xtreme mini boombox is made in the familiar form factor of portable audio equipment from the American brand - in appearance it looks like a bloated barrel that can “pump up” a foray into nature or an indoor party with loud and clear sound with expressive bass.

Waterproof "wrapper"

The large and heavy speaker will not fit into every bag, but for ease of carrying, the manufacturer included a shoulder strap with carabiners for fastening. The outside of the product is covered with rubberized fabric with moisture-proof properties. Two 35 mm tweeters and a pair of 63 mm woofers are hidden under the outer “wrapper”, and large passive diffusers at the ends complement the overall picture. The power of JBL Xtreme in track playback mode at maximum volume reaches 40 W.

Energy replenishment

On the back side of the “barrel” there is a zippered compartment through which access to a large number of interfaces is provided: a charging connector, a pair of USB ports, an AUX input and a service connector for firmware updates. As for USB ports, they are used to recharge third-party gadgets in the field, i.e. in addition to playing music, JBL Xtreme simultaneously acts as a Power Bank. When connecting one external device to the speaker, it will be charged with a current of 2 A, and two - 1 A for each device.

Extreme Steepness

The model’s own battery has a capacity of 10,000 mAh; its energy reserves are enough for a 10-15 hour marathon of listening to music (the specific battery life depends heavily on the specified playback parameters, in particular, volume). Simultaneously, the speaker connects wirelessly to three sound sources at once, which is convenient for “intercepting” the playback of tracks at an impromptu party. The icing on the cake in the design of the model is the presence of a speakerphone with noise reduction function. Despite its gigantic size and heavy weight (over 2 kg), JBL Xtreme is well suited for both home use and for outings, for example, to the beach, to the pool or to a picnic.

Amazing sound with deep and rich bass for its size. Moisture reflective and compact.

Minuses

Short battery life and sometimes spontaneous shutdown. The indication of charge and discharge sensors is sometimes incorrect. Poor quality and imperfect battery and charge limit and indication sensors. Unprotected right and left radiators (emitters). Extremely inconvenient insertion of plugs behind the zipper. The red discharge indicator flashes when you can play at high volume for another half hour. There is also no protection from blows. It is strictly forbidden to update at all, so as not to lose functionality and not kill the boombox.

Review

It's worth buying only because of the unique sound at such a size. There will be a lot of problems with the battery and charging, especially after a year and a half. The unsuccessful insertion of plugs seems to have been corrected in the new 2018 models. The developers succeeded exclusively in the sound. Otherwise, it’s better to take a look at the latest similar models!!!