JBL Extreme 2 - Bluetooth speaker review. Advantages and disadvantages

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JBL Xtreme 2 is a wireless Boombox speaker system. It's loud and portable, rather than aiming for the technology seen in smart speakers. However, Wi-Fi and proper digital assistant support are missing.

Still, it sounds great, with a much more refined and balanced sound than the original JBL Xtreme.

Main characteristics:

• Review price: 13 thousand rubles
• IPX7 water resistance
• 2 x 2.75" woofers
• 2 x passive radiators
• 2 x 20 mm tweeters
• Bluetooth 4.2
• JBL Connect+
• Up to 10 hours of battery life

This is a portable speaker for music lovers, although its appearance may not seem like much. However, don't buy the JBL Xtreme 2 expecting the ferocious or cartoonish bass response its name and design suggest.

Description

A carrying strap is inserted through the brackets. The Extreme 2 speaker is wireless. The speaker weighs almost 3 kg. The release date of Jbl Xtreme 2 in Russia is unknown, prices per speaker are about 11,000 rubles.

Three colors: blue, black , green. The Xtreme 2 controls are located on top of the column.

Using the application, you can connect up to a hundred speakers for a large-scale party.

Audio devices

On topic

If you read us, you know that we have already declared our love for JBL. Here, a knowledgeable person doesn’t even need to explain anything - the company’s name speaks for itself. Today we want to give you a full review of the manufacturer's leading speaker today. Whatever the manufacturer, Xtreme 2 became the best speaker of 2018 and remains so for now. Who is this device for? Definitely for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you listen to music alone at home, host unique parties, or prefer to travel the world listening to your favorite artists... this model will satisfy any need. If you are one of those who hesitate for six months before purchasing, or still haven’t heard anything about the top baby, here is our review!

Design

It's great to have a choice. This speaker is available in three colors - Midnight Black, Forest Green and Ocean Blue, and to put it simply, it is black, green and blue-blue. But all attention, of course, should be focused on the “strategic” design elements of the device, because they serve its functionality. For example, in the upper part of the case there are metal brackets - there are two of them. You simply attach the included strap to them, and that’s it—the music is always with you. Here you can ask why all speakers have a mount in one place, but Xtreme 2 has it on each side? Yes, the speaker is just heavy - it weighs neither more nor less - 2.4 kg. As you can see, it is more advisable to carry such weight not suspended on a backpack, but with its own handle, evenly holding the device - this is more reliable for the device and easier for you. He hung it on his shoulder and walked away. Moreover, you don’t have to worry that the speaker will come unhooked - the fastenings are centuries old - both on the case and on the belt.

Go ahead. The speaker body is powerfully protected from moisture getting inside, and to be precise, it doesn’t care about water at all. Well, okay, within reasonable limits! For example, if you and your friends are hanging out by the pool and suddenly drop Xtreme 2 into the water, don’t panic - at a depth of up to 1 meter it can lie for up to half an hour without harming the system. Most likely, this is the manufacturer’s prudent concern for its slightly absent-minded users, because you yourself don’t spend that much time under water, unless you’re preparing for a diving marathon, practicing breath-holding to David Bowie’s hits.

Decorative and identifying details are located on the sides of the case, and of course on the front we see the bright red company logo. The cylindrical giant has all the control buttons on top, which are easy to feel, and a couple of them are also illuminated. We forgot to say, we called this model “baby” purely out of love - in fact, Extreme 2 will not fit into any pocket: the dimensions of the speaker are 13.6 x 28.8 x 13.2 cm. But when and to whom did this bother? This is how I remember the 90s, when fashionistas with musical batteries draped over their shoulders roamed the streets.

Sound

JBL are the recognized kings of sound, so we can safely expect only the best from each of their devices. The company works with the most advanced technologies, including its own, to achieve the most realistic and detailed sound. The manufacturer's speakers, as a rule, are distinguished by increased bass sound, and this model is somewhat improved: yes, the bass lines remain rich, but they sound much more laconic in relation to the mid and high frequencies. By the way, about frequencies: you are probably interested in a specific operating range - it is 55 Hz - 20 kHz.

With the advent of Xtreme 2, changes also came in the sound of vocal parts, or rather, the mid-frequency range was “twisted” and now does not drown out the vocal parts of the compositions - users previously noted this problem. Now the experienced ear of a music lover is satisfied! If we switch to numbers again (is it suddenly clearer?), then the speaker responsible for low frequencies has a size of 50.8 x 70 mm, and the mid-frequency one is 2 x 20 mm.

As for the uniform distribution of sound, here it works 360 degrees! And by the way, this speaker can serve a whole party, because it sounds absolutely loud, and no distortion is detected. It is important that the sound is equally clear both indoors and outdoors. The Xtreme 2 also works as a speakerphone, and has built-in noise reduction and echo elimination for this purpose.

Performance

JBL Xtreme 2 on a full battery charge gives its owner 15 hours of enjoyment of your favorite music. During this time, you can even listen to an entire audiobook! For such a long operation, you need to give the column enough time to recharge - it will need 3.5 hours. The lithium-ion battery has a hefty capacity of 10,000 mAh, and it immediately becomes clear why it takes so much time to get full. Be patient, this monster works for you and for you. But when the giant is full of energy, it can share it with your other gadgets - for example, a depressed smartphone or tablet on which you just urgently need to look at maps. Yes, any device that can be connected using USB will be instantly saved. At the same time, you won’t be disappointed with music either - remember what impressive reserves your music station is endowed with. This even makes your soul warmer - magic in action!

Compound

To communicate with the source, a Bluetooth connection is used, which picks up a decent signal within a radius of 20 meters - provided that there is no interference between the two devices. A 3.5 mm jack is provided for the audio cable.

By the way, so that your friends don’t bother you with a request to find this or that song, you can offer to connect to the speaker from another device, because it can work with two gadgets at once. Comfortable.

Protection

We have already mentioned the robust water resistance, but the IPX7 system is responsible for it. The working ports are located on the back surface of the case and are also protected from moisture; they are closed with special rubber plugs that fit tightly enough so as not to worry about the safety of the JBL Xtreme 2. The main thing is to make sure that they are closed.

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

JBL JBL Xtreme 2 Wireless Speaker

Sound quality

Bass predominates, but mid frequencies are also included here. The bass is powerful, especially thanks to the special mode.

Problems with vocals, Xtreme 2 is left behind. There is a slight lag from the instruments. Harmony is achieved with guitar accompaniment.

For the full sound of Jbl Xtreme 2, it is better to listen to songs without vocal parts.

Characteristics table

Water protection according to ipx7 standard

Jbl Xtreme 2 is protected from water by the Ipx7 coating, which allows you to immerse the gadget to a depth of 1 m for 30 minutes.

But manufacturers do not recommend abusing this function. Xtreme 2 coating also protects against dust and dirt.

If Xtreme 2 gets wet, you should dry the acoustics.

Battery life and protection

The JBL Xtreme 2 Bluetooth speaker has a 10,000 mAh battery, which allows it to work for about 15 hours on a single charge . At the same time, at medium volume the speaker can “live” even longer: about 19 hours. But if you like it louder, the autonomy may be noticeably lower: 5-6 hours.

Overall, the result is not bad: it should be enough for a day of background music or for a loud party