JBL Charge 3 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black), 1

This is my second Charge 3. I loved my first one. After major abuse on my part for a couple years it was finally time to replace it. I went with the Charge 4 thinking I would like it even more because well it was a newer version. I was very wrong. The 3 is simply better sounding in my option. For one it is simply louder with much more bass. They are both water proof and very durable. The Charge 4 is a more balanced sound with a bigger battery, but i definitely prefer the smooth bass that comes out of the Charge 3. I ended up losing my Charge 4 so i was pleasantly surprised to find the Charge 3 still available and at a much reduced price from the first time i purchased. For the price I dont know of anything better.

I have owned a my speaker for almost 4 years now. I bought it as a cheaper way of listening to music from my phone on the road than buying a new stereo system specific to my old car. Now it gets daily use at home and work, and it’s still going strong. The good bass and volume mean I can hear my stories from another room. The waterproofing was put to the test when I accidentally left it outside overnight in a rain storm. We got over an inch of rain and one end had water puddled on the exterior, but it turned on and worked like nothing happened. It’s been through the dirt of two house remodels and dropped many times, but still continues to perform with amazing sound quality. The battery still lasts without charging for my whole 10 hour work day. That’s what I’m looking for in a speaker.

First off, I like me Charge 3 and ended up buying a second one to pair for stereo outdoors! If you are trying to connect a mic using the 3.5mm Jack you have to know two things. First: Not all 3.5mm jacks are the same. I believe there are tr, trs and trrs plugs and you need to look at the number of black plastic rings, the tip shape and length of the plug. Hopefully, someone at JBL can advise all of us Secondly the Impedence and resistance of the mic and the length and thickness effect that. Also hope they give advice on that, as well.

Wow, the reviews were right. This is an outstanding portable Bluetooth speaker, with great sound that seems to outperform its size. Its a tad heavy, but not terribly so, and that is part of the reason that you get the sound performance that you do from the speaker. The unit is very ruggedly built, has clearly marked controls, and has a five-stage lighting area to shows battery charge. There are bass ports on each side of the speaker, with the mid-range speakers positioned in the forward-center location of the unit. There is even a connection on the bottom front under a flap for charging a cell phone. I have to say, I was impressed the moment I opened this up. The speaker comes packaged in a very, very nice box that takes its queues from Apple and Sony, but employs color in the design. There is a heavy, photographically imprinted outer box, which is quite thick and sturdy, and inside, folded boxes for each section. In addition, the inside top of the main box has a layer of padded foam attached to the top cover (removable from the box). The speaker itself, as does the charger, come individually wrapped in plastic, and the whole packaging array just speaks of someone who took the time to think about how people want to receive their products. This is one of the nicest packaging jobs Ive seen on a device. Then there is, of course, the speaker itself. As soon as you pick it up, you feel not only its weight but also its build quality. This thing feels very solid, and you can tell the first time you handle it. It took a couple of hours to charge using the included charger and cable, and--must I say it--the blue model with the orange charger and cord is just visually gorgeous. The most important thing is the sound, and I was not disappointed at all with the speakers performance in this regard. In fact, this being my third Bluetooth speaker, I have been impressed with how the unit reproduces sound, with a full range and some decent bass from the side ports. (Be realistic in your expectations: this is not a $600 speaker.) I have to say that the sound is surprisingly full-bodied, particularly for a speaker in its price range, and so I have to agree with most of the reviews I have read that this is among the very best of Bluetooth speakers in the price range, maybe even those in a higher price range. It is definitely putting out sound that one might only expect with a much higher price tag. Another cool thing is that the unit makes use of a lithium-ion battery which should hold back the memory effect, but more than that, you can actually use it to charge your cell phone in an emergency via a cable that connects between the speaker and your phone! The device is also water resistant. Combined with the quality feel and the beautiful packaging, this is simply an EASY five-star item!

I enjoyed the excellent Charge 2 plus for 3 years or so. With repeated recharges and frequent use (I am semi retired and listen to a lot of music for multiple hours per day) the battery got tired and would not hold a charge very long. Instead of purchasing a battery, thought I would upgrade to the JBL Charge 3. I opted not to purchase the newest Charge 4. JBL decided on the 4 to go to one larger transducer, and not the left right channel separate drivers. In essence, a mono speaker. Hello 1958. Some pro reviewers say you cant notice the difference anyway but I disagree. Even when there is not a dramatic separation effect due to small distance of the separate transducers in the case, there is an overall improved clarity in the different instruments. So I went with the older but similar and stereo version, the Charge 3. Its bulkier than the 2 plus, but still portable. The battery life is amazing. Im on about hour 11 now and 4 out of 5 led lights (power indicator) are still showing. JBL claims 20 hours. The Charge 2 is about 12. Your mileage may vary of course depending on volume levels, etc. Features include built in phone monitor capability. Also what is called Connect Plus, to pair it with another JBL speaker with the same capability. Unfortunately my older Charge 2 Plus does not offer that feature to my disappointment. Now the important issue: the sound. THE GREAT: If you enjoy a big boomy feel it type bass response this will blow you away, especially if you utilize any of the many free EQ apps for your smart phone. The Charge 2 plus also performs well in this category, but the 3 takes it to another level. Pretty amazing for what can still be called a portable speaker. THE GOOD: The Mid Range tone is very lush and most vocals would be in this category as well as most stringed instruments. THE NOT AS GOOD: Compared to the more bright sound of the Charge 2 plus, the highs are somewhat muted. Not muffled at all, and some might prefer this analog sound as opposed to overly crisp high hat for example. Still, I was a bit surprised at the difference. The casing is very heavy to make it totally waterproof, and perhaps that effects the high end. Not a deal breaker for me, as the overall BIG, RICH sound is impressive considering the size, price. JBL only makes quality stuff and they did it again. WARNING: Make sure the dealer Amazon utilizes is approved by JBL, or you run the risk of getting knock off junk as other reviewers have noted. Just Google the phrase JBL APPROVED DEALER for the list. Finally as I mentioned above, to receive the best sound experience for any blue tooth speaker, download an Equilizer App. They are free with minimally annoying ads. You can add or minimize bass, mids and highs and your music will sound so much more dynamic.

All very good accept you sent me 2 I only ordered 1

While I am seasoned in writing Amazon reviews to help my fellow millennial shoppers and older alike... I dont know where to start with this bad mamajama. So Im going to give you an unbiased review of this awesome speaker from this point on... OK. Overview- I got the JBL Charge 3 in black. It is a bulky design for your more extravagant consumer. The red JBL plate on the front is almost reflective, making it look like it lights up under indirect light. The Charge 3 is 100% water submersible and the bass subs on either side are able to house water which bounces to the tunes when your particularly bassy hip-hop starts booming. Has a stand built in on the bottom made of rubber to prevent rolling. 6 buttons on the top, four protruding to make it easier to know what youre pressing while not looking, and two flush. Behind the rubber tab on the back (built for waterproofing) houses an auxiliary port, probably 3.5mm, a micro USB port for charging the speaker itself, and a USB port for charging your mobile device (can be used as a power bank). There are 5 LED indicators for battery on the bottom of the frontal side. They are covered by rubber so they provide a very matte, non intense light. Same goes for the dual connect (read later) and the power indicator. A non voice activated pairing system uses various pulses, light coloring and sine waves to notify you when it is searching, pairing, and paired. It does not have NFC. The dual pairing feature allows you to pair two JBL speakers together. It has a built in speaker phone, I havent tested it myself, but uve heard from many people theres no difference in sound quality from a normal phone microphone. Specs- The loudest read I got on the Charge 3 (using the app Sound Meter not an SLM) was around 88 dB while playing Congratulations by Post Malone (see pictures). A step up on the 75 dB from the original Charge. With a 6,000 mAh power bank and a 13 hour battery life at full and 25 hours at half (measurement I took myself), the playtime is above most available speakers on the market today. The Charge 3 has a rated power of 2 x 10W and a frequency response of 65Hz-20kHz. Application- Amazing outdoor/pool speaker. Great for rain or shine because you dont have to worry about splash damage. However, if you want a travel speaker, Id go with the JBL Flip 4 ($100) or the Bose Soundlink Mini II ($180, an oldie but a damn goodie). Or if youre just that guy, Id recommend the JBL Extreme or the JBL Pulse... theyre for the flashier of people. Biased- For the price, it cant be beat. For the partying, rock n roll, hip-hop, rap, EDM listener. The bass cannot be beat in a speaker this size if you like your music bassy (part of us all do). For a relatable example of the bass, at full volume, if you cup your hands around the subs while playing the song Feel the Bass by DJ MagicMike, you can feel the vibrations in your legs... crazy power. I hope that this review has made an impression on your choice of what speaker to purchase. If not, I highly recommend Jims Review Room on YouTube for highly professional, unbiased reviews! Have a wonderful day.

This was a great purchase, bought with the strap for golf cart. Use it while golfing with friends, battery last longer than expected. Great sound

I am using an iphone 8 and tried the bluetooth and other things. First, the bluetooth reception is very good for my uses. I tried other items and signals would stop. I had the phone in the house and took this easily 50 plus feet and put in a vehicle and could hear a phone and music no issue. Sound quality; I am picky (like most are) and Id say it quite good but not stupendous. It is really difficult to get good mids and highs and the bass is fairly clear and okay too. However, sometimes playing Chet Atkins (newest material) fusion base sometimes splashes apart, ... not really a distortion. Comparing it to a find set of Senhieiser SD 280 PRO it is about 80-90% ... is fine. To hear the stereo separation you have to hold it really close but the clarity and separation is very good. It doesnt goes as loud as Id think Id want but it is plenty loud. Youd have to turn it down to talk with someone ... but I am into it for attentive listening. Back to stereo, I ordered this one to see how I like it and ordering a second. Then will try the set up for two; one of left channel and one for right. ... and report on that. It is a little muddy on the dash board while driving it home but changes a lot based on placement. ...... It is good, clean sound and not distorting. Id order a second one... wait, I already did ... :-) ... I buy 2 minimum ... Gray is very nice and looks high end. Also some about of solid feel for it. Oh, tube and other information says this is the last dual driver true stereo units of this size. I dont know about their big boxes but read the data. I expect to be very happy with These...