ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The JBL Cost 6 will probably be obtainable for buy on April 6 for $199 in Black, Blue, White, Pink, Camo, and Purple.
- The Cost 6 gives nice sound, sturdiness, battery life, and in-app options.
- Though it is waterproof, fixed, untreated publicity to salt and chlorine can incur inside injury, similar to every other Bluetooth speaker.
extra shopping for decisions
Whereas there are many Bluetooth audio system in the marketplace, just a few strike the stability of sturdiness and sound high quality. Bose’s SoundLink Max was one of many first I examined to bridge the hole, however JBL’s newest Charge 6 is right here to compete with it – and for $200 much less.
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I spent an early spring weekend toting the JBL Cost 6 to a household cookout round Atlanta’s busiest outside area and between rooms whereas I accomplished some weekend chores. Should you’re in search of a souped-up transportable speaker, you may wish to hear the way it went.
The Cost 6 debuts with JBL’s proprietary AI Sound Increase, which makes use of an algorithm to research your music because it performs in actual time to tweak the speaker’s EQ. In response to JBL, this characteristic delivers most acoustics and reduces distortion.
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Lowering distortion is exceptionally necessary, contemplating the Cost 6 packs a heavy bass response. At loud volumes, the bass may cause the speaker to rumble, muddy the bass, and overpower the opposite frequencies. Though the Cost 6 is not the smallest Bluetooth speaker I’ve tested, its loudness continues to be spectacular for its body.
If the bass will get too heavy to your liking, you possibly can modify the speaker’s EQ settings within the JBL Moveable app. You may select from preset EQs or create your individual. The Cost 6 guarantees 28 hours of playtime on a single cost, 4 extra hours than its predecessor.
Two of these further hours are attributed to a characteristic referred to as Playtime Increase, which decreases the bass power to preserve battery. This characteristic was useful at my mother and father’ weekend cookout since I am always tasked with bringing the most recent speaker I am testing for everybody to listen to. Nevertheless, on this specific weekend, I introduced the speaker when it was on 30% battery, and I wanted to maintain the get together going.
The Cost 6 will get its identify from its machine charging capabilities; in case your or your buddy’s smartphone has a low battery, you possibly can whip out your USB-C twine and plug your cellphone into the speaker to maintain it alive.
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JBL trumpets the Cost 6’s IP68 sturdiness ranking because it’s stronger than the Bose SoundLink Max, Beats Pill (2024), and Sony ULT Field 1‘s IP67 rankings. At IP68, the Cost 6 is totally shielded from mud and might survive submersion in virtually 5 toes (1.5 meters) of water for as much as half-hour.
Though an IP68 is spectacular, all Bluetooth audio system have caveats surrounding their waterproof ranking. The trade commonplace is to check a product’s waterproofing capabilities with contemporary water, not salt or chlorinated water. Though your speaker can face up to bouts within the pool or ocean, its dips within the pool ought to happen accidentally should you might help it.
The chemical compounds within the ocean or pool water might erode the speaker’s inside elements, coloring, and the seals holding it collectively. JBL asserts that the Cost 6’s IP ranking applies to salt and chlorinated water, however customers ought to totally rinse and dry off the speaker after contact. It is crucial that the speaker is dry earlier than plugging your cellphone into it, so the Cost 6 will blink crimson if the port continues to be moist.
Quite the opposite, the Bose SoundLink Max additionally has reverse charging and a weaker IP ranking. Nevertheless, it should float and orient itself, grille face down, to keep away from inside water injury should you unintentionally drop it within the ocean or pool. Nonetheless, Bose additionally suggests you wait till the speaker is dry to make use of or plug your cellphone into it.
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You may orient the Cost 6 horizontally or vertically; the added carrying strap offers extra portability. In comparison with its predecessor, the Cost 6 gives extra steady playtime, an enhanced Bluetooth model for extra secure connections and environment friendly energy consumption, Auracast compatibility, and quicker reverse charging.
The Cost 6 is a worthy improve from the Cost 5, displaying that JBL properly used the Cost lineup’s four-year hiatus. It’s extra reasonably priced than rivals with related options and extra superior than rivals in the identical worth class.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
If you’d like a brand new Bluetooth speaker filled with options and sensible sturdiness, the JBL Charge 6 is a wonderful selection. It sounds nice, has a prolonged battery life, and contains Auracast, which lets you join the speaker to an infinite variety of different Auracast-enabled audio system for the final word get together.
If you’d like a sturdy speaker with reverse charging and a extra trendy and nondescript design, take into account the Bose SoundLink Max, however be ready to pay a premium for it.
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