JBL Go 3 review: A punchy, pocket-sized waterproof speaker
Our Verdict
While information technology doesn't entirely avoid the weaknesses of small, cheap Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Go 3 is an impressive trivial unit with total waterproofing, plenty of bass and amend-than-expected battery life.
For
- Very affordable
- Portable and waterproof
- Relatively long battery life
- Six color options
Against
- Sound is warm just lacks particular
Tom's Guide Verdict
While it doesn't entirely avoid the weaknesses of small, cheap Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Get 3 is an impressive little unit with full waterproofing, plenty of bass and better-than-expected battery life.
Pros
- +
Very affordable
- +
Portable and waterproof
- +
Relatively long battery life
- +
Vi colour options
Cons
- -
Sound is warm only lacks item
Bluetooth speakers don't come much smaller than the JBL Go 3. Weighing a feathery 7.iv ounces and compact enough to fit in a pocket, the Go 3 emphasises the "portable" part of portable speakers.
JBL GO 3 SPECS
Price: $39
Colors: Crimson, blue, teal, grayness, pink, blackness
Size: three.4 10 2.vii x 1.6 inches
Weight: 7.4 ounces
Immovability: IP67
Battery life: 5 hours
Oft, this approach can spell trouble for sound devices: smaller drivers are rarely better than deep, broad ones, and the battery will take necessarily shrunk. Just, as our full JBL Get 3 review shows, its full waterproofing, plucky bass output and surprising longevity add up to a winner. Read on to find out why this isn't only one of the best waterproof speakers, but 1 of the all-time cheap Bluetooth speakers overall.
- The best Bluetooth speakers for any budget
- Equip your desk with the best reckoner speakers
JBL Go 3 review: Price and availability
- $39 MSRP
- Six color options
The JBL Go 3 retails for $39, putting information technology in the same subclass of such cheap Bluetooth speakers as the Anker Soundcore 2 and the Tribit StormBox Micro. Y'all can purchase information technology from Amazon, B&H, Walmart and Target, amongst others.
You get a decently wide choice of colors, also: red, blue, teal, grey, pink and black. The availability of certain colors may vary between retailers, though at the fourth dimension of writing Amazon has all six in stock.
JBL Become 3 review: Pattern
- Extremely portable
- Bones but useful onboard controls
While the previous JBL Go ii was never ugly, the more rounded corners and woven texture of the Go iii are major improvements. And it'due south even more applied for mobile usage, thank you to the new, safety-reinforced rope loop.
Measuring 3.iv inches broad and only 1.six inches thick, the Go 3 is very slightly bigger than the Go two, simply remains genuinely pocket-sized. It'southward one of the few worthwhile Bluetooth speakers that can make the UE Wonderboom 2 await bulky, and while the Go 3 doesn't have that speaker's 360-degree sound, information technology'south even easier to toss in a modest satchel or haversack. It'due south fifty-fifty smaller than the StormBox Micro, too.
A skip button would have been nice, simply the basics are present in the form of volume up/downward buttons and a combined play/pause push button. These are perched on height of the speaker, while the more detached ability and Bluetooth pairing buttons sit down on the right side.
JBL Go 3 review: Waterproofing
- IP67 rating
- Protected against dust ingress and submersion in water
Despite its depression price, the Go iii promises waterproofing to the IP67 standard: the same as premium waterproof speakers like the UE Megaboom 3 and Sonos Roam. That ways information technology should survive being fully submerged in up to 1 meter of water for upward to 30 minutes — and it'southward fully protected against ingress by grit and dirt every bit well.
Information technology works, too. I completely submerged the Go 3 in my sink for a while, and it emerged in full working gild. And should y'all drop information technology in the bathtub or a pool, you don't fifty-fifty need to worry much about full submersion, as it floats to the surface unless held down. That should brand retrieval easier, besides.
The USB-C charging port is exposed, so I'd recommend waiting for information technology to dry before attempting to recharge, but otherwise the Go three lives up to its ruggedization promises.
JBL Get 3 review: Sound quality
- Strong bass with warm profile
- College frequencies workable, non cracking
- Can become loud but sounds all-time and depression-to-mid book
The Get 3'southward audio profile is a mix of pleasant surprises and, considering the meaty pattern, totally expected limitations. Let's beginning with the latter: this is not a especially detailed-sounding speaker, and although it tin can go loud enough to fill a decent-sized room, baloney kicks in well before the volume maxes out.
The Wonderboom 2 is drastically crisper and clearer, so remains your all-time bet if you desire a diminutive waterproof speaker. But then, that'due south more than twice as expensive as the Go 3. Can JBL's speaker notwithstanding offer enjoyable audio on a tight budget?
Every bit it happens, yes. The firmness and presence of the low-cease is impressive for such a small-scale speaker, and then Audioslave's riff-heavy "Cochise" rocked along nicely while the iconic bassline in "Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz kept all of its sleaziness.
In fact, in that location's a general warmness to the Get 3'south sound signature that yous rarely get from tiny speakers. This can exist smashing for giving presence to solo instruments, similar the opening guitar in Krewella's "Surrender the Throne," and it works well with archetype recordings that already have that "old vinyl" quality.
Again, though, don't expect too much. College-pitched elements can sound a little recessed, unless they're really being pushed in the mix, and vocals are clear but don't have the sharpness of more expensive speakers.
JBL Go three review: Bombardment life
- Up to 5 hours, officially
- Could become for much longer in testing
Normally, the reason you shouldn't take manufacturers' battery life estimates as gospel is because they rarely last that long in everyday usage atmospheric condition. With the Become 3, still, it'southward the contrary: I got much more than the quoted 5 hours from a single charge.
Granted, I was usually listening at under 50% book, but I still squeezed nearly 10 hours out of the Go 3 before it finally ran dry. That'southward Sonos Roam territory, and takes the edge off what would otherwise be the Go three'due south biggest thwarting.
Of course, 10 hours isn't astonishing either, merely unlike v hours it'southward enough for a day out at the park. Just call up that if you crank the book up, you won't be able to stretch it out as long.
JBL Go 3 review: Wireless and setup
- Bluetooth v.1 is reliable
- No PartyBoost or stereo pairing
There's no aux port then the Get 3 exclusively connects over Bluetooth 5.1. It paired to both my Android phone and Windows PC overnice and chop-chop, and the signal didn't drop out when I put a few walls in-between the speaker and the source device.
In that location's no multipoint back up, so only one device tin connect at a fourth dimension, and different the Charge 5 you tin't create a stereo pair or PartyBoost network using multiple Go 3s. That's a piddling disappointing, simply and so, you lot do need to take the Get 3 out and almost to get the most out of it. It's not the kind of speaker you'd shackle to a multiroom or desktop setup.
JBL Get 3 review: Verdict
The smallest speakers volition always deal in trade-offs, simply the JBL Go 3 ultimately makes a bargain in your favor. Its ruggedness and portability are hard to trounce, particularly without spending a whole lot more money, and even the relative weak points of audio quality and battery life are still pretty good for $39.
The Wonderboom 2 is a better selection if you can afford, only the Go 3 holds up against the $49 StormBox Micro just as well as information technology volition an accidental dip in the pool.
- More than: The best outdoor speakers with weather protection
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/jbl-go-3
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