This is not a 360-degree speaker, so its placement matters. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. If you’re lucky enough to live in a climate where you can have your Christmas party next to a swimming pool, you’ll be glad to know that this speaker, with its durable fabric coat, is IPX7-rated waterproof so it’s not going to mind a few splashes of water or even a tropical downpour. Again it comes at the expense of the size, or at least shape, of the bass, but this too is largely deliberate. There was a problem. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Finally, there’s the JBL Connect button that offers more listening opportunities. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and photography, EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Michigan Economic Development Corporation BrandVoice. If the party becomes exceptionally raucous then the speaker won’t even mind being submerged in the pool, as it really is waterproof. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Its high-capacity 7500mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery provides up to 20 hours of playtime. The JBL Charge 4 delivers amazing power to your music and can charge your phone. The Charge 4 features a rugged design, IPX7 waterproof rated exterior and comes in a suite of cool colors. Together with JBL Connect+ it can wirelessly link more than 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers to elevate your listening experience. The JBL Charge 4 can’t deliver real sub-bass, but in the context of most songs it gets close enough to satisfy. © Argos Limited 2020. Alternatively, it’s possible to set-up two JBL Charge 4s as a pair of stereo speakers, each playing a mono left and right channel, in order to create a wide stereo soundstage. Like the last generation, you can also use the JBL Charge 4 to charge your phone or tablet – in fact anything that will charge over USB from a 5V supply. Meanwhile, on top of the speaker, there’s a power switch and a Bluetooth pairing button next to each other. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. It isn’t necessarily better, but does show JBL has put much more thought and effort into this update than you might assume from its exterior. Also, there’s no carry case provided but there are plenty of after-market cases available at a reasonable price. That’s an excellent characteristic to help render vocals lines realistically, and project them properly in the mix. If you’re holding your party in the office, you’ll want a pretty powerful Bluetooth speaker with plenty of volume and plenty of bass to get the party started. The most advanced feature is the one you are least likely to use. 3.5mm AUX in. However, battery capacity has actually been substantially increased, from 6000mAh to 7500mAh. So JBL Flip 4, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable ⭐ reviews than the $120 JBL Charge 4, as seen on the chart below. Visit our corporate site. © Connect+ lets up to 100 JBL speakers hook up to play the same song. The other omission is voice assistant compatibility. At the rear of the speaker there’s a waterproof rubber hatch that opens up to reveal a USB C port for charging the Charge 4’s battery, a USB A port for supplying power to a smartphone, and a 3.5mm stereo input so that analog sound sources, such as a digital music player, can be connected, if necessary. The big sound and long battery life make it an ideal choice for all sorts of situations, whether that’s pool parties or for use in the kitchen. BA1 1UA. 65 points. Together with JBL Connect+ it can wirelessly link more than 100 JBL Connect+ enabled speakers to elevate your listening experience. It’s also possible to connect two smartphones to the speaker simultaneously so you can pass over playlist duty to someone else while taking a well-earned rest or freshening up your drink. Receive news and offers from our other brands? There’s no wi-fi, no native support for digital smart assistants or proper multi-room functionality. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. The customer and brand answers you’ll see above are submitted independently. But at high volume, the strain starts to show a little. That means a greater focus on coherence, separation, and giving the midrange more room to breathe. All Rights Reserved. Those who buy the Charge 4 expecting big bombastic bass based on its looks, may not find what they are after. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Compatible with iPod, iPhone and iPad. I enjoy all aspects of technology, especially using gadgets that make life more enjoyable, creative and productive. … The JBL Charge 4 is no exception and is probably the loudest battery-powered speaker I’ve heard that’s still portable enough to be popped in a rucksack. With respect to overall sound, you really can't go wrong with either speaker, though the Megaboom 3 does have a more polished mid- to high end sound. Overview Prices Specs + Add to comparison. These changes are not simply down to a different EQ profile or a tweaked driver. Search. Get is now at JBLCOM With a mighty 20 hours of playing time and a muscular 30W of amplification, the JBL Charge 4 is a... [+] great party speaker. JBL has given the Charge 4 a similar generational treatment it applied to the five-star Xtreme 2. The JBL Charge 4 can’t deliver real sub-bass, but in the context of most songs it gets close enough to satisfy. Obviously, the Charge 4 plays in stereo on its own, thanks to a pair of regular speakers and two passive radiators that amplify the bass, but the size of the speaker means you’re not going to get very great stereo separation or a convincing soundstage. There is a hefty 30-Watts of power on offer here, all in a package that measures 22cm in length and about 9.5cm in across, with a frequency response ranging from 60Hz to 20kHz. To satisfy the urge to press these, JBL has embossed an exclamation mark into the rubber surface. The Charge 4 series delivers intense and powerful stereo sound thanks to a propietary developed driver and two JBL bass radiators – so if you need to amplify your party, with JBL Connect+ it's possible! However, it is the sound, for me, that’s seen a big improvement. The new JBL Charge 4 is waterproof to IPX7 standard which means it can withstand being submerged in... [+] water. The JBL Charge 4’s sound is classy and surprisingly refined for a mainstream speaker. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. In fact, the JBL Charge 4 is hardy all-round. All rights reserved. A large part of my time is spent hunting down and testing some of the best and most innovative technology on the market today. The clever feature about JBL Connect+, and its accompanying app, it how it can enable up to 100 other JBL speakers to be linked and playing in unison using Party Mode. The good news is that it doesn’t matter. But it would be wrong to call this a bass-light speaker. The JBL Charge 4 has Bluetooth and click button controls built into its top. en. It cleaned up the sound of its big Bluetooth speaker with the excellent JBL Xtreme 2, and has now done the same for the Charge range. 65 points. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. It can also double as a smartphone charger so you can top up the power on your phone while playing music to the speaker. JBL Charge 4 Portable Wireless Speaker in White. What Hi-Fi? *Prices correct as displayed but are subject to change. What is the difference between JBL Charge 4 and JBL Flip 4? Focal updates its mid-range speaker series with the Aria K2 936 floorstander, Best Sonos alternatives 2020: multi-room music systems, Best sports headphones 2020: keep active with these earbuds. It features a proprietary developed driver and two JBL bass radiators that intensify sound with strong deep bass. Introducing the JBL Charge 4 Bluetooth speaker with full-spectrum, powerful sound and a built-in power bank to charge your devices. With certain tracks, the proportion of bass is reduced and the upper-mids take on a harder tone. JBL has fine-tuned the sound to please even pickier ears and battery capacity has increased. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. As we don’t review these answers, we can’t take responsibility for anything they may say.