JBL brings the Flip 6 Bluetooth speaker just in time for the summer.
JBL is a brand we have been covering a number of their products recently with reviews of the JBL Tune 230NC, JBL Clip 4 and most recently JBL’s gaming offerings in the Quantum One & Quantum 610. In this review, we are covering the JBL Flip 6 which is an award-winning speaker that focuses on the important factors of portability and sound quality.
First Impressions
The key features of the JBL Flip 6 support Bluetooth 5.1 and it is IP67 rated meaning it can handle dust and is waterproof this was tested with a recent visit to the beach. JBL has improved the Flip 6 from its previous model with a reworked driver configuration to enhance the sound even more.
The JBL Flip 6 currently comes in a range of colours such as Black, Red, Blue, White, Pink, Aqua Green & Camouflage and costs £129.99 meaning it’s a mid-range priced Bluetooth speaker.
Design/Build
JBL has not changed the design of the Flip 6 compared to the Flip 5 they are basically identical. Having said that if it’s not broke why fix it has clearly been the motto here. The JBL Flip 6 comes in a 7.0 x2.6 x2.8 (WxHxD) and weighs in at 0.55 kg.
Image Credit: TechRadar
The speaker uses a Li-ion Polymer 17.28Wh which provides a 4800mAh battery with 12 hours of audio playtime. When it’s time to recharge that is done in 2.5 hours.
The key differences are that flip 6 has reduced some of the use of the rubber accents on the edges. The passive bass radiators now feel textured and metallic compared to the rubbery feel of the Flip 5.
At the base of the speaker is where you will find the power button, Bluetooth pairing button next to the USB-C charging port and battery indicator LED. All of this is mounted on a pubber panel.
You also have a cord allowing you to hand the speaker up when down the beach like we did or you can connect it to a carabiner on your bag when travelling.
The JBL Flip 6 is now also aided by a small rubber foot beneath the panel to ensure it doesn’t roll off a desk. The speaker also comes with 4 buttons on the top which are Play/Pause indicated by a play symbol. If you press this button twice you can skip tracks. Next, you have a plus and minus which are your volume controls and last but not least there is a figure of 8 on its side this is the party boost button more on this later.
JBL has finished the look with a large metallic logo on the side of the speaker. All in all the design is well done and completes a functional and good-looking speaker.
Under the Bonet
The JBL Flip 6 still uses the racetrack-shaped driver with 20 watts of amplification and dual passive radiators as the Flip 5 previously. The Flip 6 also comes with a separate tweeter that is powered by a 10w amplifier.
Features
The key feature of the Flip 6 is the JBL app and this allows the partyboost feature which is indicated on the speaker by a finger of eight on its side. What the Partyboost feature does is allow you to connect to other JBL speakers with the partyboost feature and connect them in a stereo mode if you were to connect it to a second Flip 6.
Also when using the JBL app the dashboard above the feedback tone slider you are given a 3-band equaliser to adjust the sound. This allows you to adjust the bass, mids and treble sliders. When making changes to the midrange this is where you will notice the changes made. When making changes to the bass slider to the max you won’t get much gain. What I did notice was by adjusting the mids helps reduce external noise. Something to note the bass department is not an issue with this speaker you will enjoy this aspect of the speaker.
This speaker has focused on two things I have mentioned portability and sound quality by putting the effort into these aspects. JBL has missed out on some key features you might expect with a Bluetooth speaker such as the ability to answer a phone call on the speaker. You cant connect for a wired connection and this speaker does not have the ability to command your smart assistant on your phone. What JBL has done here is focused on the audio quality.
Audio Quality
The JBL Flip 6 really has focused on the audio quality. If you set the EQ to neutral. When listening to some tracks like “David Bowie – Rebel Rebel” this speaker provides bags of energy across all frequencies along with a full-bodied low tone.
When changing the song to something like “Guns N Roses- November Rain” this is where the speaker shines and delivers a cleaner and more emotive performance. The overall sound is more spacious and when you hear the guitar solo the flip 6 presents an accurate sense of position within the soundstage.
This is further shown when you listen to something like “Scorpions – Winds of Change” flip 6 features a once fullness in a tweeter. This gives the listener a greater sense of clarity but this can have a negative impact as Flip 6 exposes the harshness of some tracks just like this. This is not a massive concern but is something to consider depending on the type of music you listen to. It would be nice to have a more forgiving top end but it won’t impact your listening experience.
Verdict
The JBL Flip 6 is a fantastic speaker ideal for enjoying music in the sunshine. This speaker sounds really good with clarity across all the frequencies. The JBL app allows you to customise the EQ which is great if you want to enhance that midrange this can be done in the app.
The Partyboost feature is also a great feature for creating a stereo sound when pairing with a second Flip 6 speaker or even a Flip 5 if you have one laying around. This will really provide you with a party atmosphere perfect for when you have a number of friends round for a BBQ.
If you could make some improvements it would be nice if the flip 7 could include the ability to take calls so the need for some built-in mics would be helpful. The fact the smart assistant is also missing is a miss. Add these two features and you have a fantastic option for the market. Until then the Flip 6 does what it’s designed to do very well it focuses on the audio quality and that is plain to see. The sound quality offers extra durability and the option to adjust the EQ to tailor the sound and offer even more detail to an award-winning sound presentation.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Features: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Sound Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Battery Life: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Value For Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars – 4.8 Stars
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