Review JBL Flip 3 | Introduction

Just a year ago, for a high-quality portable Bluetooth speaker that was pleasing to the ear, you would have to shell out about $200. But the current generation of $100 speakers have brought similar sound quality to the lower end. price segment. JBL Flip 3- just from this series. The updated acoustics sound much better than its predecessor, and also has moisture protection. As a result, it can be considered one of the most interesting solutions on the market in its price range.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Device

Like previous models, JBL Flip 3 is a cylinder with dimensions of 17 x 6.4 cm with rounded edges, covered with a mesh material. Inside are two 1.5-inch speakers and a micro-subwoofer at each end. For such a compact size - a very rich filling.

Exterior color options are a rainbow of yellow, teal, red, pink, orange, grey, blue and black. And only the subwoofer plugs at the edges always remain black.

The control panel provides volume controls, Bluetooth connections, and a power button. speakerphone. But the panel is located on the reverse side, so access to it is not so convenient. The panel is painted in the same color as the body and looks harmonious.

Below the panel are a battery indicator and a power button. Nearby, under a moisture-proof rubber cover, there is a USB input and a 3.5 mm AUX jack. You can also use the button that allows you to connect two devices together. JBL Flip 3 or connect to JBL Pulse 2 or JBL Xtreme.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Strength tests

One of the features of the new model JBL Flip 3- moisture protection. The column can be safely placed next to the pool or not be afraid to leave it in the rain during a hike.

As an experiment, we placed the column under a stream of water for a few seconds, and it continued to work normally. However JBL Flip 3 does not have full water protection, while its 100-dollar counterpart UE Roll has full IPX7 protection and can work even under water for at least 30 minutes.

Review JBL Flip 3 | sound

JBL Flip 3 has noticeably better sound than the previous generation models, and may well compete for the title of the best compact speaker in the $100 range. Previous incarnations of the Flip lacked quality bass, but the current variant with two additional drivers eliminates that problem.

In terms of bass JBL Flip 3 sounds far better than that same UE Roll, but slightly worse than Charge 2+. The mid frequencies are also reproduced quite decently. We listened to a number of compositions, consisting, for the most part, of modern pop. And I want to note that in all cases the vocals sounded excellent.

On Miles Davids' "Round Midnight" on JBL Flip 3 and UE Roll, the horns sounded a little muffled, but the piano and drums JBL Flip 3 reproduced much better. Likewise, Lindsey Buckingham's guitar and vocals on "Never Going Back Again" sounded equally clear on UE Roll and JBL Flip 3. But JBL had better bass, which made the sound richer.

With 8 watt speakers each JBL Flip 3 has a good volume for such a baby. We aimed for 90 decibels at maximum volume, but the sound at that level starts to get distorted. At 85 decibels, the speaker sounds more decent, which will be enough for listening to music in a medium-sized room.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Speakerphone

Play the voices of the interlocutors JBL Flip 3 It turns out better than other Bluetooth systems. The sound is quite rich. At the same time, the interlocutors noted that the author's voice also sounded a little better than when using the speakerphone on the iPhone itself.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Battery life

JBL claims the system is capable of up to 10 hours of playback time, which is average for a Bluetooth speaker but better than the UE Roll's claimed nine hours. However, after 10 hours at low to medium volume, the charge indicator on the system showed that only half of the energy had been used up.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Software and setup

The speaker connects quite easily to Android and iOS devices. The working distance is also quite satisfactory. For example, at a distance of one and a half meters, the devices show the maximum signal level.

The JBL Connect software has a limited set of features when working with a single speaker. With it, you can update the firmware, but it lacks the equalizer setting and a number of other functions available from the UE Roll. If you have another speaker at your disposal JBL Flip 3, Pulse 2 or Xtreme, you can combine them into one system and thereby create a wide acoustic landscape.

Review JBL Flip 3 | Conclusion

If you need high quality and relatively inexpensive portable acoustics, then JBL Flip 3 should definitely be on your list. With good bass and high-quality sound, acoustics also have water protection and good battery life.

Compared to the UE Roll, the latter lacks high-quality bass and there is no hands-free mode. However, Roll has a more functional software, and it has an alarm clock and equalizers.

If you need acoustics for hiking or camping, then the UE Roll will be preferable in this regard, although JBL Flip 3 sounds better than her. And if you appreciate bass and need a hands-free function, then in this case JBL Flip 3 would be a more suitable option.

Pros: good bass for a portable system, quality speaker, splash proof.

Minuses: distortion at high volume.

Good sound in a compact package, decent autonomy.

Minuses

The buggy of the applied electronics, which nullifies all the advantages.

Review

I received a column as a gift, they brought it from another city and the purchase receipt remained for 900 kilometers. And he was required, because the service was requested almost immediately. At any time during operation, a cyclic unmanaged constant reboot could occur with loud noises on and off, connect and disconnect. Didn't respond to buttons. Then, left somewhere where this disgrace is not heard, after some time it "thought itself" and could work well and for a long time - until the next time. Still, she waited for her check and warranty repair and she had the board replaced. It worked flawlessly for 3 months and suddenly one day it did not turn on. In the midst of the summer season, when you need it! No reaction to the buttons and to the connection of the charger. And the warranty is over! I really didn’t want to carry it to the service for money, because it could cost half the price of a new column. She lay until October, when I decided to connect the charger again. A miracle happened - one charging LED blinked! Then I managed to turn it on! Then it fully charged. And working! What was it? Unclear. Sediment is left. It is hardly possible to hope for it - it will let you down at any moment. And in general, I began to be wary of JBL products. The excellent design was spoiled by buggy electronics.

Pocket speaker for all occasions.

So, I finally got my hands on a product that usually flies by on different speed in the park, attached to a bicycle or lying in the center of a picnic by the lake. It's the same column that stormtroopers from Star Wars wear on their belts - JBL Flip3.

Personally, I was not particularly interested in purchasing such a gadget - I hardly ride a bike, hiking is extremely rare, and I prefer to listen to music either on my home audio system or in my favorite ATH headphones.

After using Flip3 for a week, I thought about buying it. Fortunately, it is quite inexpensive.

Sporty design with vibrant colors

The first thing that comes to mind when you take this device in your hands is how pleasant it is to the touch. The rubberized housing that protects against water and light impacts, the part with the speaker covered with synthetic fabric leaves a very pleasant feeling. Much better than regular plastic.

To appearance there are no complaints - a minimalistic design, materials that are pleasant to the touch and look.

I got a copy orange color(not my favorite color), but the choice is quite large - as many as eight options. So, everyone can choose according to their taste.

The column has a speakerphone function - you can phone call accept, and answer via Skype. The microphone with noise and echo cancellation function works perfectly - the interlocutor hears you perfectly.

However, the logic of choosing just such a sign for the button denoting play / pause is not entirely clear. In this case, this handset. Still, first of all, this is a column for music.

Plus there is a separate bluetooth button, the only task of which is to activate the connection mode. It seems to me that it would be quite possible to add this function to the power button.

One of the most important changes in the third Flip model is that it is not afraid of splashing water or dirt. The manufacturer does not recommend completely dipping into water (we do too), but practice has shown that if such an incident occurs, the column is likely to survive. The main thing is not to forget to close the plug, under which the usb and audio inputs are hidden.

The built-in battery does its job perfectly. It is difficult to provide an absolutely accurate report on the use of the charge, but during the first two evenings of listening, only one of the five charge indicators went out. Which is much better than the claimed ten hours.

The set is rather poor. It's just a string and a micro-usb cable, which everyone seems to already have. I think a mini-jack wire for audio connection and a cover for the speaker itself would be no less useful in this case. But I will not find fault too much - these are all trifles.

How it connects and works wirelessly

The column is set bluetooth version 4.1, so there are no problems either when connecting or listening to music. Communication keeps at the promised distance of ten meters, and even more in open areas.

If you want to connect a device without bluetooth to it, or for some reason this module is not in your player, you can do this through the aux input. So, for example, I connected my volca keys synthesizer - the sound, of course, is much better than that of the built-in speaker.

Sounds decent and even shakes

When you turn on such a small device, you do not expect such a serious bass. Such powerful bottoms are provided by two passive radiators. And the sound is tuned in such a way that the feeling that there is a trembling humming subwoofer on the table does not arise at all. You hear the real deep, rich bass and kick.

Even at maximum volume, Flip3 continues to amaze with clear sound without overload (at least I was not able to overclock it to such a level). And it sounds very loud!

Needless to say, this is not a high-quality, lossless music listening device, but in its category, this speaker has a very impressive sound.
Even when listening to soundcloud tracks (which are known to be at 128 kbp/s), the sound is surprisingly rich and enjoyable. What can we say about the "correct" transmission of aac at 256 kbp / s, or about connecting by wire.

The speaker plays in stereo, but if it's not directly in front of you, it makes little sense - the speakers are close to each other. If you happen to have two such devices and at a picnic you want to enjoy all the delights of the artistic use of stereo sound, say, Sergeant Pepper, you can use the JBL Connect function - each of the speakers will play one of the two audio channels.

And there is also a very convenient opportunity to connect up to three devices to it at once and turn on tracks from them in turn. The perfect choice for a party!

What thoughts remain, will I take it or not

After testing this speaker, I, a person who never even thought about buying such a device, would not refuse to purchase not even one such speaker, but two at once (for a full-fledged stereo sound). With such a thing, you can organize a mobile workplace, turn it on at a party, or simply put it in the kitchen instead of a radio.

At a more than pleasant price (5990 rubles), this is an excellent device without obvious flaws, which can be useful in very different situations.

• 1. Equipment
• 2. Specifications
• 3. Design and assembly
• 4. Sound
• 5. Autonomy
• 6. Where can I buy
• 7. Conclusion
• 8. Video review of JBL Flip 3

The first speaker models in the Flip line were fairly budget-friendly. They were distinguished by an all-plastic case, limited functionality and mediocre sound. The last copy in JBL tried to bring it as close as possible to the standards of the company's more expensive acoustics.

JBL Flip 3, the review of which we have prepared, can still be called an affordable portable audio system: its price varies between 4-5 thousand rubles. At the same time, the column is no longer afraid of water, can be synchronized with other devices and significantly surpasses its predecessors in sound quality. Read about other innovations below.

Equipment

The packaging of the audio system is made in the classic JBL style. On the top cover the image of the speaker and the main advantages of the device are applied, the main ones are shown on the back specifications Flip 3. The inner surfaces of the box are lined with foam, so that the contents are reliably protected from damage during transportation.

• JBL Flip 3;
• MicroUSB cable;
• Documentation.

Specifications

• Number of channels: 2.0;
• Power: 16W;
• Frequency range: 85Hz - 20000Hz;
• Signal to noise ratio: 80 dB;
• Battery: lithium-ion, 3000 mAh;
• Dimensions: 169 x 64 x 64 mm;
• Weight: 450 g.

Design and build

Compared to the previous two copies of the model line, Flip 3 has significantly advanced on the path of proper design. The device is made in the form of a cylinder with slightly rounded edges on the upper and lower base. Unlike its predecessors, most of the outer surface of the device is covered with a tenacious textile surface.

The only place not covered with fabric chain mail is made of soft-touch plastic. There is also a column activation key, a button for pairing it with other portable audio systems (for example, you can combine several Flip3 together), an indication of the built-in battery charge and a plastic plug. A microUSB connector and a 3.5mm AUX input are hidden under the cover. Charging function external devices in the mode of the bank is not provided.

The icons of the remaining buttons are applied in the form of convex embossed designations on textiles. Among them are two volume keys, a search button affordable smartphone via Bluetooth and a mobile call answer key. Functional elements are easy to feel, but their response time is not very encouraging, because the speaker reacts to some clicks with a slight delay.

It also lacks the usual play and pause keys for a track. Its functions are performed by the same key to activate the speakerphone. A single click stops the current track, two clicks in a row switch to a new track.

Flip 3 does not have any stands, the column can be installed vertically on one of passive radiators or place it horizontally. In the second case, it will not roll on a flat surface due to the fastening of the strap on top. Traditionally, JBL offers a wide range of audio colorings. There are a total of eight Flip 3 body colors to choose from.

There are no complaints about the assembly and dimensions of the device. The chainmail-like textile surface that covers the speakers feels nice in the hand, and the plastic inserts don't pick up fingerprints. By the way, Flip 3 is protected only from water splashes, it is not recommended to immerse it under water for a long time. Before use, be sure to make sure that the plastic plug on the wired interfaces is tightly closed.

sound

During the first activation, the device immediately goes into synchronization mode with other speakers. To start pairing with a smartphone, just click on the Bluetooth icon of the audio system. Turning the Flip 3 on and off is accompanied by a fairly loud beep.

Two 40 mm speakers with a total power of 16 watts are responsible for the acoustic performance of the device. In theory, the Flip 3's speakers work in stereo. In practice, this effect is very difficult to distinguish if there is only one column. Much clearer stereo sound is heard during synchronous operation with another audio system from JBL.

You can connect up to three third-party devices to Flip 3. It can be a laptop, tablet or smartphone. This feature is very handy at a party where everyone can play their favorite track directly from the phone.

Despite the rather small dimensions, the column is capable of delivering fairly deep bass without sacrificing high frequencies. The composition sounds exactly over the entire length of the frequency range, no distortions were noticed even at the maximum volume value. The Flip 3 is great for just about any genre of music. The device does not claim to be a Hi-Fi level, but it can satisfy 90% of users.

Another advantage is the minimal difference in sound quality when playing from a computer and via Bluetooth. Wireless Flip3 keeps at a distance of about 10 meters.

autonomy

The Flip 3 has a 3000 mAh non-removable battery inside. The manufacturer promises about 10 hours stable operation devices at medium volume. In reality, we managed to squeeze out a couple more tens of minutes from the column before the final shutdown.

Low battery is indicated by a red LED on the plastic case insert. Sound alert no, so that annoying signals will not distract from listening to music. Approximate charging time is 3.5 hours.

Where can I buy

Conclusion

• Compactness;
• Large selection of coloring pages;
• Excellent build;
• Water splash protection;
• The presence of a speakerphone;
• Powerful bass.

• Not the fastest response time to button presses;
• Modest set.

The average cost of JBL Flip 3 in online stores in Russia is about 5,000 rubles. For such money, it is quite difficult to find an alternative that is suitable in quality, since there are practically no shortcomings in this audio system.

The speaker is compact, fits easily into a bike cup holder or a small bag. At the same time, its sound quality and autonomy deserve a really high rating. We recommend to buy!

Video review JBL Flip 3