Speakers
The Small, Useful Steps Up From the JBL Charge 4 to the JBL Charge 5
JBL has had some ups and downs in its Charge speaker line, and we haven’t always recommended the newest version when JBL makes an “upgrade”. But the JBL Charge 5 is a suitable, minor improvement over the Charge 4, and depending on your specific feature needs and the pricing at the time you read this, …
The Xtreme 3 vs JBL Boombox 2: Choose the Right Size for Your Outdoor Party
Do you want the finest bass and loudest-but-still-smooth sound from a portable speaker for tailgating, yard parties, and beach dances? The two best speakers out right now for these purposes are both from JBL: The JBL Xtreme 3 and Boombox 2. Which should you get? Depends on things like whether you need extreme battery life …
JBL Charge 4 vs Xtreme 2: Comparing These Mid-Sized Road Party Speakers
UPDATE: JBL has released better versions of both of these speakers; check out our new comparison of the JBL Charge 5 and Xtreme 3. They are both a small but solid step up in sound performance and features. (You can also check out the differences between the JBL Charge 4 and 5 and the JBL …
JBL Xtreme 2 vs Boombox 2: The Bass-Heavy Outdoor Party Speakers Compared
Note: This article covers a previous-model speaker: The Xtreme 2. For a comparison of the latest from JBL, check out our review of the JBL Xtreme 3 vs JBL Boombox 2. The JBL Xtreme 2 and JBL Boombox 2 can look quite a bit alike, especially if you’re just glancing at online photos of the …
Which Speaker for a Huge Outside Bash? The JBL Boombox 2 vs Partybox 100
We generally, though not always, enjoy JBL speakers; let’s take on their big boys. The loudest, bossest JBL speakers that you still might want to carry (lug) around are the JBL Boombox 2 and JBL PartyBox 100. Both have large internal batteries and so can work away from the grid, and both are ideal for …
Comparing the JBL Xtreme 3 to its Predecessors—and Why We Wouldn’t Upgrade from the JBL Xtreme or Xtreme 2
The JBL Xtreme, Xtreme 2, and Xtreme 3 speakers offer an excellent, portable, rugged route to serious bass oomph and to getting a quite loud outdoor party going. While these not the most refined choices among the largest, loudest Bluetooth speakers we review, we do think that for people who party a lot outdoors and …
Bose Soundlink Revolve vs. Mini II vs. Color II: Bose’s More Portable Speakers Compared
We ran an exhaustive meta-analysis on Bose’s Bluetooth speakers, and what major European and American consumer organizations had to say about them. We also took into account the commentary from all sorts of audiophile critics and tech bloggers. Which is best for whom among the Bose Soundlink Revolve, the Bose Soundlink Mini II, or the …
JBL Boombox vs JBL Boombox 2: Is the Slight Upgrade Worth the Cost?
The JBL Boombox 2 was released in spring 2020 as as an update to the original portable outdoor party companion, the JBL Boombox. Both of these are at the larger, and more outdoorsy end of the biggest, loudest portable speakers we’ve reviewed. And they’re expensive. In this article we go through what all reliable critics—not …
JBL Charge 3 vs. UE Boom 2 vs. Bose Soundlink Mini II: The Ultimate Bluetooth Speaker Comparison
In the current bluetooth speaker market deluge, three models consistently float to the top of reviewers’ lists. These are all excellent speakers, and depending on your priorities, any one of the three might be the best for you. Our exhaustive bluetooth speaker meta-review suggests that the UE Boom 2 offers the best combination of sound …
Ultimate Ears MegaBlast vs UE MegaBoom: Which Sounds Better?
We’ve run a thorough investigation of UE’s foremost smart speaker, the Ultimate Ears MegaBlast, and compared it to the company’s similar critical darling, the UE MegaBoom. Both speakers are excellent portable outdoor options; frequently people want to know which has better bass, which is louder, which sounds better, and if the small price premium of …