The latest versions of the JBL Boombox 3 and Charge 5 speakers are now available with Wi-Fi, which means a lot of extra features.
A well-known problem with Bluetooth speakers in essence is Bluetooth itself. This system was never designed for transmission of hires sound, although all kinds of codecs are cooked up to approximate that quality. The disadvantage is that both transmitter and receiver must have support for such a codec. If that is not the case, the receiver switches back to the significantly inferior SBC protocol. With the additional disadvantage that there is always (re)compression going on, which is clearly audible. A much better quality is achievable via the significantly more broadbanded WiFi. Manufacturer JBL also realized this and armed the latest versions of their Boombox 3 and Charge 5 with wifi.
Flexible
Additional advantage of the wifi connection is, you can stream music and keep using the smartphone at the same time. Furthermore, wifi offers a better range, so you can use the speaker anywhere in the house. And if you go outside, you can easily switch to Bluetooth for total flexibility. Via wifi, AirPlay 2, Alexa MRM and Chromecast are supported, which means something really strange would be going on if you can’t set up a wifi connection to the speakers. Pleasingly, playtime on a full battery has not suffered at all from the Wi-Fi addition; the JBL Charge 5 plays for up to 20 hours on Wi-Fi with a fully charged battery, while the new Boombox 3 lasts 24 hours. The Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is also the first JBL portable speaker with Dolby Atmos, providing a more spacious and immersive sound experience.
Environmentally friendly
“At JBL, users’ audio experience is at the heart of our business, we also understand that technology plays an important role in enhancing the user experience. With the introduction of our new JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi and JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi speakers, we not only offer better sound, but also advanced technologies such as Wi-Fi connectivity and Dolby Atmos support,” said Carsten Olesen, President of Consumer Audio at HARMAN Lifestyle Division. “In addition, we are committed to creating environmentally friendly audio products and these new speakers are no exception.”
Improved sound, new sleek design
The new speakers are available in black with striking gold details. In addition, both speaker enclosures are now made of 90% recycled plastic and the speaker grille is made of 100% recycled textiles, the manufacturer announced. The packaging is made of FSC-certified cardboard and printed with soy ink. Like the original versions, the new speakers are water- and dust-proof. For added connectivity and functionality, the JBL One app helps you easily set up the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi or JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi speaker to your personal preferences.
The JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi and JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi will be available in the Netherlands from mid-May 2023 on JBL.nl for €249 and €599.
Specs at a glance
The specifications of both speakers at a glance, in the manufacturer’s words.
Features of the JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi:
- Powerful JBL Original Pro Sound and deep bass
- Triple speaker system consisting of subwoofer, two mid-range drivers and two tweeters
- Wi-Fi 6 for stable connection and high-quality audio streaming
- HD audio performance with 24-bit/96kHz playback over Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio Ready) - 3D Dolby Atmos available via Tidal in-app via the JBL One app
- Self-tuning
- 24 hours of playback time
- AirPlay 2, Alexa MRM and Chromecast built-in
- IP67 water and dust resistant rating
- Powerbank
- Moment button to play playlists via the JBL One app on the speaker
Features of the JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi:
- Powerful JBL Original Pro Sound
- Long excursion driver and separate tweeter for louder sound and improved clarity with two passive bass radiators
- Wi-Fi 6 for stable connection and high-quality audio streaming
- HD audio performance with 24-bit/96kHz playback over Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 5.3 (LE Audio Ready)
- Powerbank
- Self-tuning
- 20 hours of playback time
- AirPlay 2, Alexa MRM and Chromecast built-in
- IP67 water and dust resistant rating
- Moment button to play playlists via the JBL One app on the speaker