Comparison JBL Xtreme vs JBL Charge 3

— Bluetooth. Wireless technology for transmitting sound from mobile phones, tablets, etc. Allows you to connect the device wirelessly at a short distance from the signal source. Bluetooth quality and general features vary by version:

Bluetooth4. Each version brings improvements over the previous one. So in version 4.0, three standards were actually combined: traditional Bluetooth, a high-speed channel and an energy-saving mode for small amounts of data. This allowed us to optimize channel usage and battery consumption. In version 4.1. noise immunity has been improved when working near 4G LTE modules. And version 4.2 introduced mostly general speed and security improvements.

Bluetooth 5.0. One of the most important innovations of the Bluetooth 5.0 standard was the expansion of the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) mode: if necessary, the device can increase the range by reducing the speed, or speed up transmission by reducing the range. In addition, a number of improvements have been introduced regarding the simultaneous operation of several connected devices.

— Bluetooth 5.1. A significant upgrade of version 5.1 was the ability to accurately position the transmitter (receiver) of the signal. If previous versions could only determine the distance, then version 5.1 is able to determine the direction. Thus, na...vigation began to function better and more accurately, which improved the work with the smart home system, searching for connected devices, etc. In addition to this, the improvements again touched on saving energy consumption and simultaneously working with several connected devices.

— Bluetooth 5.2. The next, after 5.1, is the Bluetooth 5th generation update. The main innovations in this version are a number of security improvements, additional power optimization in LE mode, and a new audio signal format for synchronized parallel playback on multiple devices.

— Bluetooth 5.3Bluetooth v 5.3 wireless protocol was introduced at the dawn of 2022. Of the innovations, it accelerated the process of negotiating the communication channel between the controller and the device, implemented the function of quickly switching between the state of operation in a small duty cycle and high-speed mode, improved the throughput and stability of the connection by reducing susceptibility to interference. In case of unexpected interference in the Low Energy mode of operation, the procedure for selecting a communication channel for switching is now accelerated. There are no fundamental innovations in protocol 5.3, however, a number of qualitative improvements are seen in it.

—Mini-Jack (3.5 mm). Standard Aux input for connecting speakers to an audio source such as a laptop or smartphone.

— USB. The presence of a USB connector allows you to connect a USB flash drive, mobile phones, MP3 players and other similar peripherals to portable acoustics. Accordingly, such models have a built-in player and allow you to use connected gadgets exclusively as a drive.

— Card reader. Like the USB described above, this item implies the presence of a built-in player in acoustics. And the card reader also allows you to use memory cards as a drive on which songs will be recorded.

— FM receiver. A built-in tuner that allows the speaker system to work as a full-fledged FM radio receiver — this is the range that is popular among music radio stations (in particular, due to the ability to broadcast sound in stereo).

A band is a certain part of the frequency range reproduced by the acoustic system. In single-way acoustics, only universal speakers are used that are responsible for the entire operating range. The presence of several bands means the use of specialized speakers, “sharpened” for certain frequencies: for example, in two-way speakers, separate high-frequency “tweeters” are most often provided, and in three-way speakers, frequencies are divided into low, medium and high.

For different frequencies, the optimal speaker design will also be different; thus, the multi-band design allows to achieve better sound quality. On the other hand, single-way speakers are lighter, more compact and less expensive.

The total power of all channels of the speaker system. The higher the power, the larger the size of the room in which the audio system can be used, however, more powerful portable speakers usually have larger dimensions and weight.

The range of audio frequencies reproduced by the audio system. The wider the range, the richer the sound, the more details the speakers can convey, especially in the low and high frequencies. At the same time, we note that the average human ear is able to hear sounds in the range of about 16 – 20,000 Hz, and it makes no sense to provide a wider range in speakers — a person simply will not hear it. Also note that a wide frequency range alone does not guarantee good sound quality.

- LCD display. Such a screen makes device management more intuitive: it can display the operating mode, equalizer settings, battery level, etc.

- Remote control. Portable sound system can be equipped with wireless remotes operating in the IR range. The advantages of such equipment are obvious: the system can be controlled from a distance, without the need to approach it every time.

- Handle / strap. The presence of a handle or strap makes wearing the speaker more comfortable. So the handle is used mainly in large stereo speakers and makes them look like boomboxes ( radio tape recorders) of yesteryear. The strap can be used both for large speakers and for miniature ones, which allows you to hang them on your hand, on elements of a backpack, etc.

- Flashlight. Such a function most likely will not replace a high-end specialized flashlight. The power of the built-in flashlight is usually enough to illuminate at least a distance of 2 - 3 meters, and models with a bike mount (see above) can even play the role of a headlight (although, again, they are inferior to specialized bicycle lights).

— Carabiner A latch-like device that allows you to attach the speaker to items of clothing, backpack straps, etc.

- ..."/en/list/41/pr-21630/">Sucker. Such a device makes it possible to securely fix the column on a flat surface and easily remove it from there. Suction cups are often equipped with waterproof models that can even be used in bathtubs and showers.

- Bike mount. A special device designed to fix the column on a bicycle - usually on the handlebars, at the user's fingertips. Such models are often complemented by a speakerphone function that allows you to talk on the phone without taking your hands off the steering wheel.

- Battery powered. Powered by replaceable elements (in the form of batteries or accumulators), usually AA or AAA. This option makes the speakers more autonomous - and, unlike the built-in battery, sockets are not required for such models, the main thing is to have a supply of fresh batteries on hand. At the same time, the batteries themselves are usually not included in the kit, they must be purchased separately; at the same time, the capacity of disposable batteries may turn out to be different (usually it depends on the price category), and elements in the form of batteries are expensive.

Theoretically, a higher capacity allows to achieve greater battery life, but in fact, the operating time also depends on the power consumption of acoustics — and it can be very different, depending on the characteristics and design features. So this parameter is secondary, and when choosing it is worth paying attention not so much to the battery capacity, but to the directly claimed operating time (see below).

Operating time of a portable audio system without connecting to an external power source (network or USB port, depending on the capabilities). Note that manufacturers tend to indicate battery life in their specifications under optimal conditions for energy saving: at low volume, without using additional functions, etc. Therefore, in fact, this indicator may be noticeably lower than the claimed one, and speakers with a long operating time will not sound at full volume for the specified hours.

The time it takes to charge a fully discharged device to 100% charge.

The presence in the design of the acoustics of a protected housing that prevents dust and moisture from entering the sensitive electronic filling. The specific degree of such protection in different models may be different — some speakers are able to endure even complete immersion under water ( waterproof), others are designed only for exposure to moderate rain. Therefore, the specifics of the protected case should be clarified separately according to the manufacturer's official data. However, anyway, such speakers will be more resistant to bad weather and better suited for outdoor use than those that do not have dust and water protection; therefore, if you are choosing acoustics for outdoor trips, it makes sense to pay attention to models with this function.

Some models with this feature are officially IP certified. The IP index includes two digits — for example, IP54. The first digit indicates the degree of protection against dust, the second — from moisture; the higher the number, the higher the corresponding degree of protection, detailed data can be found in special sources.