JBL Xtreme - review of an excellent inexpensive portable speaker, review after use. Wireless speakers JBL Xtreme Black (JBLXTREMEBLKEU) - Reviews Jbl xtreme portable speaker characteristics

There are durable metal ears along the edges to which a carrying strap is attached. If desired, you can use it to mount the speaker on the wall. Or hang it on the shower door; in general, the belt can be useful not only for carrying, but also for everyday use.

In progress

Of all JBL portable speakers, the Xtreme model has the most powerful and largest subwoofer, so the bass is strong, expressive and “juicy”. Fans of electronic music will appreciate it. But in general, I would not say that Xtreme is clearly “tailored” to any genre. Classical compositions sound no less pleasant, as do clean vocals. And even the classic guitar solos in Iron Maiden songs sounded great.

The volume reserve is enough for a room measuring 10x10 meters. On the street in a quiet place, you can count on normal audibility at a distance of 7-8 meters - more than enough for a small party in the fresh air. At maximum volume, the Xtreme does not wheeze at all. The only thing I can complain about is a slight jump in volume at the beginning of Bluetooth playback. And, apparently, this occurs due to the difference in volume levels on the speaker itself and on the smartphone.

In progress

1. Rating
2. Specifications
3. Equipment
4. Design and assembly
5. Sound
6. Autonomy
7. Features
8. Conclusion
9. Video review of JBL Xtreme
10. Pros and cons

JBL Xtreme was first shown to the public at IFA 2015 in Berlin. So far this is the largest portable audio system in the manufacturer’s range. The speaker breaks almost all the stereotypes about portable acoustics that you can imagine.

The new product received as many as 15 hours of battery life, 40 W of total power and excellent bass. At the same time, the dimensions of the device do not in any way interfere with its convenient use. Read about other nuances of acoustics in the JBL Xtreme review below.

About JBL Xtreme

8.0 Rating

Equipment

The dimensions of the Xtreme package are impressive - it is quite large and heavy (32 x 20 x 20 cm). Transporting this cargo is facilitated by the presence of a plastic handle on the top of the box. Its contents are divided into several small sections, so unpacking the purchase is not difficult.

JBL Xtreme speaker;
Power unit;
Replacement plugs for European sockets;
Belt with carabiners;
Documentation.

Design and build

Photos of the audio system give a false impression of its shape and dimensions. At first it may seem that this is an ordinary clone of the model line. However, in real life, the Xtreme can hardly be confused with anything, because so far it is the largest portable speaker from JBL. On store shelves you can find black, red and blue color options for the case.

The Xtreme design is based on a thick plastic frame covered with a waterproof textile surface. The ends around the passive radiators are covered with rubberized inserts. The speaker can be placed in any orientation, but it sounds best when placed horizontally on the stable plastic base underneath.

The whole thing resembles a slightly convex cylinder with an orange manufacturer's logo on the front side. Xtreme is controlled by six function buttons on the top. They can turn the device on/off, start pairing via Bluetooth, pause the track and change the volume level. The keys are not backlit; in the dark, finding the right button is quite problematic.

The control unit is surrounded by two fastenings for belt carabiners. Considering the weight of the device, the presence of such an accessory is very useful. Xtreme can be hung on your back, which is very convenient when playing sports or cycling. At the same time, you can switch songs or adjust the volume directly from your smartphone.

The wired interfaces of the device are fastened with an orange zipper on the back side. There are two USB ports, a 3.5 mm AUX input, a charging socket and a microUSB connector. The latter is intended only for updating the Xtreme firmware, which requires connecting it to a PC.

The body of the audio system is protected from splashes of water, but it is unlikely to withstand immersion in a pool. Before using in extreme conditions, be sure to check that the clasp on the back is closed.

Sound

Inside the speaker there are two amplifiers, the total power of which is 40 W. A special feature of this acoustics is the bi-amping mode. When a track is played, low and high frequencies are processed by separate speakers.

The first advantage of Xtreme is powerful, clean and expressive low frequencies. The audio system is great for electronic music; it can handle other genres too. During operation, it can rattle a lot, so it must be installed on a hard, flat surface.

The Xtreme's volume reserve is quite enough for the speaker to be heard in a room of 100-150 square meters. m. The device also sounds good on the street within a radius of 10 meters, which is quite enough for a small noisy party. During the test, no significant dips or distortions in the sound were noticed, even at maximum. The only complaint is sudden disconnections with the smartphone, which is why synchronization has to be done again. Most likely this is due to bugs in the firmware.

There is still a difference between a wired connection and working via Bluetooth. It's not that significant, but as a stationary audio system for a laptop, the Xtreme still sounds a little better. The difference also shows up in the format of the audio files played, so FLAC is recommended for best results.

Autonomy

The built-in 10,000 mAh battery easily provided the JBL Xtreme with a claimed 15 hours of battery life. By lowering the volume, you can add a few tens of minutes to the result. Full charging time – 3.5 hours.

Xtreme can be used as a power bank. For this purpose, there are two USB connectors on the rear side. If you connect one device, it will receive a current of 2 Amps. Charging two devices at once reduces the current for each of them by half.

Peculiarities

The audio system is equipped with the JBL Connect function, which allows you to synchronize several speakers with each other. In this case, the devices will operate in stereo sound mode. You can also use other model lines of JBL acoustics.

The Xtreme features a Voice Logic noise-canceling microphone. Thanks to it, the device can operate in Hands-Free mode. To do this, just synchronize the speaker with your smartphone and press the track play button during an incoming call.

Conclusion

The size and sound quality make the Xtreme a truly versatile audio system. It will fit perfectly into your home interior and expand the capabilities of your laptop or computer. The speaker is also suitable for a noisy outdoor party.

The only reason to think before purchasing is the price of the device. In Russian online stores, Xtreme costs an average of 16-17 thousand rubles.

Video review of JBL Xtreme

Carrying strap included
Splash protection
Ability to work in power bank mode
Speakerphone
Great bass

No backlit keys
Rare problems with wireless synchronization

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. Let's 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 varying degrees 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 63 mm 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