How to use the charge 2 speaker. Review of JBL Charge portable speakers. Playing cylinder. Speaker colors

19.10.2023 -

Having retained only the outwardly similar outline and the ability to recharge any smartphones and tablets, the second version of the JBL Charge 2 portable speaker system began to sound more powerful and bassy. How else does this sequel differ from the popular original, Vesti.Hitek found out

The products of JBL, part of Harman International Industries - speaker systems and related electronics - probably do not need any special introduction. Among the audio solutions from JBL, a natural interest at the IFA 2014 exhibition in Berlin was caused by the update of the JBL Charge portable system, which has already gained many fans, including in Russia. Let us remind you that this wireless speaker is revered by mobile music lovers for its good sound quality (in its class, of course), high volume level, long battery life, and the ability to recharge other gadgets from its large battery. In all these respects, JBL Charge 2 also does not disappoint. But what's new about it?

Specifications

Speaker size: 2x45 mm
Output power: 2x7.5 W
Signal-to-noise ratio: no less than 80 dB
Frequency range: 75 Hz to 20 kHz
Interface: Bluetooth 3.0
Bluetooth profile support: A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2
Power supply: 5V/2.1A (for charging gadgets)
Battery: lithium-ion, 6,000 mAh (3.7 V; 22.2 Wh)
Battery charging time: 4 hours at 1.8 A
Music playback time: up to 12 hours (depending on volume level and audio content)
Overall dimensions: 79x185.2 mm
Weight: 540 g
Body color: black, white, red, blue and lilac

Contents of delivery

The JBL Charge 2 portable speaker system is supplied with: a 5 V/2.3 A USB power adapter with a replaceable plug, a USB-microUSB cable for charging the battery, a quick user guide and recommendations for safe use. Unlike the JBL Charge, a convenient carrying case is no longer included here, and, unfortunately, the cable for the 3.5 mm audio output (AUX) jack did not appear.

Appearance

Although the new product has retained its recognizable outlines, a number of significant changes have occurred in its design.

The JBL Charge 2 speaker system still resembles a cylinder, most of the surface of which is occupied by two metal mesh grilles for the built-in speakers, one of which has the JBL logo on it. At each end of this “musical” cylinder there is now a bass reflex with a passive radiator, which is part of a low-frequency loudspeaker without a coil and a magnetic system. When the membrane of a passive radiator vibrates almost in phase with the diffuser of the main speaker, effective reproduction of low frequencies is ensured. It is believed that one of the advantages of a passive radiator over a conventional bass reflex is the absence of air flow noise in the resonator pipe.

Silver discs with the JBL logo are fixed on movable membranes - diffusers.

Since it is no longer recommended to place the device on its end, a special stand has been provided on its cylindrical body, made of soft-touch plastic, pleasant to the touch. Thanks to the rubberized coating, it does not slip on almost any surface.

And in a small recess next to this stand there are microUSB connectors (for charging the built-in battery) and USB (for charging gadget batteries), as well as a 3.5 mm audio output connector.

In the upper part of the case (relative to the stand) on an elongated plate there are icons of backlit control buttons lined up in a row, including: for turning on the power, pairing with Bluetooth, adjusting the volume (separately “+” and “-”), going to the so-called “ social" Bluetooth mode, as well as for answering a voice call. The hole for the built-in microphone is also located here, according to the manufacturer, which is a speakerphone with echo and noise absorption technology. For five LED indicators of the charge level of the built-in battery, a place has been allocated just below the volume rocker. Now this indicator has become more informative than the one (of three LEDs) used in the JBL Charge.

Because of its two-tone coloring (white in combination with grey, green or blue), the first generation of this acoustic system looked very frivolous, if not frivolous.

But the plain (black, white, red, blue or lilac) JBL Charge 2 cases have acquired a more “technological” and stylish look. True, the complication of the filling led to an increase in the overall dimensions of the device (diameter - from 74 mm to 79 mm, length - from 175 mm to 185.2 mm) and its weight (from 470 g to 540 g).

Filling and functionality

The effective diameter of the two speakers has changed upward - from 38 mm to 45 mm. The power of the built-in amplifiers has also increased - from 5 W to 7.5 W. Thus, the rated electrical power of the JBL Charge 2 speaker system is now 15 W. Thanks to the use of phase inverters with passive radiators, the operating frequency range has increased due to low-frequency components and has shifted from 150 Hz to 75 Hz. At the same time, the upper limit of the spectrum remained unchanged (20 kHz). The signal-to-noise ratio has not improved either (at least 80 dB). However, there are, of course, acoustic differences between the devices of the two generations. It is especially noticeable that the bass of the JBL Charge 2 sounds richer and more powerful.

The capacity of the lithium-ion battery of the JBL Charge 2 remains the same and is 6,000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, this is quite enough for continuous audio playback for 12 hours. Of course, a lot here depends on the volume level and the type of content (after all, most energy is concentrated in the low frequencies). To fill such a capacious battery, you will have to spend about 4 hours with a current of at least 1.8 A. The possibilities for recharging gadgets (for example, smartphones and tablets) from the battery built into the speaker system have also expanded. In particular, with a nominal voltage of 5 V, the charging current via the USB port can reach 2.1 A (versus 1 A in JBL Charge), this can significantly speed up the charging process. By the way, the charging process itself does not interfere with listening to music.

In addition to the 3.5 mm audio jack (the cable must be purchased separately), the main interface for connecting smartphones, tablets and other gadgets with audio content to JBL Charge 2 is Bluetooth 3.0. To start pairing, you need to click on the button with the icon of this interface, while the flashing light will indicate that the device has entered pairing mode. Selecting "JBL Charge 2" from the list of available devices on the screen of the connected mobile device marks the completion phase of this process.

One of the significant differences between the second generation JBL Charge wireless speakers is the support for the so-called “social” Bluetooth mode, to switch to which you must select the appropriate button (the “three men” icon). In this case, up to three different devices (smartphones, tablets, players or computers) can be connected to the speaker system wirelessly, alternately playing music tracks and other audio files from them. At the same time, it is impossible to set any preferences for a specific device, and the premature start of a new composition from the next device will simply interrupt and replace the previously launched one.

In addition to control and streaming profiles (A2DR, AVRCR), the Bluetooth interface also supports calling and receiving profiles (HSP, HFP). Therefore, the presence of a call button and a built-in microphone in the JBL Charge 2 easily turns this speaker system into a hands-free device, thereby replacing a wireless headset. That is, when an incoming call comes in, you just need to press the button with the handset icon and answer the incoming call. Note that the hands-free option is missing in the first generation of devices (JBL Charge).

Purchase, conclusions

The starting price of JBL Charge 2 is 6,990 rubles. At the same time, for a similar first-generation speaker system in large retail chains they are now asking 3,790 rubles. But the new product is probably worth the money - after all, it retains all the advantages of JBL Charge, including the ability to recharge gadgets from the built-in battery. In addition, the new acoustic system, having a more attractive exterior, has improved sound quality. We also note that the built-in microphone will help when receiving incoming phone calls, and the “social” mode of the Bluetooth interface allows you to combine the efforts of several amateur DJs during a party.

It’s a pity, of course, that the kit does not include a carrying case for the new speaker system, and the audio cable was never included in it. By the way, for faster and more convenient pairing via Bluetooth, an NFC interface would be useful in the device. It would also be useful to protect the case from moisture and dust for actively traveling music lovers. Nevertheless, JBL Charge 2 leaves a very pleasant impression - everything is quite functional, simple and even stylish. Therefore, this speaker system can be recommended, for example, for outdoor trips or organizing small home parties.

Contents of delivery

Column
USB cable
Replacement forks
power unit
Documentation

It was the JBL Charge that became the first portable speaker for many people in Russia. People like that it’s inexpensive, can charge a smartphone, and has, as they say, “good bass.” The second version of Charge is even better. And here's Charge 2+, with water protection...

Design, construction

The main difference from Charge 2 is protection from water, I won’t torment you with repetitions from the review. Or rather, I will, but I’ll say the main thing right away. The speaker can be washed under running water; it can easily withstand rain in the forest if water from the pool suddenly gets in or something similar happens. It cannot be completely immersed in water. These are some strange recommendations. The photographs show how I mocked the column. How the contacts in the connectors will behave is a good question. It’s a pity that the column will be taken away from me after the test. Maybe the next journalist will tell about her fate. But so far it’s working as expected and doesn’t seem to be going to die. In addition to water, the speaker is not afraid of dust, sand, and, in principle, dirt too. Then you can wash it.

The most important thing is that there are holes on the left and right, something like bass reflexes, and they are designed in the same way as in a number of Harman/Kardon products. A metal circle with a logo is fixed on a movable rubber membrane; the vibration of the speakers causes the membrane to vibrate. You can watch this for hours, it looks very cool. Moreover, this also affects the sound quality - with low frequencies everything is just fine here.

The speaker is available in eight colors: black, blue, grey, orange, pink, red, mint and yellow.

The selection is unusual, orange and yellow look great, there have never been anything like them before. All colors are matte, since the main material of the case is very hard rubber, which is pleasant to hold in your hand. Dust does not accumulate on the surface. The grilles are made of metal, and there is a rubber stand at the bottom; even when playing at full volume, the speaker does not slip. On the bottom there are USB connectors, 3.5 mm, microUSB input for charging.

During playback, it is best to place the speaker on a stand, but if you wish, you can put it on its end, although I would not do that. On the top there are control buttons and light indicators, these are the power button, activating Bluetooth (it is also responsible for pairing), adjusting the volume, and answering a call. The hole next to the handset is a microphone; JBL Charge 2 can be used as a speakerphone. Icon with figures of people – Social Mode, three people can connect their smartphones and tablets and start their tracks one by one. It turns out to be a sort of mix, one includes Sinatra, the second house, the third Igor Nikolaev. And everything was done almost without pauses, stutters, interruptions, without the need for painful pairing - we tried everything, quickly and clearly. For young people and parties, the function is simply excellent.

Speaker dimensions – 79 x 184 x 75 mm, weight – 540 grams. It doesn’t take up much space in a suitcase and doesn’t particularly affect the weight; if anything happens, you can put it in your hand luggage. But in the hotel you will have great music. This is true in the summer. In general, this is true at any time of the year.

There are light indicator dots on the top part; they will tell you what is happening with the speaker’s battery. Please note that it takes a long time to charge, since it uses a capacious battery.

Connection methods

You can connect any device to JBL Charge 2 via Bluetooth or using a 3.5 mm cable. It’s a pity that this is not included in the kit; the user will have to look for the cable on his own. Bluetooth 3.0 profile, there were no problems with connection.

Peculiarities

This is the already mentioned Social Mode, well, and let’s not forget that the name itself suggests the purpose of the device, it is charging other gadgets. You take any USB cable, connect it to the speaker connector and charge any smartphones, you can even charge your tablet. The function is very good and will be useful to you on a picnic, during gatherings in a hotel room or on the street near the entrance. Supported protocols are A2DP V1.3, AVRCP V1.5, HFP V1.6, HSP V1.2.

Nutrition

The stated operating time is about 12 hours in sound playback mode at full volume; in reality, these figures approximately correspond to the stated ones. Just keep in mind that if you connect other devices to Charge 2 for charging, the operating time will decrease. The battery capacity is as much as 6000 mAh, if you are interested.

Sound quality

Below I almost completely repeat the chapter from the JBL Charge 2 review, there are no special changes here. What bothered me a little was that when used with the iPhone 6 Plus, there were some interruptions in playback after the phone left the coverage area and was then connected again (auto-connection). And I tried different programs for playing music. It seems like the problem is on the speaker side. Perhaps this is a glitch of my particular sample; after rebooting the speaker and smartphone, this behavior did not recur. If you are already using Charge 2+ and encounter a similar problem, write to me. Let me remind you that the speaker can be used as a speakerphone, the quality of speech transmission is not bad, the interlocutors did not particularly complain, but I spoke in quiet places - I don’t know how it will be in noisy places. The Charge 2+ added the SoundClear function, essentially a noise reduction system for using the device as a speakerphone. It seems to me that talking has become even better now.

As for the music, here are some official specs:

Transducer: 2 x 45mm
Rated power input: 2 x 7.5W
Frequency response: 75Hz – 20kHz
Signal-to-noise ratio: >80dB

In principle, these numbers are of no use - the speaker sounds great. JBL put excellent speakers here and seriously worked with the internal structure. The round edges on the ends are needed not only for beauty; low frequencies are perceived completely differently compared to the first generation speaker. In general, Charge has changed. If you can’t see what exactly is playing, you can think about some kind of large speaker. But in fact, this is a little Charge 2.

Like any other portable device, JBL Charge 2 cannot be called universal; it is more suitable for electronic music - due to its specifics, everything is fine here with low and high frequencies, but the same cannot be said about the middle. However, for the target audience this does not matter. The first Charge was chosen for “Oh, she’s so loud! It also charges your smartphone.” The second one is even louder and can take even longer to charge.

conclusions

JBL Charge 2 Plus is an updated version of the 2014 hit model Charge. The advantages of the first version are complemented by protection of the case from moisture and splashes. Also, Charge 2 Plus has noticeably improved bass sound.

The secret of JBL's success

JBL has been producing hi-fi speakers and studio monitors for over 60 years. And portable acoustics with Bluetooth appeared in its assortment several years ago. The Charge 2 Plus and other models have received good press and customer reviews for their excellent functionality and sound. The speaker plays loudly and at the same time with high quality - for its size and price category. And it especially surprises with the sophistication of sound in the low-frequency register on trance, heavy music, etc.

The Charge 2 Plus has a larger battery than many competitors, with a capacity of 6,000 mAh. The speaker can work up to 12 hours without recharging, that is, 2 hours more than its competitor Denon Envaya Mini. At the same time, two speakers with a diameter of 45 mm produce power up to 15 W.

JBL can also work as a Power Bank for gadgets and a hands-free system for mobile phones. A special feature of this model is the Multipoint mode for connecting three Bluetooth devices to the speaker simultaneously.

Acoustics for hikes and picnics

The “trick” of Charge 2 Plus is that it protects the case from splashes and dirt. This model can work not only in drizzling rain, but also in heavy rain. But it is worth remembering that the acoustics will not withstand more extreme conditions, such as immersion under water.

Owners of Charge 2 Plus consider the speaker a good option for listening to music while traveling and outdoors. Buyers make complaints about the fact that there are no plugs at the connectors, and the kit does not include a carrying case. Interestingly, some of them even place the device on a bicycle - in a holder for a water flask.

JBL Charge 2 Plus is a speaker with bright colors (orange, red, etc.), which is protected from moisture and equipped with a powerful battery. Moreover, you can use it not only at picnics, but also in everyday life, for example, next to the computer.

This speaker was presented at IFA, but I have been using the production model for about two months now and would be happy to tell you what the differences are in the second version of one of the most popular portable speakers on our market.