Bluetooth speakersare often a predictable lot , where functionality and portability complement how well they sound . But different speakers are designed for different situations . When it comes to the crowd - pleasing type , JBL is all over it . Its Flip line fits that verbal description to a tee , and the party continues to bring out fresh models on an almost annual foundation .
For that cause , do n’t expect a surprise from the JBL Flip 6 . If you live what the Flip loudspeaker card is all about , you experience you will get ample bass and some loudness to flush . Both are obvious once you commence the music , so what are the other benefits come from the few extras JBL threw in ?
What’s in the box?
There ’s not much to unbox with the Flip 6 . JBL could look to slim down its packaging , or at least print an simulacrum of the speaker ’s genuine dimension on the side , so as not to give the printing it ’s bigger than it actually is . Other than the speaker itself , you ’ll line up a USB - C charging cable system and speedy head start pathfinder .
Design
You get the same cylindrical invention and , for the most part , similar dimension a its predecessors . JBL shaved just a little off the height ( 7.0 inches ) , width ( 2.6 inches ) , and depth ( 2.8 inches ) to make it a tad pocket-sized , albeit with efficaciously the same weight . Not that it ’s toilsome at 1.21 pounds — it in reality feels just as portable , letting you take it with you wherever you go .
That includes around body of water thanks to an official wateranddust resistivity evaluation . Unlikeprevious Flip versions , JBL got anIP67 ratingfor this one , improving upon the Flip 5 ’s IPX7 rating . It ’s utter if you want to sing along in the shower bath , mind to a podcast in a relaxing bath , or make a spatter around the pool . lease ’s not forget the beach , either , as the Flip 6 holds up just exquisitely in seawater and backbone , making it a secure choice for any numeral of outside activities .
JBL arrive an IP67 rating for this one , improving upon the Flip 5 ’s IPX7 rating .
The enduringness extend to the rubberized bumper surrounding the passive radiators on each goal . JBL contain that same design principle over here , and the bumpers continue to play a big function in protect the other components . Much of the residuum of the Flip 6 represents an esthetic change on the outside , like the bigger JBL logo on the front and more textured fabric on the body . A rubber sliver at the bottom hold back the speaker from peal , while also tilting some of the audio upwardly for a more broad sound visibility .
JBL also address the want of a lanyard in previous versions by integrating one in the Flip 6 . By integrated , I mean that it ’s already tied up for you , and in case you ever misplace it , you could realistically supercede it with another one .
Wisely , JBL did n’t modify the control layout , using the same raised buttons that , while not backlit , are easy to find and be precise when you require to dally / pause music or control volume . Power , Bluetooth , battery level indicator , and USB - nose candy charging interface also return in the rear .
Setup and configuration
It was easy to pair the Flip 6 via Bluetooth out of the box as it mechanically enter pairing mode . It ’s just as easy to put it in pairing fashion again later by holding down the speaker unit ’s Bluetooth button until it dash . It connects to one machine at a metre and JBL did n’t fit it with a microphone , so the Flip 6 has no speakerphone functionality . This affair is about playing audio recording , not making phone calls , which is a glaring deletion at this microscope stage of the game in the industry .
One thing JBL did convert with the Flip 6 is let it get at the JBL Portable ( formerly Connect ) app for iOS or Android . you could use it to update the microcode and adjust the modest routine of configurations . The self-aggrandising standout to me was the EQ , something former Flip loudspeaker system did n’t have . It ’s hardly intricate , with canonic sliders for bass , mids , and treble , but it does mark a shift toward giving the Flip 6 a measuring of audio control .
PartyBoost is back again , though not without some guardrails . I could use the Party mode to wirelessly connect it with other compatible JBL speakers to simultaneously play the same audio . you may also create a stereo pair if you own or a supporter own another Flip 6 ( both speakers have to be the same example ) . I hear to pull it off with a Flip 5 and get nowhere .
Sound quality
It ’s hardly a surprise that basso stands out in the overall sound signature . JBL dial it up with each successive iteration . In this compositor’s case , it ’s less about ramping up the basso by default because you’re able to adjust it through the Portable app ’s EQ . What ’s interesting is that the mids and high make a bigger wallop in the heavy signature . We ’re not talking something audiophiles will lie with , but it ’s hard not to like the results , such as they are .
The Flip 6 gets garish — again , par for the grade for a speaker like this . It ’s the ringing at flashy volumes that yarn-dye me . Just when I expected torture to countersink in and pop crepitate the high school or lows , it maintained a stable sound that I grow to like even more over time .
The Flip 6 get loud — again , par for the course for a loudspeaker like this .
Part of that has a lot to do with setting , mean I often used the talker as I strike around my place . Whether I was taking a exhibitioner , cooking a repast , or take heed to tunes while work , it became a convenient staple in my day - to - day routine . Whether it was various music genre of music , or farsighted podcast episodes , I apprize the Flip 6 for what it could give birth .
If you are a fan of basso - heavy musical style , I do n’t think you ’ll be disappointed in the production here . It ’s bass and rumbling , with just enough detail in the mids and highs for seemly balance . Pretty much any playlist of Top 40 and party hits will go over well with a diminished crowd when this thing pumps them out .
Battery life
JBL exact the Flip 6 can last up to 12 hours per cathexis , but I never arrive at that at any prison term . It depends on how meretricious you go , but I was in the compass of about 8 to 10 hours , which is n’t unsound . That ’s flock of time for a trip to the park or beach , or cling out at the pool . Plug it in with the USB - nose candy cable , and you’re able to keep the music wager that way , especially if you have a portable battery gang to serve out .
Our take
At $ 130 , the Flip 6 feel like full charge for your buck . You get a talker that ’s highly portable , yet mob a giving enough punch to get loud when you call for it . Its extra durability makes it secure and more useful in sandy and knotty environments , which certainly does n’t hurt , either . Plus , you get a smattering of colors to choose from : shameful , puritanic , reddish , gray , and teal .
Is there a better alternative?
JBL is n’t abandoning the Flip 5 , which is arguably just as good for most situations , but if you are to go that route , wait until the price drops . Ultimate capitulum charges more at $ 150 for like sizing and temper in the Boom 3 , except you also get a more spatial sound because of how the speaker unit wrap around the body . To get that spatial effect with serious toughness , you ’ll pay the same $ 150 to get the Outdoor Technology OT-2800 - B vitamin Turtle Shell 3.0 , which offers the same level of piss ( but not junk ) electric resistance .
If your budget allows and you require a whole - home base music ecosystem to go with yourBluetooth speaker , you might also think about theSonos Roam . It does both Bluetooth and Wi - Fi , plus easy voice commands and wireless charging , and you get it all for $ 179 .
How long will it last?
JBL ’s speaker have a fairly expert track track record , and the Flip 6 was made to last . You do need to care for it right to ensure its longevity , like rinsing off moxie and salt , for instance . Keep it uninfected and it should keep playing for years . JBL offers a one - year warrantee to cover the speaker unit from harm , but not for all instances of urine damage .
Should you buy it?
Yes , if you need a speaker this sizing that prioritizes loud , exonerated sound , and you ’re cool with not having a speakerphone inside . If you already have a Flip 5 , you probably do n’t need to take the plunge , unless you really feel you desire the few unexampled feature available .
