JBL Xtreme 3: speaker review and operating experience for 6 months

Harman/Kardon Go + Play is a convenient, compact, stylish audio system optimized for wireless audio transmission.

It has small dimensions, but is relatively heavy. Compared to its colleagues, this speaker provides excellent sound. It produces deep, rich bass as well as high and clear mids.

Thanks to the built-in Bluetooth module, other devices can be connected wirelessly. You can connect players, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc. You can also connect it wiredly, for this there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, as well as USB where you can connect flash drives or other devices.

The audio system can operate either from the mains or from a battery, the charge of which will last for about 8 hours. Thanks to this device, you can not only use it at home, but also take it with you on trips. But be careful with it, as there is no protection against moisture.

Technical specifications of Harman Kardon GO + play mini

One of JBL's flagships is the Xtreme portable speaker, which, thanks to a record 10,000 mAh battery capacity, is capable of operating autonomously for up to 15 hours, which is an absolute record among portable audio devices in this class. The body is made of plastic, which easily withstands vibration and strong noise. JBL Xtreme has a rounded shape, a kind of “mini-barrel”, good design. Thanks to JBL Connect, you can connect multiple speakers, allowing you to create a rich stereo field that creates an unusually rich taste. It's worth noting that the speaker is equipped with dedicated bass ports, allowing the JBL Xtreme to reproduce all the necessary, useful bass signal. Four additional sensors are responsible for the music playback process, which will allow you to fully experience the energy of the music.

JBL Xtreme Specifications

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 Charge 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.

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 that there are sudden disconnects in connection 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.

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.

How to use

Many device owners cannot figure out how to use the radio on a JBL speaker, because the approaches to this issue are individual each time. Let's look at how to activate and configure the option on different devices. We will separately look at alternatives for other models on which this function is not provided by the manufacturer.

How to turn it on

The activation process depends on what device you have in your hands - original or replica. Let's consider each of the options.

Original column

First, let's look at how to enable the function of interest and configure the radio on an official JBL speaker. As noted, such a model must have an opening antenna that allows it to receive a signal.

To enable reception, follow these steps:

1. Raise the FM receiver antenna fully.
2. Press the Play key to launch radio stations.
3. Look at the display, which shows frequencies, active mode and saved channels.
4. Save your favorite frequencies using dedicated buttons. We will look at how to set up a JBL speaker on a radio in more detail below.

Depending on the model, the functionality may differ slightly, but the general approach to activation and selection of modes is identical.

Replica

If you need to turn on the radio on a JBL Xtreme speaker or another model related to non-original devices, the approach will be different.

Take the following steps:

1. Plug the 3.5mm jack into your headphones or AUX. In this case, the wire takes on the function of an antenna.
2. Press the power button to turn on the device.
3. Double-click the key with the picture of an inverted hourglass to turn on the desired mode.
4. Make sure the radio is working.

In a situation where the jbl speaker has an FM radio and no antenna, we can safely talk about a fake. But this does not prevent you from listening to your favorite stations through headphones or another wired connection. There are also alternative ways to connect a radio to a JBL speaker, and we will discuss them below.

How to setup

Now let's figure out how to set up the radio on the original and Chinese JBL speaker in order to navigate the available functionality.

Original

If you have a genuine JBL speaker at hand, you need to do the following:

• Press the power button to turn on the device.
• Raise the antenna.
• Click on the Scan button to automatically scan and search for frequencies of interest.

• Press the Tune keys "-" and "+" to manually change the radio.
• After searching for your favorite station, lock buttons 1 to 5 to record the frequency of interest.

In this way, you can tune the radio on the JBL Bluetooth speaker and quickly turn on the station of interest. Frequencies from 87.5 to 108 MHz are available for listening.

Video review of JBL Xtreme

For more interesting models of compact acoustics, see our rating “TOP best portable speakers of 2022”

Wireless speakers are now in fashion, and have become especially popular over the past year. Music lovers will not refuse the opportunity to always carry a device with them that allows them to listen loudly to their favorite music anywhere and anytime. And a portable audio system is perfect for this. One of the best representatives of such devices on the market is the JBL Xtreme 2. This speaker is capable of a lot, it can even rock a full-fledged outdoor party. But is the gadget worth the money? Let's figure it out.

Design

It's worth talking more about the Xtreme's design. This Bluetooth model does not change the traditions of the company and is made in the form of a shortened tube. This form was chosen for a reason - the Bluetooth acoustics fit confidently in the palm of your hand, and the speakers inside the case are located specifically for the stereo sound effect.

For ease of transportation, Jbl has built-in holes for a belt. The strap attaches to the Xtreame audio speaker using carabiners, making it easy to carry with you. You can replace the included belt with one that is convenient for you by rearranging the carabiners.

The exact dimensions of the Xtreme Bluetooth speaker are: 283×126×122 mm. In terms of dimensions, the device is comparable to a two-liter plastic bottle. The Jbl weighs 2.1 kg, which is light for powerful speakers. The appearance of the Xtreame wireless speaker system is minimalistic but elegant.

In addition to the covering made of special fabric to protect the speaker, the sides of the Bluetooth audio speaker are decorated with rubberized inserts in a color of your choice. Everything is complemented by the company’s orange logo in the foreground of the column.

Despite its impressive dimensions, Jbl Bluetooth speakers easily fit into bags, backpacks, and briefcases. The sound power allows you to listen to music from inside the carrier. The rounded shapes will help position the Xtreame in a confined space and will prevent the speaker from being damaged if dropped.

JBL Xtreme 2 Specifications

• Speaker: low frequency 50.8 x 70 mm;
• Tweeter: 2 x 20 mm;
• Power Rating: 2 x 20W RMS, bi-amp (AC mode);
• Frequency response: 55 Hz – 20 kHz;
• Signal-to-noise ratio: >80 dB;
• Power supply: 19 V / 3 A;
• Battery type: lithium-ion polymer 36 Wh (equivalent to 3.7 V / 10,000 mAh);
• Battery charging time: 3.5 hours;
• Music playback time: up to 15 hours (depending on the content being played and volume level);
• Bluetooth® version: 4.2;
• USB charging: 5V/2A (max);
• Dimensions (H x W x D): 136 x 288 x 132 mm;
• Weight: 2,393 g

Design and build quality

JBL Xtreme 2 has a truly durable body. In addition to the fact that this speaker is protected from water and dust, which allows you to immerse it at a depth of 1 meter for half an hour, there are also two metal brackets that are designed to pull the strap through them. The question arises why this is necessary. The fact is that the speaker weighs almost 2.4 kilograms. So, without a strap, you are unlikely to be able to carry it with you all the time. And thanks to the combined hook strap, the mount becomes very versatile. You can even open bottles with this belt buckle.

Just like the previous model, JBL Xtreme 2 has additional protection in the form of a fabric mesh. Three colors are available for purchase: black, blue and green. The speaker is located in the front of the column, on which a large corporate logo is visible. There are six function keys on top, two of which are backlit. There is also the opportunity to combine up to one hundred speakers of this src=»https://bestvix.ru/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Kolonka-JBL-Xtreme-2-02.jpg» class=»aligncenter» width into one audio system ="765″ height="430″[/img]

Is there a radio on the JBL speaker?

To avoid confusion, let's immediately figure out if there is a radio on the JBL speaker. In official devices, this option is provided only on the JBL Tuner / Tuner 2, Tuner XL, Horizon 2 models. They are easily recognized by the presence of a special antenna, which is attached to the top and opens if necessary.

As for the speakers Flip 4, Charge 4, Flip 5, Charge 2, Charge 3 and others, the official versions do not have a built-in option. But it is provided in Chinese fakes (replicas), which allow you to connect to radio stations after turning on the 3.5 mm wire.

Sound quality

As we all know, JBL pays great attention to the sound quality of its speakers, which allows them to be constantly loved by users. Typically, the brand's speakers are bass-dominated, but JBL Xtreme 2 has brought some changes with it. As in previous models from the popular manufacturer, the bass here is really very powerful. But this portable speaker also reproduces the mid-high range quite well.

JBL's traditional midrange problems actually mean that vocals remain somewhere in the background and are drowned out by the sounds of the music. And this problem was also solved in JBL Xtreme 2, which received an extended mid-frequency range. Unfortunately, it was not possible to completely resolve this problem. The vocals still lag behind the instruments. But what we hear from the JBL Xtreme 2 speaker is much closer to ideal.

The JBL Xtreme 2 is at its best in songs where the vocals harmonize perfectly with the piercing sound of the bass guitar. Often, it is precisely such musical compositions that become a serious test for portable speakers, which simply cannot withstand such sound. JBL Xtreme 2 copes with this. The low frequencies are also impressive here. The speaker produces percussive bass. The user gets the opportunity to hear the maximum amount of detail in the composition. Moreover, the speaker copes with both the quality and quantity of bass.

The JBL Xtreme 2 has a 360-degree soundstage, so you don't have to worry about being unable to deliver consistent sound at a party. And finally, it is worth noting that the speaker is capable of sounding very loudly without distorting the sound or cutting it off. The speaker will be able to provide a small party or allow you to have a fun weekend somewhere outdoors.

Once for everything

The speaker volume has also increased significantly. I used it as a speaker for a projector and outdoors. As soon as you turn up the volume, a powerful sound spreads throughout the house. Overall, the device is great for listening at home, but all of its rich sound is revealed outside the home.

From the powerful bass at maximum volume, the JBL Xtreme 3 begins to vibrate, but at the same time stands securely in place.

The connection occurs through the usual Bluetooth settings. It is enough to introduce the device to JBL Xtreme 3 once and no further actions will be required for future connections. There is also support for up to two sound sources (whose smartphone started playing the track first will listen to the music).

Through the JBL Portable app, you can view the charge level or create a pair of JBL speakers. Unfortunately, only devices with an updated protocol can use JBL PartyBoost.

Xtreme is heavy and will not fit into every bag, so to carry the speaker there is a complete shoulder strap, which is attached to durable metal lugs. If desired, it can be mounted on the wall or placed on the door. The strap is suitable for a variety of uses, not just typical carrying.

Peculiarities

This model has several distinctive features:

1. Wireless Bluetooth streaming connection: it is possible to connect two tablets or smartphones at once, thanks to which everyone in the company can take turns playing songs.
2. High autonomy thanks to a capacious battery. Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery supports up to 15 hours of music playback. This also makes it possible to charge your smartphone or tablet via a USB port.
3. IPX7 waterproof. Weather conditions will never spoil your party if you have JBL Xtreme 2 with you. This speaker can even be submerged under water.
4. JBL Connect+. You can combine up to 100 speakers into one audio system with JBL Connect+.
5. The speaker body contains metal hooks and durable fabric materials that allow the JBL Xtreme 2 to work in any conditions.
6. With JBL Bass Radiator technology, you will not only hear, but also see how much higher the level of acoustics and bass is compared to the previous model. This was made possible thanks to updated drivers and passive radiators.
7. It is possible to choose a coloring. The device is available in three colors - Midnight Black, Forest Green and Ocean Blue.
8. Speakerphone: JBL Xtreme 2 features a speakerphone with echo and noise cancellation technology. This will allow you to make phone calls through the speaker. At the same time, the connection will be excellent and without any noise.