A pocket speaker for all occasions.

So, I finally got my hands on a product that usually flies past on different speeds in the park, attached to a bicycle or lying in the center of a picnic by the lake. This is exactly the column that stormtroopers from Star Wars wear on their belts - JBL Flip3.

Personally, I wasn’t particularly interested in purchasing such a gadget - I almost never ride a bike, hikes happen extremely rarely, and I prefer to listen to music either on my home audio system or on my favorite ATH headphones.

After using the Flip3 for a week, I started thinking about purchasing it. Fortunately, it is quite inexpensive.

Sporty, durable design with vibrant colors

The first thing that comes to mind when you pick up this device is how pleasant it is to the touch. The rubberized body, which protects from water and light impacts, and the part with the speaker covered with synthetic fabric leave a very pleasant feeling. Much better than regular plastic.

TO appearance there are no complaints - minimalistic design, materials that are pleasant to the touch and look.

I got my hands on an orange copy (not my favorite color), but the choice is quite large - as many as eight options. So, everyone can choose to their taste.

The speaker has a speakerphone function - you can phone call accept and answer on Skype. The microphone with noise and echo suppression function works perfectly - the interlocutor hears you perfectly.

However, the logic of choosing exactly this sign for the button indicating play/pause is not entirely clear. In this case it is a telephone handset. Still, first of all, this is a speaker for music.

Plus there is a separate bluetooth button, the only task of which is to activate the connection mode. It seems to me that it would be quite possible to add this function to the power button.

One of the most important changes in the third Flip model is that it is not afraid of splashing water or dirt. The manufacturer does not recommend completely immersing it in water (neither do we), but practice has shown that if such an incident occurs, the speaker will most likely survive. The main thing is not to forget to close the flap under which the USB and audio inputs are hidden.

The built-in battery does its job perfectly. It is difficult to provide an absolutely accurate report on charge usage, but during the first two evenings of listening, only one of the five charge indicators went out. Which is significantly better than the stated ten hours.

The equipment is quite poor. It's just a lanyard and a micro-usb cable, which everyone seems to already have. I think a mini-jack cable for audio connection and a case for the speaker itself would be equally useful in this case. But I won’t quibble too much - these are all minor things.

How does it connect and work wirelessly?

Installed in the column bluetooth versions 4.1, so there are no problems either when connecting or when listening to music. Communication is maintained at the promised distance of ten meters, and even more in open areas.

If you want to connect a device without Bluetooth to it, or for some reason your player does not have this module, you can do this via the aux input. This is how I, for example, connected my volca keys synthesizer - the sound, of course, is much better than the built-in speaker.

Sounds decent and even rocks

When you turn on such a small device, you don't expect such serious bass. Such powerful lows are provided by two passive radiators. And the sound is tuned in such a way that the feeling that there is a trembling, humming subwoofer lying on the table does not arise at all. You hear the real deep, rich bass and kick drum.

Even at maximum volume, Flip3 continues to amaze with clear sound without overload (by at least I was not able to overclock it to this level). And it sounds very loud!

There is no point in saying once again that this is not a device for listening to music. High Quality Lossless, but in its category this speaker has very impressive sound.
Even when listening to tracks from soundcloud (which, as you know, are at 128 kbp/s), the sound is surprisingly rich and pleasant. What can we say about the “correct” transmission of aac at 256 kbp/s or about connecting via wire.

The speaker produces stereo sound, but unless it's right in front of you there's little point - the speakers are close together. If you happen to have two such devices and at a picnic you want to enjoy all the delights of the artistic use of stereo sound, say, Sergeant Pepper, you can use the JBL Connect function - each of the speakers will reproduce one of two audio channels.

There is also a very convenient opportunity to connect up to three devices to it at once and play tracks from them one by one. Perfect option for a party!

What thoughts remain, will I take it or not?

After testing this speaker, I, a person who had never even thought about buying such a device, would not refuse to purchase not just one such speaker, but two at once (for a full-fledged stereo sound). With such a thing you can use mobile workplace organize it and turn it on at a party or just put it in the kitchen instead of the radio.

With more than nice price(RUR 5,990) This is an excellent device with no obvious drawbacks, which can be useful in very different situations.

website A pocket speaker for all occasions. So, I finally got my hands on a product that usually flies past at various speeds in the park, attached to a bicycle, or lying in the middle of a picnic by the lake. This is exactly the speaker that stormtroopers from Star Wars wear on their belts - JBL Flip3. Personally, I was not particularly interested in purchasing such a gadget...

Good sound in a compact case, decent battery life.

Minuses

The electronics used are glitchy, which negates all the advantages.

Review

I received the speaker as a gift, it was brought from another city and the purchase receipt was left 900 kilometers away. And it was needed because the service was requested almost immediately. At any moment during operation, a cyclic uncontrolled constant reboot could occur with loud sounds of turning on and off, connecting and disconnecting. Didn't respond to the buttons. Then, left somewhere where this disgrace could not be heard, after some time it “came to its senses” and was able to work for a long time and well - until next time. Still, she waited for her receipt and warranty repairs, and her board was replaced. It worked flawlessly for 3 months and suddenly one day it didn’t turn on. In the midst of the summer season, when you need it! No response to buttons or connection charger. And the warranty is over! I really didn’t want to carry it to the service center for money, because it could cost half the price of a new speaker. It lay there until October, when I decided to connect the charger again. A miracle happened - one charging LED blinked! Then I managed to turn it on! Then it charged completely. And working! What was it? Unclear. There was some sediment left. You can hardly rely on her - she will let you down at any moment. And in general, I began to be wary of JBL products. The beautiful design was ruined by glitchy electronics.

Today I want to talk about JBL Flip 3, a budget wireless speaker from JBL, which is famous for its speaker systems.

It seems that the next model has already come out and you ask why review this model, and I will answer you, because it is still relevant. The column was published a little over a year ago and on this moment costs, on average, 5000 rubles. Among young people, JBL Flip 3 is in great demand due to its fairly low price for such a high-quality speaker. But first things first.

JBL Flip 3 Features:

• Frequency range 85 - 20,000 Hz
• 2 x 40mm speakers
• total power 16 W (2x8 W)
• two passive bass radiators
• Bluetooth 4.1
• profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.5, HFP 1.6, HSP 1
• battery: 3000 mAh; time battery life until 10 o'clock
• splash and moisture protection
• connect up to two devices simultaneously
• connectors: Micro USB, audio output 3.5 mm
• dimensions: 169 x 64 x 64 mm
• weight: 450 grams

Equipment:

• Column
• Packaging, waste paper
• USB charging cable

Design and ergonomics

JBL Flip 3 is made in the shape of a cylinder. The company logo is located in the middle of the case, most of which is covered with synthetic fabric.

There is a small plastic strip where the control buttons and the input for mircoUSB and AUX are located; passive bass radiators are located on the sides. The plastic part is very easily soiled, which cannot be said about the fabric part.

The speaker is very pleasant to carry in your hand and on your arm (on a strap); it easily fits into the cup holder on a bicycle, which is undoubtedly a huge plus. The column can stand either vertically or lie on the table.

Thanks to the splash protection, you don’t have to worry if the JBL Flip 3 gets caught in the rain; we can wash the speaker under water if the part with the fabric suddenly gets dirty.

The control elements of the column, in my opinion, are made unusually. Half on the fabric part and half on the plastic part. The fabric part has buttons for volume control, pairing and voice assistant/call answer control.

Buy JBL Flip 3 is available in seven colors: red, blue, yellow, black, light green, purple, orange. But it seems to me that you should take the black version. It is more practical and inconspicuous, although some users, on the contrary, will want to stand out due to the color of the column.

Functionality and ease of use

What really surprised me were the cool sounds of turning on and off, it seems like a small thing, but it’s nice. The connection is purely via Bluetooth, there is no NFC here and this is a minus. With it, connecting to a smartphone would be much easier and faster.

JBL also made an application for a smartphone (there is a version for Android and iOS), where you can very slightly, but still customize the speaker for yourself, namely, change its name and change the purpose of the call button (belly/voice assistant). One great feature is that you can pair two JBL speakers that are supported in the JBL Connect app .

The speaker has a 3000 mAh battery, which is enough for 2-3 days of moderate use at full volume. This is a worthy result among competitors, but a record one.

Sound quality

Of course, we care about quality first. JBL sound Flip 3, not its design. The sound is loud enough for such a small speaker, rich, rich, and spacious.

I look at the sound quality from the perspective of an ordinary user, and take my word for it, the sound here is very smooth and pleasant, without dips or artifacts. In general, what users of portable speakers need, audiophiles will pass by (but they still don’t buy such things). The volume of the speaker is enough in a room of up to 20 square meters, but it will not be enough at a noisy party.

A few words about Flip 4

JBL Flip 4 was released in the spring of 2017 and costs a little more than the previous Flip 3, only 6,500 rubles, the price is more than justified. This model is not much different from the Flip 3. It has a higher protection class of IPX7. It has a larger body, and the design of the buttons is also slightly different.

Thanks to Connect+ technology, you can connect more than 2 speakers to one network at the same time. But unfortunately there is still no support for the aptX codec.

It's up to you to decide which one to choose, whether to pay extra for a couple of new features or not. Personally, I chose the more budget-friendly Flip 3, because the sound quality here is almost completely parity, and I don’t need more advanced protection.

Results

The JBL Flip 3 speaker turned out to be balanced, and here it becomes clear why it is popular. The device is perfect for the mass user. I did not touch upon the topic of the speaker kit, since everything is very simple: a charging cable and pieces of paper.

The only thing in the design of this model that I don’t like is the loop on the speaker itself; for me, it would be better if they provided a separate case with the same loop for the hand. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality, everything was clear and smooth. Another small minus is the lack of NFC, but you can connect two speakers to one network.

When I took this speaker for a test, I was afraid to be disappointed again, since the JBL Charge 2/2+ left an unpleasant impression, but the JBL Flip 3 dispelled all my doubts.

I would buy one for myself, but I still prefer solutions from Sony (for example).

And they showed how a technology fan can avoid getting bored in the forest. One of the valuable items was a small, but loud speaker JBL Flip 3. Bright, moderately compact, loud, and also inexpensive.

Now it’s warmer, people go to parks, ride bicycles and other fashionable forms of urban transport such as hoverboards and unicycles. JBL speakers are often seen in the hands or backpacks of people walking, and representatives of the Flip family are seen regularly.

Design

The speaker can be placed vertically, or it can be placed on its side; you can also hang it on a nail and a hook if you take it with you to the dacha in the summer. Is it possible to walk with a speaker in your hand? You can get a kind of mini dumbbell.

JBL Flip is easy to identify by its appearance if you are interested in technology. A large logo in the center, an elongated shape, and most importantly, bright colors immediately catch the eye. Now there are speakers in new shades, if you want beauty, look and choose. Here is a fashionable camouflage, here are red and blue crosses.

Of course, 8 standard options remain on sale, it’s just that now the choice of colors has increased and new ones have appeared. Moreover, JBL showed off the Flip 4, but the old speaker is still on sale. We'll see what happens with the prices, but in its own way it's an attractive thing. Write about a separate great review It makes no sense, Flip 3 has been on sale for almost 1.5 years, but it’s worth reminding about the existence of such a thing.

Sound

The speaker has two 8-watt speakers, is that a lot or a little? Of course it's not for you JBL Xtreme, if you want to throw a wild party on a summer evening, depriving all the neighbors in the areas closest to the dacha from sleep.

The task of a small speaker is to provide musical accompaniment while walking or in the room, to play songs at summer street gatherings - it does this very well. The speaker communicates via bluetooth with 3 devices simultaneously, so if you want, play music one by one from several phones, everyone will be happy.

The speaker does not wheeze at maximum volume, does not distort the sound, plays clearly and is perfect for electronic music. Should I listen to classical or jazz music on it? In my opinion, no, for such purposes we need more expensive devices that will reveal the essence of the composition. It's still a small speaker, so we'll be fair with our claims, but even the bass is present.

The speaker is not afraid of water, this is important - throwing it into water is not recommended, diving is contraindicated by the manufacturer, although it can be washed under the tap. This is perfect for the summer; you can take it to the beach or put it on a table during a country siesta, but don’t be afraid that a sudden downpour will destroy the device.

The speaker is charged via microUSB, a cable is included in the package, but a charger is not included. It takes 3 hours to charge, and the speaker plays music for 9-10 hours, it all depends on the volume level.

What is the price

JBL Flip 3 is inexpensive, about 4.5-5 thousand rubles. The price is reasonable, I liked the acoustics: they play well, look beautiful, and are pleasant to pick up. Are tactile sensations important for a device that, in theory, just stands there and plays music? In my opinion, they are important, you want the thing to be cute, and JBL has everything in order.

Opinion

JBL has created a successful accessory in all respects. The speaker is beautiful, bright, made of nice materials. It seems like a utilitarian thing, but it turned out to be an accessory that enlivens the interior. This time. The second point is that the speaker works for a long time, is not afraid of water, and the sound quality for such small device very good. The third point is the price, this is also okay, the JBL Flip 3 costs the right amount of money, you can and should take it if you like listening to music and don’t want to get bored in silence.

Many people today can no longer imagine life without music. She became a part of our lives. Favorite tracks accompany almost everyone at home, at work, and when traveling, regularly updating and becoming more beautiful and enjoyable. However, to listen to them comfortably, you need equipment that can cope with the task of reproduction in the best possible way, and at the same time it must suit your rhythm of life. One of optimal options ready for extreme loads is Flip 3, reviews of which will help you determine whether this portable speaker is worth purchasing for yourself. However, before we get acquainted with the opinions of users, let's look at its detailed characteristics one by one.

A little about the manufacturer

The JBL company itself has been familiar to lovers of portable acoustics for a long time. Many people praise it precisely for its quality, because users can often find those first models still working properly and pleasing their owners high-quality sound. The only preventive maintenance that was required during all this time was replacing the battery, because after all, it is subject to wear and tear and has a certain number of charge-discharge cycles.

The company constantly tries to update the lineup, striving to keep up with the latest technology trends. That is why new products acquire additional useful features. For example, one of the series can be used as external battery. In addition, almost all speakers have a built-in microphone, which allows you to talk on the phone without taking it out. The only downside to this is the loss of confidentiality, because others can hear the conversation. However, given the fact that most of these speakers are waterproof, while the phone may not be, in some situations this will still be the best solution. Let's look at what the JBL Flip 3 speaker, which we are talking about now, got out of this.

A short list of characteristics of the model in question

The speaker, despite its relatively low price, is an excellent representative budget class. With a relatively low price and high power, Flip 3 has the following advantages:

• The ability to select a sound source between wireless broadcast via Bluetooth version 4.1 and a line input for a standard cable with a mini-Jack connector (3.5 mm).
• The built-in battery has a capacity of 3000 mAh. According to the manufacturer, this capacity should be enough for 10 hours of continuous playback of music tracks.
• As mentioned above, this speaker is no exception and supports the possibility of using it for talking on the phone. The built-in microphone not only receives sound signal, but also processes it using noise and echo cancellation.
• JBL Flip 3, which we will review from customers at the end of the article, has received water protection. The acoustics cannot be immersed under water for a long time, but they can withstand a short-term fall into it. Flying splashes or raindrops will not cause any damage. To clean dirt, the column can be washed under running water.
• Thanks to modern protocol wireless communication It is possible to connect up to three audio source devices simultaneously.
• Application new technology BassRadiator made it possible to do low frequencies portable speaker JBL Flip 3 more powerful and voluminous, despite the compact size of the body itself. Thanks to this, the lower limit of reproduced frequencies starts from 85 Hz. The highest possible high frequency remains standard for most similar systems and is 20 kHz.
• The total power of the speakers is 16 W.

This entire list creates a positive impression of this electronic miracle. However, for some users it is not so important specifications, how much is the design of the device. Let's talk about it now.

Case appearance and ergonomics

This moment may be especially interesting for those who like to stand out from the crowd. This is exactly what the designers thought about when they added eight different colors to the line, each of which can highlight your individuality and make life a little brighter. It includes colors such as blue, yellow, red, mint, orange, pink, gray and black. However, color is not the main advantage.

No matter how beautiful the design is, it must be practical. The use of passive low-frequency radiators (the same as can be found in the more expensive Extreme and Charge series) added zest and expanded the possibilities of using the speakers. When turned off, the drivers on the JBL Flip 3 speaker may not be noticeable, but their movement is clearly visible during playback. They seem to dance to the beat of low frequencies.

Thanks to their use, the speaker can be installed on any of the ends without loss of sound quality. However, it can also be laid on its side. Despite its cylindrical shape, it will not roll away - the lace will get in the way. It seems like such a small thing, but not every manufacturer cares about users as much, because with its help the speaker can be mounted on almost any surface. For example, given its water resistance, it can be useful for those who like to sing in the shower.

The body is made of interesting material. As reviews say about the JBL Flip 3 portable speaker, it looks like a woven fabric. It feels quite durable to the touch, which can guarantee no damage even after many years of use. Where the smooth elements are located, you can see a nice matte plastic that has some shockproof properties.

The controls are made slightly convex, which allows you to comfortably use the speaker even in the dark. Separately, it is worth noting the presence of a charge level indicator, because although it is also a small thing, it is not available on every model. However, the thing is quite useful, since it can help you correctly calculate the intensity of use of the speaker system depending on your plans.

Combining speaker systems

If you look closely at the controls, you will notice an interesting symbol that cannot be explained by standard rules. This is an hourglass icon that you won't find on any other speaker system.

If you carefully read the instructions for the columns, you will see that they support the possibility of merging. So, if you and your friend have the same speakers, you can connect them in parallel to achieve better effect and increasing power. This can be especially true during picnics in nature, where a large number of people are present, and, accordingly, the area on which they are located is quite large. Despite the fact that not many people have used this function, there are already a sufficient number of reviews regarding the JBL Flip 3 column showing the benefits of this solution.

Moisture protection

As noted in the user manual, this column It is not recommended to immerse it in water, as its performance may be impaired. However, if you watch the video reviews, you will notice that many bloggers did this, and acoustic system continued to work without losing its characteristics. This suggests that it can easily cope with heavy rain or accidentally spilled rain on it. big amount water.

Also, as reviews say about Flip 3, it is not afraid of sand, so it is optimal for use on the beach. The phone can be kept in a waterproof bag or case.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the presence of a key to answer a call. If you are swimming and listening to music, and an important call comes in, then you can easily answer it without fear of damaging the phone, which may not have moisture protection. The quality of the microphone is excellent, and you can speak without raising your voice, that is, as usual when making a call.

You should be careful and always close them with a special rubber plug when the linear input or charging interface connectors are not in use. If this is not done, water entering them can seriously damage the acoustics.

Autonomy

The battery, as mentioned above, is set to 3000 mAh. For most users this will be enough. When played at an average volume level, it really lasts about 10 hours; when connected via a line input and deactivating the Bluetooth module, this time can be slightly increased. To fully charge from a powerful power supply, as customer reviews say about the JBL Flip 3, it will take about 3-3.5 hours.

Dimensions and weight

Girls who are used to compactly placing everything in their small backpacks can pay attention to this model. Considering the fairly high power and autonomy, it will be the best candidate, because its dimensions are only 64*169*64 mm. It is slightly longer than a 5.5-inch smartphone. The thickness is equal to its width. This way it's easier to imagine the overall dimensions and understand that it will be a good choice.

You also don’t have to worry about the weight, because for such a device it can’t be called large. The mass of the speaker system is 450 grams. For comparison: this is approximately the weight of three smartphones. Agree, this is not so much, considering the ability to comfortably listen to music anywhere.

Sound quality

This parameter should not be missed, because the device can be as beautiful as you like, but still, its main task is to play pleasant music.

When you read reviews about the JBL Flip 3, they all boil down to one thing - compared to previous versions Budget acoustic options from this manufacturer have improved the sound significantly. It became more voluminous and cleaner, without any interference or artifacts. This is not to say that it is perfect, and audiophiles will definitely find flaws in it. Still, for general use this speaker system is very good.

The ability to connect three devices at the same time is very useful if you are going with a group and everyone wants to show off something new from their playlist. Then you can connect to the speaker at the same time, and then turn on the desired tracks one by one.

The acoustics use two modern speakers, each with a power of 8 watts and a diagonal of 40 mm. The volume is quite enough to easily listen to music in an open space, for example, while relaxing in the forest or on the beach. This means that in a room or car you are unlikely to turn the volume up to maximum at all, since the sound power level will be too high.

The frequency range, as you can see when reading reviews about the JBL Flip 3, is fully revealed, so the speaker is well suited for different types of music, from rap or electronic music to heavy metal. It's nice to note that there are no dips when the volume in the track itself suddenly increases or decreases.

Speaker setup

There will be no problems at all with the first connection. Once you turn on the speaker, you can immediately find it in the list of devices available for pairing on your smartphone. If you need to connect another device, just click on the button with the “Bluetooth” icon, and the acoustics will appear in the search again.

The transition to the linear cable operating mode is carried out automatically immediately after its connection. In this case, the Bluetooth module is turned off to save battery power. More detailed points regarding settings can always be found in the attached detailed instructions manual.

Factory equipment

The speaker comes in a small box where you won't find many things. However, all branded accessories are made of high quality, so they can last a long time if handled carefully.

So, in addition to the speaker itself, you will find one cable in the box. This is micro-USB, designed for charging from a power supply. The unit itself is not included in the kit, but any one with a charging current of about 1 ampere will do.

That's all, there is nothing else there except the warranty card and instructions. However, this is precisely what makes it possible to reduce the final cost of the device. The manufacturer allows you to decide for yourself which accessories to purchase separately and whether you need them. However, many users, when they write about portable JBL acoustics Flip 3 reviews note their dissatisfaction with such a meager package.

Positive feedback about the speaker system

All the above information is official data from manufacturers and the results of review tests from major publications. She presents dry data, a kind of thematic JBL Flip 3 review. Reviews give you the opportunity to see a real picture. Nothing can give the most complete information about a particular device, as assessed by users who have already had the opportunity to test it in action. So, we can now consider the positive and negative aspects of the device, and then compare the information received with the manufacturer’s statements to make sure of the quality and decide whether to buy such a speaker for yourself or as a gift.

Having analyzed what was written about JBL speaker Flip 3 reviews, you can see that among the positive aspects users most often name the following:

1. High quality sound. Despite the fact that the speaker is small and belongs to the budget segment, its sound is really pleasant and allows you to fully enjoy your favorite musical compositions.
2. Good range of colors. It’s nice that the manufacturer gives you the opportunity to choose which speaker you want, and all this without a difference in cost. This allows you to be unique, even if your friends have the same model. And in general, with different colors it’s easier not to get confused about whose gadget is whose.
3. Light weight and size. For its characteristics, the acoustic system received really low indicators of these parameters, which makes its use more comfortable. It won’t hurt in a hiking backpack, and it definitely won’t strain your back.
4. Moisture protection. Thanks to its presence, the speaker can really be used on beaches and in active recreation areas. You should not drown it in water, but it will cope with the main problems of being on land, be it sand or splashes, without any problems. This option is clearly not superfluous in the JBL Flip 3. The Bluetooth speaker, the reviews of which we are now reviewing, owes much of its popularity to it.
5. Ability to connect several (up to three) devices simultaneously. In a large company, this function cannot be neglected, because everyone may have different musical tastes, and this option helps to smooth out such different opinions.
6. High volume and power. The speakers are quite sufficient for sounding fairly large residential premises or for use outdoors and in noisy places.
7. Good autonomy. As users note, the operating time is really about 10 hours, and there is often simply no need to turn on the maximum volume.
8. Possibility of connection with another JBL Flip 3 Black speaker.