JBL’s next installment for a portable hell-raiser is out— all you need is a music player with a Bluetooth module.
Titled the Charge 2 and with a few extra inches to its physical dimensions, this speaker will appeal to the base lovers. The Charge 2 delivers an excellent sound for its size, ample battery life, and even has the ability to sap some of that excess power to charge your mobile devices on the go.
Design and build
This one comes dressed as the devil. With a regal black rubbery finish with shiny plastic on top, the speaker is designed to give more bass effect. A hard plastic grill covers much of the front and back, while the rest of the unit— including the panel with the built-in controls—features a silicone shielding. Since the speaker is portable, the firm has chosen to give it a shock absorbing cover—the rubbery finish. The Charge 2 seems like it could take a fall and continue cranking out sterling sound as if nothing ever happened. Also, the Charge 2 wears a chip on the shoulder. Surprising for such a small speaker, it sports two passive radiators at the side which are linked to the rubber and they pulse when you crank the speakers. There is an auxillary input for playing music from a wired device, as well as the micro-USB input for charging the unit. Last, but not least, providing the unit’s titular feature is a full USB input for charging a smartphone or other device. It is available in blue, red, and purple other than the normal black one.
Sound quality
There is an old saying— ‘Good things come in small packages’ and the Charge 2 is no exception to earlier mentioned statement. For a relatively compact, battery-powered speaker, it really does impress with the quality of the audio it delivers from its two 1.5-inch drivers. Comparing it to competition, the Charge 2 nearly gives a performance close to its best rivals. It offers enough audio to fill a small room without significant distortion—as long as it is not on full blast. Another major change when it comes to sound is the differentiated range of sound quality which allows you to clearly hear both the rumbling bass separate and the soaring treble, with plenty of mid-range to help deliver a harmonious signal.
Several kinds of music was played on the device to check the differentiation range and it soon was clear that the Charge 2 makes full use of its new passive radiator side cars, punching deep into the upper bass—and even a bit below. The new additions allow it to cut out surprisingly rich interpretations of difficult tunes which is a serious coup at this level. From top to bottom, the Charge 2 showed off some of the fullest sound we’ve heard in its class.
Features, battery life and connectivity
Well it has good sound but does it have good battery life? Yes, it does. With a 6,000mAh battery the Charge 2 breathes fire for an estimated 12 hours of playback time. In fact it takes the portable music segment to the next level as it allows the user to simply plug your smartphone or tablet directly into the unit’s USB port and pull from that built-in battery reserve. It also sports a social play option that allows up to three devices to be paired at once, letting a few local friends alternate control of the speaker at will. It’s a minor perk rather than a big selling point, but in a shared apartment it could come in handy. To add to the kitty, it has a built-in mic and a phone-centric button for responding to calls without touching the device. Its sound performance during calls is also decent due to the echo and noise cancellation tech added to it. This aspect of the speaker was amazing given the range of its Bluetooth. The user taps into the Charge 2 with a smartphone, tablet, or other device wirelessly via Bluetooth 3.0.
Verdict
The Charge 2 represents real improvement in an over-crowded genre. It’s bulkier, sure, but the trade-off comes with handy features like the ability to charge your phone or tablet, as well as speakerphone functionality. Taking into account, the year-over-year in the Bluetooth speaker genre, the competition has only gotten better since the original Charge was released. JBL obviously knows the terrain, and has made great strides to keep up with the crowd with the Charge 2. With more power, better features, a sleeker look, and class-leading bass, JBL’s Charge 2 is one sequel that’s well worth the ticket price. Although there are many more options available in the market when it comes to compact speakers, the device offers an upgrade in music output that the user can hear and feel. So, if one can handle a little more heft in the bag, it’s well worth it.
