Maroc - THECEKODOK.COM - A La Une - 18/Sep 21:10

JBL Xtreme 4 Review – Portable Sonic Bomb

My adventure into the realm of portable speakers this year led me to the JBL Xtreme 4 which is the largest portable audio accessory reviewed to date. In the review for the Sony ULT Field 1 I said the audio on offer was interesting but not powerful enough for a real audio experience. Therefore JBL Xtreme 4 is an audio product that will solve this issue.SpecificationsJBL Xtreme 4Stereo wireless speaker typeDriver 2x Woofer 70mm (30W)2x 20mm Tweeters (20W)2x RadiatorsMicrophone None9444 mAh battery24 hours60WUSB-C charging portBluetooth 5.3 connectionCODEC AAC, SBCAll operating systems are supportedVirtual assistant support NonePower buttonAdjust the audioMusic controlBluetoothAuracastIP67 waterproof capabilitySale Price RM 1799DesignAt first glance the JBL Xtreme 4 looks like a serious audio accessory as it has aggressive design elements such as a large exclamation mark on the speaker cover and a metal hanger that looks quite durable. It's like an audio bomb that will explode the listener's eardrums.There are two rubber pads on both sides that will ensure the Xtreme 4 can be placed vertically on any surface. At the same time there are also two strips of rubber padding on the bottom for the same purpose. The exterior finish of the body is made of a tough canvas material that has the same texture as the ULT Field 1 day period.In a body that I can still say is quite compact, 2X 70mm 30W woofers and 2X 20mm 20W tweeters are placed that shoot forward to offer stereo audio. Meanwhile, the large radiator is placed to the side to produce an energetic bass bang.One thing I need to clarify is that the Xtreme 4 does not come with a microphone. So it can't be used for teleconference sessions like most portable bluetooth speakers I've reviewed before .The JBL logo made of metal is placed on the front with an orange finish around the logo. This makes this speaker look more aggressive. At the top there are six physical control buttons to activate bluetooth tethering, a power button, a button to pair with other JBL speakers, pause music and two buttons to control the audio volume level.All these buttons are made of rubber material that does not hurt the hand when pressed. It also ensures that the button will be more durable because it will not break like a plastic button if the speaker is dropped. Meanwhile on the back there is a USB-C port to recharge the speaker.Xtreme 4 is not a light speaker because it weighs 2.1 kilograms. Included is a strap that when connected to a metal hook allows the Xtreme 4 to be worn comfortably. This speaker passes the IP67 standard so owners don't have to worry about it being damaged if exposed to rain and dust when used outside.Audio QualityThe sound emitted by this speaker by default is clearly aimed at music lovers with strong bass. At around 50% settings the Xtreme 4's audio is quite loud. So if you're looking for a really loud portable entertainment system, this is the speaker for you.In the default JBL Signature mode I felt it drowned out the vocals because the treble and bass were given the upper hand. This is great for electronic music, hip hop, jazz and even instrumentals. This made me initially uncomfortable with the speaker's audio profile. The audio experience gets better after the JBL Portable app is installed and other equalizer settings are selected.In Vocal mode, for example, the singer's voice is thrown forward more clearly and the bass boom no longer causes the table to vibrate and other instruments to disappear from hearing. My favorite mode is Energetic which I feel is the most balanced because the bass is still heard, the treble is still clear and the vocals are still ahead of the other audio channels. I don't blame JBL for enabling JBL Signature by default because JBL products do focus on prominent bass before.Because there is enough loud bass support, Xtreme 4 is also compatible to be used as a portable speaker when watching movies. Action movie fans will be able to feel every explosion in Saving Private Ryan and The Matrix. For podcast fans, activate the Vocal mode. There are settings for different music genres so buyers don't have to worry Xtreme 4 doesn't meet your needs.Personally I put the Xtreme 4 in the Chill setting all the time because it doesn't hurt the ears and is compatible with the 40s-50s Jazz music I like to listen to at home. This is also in my opinion the most compatible audio mode used at night if you don't want to disturb the people around you.Software and ApplicationsThe process of tethering the speaker to an Android device is easy because there is Google Fast Pair support. Immediately after turning on the Fast Pair notification screen will be displayed on the screen with the tethering process as simple as pressing a button. After tethering the Android device will ask you to download the JBL Portable app from the Play Store. It's good that Fast Pair recommends apps to download because in the Play Store there are different apps for headphones, speakers, soundbars and others.After tethering the settings options in the app are quite limited. There are only five equalizer profiles namely JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, Vocal and Custom. Then there's the PlaytimeBoost setting which extends battery life by another 6 hours by reducing power on the woofer and tweeter.Stereo mode is also accessible via the app but unfortunately I was unable to test it as I only received one test unit from JBL. There is also a menu to update the speaker software and a button to restore the Xtreme 4 to its original factory settings.BatteryThe 9444 mAh battery can last up to 24 hours which is quite satisfactory for a portable speaker. It was able to last about a week during the review period before needing to be recharged. Although the battery life of the Xtreme 4 is good, the time to recharge the battery is almost 4 hours which I feel is quite long despite supporting a 60W charger.Because the Xtreme 4's battery capacity is large, it can be used as a powerbank to charge smartphones with an output of up to 22W. Another interesting feature is that the fast charging mode allows 2 hours of use to be enjoyed after only 10 minutes of charging.What's In The BoxHere's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.1x JBL Xtreme 4.1x Power plug to USB-C charging cable.1x Four charging pin heads.1x Carrying strap.1x Manual.1x Warranty book.ConclusionThe JBL Xtreme 4 is the best portable bluetooth speaker I've reviewed this year. Usually in this category the quality of the audio that is thrown gives too much focus to the bass so that it is only compatible to be used as a speaker for a dance party. Xtreme 4 does look very aggressive on the outside but it is still flexible enough to play more "calm" genres by changing the built-in equalizer in the application.There is no need to worry about it being taken out because it has many rubber parts to absorb shocks as well as IP67 waterproof capabilities. The lack of Xtreme 4 I feel is its design that looks like an American Football ball. So aggressive that it only appeals to those who want an accessory that looks very masculine. In Malaysia JBL Xtreme 4 is sold at a price of RM1799 in black, dark blue and army green.ProGood audio for a portable speaker.IP67 waterproof and dustproof.Google Fast Pair support.Durable design.Can be worn.Good battery life with powebank mod.ConsSlow charging.The app lacks features.A bit aggressive design is not for everyone.