Contents of delivery
- Column
- power unit
- Replacement plugs (American by default, Russian included)
- USB cable
- Documentation
Design, construction
It seems to me that of all the Chargers, the third model is the most beautiful - the passive radiators at the ends still tremble, and the recognizable shape (barrel) is similar, they added all sorts of details.
There is a large Charge 3 inscription on the back, the body is sewn into a fabric that is pleasant to the touch, although this material will withstand orders of magnitude more than plain fabric. Convex convenient buttons, neat lighting exactly where needed, translucent inserts at the ends and bottom - all this makes the device modern, convenient, attractive and functional. The fabric allows your fingers to not slip, even if the speaker is only made of water, the stands securely hold the device in place, and you can place it on the end or on the bottom stand. But, I like the sound better when both bass ports are open. The speaker is available in several colors, all of them are good, from simple black to an unusual sea green color.
In terms of the case and design, I found only one drawback - at first carefully watch how the cover of the compartment with connectors (AUX, USB, microUSB) is closed; immediately after purchase it may move a little, just push it in harder, then it will snap into place. Once it's developed, you won't need to pay attention to it. If you suddenly have problems with this, be sure to write to me.
On the top there are six regular, non-touch buttons: Bluetooth activation, volume control, JBL Connect, on/off, Play/Pause, which is also responsible for answering and ending a call. Let me remind you that the JBL Connect function helps to connect several speakers in a circuit, here is a video for clarity.
JBL explains everything very clearly - I tried connecting the charge to the JBL Xtreme, no problems arose. The sound is transmitted from one speaker to another, it is stereo sound, the effect is interesting. In addition, you can connect to the speaker from three devices at once and take control one by one - and there are no restrictions on devices, it can be a smartphone or a computer. At parties everyone wants to play their tracks, please play them.
I would especially like to note the size of the device; in fact, all users and journalists talk about this. Charge 3 has a very good format for its characteristics; it can be carried in a small bag or backpack, easily attached to a bicycle, or taken to the beach, park, or playground. It also seemed to me that the column was heavier than the previous one, and I was not mistaken, the third “charge” weighs 800 grams, the old one 600 grams. But the column works much more now! So there’s definitely no need to worry about weight.
Water protection and battery
I decided to combine these two points to protect users with different levels of knowledge. For example, here's the first tip - if you just pulled the speaker out of the water, you shouldn't immediately connect it to the charger. If you are going to go swimming with the Charge 3, then first of all, think carefully. And secondly, close the cap. The speaker has IPX7 protection and, in theory, can withstand immersion. I even tested this theory, but very quickly, because about IPX7 they write this: “Temporary immersion in water will not have a harmful effect on the device under standard conditions of pressure and duration of immersion.” In the case of the JBL Charge 3, this means diving to a depth of one meter for thirty minutes. Well, rain, even heavy, or drops of water will not have a serious impact on the column.
Now about the operating time. 20 hours of music playback at medium volume are stated, for charging you can and should use the included orange power supply - it’s good that the accessories here are made in the JBL style, no black or gray nondescript things. The speaker charges from the power supply in two and a half hours, from a computer USB port – an hour more. The battery capacity is 6000 mAh, which is really a lot for a speaker.
External battery
Let me remind you that Charge is not just a name, but also the main function of the device, the speaker can charge any gadgets, even smartphones, even players, even cameras - there is a USB port on the back, connect, charge. It's so good and convenient that there's nothing to add. The main thing, I will repeat for the third time, do not forget to close the cap if you go swimming.
Speakerphone
The speaker is installed in the column, and it just so happened that I was the only one who managed to test it, and when my friends and I were talking with a friend from another city - not a meeting, but simple chat. But Charge 3 copes with the task surprisingly well, I even decided to say this separately. The interlocutor's voice is natural, with characteristic notes, perhaps a little muffled, but this is not a problem. The volume reserve is great. In general, I advise you not to be shy about using a speakerphone in different situations, for example, sitting in the bathroom - you can listen to music, answer a call directly from the speaker and have a calm conversation without fear for the device. Worth a lot!
However, I was not surprised for long - in the instructions I saw the VoiceLogic logo, this technology was presented by the HARMAN concern almost two years ago, it is used in a number of consumer and professional products - in short, a software and hardware complex that can take the level of communication to a new level (literally sense). For devices like VoiceLogic portable speakers, this is full duplex, which means the same communication experience as if you were talking on the phone, reduced echo, increased signal-to-noise ratio. It’s nice to see the VoiceLogic logo in the instructions for an inexpensive product, and it’s even nicer to use.
Sound
Power is 20 W (increased by a quarter), two 50 mm speakers, a reproduced frequency range of 65 Hz - 20 kHz, two passive radiators, a huge volume reserve and the sound in general has become better - it seems like a portable speaker, but it’s not bad at all to listen to the Charge 3 for working at home when there are much more powerful systems nearby. Very good! Powerful, loud, no obvious failures. The only criticism I have is the range, the Bluetooth 4.1 protocol is used here, but it’s not clear about the class - but already in the corner of the next room the sound is transmitted intermittently. However, in open areas the speaker can easily be carried a few meters away from the smartphone.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the sound. It's a truly interesting experience for a portable system, and I'm sure many people will appreciate the JBL Charge 3. For advanced gadget lovers, this will be a speaker for use on the street or while traveling, but anyone interested will find here attractive sound, functions and, most importantly, price.
conclusions
Only 10,990 rubles at retail - here is the answer to the question of how good the JBL Charge 3 is. All the necessary functions - water protection, JBL Connect, an excellent speakerphone, 20 hours of operation, almost a day. And all this in a relatively compact and beautiful package. It’s gratifying that the signature feature with passive radiators is in place. It’s gratifying that Charge 3, like other chargers, can charge other devices, it’s gratifying that the DJ mode is also in place, switching music from different devices occurs without problems, smoothly.
I didn’t find any obvious downsides to the device, we have another hit ahead of us, and the speaker goes on sale just in time, with at least three months of relatively warm weather ahead. I think the Charge 3 will sell very well - the only competition can be the JBL Charge 2 Plus (approximately 7,500 rubles). Which one to choose is up to you.
When the JBL Charge 2+ wireless speaker went on sale last year, our excitement knew no bounds. In addition to excellent sound quality and a capacious battery that can charge more than one iPhone, the speaker has become splash-proof, which makes it possible to safely take it on picnics and not be afraid of rain. It seemed that it couldn’t get any better, but HARMAN has proven that even a seemingly flawless product can still be improved.
Our first acquaintance with the Charge 3 took place at the HARMAN stand at the MWC exhibition in Barcelona in February of this year. Then we were immediately struck by the increased size of the speaker and the textile covering, which caused a mixed reaction. Now the new product has arrived at our office, and we have the opportunity to test it and make a verdict.
I would like to start with the appearance, which has changed noticeably: the third generation Charge has significantly increased in size relative to the second, which also affected the power. In particular, it has increased by 30% and is now 20 W versus 15 W for the previous model. The buttons have also been modified, becoming convex and larger, so you can easily find them even in the dark.
As for that very textile covering: although some may not like it in terms of design, its practical advantages are quite obvious. Firstly, owners of older versions of Charge probably complain about scratches that immediately appear on the case after the first drop. As you might guess, Charge 3 is much better protected from such a threat. And secondly, this coating provided the speaker with protection according to the IPX7 standard, that is, it is completely dustproof and can withstand up to 30 minutes under water at a depth of 1 meter. By the way, a little advice: if you are going to frequently immerse the speaker in water, tightly close the lid under which the connectors are hidden. At first it does not close very tightly, but over time it will develop: the tightness was made with reserve.
As mentioned above, the speaker has received increased power, which means that you can shake the area with even more impressive sound. Moreover, this can be done within not 12, but 20 hours. Despite the fact that the battery capacity remained at the same 6000 mAh mark, thanks to successful experiments with its chemical composition, HARMAN engineers were able to significantly increase battery life.
Charge speakers never disappoint when it comes to sound quality, and the third generation was no exception. In fact, the sound has even gotten better, since the supported frequency range has increased: from 65 Hz to 20 kHz. has also been updated and is now offered in version 4.1, which is also good news.
As can be seen from our review, the JBL Charge in its third iteration has become even more attractive and is one of the favorites in the race for the title of best portable acoustic solution. By the way, the author of these lines uses the Charge 2+ as a kitchen speaker, and thanks to good music and excellent sound, the process of cooking and eating food can drag on for a long time. So it’s difficult to maintain objectivity in this situation, but if we are talking about a really good product, then you don’t really want to regret compliments.
The only thing that can stop a potential buyer is the price: in the official HARMAN store, the JBL Charge 3 speaker is sold for 10,990 rubles. You can hardly call it cheap, but if you happen to own this product for at least a couple of hours, you will understand that the price-quality ratio is simply ideal. You can purchase JBL Charge 3 at
The Charge model line from JBL is designed for the maximum audience of buyers. There are no unnecessary accessories like fastening carabiners or lights, but the standards of moisture protection are met and the battery life is increased.
The new copy of the portable audio system received more advanced IPX7 protection and improved sound. Read about other interesting features of the device in the JBL Charge 3 review.
⚙️ Characteristics, equipment
JBL Charge 5 specifications:
- Emitters: 1 oval for bass (52x90 mm) and 1 tweeter (20 mm)
- Frequency response: 65 Hz – 20 kHz
- Output power: 40 W (RMS) (30 W woofer and 10 W tweeter)
- Signal to noise ratio: > 80 dB
- Bluetooth version: 5.1
- Supported codecs: SBC
- Battery type: lithium polymer, 7500 mAh
- Battery charging time: 4 hours
- Music playback time: up to 20 hours
- Interfaces: Bluetooth, USB input, Power Bank mode
- Protection: IP67 (dust and water resistant)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm
- Weight: 960 grams
- Price: $180 (RUB 13,490)
Equipment:
- JBL Charge 5 speaker.
- USB cable (Type-C).
- Documentation.
Equipment
The audio system is packaged in a large box with a picture of the Charge 3 submerged in water. On the front of the package are the main features (Bluetooth, IPX7 waterproof, JBL Connect), as well as a mark of victory in the international Design Awards 2016 competition. On the back you can find detailed technical specifications.
Inside the box:
- JBL Charge 3;
- Power unit;
- Replacement plugs (American and Russian included);
- microUSB cable;
- Documentation.
