Half of summer has already passed, but the holiday season is just gaining momentum. It's time to think about not parting with your favorite music anywhere. Miniature will help with this JBL GO speaker. Portable sound everywhere: on the beach, while fishing, and just when riding a bike. Let's figure out what else interesting JBL is offering this time.

The speaker's equipment is simple, as is the functionality of the device itself. The future owner will find a cable inside the transparent packaging Micro USB bright orange color and accompanying documentation. That's all.

It would be nice if the manufacturer also included some brightly colored cord in the package for attaching the speaker to a backpack or jeans. Approximately what the reader can see in the introductory image to this review. This would be a completely logical step, given that we are dealing with a very portable device, and the name itself speaks of the adventurous nature of the gadget.

Design

The entire range of colors that JBL uses in its latest products is clearly aimed at a youth audience. Indeed, the colors of the speakers are bright, stylish and toy-like. A bee-bee mood is also present in the design of the hero of today’s article. JBL GO is found in nature in blue colors, as well as black, gray, orange, pink, red, turquoise and yellow. Only the white tint has disappeared somewhere, but, of course, you can live without it and, moreover, very well.

The device control buttons are placed on the top surface and are flush with the body. They flex slightly when pressed and have excellent response.

On the right wall there is a Micro USB connector for charging the device, a microphone hole and a 3.5 mm audio input. It’s also strange that the gadget is not equipped with a cable with a mini-jack at both ends for wired connection speaker to the sound source. As a result, the user must purchase such a wire, which, by the way, is an additional hassle. Oh no no no!

On the left side there is an impressive size loop for attaching a lanyard for carrying the speaker. It is recessed into the body, each corner of which, by the way, is straight and not smoothed out in any way.

Now the trend is slightly rounded corners in all places where it can be applied. However, in the case of JBL GO, this design approach that breaks this rule looks very organic. In your hands, the speaker feels like a brick, and coupled with the Soft-Touch surface, you get real pleasure from using the gadget. There is no cheap gloss or plastic angled to resemble specially processed metal, as is found in cheap Chinese crafts.

Everything is stylish, high quality, but at the same time frivolous and relaxed.

Below on the surface is pushed aside various, uninteresting Technical information regarding the product. It does not stand out from the general outline of its appearance.

On the front side we see a metal mesh covering the speaker.

JBL GO Specifications

• Bluetooth 4.1
• supported profiles: A2DP v. 1.2, AVRCP v. 1.4, HFP v. 1.6, HSP v. 1.2
• Bluetooth transmitter power 0 - 4 dB/mW
• frequency range of signal transmission 2 402 - 2480 Hz
• driver (1) 40 mm
• rated power 3 W
• operating frequency range 180 - 20,000 Hz
• signal-to-noise ratio 80 dB
• battery (li-ion) 600 mAh
• connectors, Micro USB, 3.5 mm
• Dimensions 82.7 x 68.3 x 30.8 mm
• weight 130 g

Connection and operating nuances

The gadget is connected in two ways: via Bluetooth or via regular cable 3.5 on both ends. The operating time from the built-in battery in such cases does not differ much from each other, so it makes no sense to try to save power by connecting the device via wire. Still, the data transmission version is 4.1, which means very low power consumption.

The process of connecting the speaker to a new sound source (smartphone, tablet, computer, etc.) is very quick and simple. No dancing in the tambourine: I turned on the visibility mode on both devices (press the Bluetooth key on the speaker once) and after 10-15 seconds the connection will be established.

During operation, no communication errors or random breaks were noticed. Keep the sound source nearby (up to about 5 meters), do not create obstacles in the signal path (walls, other wireless connections) and everything will be fine.

If the speaker starts to turn off periodically and you have to turn it on again, then most likely this means that the built-in battery will quickly discharge. By the way, this is also accompanied by a flashing red LED under the metal mesh of the speaker on the front side. During playback mode, the indicator lights up solid blue.

Acoustics can also act as a Handsfree device. The subscriber's speech is heard from the main and only speaker, and the built-in microphone with noise reduction function is designed to capture the voice of the owner of the speaker. The microphone perfectly picks up voices at a distance of up to 30 centimeters. You can communicate at a greater distance from the speaker, but the caller will hear the voice worse.

By the way, the gadget is connected to only one sound source. Connecting to two or more devices at the same time is not what JBL GO does.

Sound quality

The 40mm speaker produces an audio output of 3W. This is quite enough to inform the entire street about your presence if the speaker is with you on a walk or while riding a bike. In addition, sound can fill an entire apartment (not even a room) with a footage ranging from 120 to 150 meters. I can’t vouch for larger rooms, I haven’t tried them.

It is gratifying that at maximum volume there are no wheezes, whistles or other extraneous noises from the significant voltage of the converter.

The speaker is quite good for listening to simple and medium-complex styles of music.

Hard rock, metal or dubstep are not worth listening to. Of course, you won’t be able to hear all the juice of such compositions. In general, this is typical for any device classified as portable.

If you install the speaker on some flat, resonating surface (wooden shelf, parquet, etc.), you can hear something similar to low frequencies. Of course, you won’t be able to extract normal bass, but the JBL GO can still boom a little.

Autonomous operation

The manufacturer claims 1.5 hours of charging the device and 5 hours of continuous music playback. In what mode and with what settings is not specified. Perhaps it is worth supplementing this information with real review about JBL GO.

At the maximum volume, connected to the sound source (iMac 27’’) via Bluetooth, the speaker lasted 2 hours 38 minutes. Then the constant interruptions in the wireless connection began, which I already mentioned above. Probably, for some time it would be able to reproduce sound through the cable, but in this case you shouldn’t count on any serious time for playing music. We put the speaker on charge and wait 1 hour 39 minutes - the time that the gadget needs to charge the built-in battery 100%. I charged using the included cable from the USB connector desktop computer. If used network block power supply with a current of about 2A, the charging speed is expected to increase.

If you set the volume to the average value, you can count on an autonomy indicator close to that declared by the manufacturer.

Bottom line

Now JBL GO can be bought for 1,990 rubles. The price is clearly slightly higher than the average amount that is usually paid for such gadgets. However, there are devices on the market that are both significantly cheaper than our acoustics (Chinese noname crafts) and things that are many times more expensive (products from Dr. Dre and other brands). The owner of JBL GO receives a bright design and a recognizable name on the case speaker system. From the point of view of sound quality and volume, our system still does not provide any obvious advantages.

Typically, such devices are purchased as a gift. And what? It looks stylish, is relatively inexpensive, the brand is famous, it sounds good, and it will still come in handy on the farm someday.

On the other hand, you can purchase a speaker for yourself. Just recently I saw a man aged 60+ riding a bicycle on the street, who had a small portable acoustic system attached to his frame. The music plays, and the cyclist calmly goes about his business. And you know, this picture is inspiring. An eco-friendly, free commute in good weather can be further enhanced by your favorite music. And then people turn around, smile and nod their heads respectfully.

Already on sale Price: 1,990 rubles

May holidays. It is very good to spend this time in nature. Well, it would be nice to take a speaker out into nature to listen to your favorite music. Here's an idea, JBL Go for 2500 rubles...

Design, construction

JBL has a very good team and I'm not at all surprised that even the ultra-budget Go looks great. The packaging is simple, made of transparent plastic, inside is a speaker, an orange charging cable and documentation. Please note that they even thought about the cable, it seems like a small thing but very nice. The speaker body is made of rubberized plastic, at the end there is a 3.5 mm jack, a microUSB input, the front part is covered with a metal grille, under which there is a small indicator light. On the top there is a power button, Bluetooth, volume control and call answer buttons. Surprisingly, this inexpensive speaker does not forget about the speaker for answering calls.





The speaker is available in as many as seven colors, these are black (the most boring), blue, yellow, pink, red, white, orange, mint, I recommend choosing some bright color, so what, is there just some kind of sadness and dullness around? Moreover, it is spring now.

You can see all colors in the picture. The speaker is small, fits in any pocket, dimensions are 68.3 x 82.7 x 30.8 mm. There is also a groove at the end for attaching a strap; you will need it to hang the speaker on the handlebars of a bicycle or somewhere else. In general, the impressions from the design and assembly are only positive. Small and beautiful device, many thanks to the JBL design team.

Functions

With this speaker you can listen to music by connecting it to a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth; in addition, there is a 3.5mm jack. Please note that there is also a speaker for conversations, and the voice quality of the Go is quite good.

Music

The speaker has one speaker and it plays very well, loudly (and there is a volume reserve), clean, very good bass, but if someone doesn’t like something, then this speaker costs only 2500 rubles. When you say this, all questions disappear immediately. I won’t even really develop the topic of sound, because here it’s not bad, period - let’s leave the nuances and so on for the big, “adult” JBLs. It’s gratifying that the company has the strength to produce solutions like Go and serious systems for home use.

conclusions

“Based on customer demand, we see that people increasingly need devices “for every day”: simple in functionality, easy to use, high-quality and extremely portable. New JBL audio system Go has all of the above advantages, and with its affordable price it will be affordable for a wide range of buyers,” says Evgeniy Konov, CEO HARMAN Russia. For once I can't help but agree with the phrase for the press release, indeed, Go on this moment a unique offer on the market and the speaker arrived just in time. In times of crisis, these are the things that are valuable - great design, All necessary functions, good quality sound, Bluetooth support and 2500 rubles in retail. This is what consumers need.

Spending time in nature is especially important now, as is taking a portable audio device with you with a decent amount of time battery life. During the May holidays, I got the JBL Go for review - inexpensive bluetooth speaker with a speakerphone, which is the subject of this review.

Spring view

Before us is a rectangular “brother” JBL Clip, the dimensions, materials and functionality of which are the main similarities. Portable JBL acoustics The Go looks stylish and feels great to hold in your hand. For review, I received a blue speaker with an orange cable included.

1 of 4

The speaker body is made of the usual rubberized plastic; a similar material is used in all the models I reviewed this year. portable acoustics from JBL. The top panel contains control buttons: volume control, power button, answer call and pairing via Bluetooth wireless interface. On the left side there is a recess with a partition for a strap, and on the right there are connectors for charging micro-USB and connecting an audio cable, as well as a microphone. The front part is covered with a metal grille that protects the speaker and a small LED indicator.

The speaker has a rich color palette of body design - there are seven options to choose from (see photo). The gadget is tiny, it will even fit in a purse: 68.3 x 82.7 x 30.8 mm. As I already wrote, the JBL team has provided a groove for attaching a strap, so placing the speaker inside a bag or pocket is not necessary, since you can hang it somewhere for your convenience. Strap not included. The design of the device is simple and original, nothing superfluous and quite practical.

Frequency range (Hz): 160-20000
Sensitivity (dB): 80
Total power (W): 3
Wireless interfaces
Bluetooth: 4.0
Dimensions
Dimensions (HxWxT): 68.3x82.7x30.8
Weight (g): 150
Battery life (h): 5

Functionality

The speaker is equipped with a Bluetooth wireless interface that will allow you to connect the device to any mobile device with support for this technology, and for the rest a 3.5mm jack connector is suitable. The presence of a microphone will provide you with a hands-free calling function with acceptable speech quality. Despite its modest dimensions, JBL Go works up to 5 hours without recharging.

Sound quality

The speaker demonstrates clear sound with a slight bass; the sound quality of this audio device can always be protected at a price of 2000 rubles. Playback low frequencies the JBL Clip seemed a little deeper to me. In turn, JBL Go gives the impression of a good wireless speaker with a decent volume reserve. The solution is still a budget one, this must be taken into account when purchasing.

Bottom line

Thanks to its low price and unusual design, this model of portable wireless acoustics will become an excellent gadget not only for the younger generation, but connoisseurs of compact and functional devices will also not miss the JBL Go. Probably the best budget device in its class.

We are accustomed to the fact that if the JBL nameplate is visible on a device, then it is something expensive and at the same time no less high quality. But in Lately The American manufacturer decided to expand its audience and began to slowly produce affordable portable speakers. Last year JBL Clip went on sale, and this year their continuation is Clip+. But today we will talk about the most affordable wireless speaker from JBL. Ladies and gentlemen, please love and favor ‒ GO, just JBL GO.

JBL GO comes in a translucent package, inside which you can find documentation and a charging cable.

Design

The speaker is small and neat, made in a rectangular form factor. The main body material is soft-touch plastic, but don’t be afraid of fingerprints, they are practically invisible. The front grill is metal and has the JBL logo visible on it.

By appearance The GO resembles a miniature guitar cabinet and even has feet on the bottom. On the left there is an eyelet for a lanyard, you can attach a carabiner and hang the speaker from something.

There are 8 colors available for sale that emphasize the youthfulness of the device.

Ergonomics

The model is compact (68.3x82.7x30.8 mm) and weighs only 130 g, it will be appropriate in places where there is no access to large speakers.

With such weight and size parameters and shape, you can attach a smartphone to the speaker and watch videos from YouTube, which is very convenient.

The speaker is closed, it is difficult to damage it, so you can safely throw the mini-acoustic system into your bag and not worry about its safety. The case is not waterproof, which is worth considering when listening to music on the beach.

Connection, control

The main connection interface is Bluetooth 4.1; only one device can be paired at a time. You can also see 3.5 mm mini-jack connectors for wired connection of audio sources and Micro USB for charging.

The buttons on top are responsible for control: volume control, pairing, answering a call, on/off.

Sound

In terms of sound quality and volume, we have a leader in its price range (of course, we did not take Chinese noname into account). The speaker plays many times better than the recently reviewed Xiaomi Square Box and is closer to the more expensive solution from Chinese manufacturer‒ Mi Bluetooth Speaker. But the latter, to be honest, has more voluminous bass. The JBL GO boasts sound clarity and smoothness, even at maximum volume, which is quite high.

My speaker was the main music system at home for a whole week. And the conclusion is this: for an apartment with an area of ​​40 m2, such a solution is quite enough to create a background - it can be heard anywhere. It’s a pity that the proprietary JBL Connect technology is not supported, which allows you to combine two speakers into one stereo system, but that would be too cool for such a price.

Functionality

The most interesting thing is that with a price tag of $30, the model has a microphone for use as a speakerphone. Also among the functional features is the presence of a 3.5 mm mini-jack; not all competitors can connect wired or wirelessly.

Autonomy

The built-in 600 mAh battery allows the speaker to play at medium volume and connected via Bluetooth for about 5-6 hours. Yes, this is not a record figure, there are models that easily work for 10 hours or more. Charging from a computer lasts 1.5 hours.

Results

Unexpectedly, JBL has released one of the most worthy contenders among inexpensive wireless speakers. Priced at $30, the model looks nice and is made of good materials, plays well for its size and has good functionality. The only thing you can find fault with is the autonomy of 5-6 hours, but this is not a significant drawback and for many this operating time will be enough.

Liked:

Appearance, body materials, bright colors

Sound

Functionality

Price

Compact dimensions

Did not like:

- Not record-breaking autonomy

The editors would like to thank the Portable store for providing the JBL GO speakers for review.

		1
Speaker power, W	3
Subwoofer power, W	—
Frequency range, Hz	180-20000
Signal to noise ratio, dB	80
Amplifier	built-in
Bass reflex	—
USB	Micro USB x1 (for charging)
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.1
AirPlay	—
NFC	—
mini Jack 3.5 mm	x1
Nutrition	from USB, from battery
Autonomy, hours (battery capacity, mAh)	5 hours /600 mAh
Housing material	plastic
Finishing material	no data
Dimensions, mm	68.3×82.7×30.8
Weight, kg	0,13
Color	red
Equipment	micro usb cable
Additionally	Built-in microphone