I get the appeal. JBL churns out some of the most powerful portable Bluetooth speakers on the market. And their Charge lineup stands tall as a perennial bestseller thanks to bold sound in a rugged form factor. But as an avid audio equipment user myself, I have some reservations about the latest JBL Charge 5 that give me pause.
Before we dive into the specifics, let me acknowledge what the Charge 5 gets right. With an IP67 rating, it can withstand all manner of weather and abuse. The integrated power bank provides helpful charging support for phones and tablets on the go. And JBL‘s hallmark audio profile emphasizes intense bass response perfect for bassheads and EDM enthusiasts.
But the Charge 5 exhibits shortcomings in other areas that dim its shine compared to rival speakers costing far less. Based on in-depth usage across various scenarios, I break down the key drawbacks you should weigh before even considering a new JBL Charge purchase.
Size and Portability Leaves Much to Be Desired
JBL leans hard into marketing the Charge 5‘s portability. But upon closer inspection, this speaker ranks on the chunkier end of the portable spectrum. Weighing over 2 full pounds and measuring nearly 9 inches in length, the Charge 5 occupies ample real estate in bags and backpacks. And hefting it around by the built-in strap grows tiresome quickly even over short distances.
By comparison, here is how some other portable speakers stack up size-wise:
| Speaker | Weight | Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| JBL Charge 5 | 2.11 lbs | 8.7 x 3.76 x 3.67 inches |
| Anker Soundcore 3 | 1.24 lbs | 6.5 x 2.1 x 2.2 inches |
| JBL Flip 6 | 1.21 lbs | 8.9 x 3.7 x 3.7 inches |
While an extra pound or two of weight may not seem like much, it makes a noticeable difference in perceived portability when traveling far. If you demand a speaker that easily fits into bags without feeling burdensome, the Charge 5 disappoints.
Steep Price Commands Top-Tier Performance (Which the Charge 5 Fails to Deliver)
Given its $180 price point, consumers rightfully expect the JBL Charge 5 to deliver best-in-class attributes. But diving into its specs and capabilities reveals you can find superior sound and features without breaking the bank.
Take the JBL Flip 6 for example – it incorporates comparable driver arrays and radiators, matches the 20 hours of battery life, and even bests the Charge 5‘s IP67 rating with an IPX7 designation. Yet it manages to package this in a more compact form factor that better facilitates portability. Oh, and it retails for nearly half the price at only $100.
When assessing the Charge 5‘s value, its glaring deficiencies around size and cost-to-performance make that near $200 expenditure tough to justify.
Unbalanced Audio Mix Underwhelms Beyond Bass-Heavy Genres
There‘s no denying the Charge 5 pumps out some pounding bass. Its oval-shaped transducer joined by dual passive radiators creates an ultra-low end focused audio mix perfect for bass heads. However, this comes at the cost of both mid and high frequency attenuation.
Vocals sound distant and muted behind the overpowering low-end thump. And higher register tones like cymbal strikes get lost amidst the boomy bass. For electronic genres, the Charge 5 undoubtedly thrives. But this sound profile quickly falls apart when streaming podcasts, jazz, classical, or older rock where positing diverse instruments in the mix matters.
By trying to appease bass lovers, the Charge 5 alienates a wider swath of music listeners seeking balanced audio across highs, mids, and lows. Products like the Sony SRS-XB43 include handy sound mode presets to optimize performance for different listening needs. Unsurprisingly at this price point, you won‘t find any customization or audio tweaking possible on the Charge 5 beyond basic volume control.
Lack of Customization Limits Listening Flexibility & Immersion
Speaking of lacking customization, don‘t expect any tailored audio adjustment options with the Charge 5. The speaker omits even basic equalizer presets commonly found on modern Bluetooth speakers to appease different listening tastes. Aside from toggling the volume up and down, that‘s the only semblance of audio tweaking at your disposal.
What this means is that you remain beholden to JBL‘s default out-of-box sound signature. If you prefer amplified vocals amidst your music or a warmer soundstage overall, tough luck. By including some element of audio personalization and EQ adjustment, products like the Anker Soundcore 3 deliver a more customizable experience catered to owners‘ preferences.
Audiophiles unwilling the accept middling one-sound-profile-suits-all will find themselves yearning for more personalized tuning when rocking out with the Charge 5. Especially for $180 spent, options to tailor the listening experience seem a glaring omission.
Successor Charge 6 Likely Just Around the Corner
Checking the history books reveals JBL has delivered new Charge models consistently every 2 to 3 years like clockwork. Given we‘re approaching 2 years since the Charge 5 first launched in 2021, the next iteration feels imminent. Rumblings anticipate a Charge 6 unveiling potentially as early as 2023 based on this established release cadence.
And with each successive update comes technological improvements that outpace the outgoing model. We saw the Jump from the Charge 3 to the Charge 4 deliver 50% extended playtimes thanks to battery optimizations while adding USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. It stands to reason the pending Charge 6 will sport beneficial upgrades as well whether concerning better power efficiency, audio driver upgrades, or support for modern wireless codec protocols.
Rather than sink nearly $200 into an aging Charge 5, it may prove prudent to wait for the looming Charge 6 expected to deliver better overall performance and value thanks to cutting-edge technological implementations simply not available 2+ years ago when engineering the Charge 5. Remember – in the world of consumer tech, holding out for forthcoming releases often rewards buyers handsomely.
So in summary, while I‘ll always salute JBL for pushing portable audio innovations forward, the current Charge 5 stumbles in a few key areas. For just shy of $200 spent, you rightfully expect best-in-class attributes without compromises. But lackluster size portability coupled with unbalanced audio and no customization options exposes noteworthy shortcomings competitors avoid.
And that ignores what the future Charge 6 has in store. By addressing the Charge 5‘s pitfalls with modern technological touches, this next release could deliver a demonstrably superior listening experience and improved traveling form factor.
Overall I hope this guide gives you pause by spotlighting the key drawbacks to consider before plunking down your dollars on a 2022 JBL Charge 5. Spend them wisely my friend! Your ears and wallet will thank you long term.
