I think that I will not be mistaken if I say that JBL products are one of the most popular among audio devices in Russia and the CIS countries. It’s no wonder why a huge number of readers of the wifika.ru blog, after the release of a review on the JBL Link Portable, ask how to connect a JBL speaker to an Android phone and set up its control using the Alice voice assistant. In this manual, I will show you how to properly use the Jibiel wireless speaker with any Android smartphone - Samsung, Galaxy, Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Redmi, etc. We will also set up the operation of the speaker system with a smart home through the Yandex mobile application.
Specifications
- Speakers: two, low-frequency 20 mm, high-frequency 52 mm x 90 mm;
- Frequency range: 60 Hz – 20 kHz
- Output power: woofer 10W, tweeter 30W
- Signal to noise ratio: > 80 dB
- Battery: lithium-ion polymer, 7500 mAh
- Charging interface: USB Type-C (5 V/3 A)
- Interface for charging devices: USB Type-A (5 V/2 A)
- Battery charging time: 4 hours
- Music playback time: up to 20 hours
- Control: mechanical buttons
- Connectivity: wireless, Bluetooth 5.1
- Dimensions: 223 x 96.5 x 94 mm (Width x Height x Depth)
- Weight: 0.98kg (~1kg)
From the technical characteristics, you can notice an interesting feature - the model is both an audio system and an external battery for charging devices.
Equipment
The speaker comes in a heavy square box (all together ~1.5 kg), similar to a mini-suitcase. Its quality is pleasantly surprising - bright, neat and reliable, it is suitable for transporting the speaker to a party or nature.
The column itself flaunts on the front side, and its image is glossy and stands out from the background. On the sides there are a couple more bright pictures with the provocative phrase Dare to Listen (“Don’t be afraid to listen”). The back side lists the main features in several languages, including Russian. I note that there is a holder on top - perhaps in order to “attach” the box somewhere for carrying, although the impressive weight is unlikely to allow this to be done.
There is a black “tab” at the bottom with which you can open the box and see what’s inside. This method of opening evokes the idea that we are looking at a kind of “chest”, which is also, albeit a small, plus for the Charge 5. The box lid is held on by two barely noticeable magnets, which means the risk of accidental opening is minimal.
Inside there is a case with operating instructions, a warranty card, a safety brochure and a Type-C USB cable for charging, as well as the speaker itself, neatly packed in a cotton bag.
Interesting: inside the box there is a recess for the speaker, which means it can be used as a “chest” and you don’t need to buy an additional case.
This may seem unnecessary, but the textual documentation also leaves a pleasant impression. It has been translated into 19 languages, including Russian, and contains comprehensive information about Charge 5, ranging from technical parameters to tips on how to extend the life of the battery.
It’s surprising that so much can be said just about the packaging and accessories, but there’s more to come, because now I’ll tell you about the speaker itself.
Which JBL speaker is better to buy?
In any case, a portable speaker from the stated manufacturer is the personification of good build quality and sound delivery. However, which of these products is better to buy? It all depends on the series and model, purpose, personal needs, and budget. Summing up, the experts came to the same conclusion:
- The best deal for Open Air parties is the Xtreme Special Edition;
- The Charge 3 Special Edition model is recognized as a real bestseller from the brand;
- Pulse 3 is considered the most original in design and concept;
- An alternative to a home music center is Boombox.
It is impossible to definitely name one best product, since each of them has its own purpose. Taking into account the pros and cons of the models described in the rating, as well as your own preferences, you can make the most correct choice.
Design and Features
In appearance, Charge 5 is as similar as possible to Charge 4 and Xtreme 3 – JBL engineers remain faithful to the design, which they probably consider ideal. There is some truth in this - the speaker looks quite stylish, and its dimensions (width is ~23 cm) will allow you to easily place it on a table/bedside table/on a blanket at a picnic, and so on. True, compared to Charge 4, the weight has increased, but only slightly (from 960 g to 980), but overall the speaker is quite weighty.
Interesting: JBL Charge 5 is sold in 9 colors: green, red, pink, gray, black, white, light blue, blue and camouflage
The case itself protects the speaker with a tactilely pleasant wicker “grid”, and all other elements, namely the buttons and the passive bass radiator, are covered with rubberized inserts.
The speaker's level of protection from external influences (moisture, dust) is IP67. The developers themselves offer to verify its reliability - the device can be immersed under water to a depth of 1 meter and kept there for 30 minutes, and it will work. It’s unlikely that anyone would think of doing this, but at a pool party you can impress others.
Under the JBL logo, which is made of matte plastic, there is a charge indicator. During operation, it begins to slowly fade (as in the picture below), although such a solution allows you to only approximately understand how much longer the battery will last. It would be clearer if the indicator was clearly divided into sections like 100%/75%/50%/25%/0%.
Even lower are rubberized feet that allow you to place the device in a horizontal position. This is a small innovation compared to version 4, where it was clearly lacking.
Above the logo there are buttons for turning on, pairing and control. Their purpose is intuitive, except that the infinity sign does not mean loop playback, but connection to other portable systems.
On the back there are connectors for charging the speaker and other devices. As mentioned above, JBL Charge 5 can act as an external battery. The Type-C connector for powering the speaker is located behind a rubber plug, but is also protected according to IP67 class. As for the plug itself, it fits so tightly that I didn’t open it the first time.
There are passive bass radiators on the sides, and they are protected by the same rubber coupled with a high-quality plastic plug.
Compared to Charge 4, the side supports have increased, which gives more clearance from below and, as a result, improves sound quality. These supports also allow the device to be positioned vertically. They slide on a wet surface, but you have to make an effort to make the speaker fall. Another question is the durability of the rubber feet, which only time will answer.
JBL Charge 5 leaves an extremely positive impression. There are no signs of poor quality assembly, the device can be positioned horizontally or vertically, the case is reliably protected, and the rubber and “grid” will remain pleasant to the touch even after a long period of use.
Installation and repair of a wireless speaker
Once they brought me a wireless Bluetooth speaker for repair. She looked dignified. The box said JBL Charge 3. I googled it. From this yes! Column for 8 thousand. Cool. But, as I began to understand it, doubt immediately arose that this was really JBL Charge 3.
I took off the protective casing and began to marvel at how cheaply this creation was made. I compared it with the original from the pictures and realized that I had a cheap Chinese fake, a replica, a copy.
There is no point in comparing this creation with the original, the difference is colossal. Many people want to buy a JBL Charge 3 Bluetooth speaker on Aliexpress cheaper and end up buying a copy or a replica. For example, this one can be purchased here. Costs about 3000 rubles. Apparently, this is exactly the copy I received for repairs.
Well, the original JBL Charge 3 wireless speaker is sold on Ali in the TMall store. Its price is not much different from the one at which large chain stores sell the dispenser. So, if you want to buy the original, then do not chase the low price, the original costs 7-8 thousand rubles.
To begin with, I want to say that one of the most common breakdowns of such devices is a broken microUSB connector. It was with such a breakdown that this wireless speaker was brought to me for the first time. But, a few months later, it was connected to charging with a bad USB cord, after which it shorted, began to smoke, and after that the speaker stopped turning on.
First, let’s take a look at what “package” our fake craft is assembled from. The Bluetooth speaker is easy to disassemble. First, the decorative protective casing is removed.
Next, you need to peel off the rubber lining at the bottom of the stand and unscrew the four screws under it. After this, we unscrew the eight screws that hold the two halves of the case together.
All the main electronics are mounted on a small board, which connects to the keypad, speakers, and the power source - an 18650 lithium battery.
There are only a few chips on the main board. AC1720AP11057-5A8 chip is the brains of the device (microcontroller), which has a built-in Bluetooth module. An antenna is made on the printed circuit board in the form of a broken line, reminiscent of a meander.
If it suddenly happens that the microcontroller fails, then the board can be partially or completely replaced with a module based on AC17xxAP chips, of which there are a huge variety sold on Ali. Here is the link. It should be noted that they all have different markings, for example, AC1721AP10242-5A8, AC1716AP10234-5A8, AC1716AP10238-5A8. As I understand it, the chips differ only in their support for different versions of Bluetooth (V2.1, V4.0, V4.1, V4.2).
In addition to them, you can find modules based on the CSR8635 chip, which is a specialized Bluetooth chip. It has rich, but different from AC17xxAP microcircuits, functionality. It makes sense to buy a module on this chip if you only listen to music from a smartphone and do not use a flash card.
The stereo amplifier is made on the basis of two single-channel MIX2052 microcircuits, which operate in an economical D-class. Maximum output power 3.9W into a 4-ohm load (4Ω speaker) with a power supply of 5.5V. The rated power (with THD+N distortion of 1% at a frequency of 1 kHz) is 2.6W, when connecting a 4-ohm speaker and a 5V power supply.
The SOT-23/6 package apparently contains a DC/DC converter. Unfortunately, I was not able to identify this chip based on the S35BCA markings.
On the reverse side of the board there are SMD indication LEDs, a microphone, AUX IN and USB/microUSB connectors, as well as a slot for MMC memory cards. By the way, the original JBL Charge 3 speaker does not have a slot for memory cards, as does the entire line of JBL wireless speakers.
Some also believe that the USB connector is used to connect USB flash drives (with recorded music) and are upset that tracks from the flash drive are not played. In fact, the connector is used to charge a smartphone or other devices, since the original speaker is also a powerbank.
Thanks to the button behind the AUX IN connector, the controller determines that an external device, for example, an MP3 player, is connected to the speaker.
The power source is a 18650 lithium battery with a charge/discharge controller board.
The charge/discharge controller is made on a fairly popular DW01 microcircuit and an S8205A mosfets assembly in a SOT-23/6 package.
Now I’ll tell you about the malfunction and repair. As already mentioned, the column did not turn on. After opening and external inspection, no burnt parts were found on the printed circuit board. The lithium battery was in good working order and produced 3.8V.
After a quick acquaintance with the circuitry, it was found that the transistor marked A1sHB is something like an electronic key. What was alarming was that there was a barely noticeable crack or chip on its body.
After searching the A1sHB markings, it became clear that this transistor is a field-effect transistor, namely, a P-channel MOSFET transistor Si2301DS (Vishay).
Since its pinout became known to me, I decided to short-circuit the terminals of its drain (D) and source (S) to see what would happen.
The experiment with the short circuit turned out to be successful and the speaker turned on, and the sound of a greeting came from the speakers. But as soon as I opened the terminals of the mosfet transistor, the column quieted down again and the indication went out. It became clear that the problem was a faulty transistor, which, apparently, simply did not open.
Despite the fact that the Si2301DS SMD transistor is not at all in short supply, I did not want to buy it, since delivery costs much more than the transistor itself. I decided to look for a replacement.
Connection and control
Connecting the speaker to anything is quite simple - just press the power button, and then the Bluetooth icon, and the JBL Charge 5 will be ready to go. The connection is made quite quickly, the buttons only need to be pressed for 3 seconds. I note that switching on and accompaniment are accompanied by backlighting - a pleasant detail allows you to quickly understand the state of the speaker.
The Bluetooth 5.1 interface is responsible for the connection (Charge 4 has profile 4.2). The connection is stable, during a week of use it has never been interrupted. Moreover, the device goes into sleep mode if it is not used, and after a while it completely turns off.
As for controlling music, at first everything seemed trivial to me - there are a couple of mechanical buttons on the device itself (increase/decrease volume, stop/resume, pairing with other speakers), and the average user will be overwhelmed by them.
Note: the video was prepared solely to demonstrate the physical control capabilities of the speaker, and it does not convey anywhere near the sound quality
And this was enough for me too, but after reading the operating instructions, I discovered that you can additionally control the speaker using the proprietary JBL Portable application, available on Android and iOS.
In fact, it is quite simple and does not allow you to customize the sound. Designed for:
- Firmware updates;
- Connecting multiple devices to one audio system;
- More detailed tracking of charge level.
On the main screen you can immediately see all the described functions - for example, separate buttons are responsible for updating and PartyBoost, and the battery status is located in the center.
In the settings, which are located in the upper right corner, you can change the name of the device (for a party), familiarize yourself with the main functions of the application, remove/enable the response sound and check the firmware.
PartyBoost pairs with other speakers. So, in the “Party” mode you can connect as many devices as you like, according to JBL, and in the “Stereo” you will need a speaker compatible with PartyBoost to create surround sound. Unfortunately, Charge 4 is not suitable for this, no matter how strange it may be.
Note: the following JBL speakers are suitable for creating a stereo pair – Flip 6, Pulse 4, Xtreme 3, Boombox 2 and, of course, Charge 5
As you can see, the physical remote control of the JBL Charge 5 is quite basic, which is another plus.
Connect to Android phone or iPhone
Let's start with the simplest option - connect the JBL speaker to your smartphone as a regular wireless speaker. In this form, JBL Clip, Flip, Go, Charge or Pulse can be used at home or taken with you outside. And the portable JBL Link Portable is equipped with moisture protection and has an elongated shape that can easily fit into a bottle holder on a bicycle.
To connect via Bluetooth to your phone you need to:
- Enable Bluetooth on your Android or iPhone device
- Press the power and bluetooth buttons on the wireless speaker to activate the synchronization mode
- Go to the Bluetooth settings and find the device whose name includes “JBL”
- Click on it, after which the speaker will appear in the list of active acoustics
If after this on the iPhone the sound does not go to the JBL speaker, and the music continues to play from the smartphone’s speakers, then you need to open the menu bar from the main screen and click on the audio icon
And select the JBL speaker as the sound device. I haven’t encountered this problem on phones running Android OS; after connecting, it’s the speaker that sounds.
Sound
In the fourth generation, the second speaker was removed, but it was in the third, and consumers did not really understand this decision. JBL Charge 5 also has a high-frequency speaker that works in conjunction with a pair of passive radiators on the sides and a full-range speaker.
Interesting: the device can be easily disassembled and the condition of the internal components can be checked
And no, JBL didn't go back to basics at all - for example, the third iteration had two full-range speakers, and this one has one tweeter and one woofer. The differences show up when playing music - the sound is richer and more detailed, while the bass remains quite bright.
The introduction of a 20mm tweeter doesn't provide stereo sound, but it still feels "wide". So, my speaker is located to the right of the laptop, but when watching TV shows, I didn’t feel as if the sound was somewhere on the side. Thus, the sound is at the limit of what can be expected from a portable device in this price category. Plus, you can combine two devices into a stereo pair and enjoy surround sound.
Charge 5 does not have an AUX output (mini-jack), and although the Bluetooth 5.1 interface is quite relevant, wireless communication still has delays, and ardent music lovers notice them and prefer a wired connection. The fourth version has a mini-jack. However, I note that although there are delays, they are almost imperceptible.
What should I do if my JBL speaker does not connect to WiFi?
After step 3 from the previous paragraph, an error may occur due to which the JBL speaker does not connect to Wi-Fi. Personally, I had this situation when resynchronizing, after I decided to reset the settings to record video instructions.
In this case, pay attention to the links displayed in small print at the bottom of the page
What is your opinion: is WiFi harmful?
Yes
22.91%
No
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Voted: 36504
First, you will be asked to play the sound again - bring the phone closer to the speaker microphones (for the JBL Portable they are located at the top next to the Alice call key). This step may have to be repeated several times until the speaker connects to WiFi.
If repeating the audio code several times does not help, then select “Still unable to connect”
And then “Set up without sound”
The phone will ask you to temporarily join the “JBL Link Portable” network, which the wireless speaker will automatically relay for setup. Let's do it
Upon completion of detection, select the Internet signal from the router again
And enter the password for it
Life hack - if you have several speakers in your house that support the Yandex smart home, then you can switch between them using the Alice call button
After which the JBL speaker is connected to the Internet.
Autonomy
The autonomy of JBL Charge 5 remains the same as that of version 4 - they promise up to 20 hours of playback, and the battery capacity (7500 mAh) really allows you to achieve this figure.
In practice, autonomy directly depends on the volume and frequency of use of the speaker. So, I listened to music at low volume, and it seemed that the charge was not draining at all. But as soon as I watched a couple of films and TV series, for which I turned the sound up almost to the maximum, the indicator began to rapidly go out. I am sure that one charge will be enough for one or two loud parties, no more.
Even though the declared power of the high-frequency speaker is 30 W, and the low-frequency speaker is 10 W, but this is RMS (Rated Maximum Sinusoidal - “Limit sinusoidal power”). That is, the speaker will produce 40 W, but after an hour it will already be discharged, and there is also a possibility of damage to the speakers, so you still shouldn’t turn up the volume all the way.
Charging is carried out via the USB Type-C port in just 4 hours. There is also standard USB-A for powering other devices (such as a phone).
My speaker ran out of charge after a week of using it at home: watching TV shows and movies, listening to music. On average, it was on for 3-4 hours every day. In my opinion, the autonomy is excellent, but it has not changed compared to the previous version.
JBL speaker rating
The best JBL speakers were selected based on the professional opinion of experts, user reviews, and the characteristics of the individual model. The nominees, which will be presented in the rating below, are intended for listening to music in any place where there is no possibility of connecting to the network, so the following indicators were taken into account during the selection:
- Dimensions and power;
- Number of speakers;
- Interface;
- Speakerphone;
- Battery capacity;
- Additional features;
- Quality of construction;
- Application area.
There are budget, mid-range, and premium models on sale with corresponding prices, for home or professional use, standard and multifunctional lines.
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Comparison with JBL Charge 4
Those familiar with the JBL Charge 4 will likely find many similarities with our current guest - and this is true. Of course, there are differences, but the device is not revolutionary - the JBL brand takes a proven formula and improves it, gradually moving towards its ideal. Here are the main differences from the fourth version:
- Two speakers - one high-frequency, the second low-frequency;
- Higher level of protection against moisture and dust;
- Design features (the charging port is moved out from under the plug, the indicator is in the form of a strip (there were circular ones), a rubberized stand, enlarged side supports, it is easier to press the buttons);
- Removed AUX port;
- Updated technology for combining devices into an audio system;
Moreover, the cost of the speaker has not changed - both 4 and 5 versions cost $180 at the start. But you should understand that these 180 bucks in 2021 in Russia are not the same as in 2022, so at the start of sales Charge 4 cost ~11,000 rubles, and Charge 5 is already selling for ~13,500 rubles.
How to set up a JBL speaker via WiFi for use with Alice?
Let's move on to the most interesting part. As I already said, the JBL Link Portable and Music speakers have a built-in voice assistant, Alice. And if you connect them to the Internet via Wi-Fi, you can configure the speakers to work with an assistant and, with its help, control your smart home, which is linked to the Yandex application, by voice.
I would like to note right away that JBL models will not be able to become a full-fledged replacement for Yandex Station, since full functionality is provided only to the native speakers of this brand. In particular, it will not be possible to create a tandem with the Yandex Module and control the TV through the JBL speaker - turn it off, adjust the volume, search for movies...
But the function of activating smart light bulbs or other household appliances with Alice support will still be available. This means that it’s still worth setting up a JBL speaker to work with Alice.
Step 1. Adding to the Yandex application
Let's start with the fact that you should already have the Yandex application installed on your phone or iPhone. Ideally, with a configured smart home system with which you can interact.
- Go to the Yandex application on your smartphone, open the “Devices” menu and click on “Plus”
- Next, select “Smart speaker with Alice”
- And here we find JBL Link Portable
- Click on the central button on the top panel of the column to activate Alice so that the indicators flash blue
- We agree to the terms of use of Yandex
- And choose a Yandex smart home that will be controlled by a JBL speaker
Step 2. Connect to the Internet via the router’s WiFi network
The next block of settings is dedicated to connecting the speaker to the Internet, from where Alice will get information (for example, weather, current time, etc.), and also have remote access to the smart home system. This is done through the WiFi network of your home router.
- Select a wireless signal to which you have access. The JBL Link Portable speaker supports both frequency ranges - 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
- And enter the password to log in to this network
- Next, you need to bring the phone to the speaker, after which a sound code will be played, in which the data for connecting JBL to Wi-Fi is encrypted
- After successful connection, click on “Got it”
- And we find our JBL acoustics in the list of active devices in the Yandex application
