i like music I like to listen to it and when I find time, I create something myself with the help of FL Studio or (newly) Logic Pro. And that's why when I get my hands on new speakers for review, I don't just listen to music from my iPod/iPhone, I also use them to create my own music. That is, only under the condition that these are high-quality speakers (after all, I don't want to create something where one cannot determine whether it is noise or an effort to create sound). The novelty of the last few days, which I am going to review right now, is one of those high-quality speakers. This is JBL Flip 3.
Design
set Flip she has been with us for two years and has seen significant changes during that time. The first change concerns the materials used. The first generation looked more premium, as it was made up of a plastic-metal construction, and the speaker was therefore suitable for any environment. In the new generation Flip 3, however, this is no longer the case, as JBL has decided to use more "sporty" materials, which at the same time present the age category for which it is primarily intended. The ends of the speaker are rubber and the center is made of fabric. The color of both used materials matches and looks uniform, you won't find a silver partition between them, which we could have encountered with the first generation. Flip again it has a tin can design which I really appreciate as I like this design in speakers for its modern look. There has also been one fundamental change – the control panel has moved from the bottom of the speaker to its back. The buttons are large and very easy to press.
There are also Aux-In and microUSB ports on the back. Both are hidden under a rubber cap that protects them from contact with water. Namely, Flip 3 is, like Charge 2+ and ipip+, resistant to rain and small amounts of water. The certificate is IPX7, as with the mentioned models and Apple Watch. By the way, on the lower side where the original buttons were located, there is now a second vent, which brings us to a symmetrical design. Also worth mentioning is the strap, with which you can easily carry the speaker over longer distances or tie it to the rest of your luggage so you can find it immediately. Or you can tie it to your tent in this way if you're going to barbecue and camp with a group.
Sound
However, design is not the only aspect in which JBL Flip 3 reigns. The same applies to the sound, which really surprised me, especially considering its size. The sound here is very good regardless of the genre and apart from making my own electronic music here, I have also listened to electronica from other artists and a whole Rammstein album. Flip 3 can offer really high-quality bass, but this also depends on the surface on which it is placed. So, a similar situation occurs as with the Charge 2+ model. This also applies to highs and mids. The treble here is clear, but with some tracks in FLAC, you may sometimes hear noise. This happened to me especially when playing songs by Rammstein at high volume. As for the volume as such, it can be very high, but for the average user it is enough to leave the speaker at around 60% level. At this level, the speaker is really loud and at the same time the reproduction quality is not lost, so we can talk about a perfect combination. With rock and metal music, you can hear its liveliness, which of course should be taken as a plus, since the sound of guitars here does not sound as tinny as with other speakers.
Personally, I would say that in this case the quality really matches the price, even if it is a speaker aimed mainly at a younger audience. It consists of two 8W inverters. As such, the speaker maintains a frequency range from 85 Hz to 20 kHz, so it is not the full spectrum of human hearing at the lower end. However, the speaker is still of very high quality and, as I mentioned above, the speaker sounds very good on the right surface. By the way, you can enrich the audio experience, since Flip3 supports multi-speaker mode (JBL Connect), where you pair two speakers and play the same music in both at the same time. This also allows you to sound a larger space.
Drums
JBL Flip 3 contains a battery that lasts up to 8 hours of playing, I managed to achieve a slightly lower time during testing, 7,5 hours. However, this is not as drastic a difference as with other products, which lasted significantly less than was announced. Of course, it also depends on what kind of music you listen to and how loud it is. In my case, it was mostly the aforementioned 60% volume, with metal music alternating with electronic music. But what impressed me is the speed with which the speaker can charge. I personally charged it with a Nokia Lumia 735 charger, and after about half an hour the third of the five LEDs, which show the battery status, was flashing. At the lowest level, the last LED flashes red.
Summary
JBL has always been able to combine quality sound with stylish design, and the novelty that bears the name JBL Flip 3, is no exception. Unlike the previous two models, Flip 3 is trying to visibly enter the younger audience that plans to camp or simply take the sound with them. In addition to the intense colors in which the speaker will be sold, we will encounter two completely new materials, rubber and nylon, as well as resistance to water drops, which makes it suitable even for rain and there is no risk that it will suddenly stop playing. A bonus in terms of design is the loop, thanks to which you can, for example, tie the speaker to a tent, to your luggage or simply carry it in your hand, so that the sound is "within reach". In terms of sound, you can expect significant bass on the right surface, as well as a well-balanced middle and clear highs. However, it also depends on the volume, I personally recommend using as maximum 60% level, where the bass is still chasing and there is no risk that you would hear noise. However, you can compensate for the lack of volume with a second piece, as the speakers include a multi-speaker mode, through which you pair two speakers and let them play the same music. So my impression is very good. Such a bonus at the end is the presence of a microphone, which is used for telephone calls.
it looks nice, thanks for the tip :-)