does jbl charge 5 have aux input does jbl charge 5 have aux input

That said, it was a close call. Additionally, it supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though it doesn't do a good job of hearing you from far and in noisy settings. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. However, there isn't a way to skip to your previous track. The Charge 5 is smaller and more portable than the Boombox 2. Depends on the smartphone and the adapter. Despite all this, the Charge 5 is relatively light at a little over two pounds. Visit Jim Coleman Toyota in Bethesda MD serving Potomac, Rockville and Washington,DC #JTMEB3FV4PD117796 10.5-in. Well, while nearly all JBL portable speakers come with aux input port, not all of them support aux output. That means you can submerge the speaker in water up to 1 meter deep, for up to half an hour, without worry. Have you ever gone on a longer, multi-day hiking or camping weekend and found yourself constantly turning your phone off, switching battery modes, trying to eke out as much juice as possible over a few days? The app also offers a basic equalizer that has studio-style sliders to control bass, mid, and treble frequencies. If you want to sometimes use the Charge 5 by itself, set it as the secondary speaker. The first time you press and hold the power button to turn on the speaker, it will automatically enter pairing mode. The Charge 5s ability to charge up another device may earn it its namesake, but it wouldnt be worth much if it didnt sound good while doing it. The JBL Flip 5, Pulse 4, Boombox 2, Xtreme 3, and Charge 5 are all compatible with JBL PartyBoost. We tested the 'Black' variant; you can find its labelhere. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.soundguys.com/usb-audio-explained-18563/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olkOpfYQi8Q&t=136s. The Boombox 2 can produce deeper bass and can get louder than the Charge 5. The JBL Charge 5 adds a silicone foot on the bottom of the speaker, which is nice and helps it stay put on flat surfaces. The Sony can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Unlike the Charge 4, which uses the older Connect+ protocol, the Charge 5 hasa PartyBoost button that you can use to pair it to other PartyBoost-compatible JBL speakers like the JBL Xtreme 3. AUX-IN and charging port. Most folks should be able to use the Charge 5 for a couple full workdays (or play days) before they need to plug it in for revival. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great. *PLEASE NOTE* THE JBL CHARGE 5 DOES *NOT* INCLUDE A USB WALL ADAPTER & DOES *NOT* HAVE A 3.5mm AUX INPUT. While they both have very similar designs, the Charge 5 is smaller, lighter, and more portable. Features of JBL Charge 5 Guide app:-+ Contains many pictures to see all designs of JBL Charge 5 Guide . The Charge 5 also has Bluetooth multipoint functionality, so if you and a friend want to take turns playing music through your speaker, you wont have to switch source devices each time. The JBL's battery lasts longer than the Bose, though this can vary depending on your usage. However, battery performance can vary depending on your usage, and your experience may differ. On the road. JBL's portable Charge 5 speaker delivers surprisingly powerful Bluetooth audio from a compact, waterproof frame, making it the ideal travel companion for going just about anywhere. It's ok for me to use Bluetooth from my phone to a speaker I but I was thinking of buying a Bluetooth speaker that can act as an external speaker also because the only time that I want to use an AUX cord is to play music from my laptop it is old and doesn't have Bluetooth so I was thinking of using an adapter since the Flip 5 doesn't have an AUX input. JBL says the Charge 5 is dust-resistant in addition to being water-resistant like the Charge 4; these are claims CR doesn't test. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, meaning it's certified to be fully dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. You can control this feature in its companion app. With each generation, JBL has tended to add a little bit more to the Charges capabilities. Battery charge time (hrs): <3.5 . Dialogue is clearly reproduced, and relatively low latency means that you don't notice lip-synching issues. It also has fairly low latency with iOS and Android devices, making it suitable for watching movies and videos. If youre looking for a single speaker to use at home and on your outdoor excursions, its easy to find a spot for the speaker on a bookcase or tabletop. This may also have been a result of the chlorinated water, since JBL does not ensure that its speakers can withstand saltwater or chlorinated water. As for the buttons' organization, they are bigger and visible at nighttime; they are also located on the mesh directly. Tambourine Man, the Charge 5 delivers exceptional detail and separation between voices and instruments, whereas lesser speakers tend to turn the midrange into an indistinguishable wall of sound. On Black Pumass Fire, the horns came across bright and punchy, while the vocals were clear above the guitar and keyboards. The Charge 5 received a fairly significant redesign from the Charge 4. That said, the Xtreme 3 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, which sounds more immersive. Plus, it gives you access to sound customization tools in the JBL Portable app. JBL Charge 5 Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker. The Bose SoundLink Revolve II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. Waterproof and dustproof, JBLs sweet-sounding portable speaker is ready to shine in any environment. If you just connect two compatible speakers together, you can listen to music in stereo. Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. Its soundstage performance is sub-par. Another alternative is the slimmer Sonos Roam, a portable speaker that can operate over WiFi or Bluetooth. . Its sound profile is also more balanced and a bit smaller, making it easier to transport. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone. A rubber-capped USB input on the back of the Charge 5 allows you to charge any USB-based device, like an iPhone or tablet. travel bag is included JBL Flip 5 The device comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation. Its always nice to open up a new audio gadget to see that it has at least a bit of battery charge in it, and the Charge 5 lets you dive right into music listening. The power and Bluetooth keys are separated in the center of the other buttons in a small cutout, while the others blend in with the speakers fabric grille along the top of the device. The JBL has a more neutral sound profile out of the box that's suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. If the Nano does not have bluetooth, the answer is still yes. Instead, it has a 3.5mm AUX line-in port for plugging in an audio source such as a laptop, phone, or tablet. The app is also required for firmware updates to the Charge 5. The speaker can stay connected over a decent range too, easily handing the walk from my dining room to outside my house. The Charge 5 provides warm, robust sound whether inside or out. The Boom 3 is rated at 15 hours. Locking my phone or opening up a different app like Instagram can also cause a rare hiccup while streaming music from Spotify. I know I have; I missed out on a lot of photo opportunities on those weekends because I didnt want my only lifeline to civilization wholly depleted. It has decent directivity, meaning you can hear your audio clearly from most angles. Customers send back defective products and JBL fixes them before reselling them at a discounted price. However, it's hard to notice the channel separation when passively listening due to the speaker's size. When first booting up the Charge 5 and playing some music, I was seriously surprised by how loud it was. The JBL Charge 5 is a Bluetooth speaker that can double as a powerbank for another device. I used it alongside a soak in a jet-equipped bathtub, and it handily delivered the sounds of lush synths, sharp percussive beats, and warbling 70s guitars even after being (purposefully) splashed with a not inconsiderable amount of water. The Charge 5 is surprisingly lightweight, though, so if you can find a place to put it, it wont weigh you down too much on a hike or trip to the beach. Taylor Swifts Mr. Even still, the 20 hours youre getting here (especially for how loud this thing is in general) is an excellent result. Just select the Charge 5 from your devices Bluetooth settings and you should hear the signature sound of a JBL speaker being connected. Light rain or shower jets wont pose a threat in the slightest. JBL Charge 5 (Black) at Amazon for $179.95 The JBL Charge 5 has a list price of $179.95, and as a new product you're unlikely to find it for much less than. There's Bluetooth 5.3, a 3.5mm aux input, and the same Powerbank and PartyBoost features as other models (though linking two of these might . Though there are no buttons to skip backward on the JBL Charge 5, it has pretty much all the other controls youd need. While JBL Flip 4 has Bluetooth as well as an AUX port for connecting to an audio source. It also has a PartyBoost button you can press when you want to connect it to other PartyBoost-compatible speakers. The JBL PartyBox 110 is the ultimate Bluetooth speaker to light up a backyard party. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Sorry bois im a bit late to the party. Do not expose the JBL Charge 5 to liquids without removing cable connection. He writes about music, technology and movies from his home in Georgia. On its rear, there's a USB-A port in a sealed compartment and a Type-C charging port. The JBL Charge 5 is a slightly better speaker than the Anker Soundcore 3. The one thing I didn't test when it comes to battery life was connecting a bunch of PartyBoost speakersI just dont have enough JBL speakers sitting around. It boasts marginal improvements, both sonically and aesthetically, over its predecessor, the five-star Charge 4. In my case, I'm sending the audio signal to the speaker from a DAC with a line level output (this is a weaker signal than you get from a headphone output). Flip 5 is IPX7 waterproof up to three-feet deep for fearless outdoor entertainment. On the front, it has a big and impressive JBL logo. From left to right across the top of the speaker, youve got raised, tactile buttons for PartyBoost, Volume Down, Power, Bluetooth pairing, Volume Up, and Play/Pause. All with powerful sound quality and the water-resistant toughness you need in the open sea. The Flip is one of JBL's most successful bluetooth products. The JBL Clip 4 uses Bluetooth 5.1 and has a 10-meter range, which is typical for any Bluetooth speaker. has a touch screen All rights reserved. Like the LG XBOOM 360, the Xtreme 3 isnt a truly portable speaker at 2.68kg, but you can sling it over your shoulder with its strap, and it has a long battery life of 15 hours. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the JBL Flip 5. Answered 6 years ago by James Helpful ( 22) Unhelpful ( 2) Answer this question The Marshall Emberton II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Charge 5, though they have different strengths. A subreddit dedicated to everything USB-C. Press J to jump to the feed. The JBL is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, meaning it's dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. On the road. JBL has revised the design for the latest version of the Charge speaker, enlarging the JBL logo and making it roughly the same color as the speaker while giving the sides of the raised letters an orange tint. If you have an Auxiliary cable, you can connect your JBL Flip 4 to computer or laptop. On notoriously low-fi recordings like Question Mark and the Mysterianss 96 Tears and the 13th Floor Elevatorss Youre Gonna Miss Me, the Charge 5 doesnt sand off the rough edges that give garage-rock classics like these their sonic teeth. Its also worth noting that tracks from services that offer lossless streaming (such as Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music) sound noticeably better on the Charge 5 than the lossy tracks available from Spotify or YouTube Music. You will need to download the Sonos app in order to access them and operate the speaker at all, though, so if youre not fond of giving apps your information, its best to look elsewhere. This means it cant double as a speaker for most desk monitors. It uses the JBL Connect app, as opposed to the Charge 5 that uses the JBL Portable app. Routing audio this way is no better than using the 3.5mm audio jack (digital signals arent used) and is often worse: the audio signal is placed next to noisy power and high-speed data lines, potentially reducing performance. it still had of the full charge. The data pins on the USB-C go straight to the SoC and are used for servicing/firmware AND they actually do work with audio data, In JBL Displays in stores there is a special JBL USB-A+3.5mm to USB-C adapter that sends audio data to the speaker via the usb-c cable. Keep in mind if you use it this way, it will not be waterproof. The difference between the two speakers was easier to hear when listening to Fleetwood Macs Never Going Back Again; while Lindsey Buckinghams vocals were clearer on the Charge 5, the fingerpicked guitars were much fuller on the Megaboom 3. Bring it from room to room, or take it outside with you, and its IP67 rating for dust and water resistance helps to protect the drivers inside. The Flip 4 is smaller, making it easier to carry around with you when you're on the go. Whether I was using it inside or out, the Charge 5 provided robust sound quality with both ample volume and well-balanced frequency distribution. The Sonos Move is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5 overall. The Sony SRS-XE300 and the JBL Charge 5 are similar speakers with different strengths. as well as JBLs PartyBoost feature, which allows you to chain connections to other JBL PartyBoost-equipped speakers, creating a multi-speaker setup. Thats it. It uses Bluetooth 5.1, which means its slightly more energy efficient than Bluetooth 5.0. No 3.5 aux port. One of the lesser known facts: Speakerphone has completely vanished. WATERPROOF IP67 DUSTPROOF IP67. Unfortunately, many new USB Type-C dongles and headphones make use of this mode, and support isnt universal in the smartphone space either. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Products purchased from the refurbished program still have the full 1-year warranty and should not be distinguishable at all from a brand-new product. The Charge 5 drops support. The first thing youre going to want to do is figure out the controls, and it really couldnt be simpler. At 8.7 x 3.8 x 3.7 inches, its slightly shorter and a little plumper in the middle than the Charge 4. The JBL Charge 5 has an optimized long excursion driver, a separate tweeter, and dual JBL bass radiators, all delivering impressively rich and clear audio. The JBL Charge 5 pictured with a soda can for scale. The back of the Charge 5 has a charging port for juicing up the speaker and another one for charging your smartphone. The JBL PartyBox 310 is a large battery-powered speaker with circular RGB lights. What's not to like: Our testers find the Charge 5 to be. It\\'s suitable for musicians as it has a mic and guitar input alongside bass, treble, and . Sound effects. It also needs to be paired to another unit to play stereo sound and has to downmix stereo content to mono when using it on its own, which doesn't sound as immersive. Were still ironing out our standardized speaker tests with the appropriate support equipment to update our testing and data collection. It's also worth mentioning again that this model only changes a couple of things compared to the previous-gen Charge 4the Charge 5 adds dust proofing and updates its Bluetooth codecso if those aren't high on your list, you can get many of the same features for less money by opting for the older model. Verdict. When smartphones started removing the jack, some of them removed the DAC too, which converts the digital signals to analog signals. The JBL Charge 5 is a great buy if you dont already have a previous iteration of JBLs Charge line. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile out of the box that can produce a slightly more extended low-bass than the Anker. The Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile. This approach is bad design, and only suitable for backward compatibility. Our review unit came in Blueits a handsome tone, and the (huge) JBL branding on the front has a burnished look with a reddish drop shadow on the letters that almost looks like unfiltered 3D images. The JBL Portable app is very good. So not only are you getting a robust, dust-and-waterproof Bluetooth speaker, youre also essentially buying a portable battery pack. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? No. See also our recommendations for the best JBL speakers, thebest Bluetooth speakers, and thebest outdoor speakers. This should trigger a flashing light when it's in pairing mode and a solid blue light once it's paired. It has an IP67 rating and sounds great, and if you want to integrate it into your Sonos ecosystem you can. touchscreen, nine JBL [jbl] speakers including subwoofer and amplifier, Android Auto [android_auto] & Apple CarPlay [carplay] & Amazon Alexa . Vee Nuestra 2023 Valoracin Ajustada (basada en nuestro anlisis de 68 reseas de Amazon) paraTrue Wireless Speaker, Woozik Rockit Party Wireless Speake. To be completely fair, its a slight oversimplification to say that the JBL Charge 5 is only good for one thing; after all, the speaker can also charge a second device via a rear USB charging port thats hidden beneath a flap. Editors note: This JBL Charge 5 review was updated on December 16, 2022, to update formatting and address a few frequently asked questions. Finally, raised rubber strips along the bottom help keep it stable on a table, and a small, cleverly placed charge indicator beneath the JBL logo helps keep track of battery life. Its incredibly loud for its size and far easier to stuff in a backpack than other footlong outdoor speakers. Luckily, the JBL Charge 4 is still a great quality speaker and comes at a lower price than the newer version. The JBL Charge 5 is a better speaker than the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6. The Sonos Roam costs about the same as the JBL Charge 5 ($358 at Amazon), and even though it is significantly smaller, the Roams price comes with a lot of smart features that the Charge 5 doesnt have. Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. It has a longer-lasting battery life. If you have an iPhone, you can use your lightning USB cord to charge it, but make sure it has a USB-A connector at the other end. The Charge 4 is still a good speaker, even with the advent of the Charge 5. That said, it doesn't get very loud, so you'll want to stay closer to the device while listening to your favorite tunes. The Ultimate Ears is smaller, more portable, and has much better directivity resulting in a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide, Monoprice Monolith Audition review: The magic of wired speakers, Tronsmart Halo 100 review: A bangin Bluetooth party speaker, Soundcore Rave Party 2 Bluetooth speaker review: Versatile and very loud. If you really dont think you need the charging ability, you could save some money and get the Flip instead. Karaoke function. So basically if you have a phone that has a DAC, you can use any of these cheap adapters but if you have a phone that doesn't have the DAC, you can only use the one that came in the box. Michael Gowan covers soundbars, TVs, portable speakers and other audio- and video-related topics for Toms Guide. Dimensions: 10.87 x 4.12 x 8 . If you opt for Stereo Mode, the next time you play music from the primary speaker, it will play music in stereo through both speakers. Yes No. This section is typically where we display a frequency response chart to show you exactly where the audio output shines and where its deficiencies lie. Additionally, it has a longer-lasting battery life, though this can depend on your usage. If you want to futureproof yourself and get the new JBL Connect+, then this is the way to go for sure. A thunderous outdoor Bluetooth speaker with stupendous bass Other than its power-bank ability and the proprietary JBL PartyBoost option, the Charge 5 doesnt deliver some of the features you might expect for what youre paying. This speaker can withstand any rainstorm. Thank you for bearing with us, and we hope to see you again once weve sorted everything out. Inputs: rear USB input, rear aux input ; Outputs: 4-channel preamp outputs (2-volt front, rear) Our Overall Review. Sorry bois im a bit late to the party. The Charge 5 has an official IP67 rating, which means it can withstand dust and handle submersion in up to 1 meter of tap water for up to 30 minutesthis squares with our experience. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't great. But other than that, the Charge 5 is single-minded in its purpose. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Regardless of where you are positioned around the speaker, it sounds pretty good, which makes it excellent for parties. It's the phones that route via analog to be the exception, and this article explains why it is in fact an inferior solution: https://www.soundguys.com/usb-audio-explained-18563/. The JBL Charge 5 has a list price of $179.95, and as a new product youre unlikely to find it for much less than. As mentioned, The Charge 5 is now dustproof, and has also received an upgrade to its Bluetooth version (from 5.0 to 5.1). If you often find yourself shying away from using your phone to play music on outings due to the threat of its battery dying, the Charge 5 makes for an extra-helpful companion: not only does it sound oodles better than your smartphone, but it also can handle charging it back up while it blasts tunes, too. He also reviewed headphones, and has a background in music performance. The Charge 5 can get slightly louder and can produce a more extended low-bass out-of-the-box. $99.99. However, the JBL can get louder than the Sonos with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. It even offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. However, the Bose is a bit smaller in size and supports voice assistants through your smartphone. The Sony offers a wider-sounding soundstage thanks to its 360-degree design and can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. I've tried a Xiaomi phone and any adapter (like the one you showed in the picture) can play the music because the Xiaomi phone already has the DAC. The JBL offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than the Anker out of the box. What you do get is a speaker that gets incredibly loud for its size without distorting, solid battery life, easy-to-use controls, and excellent protection against dust and water. F ck zero lag. The Sonos is smaller and more portable than the JBL. F*ck increased battery life by not using BT connection while at home. The good news is that anyone using the JBL Portable app for iOS or Android has the choice of using two PartyBoost speakers as a stereo pair instead of just cloning the mono output from the first speaker. If you come across any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review. I'll revisit this shortly. The IP67 rating means you dont need to worry about dirt and dust ruining your speaker. The $129.95 JBL Flip 5 (7.12 x 2.91 x 2.71 inches, WxHxD) is more of a personal-sized speaker, while the $319.95 JBL Xtreme 3 (11.75 x 5.35 x 5.2 inches, WxHxD) comes with a shoulder strap and seems more like the outdoor party choice. It also has a better-balanced sound profile than the Anker out of the box. Monoprice DT-4BT 60-Watt Multimedia Desktop . Cover your outdoor party with 160 watts of JBL's big pro-level sound. Heres how it works. That said, unlike the JBL Charge 4, it doesn't feature an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker. It's made of materials that feel solid, and there are also two bass radiators on either side of the speaker. It also has lower Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, making it more suitable for watching movies and videos. It seems quite clear that the speaker (JBL Xtreme 2) contains a digital 'gate' which silences all audio below a certain loudness level. Also, it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, resulting in a richer and fuller sound. The JBL can produce deeper bass than the Ultimate Ears, and you can pair it to multiple PartyBoost-compatible speakers, which can come in handy when you want your audio to fill a large room. The Sony SRS-XB33 is a slightly better speaker than JBL Charge 5. The XB23 is IP67 waterproof, rustproof, dustproof and shockproof, with up to 12 hours of battery life, so your music never gets left behind. At just under $180, this isn't the most affordable speaker on the market, even in its own . Don't forget about the Sonos Roam either. The JBL Charge 5 is a bit inflexible: it's Bluetooth-only (no 3.5mm input or Wi-Fi), and it can't climb treesI put it there. Faster Charging So, it is an ideal choice for home and outdoor entertainment. However, the overemphasis in the treble range can make its soundstage feel a bit uneven. Yes, the CHARGE4 has similar problems, and sometimes, due to driver compatibility issues, the AUX does not work very well. and a USB port to charge your smartphone. It also has a bit less compression present at max volume, so audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes. JBL has embraced a single-use philosophy for the Charge 5. Otherwise, youre getting solid audio presentation, plenty of battery to go around, and excellent attention to durability and design, making the Charge 5 a very attractive buy. However, while this Bluetooth speaker is marketed as portable, its definitely not going to fit into your pocketfor something like that, get the JBL Clip 4. Driven by data, run by a passionate team of engineers, testers, technical writers, developers, and more. It's popular for its compact, simple, and high-quality design. Easy-to-use controls Cons Expensive for its size No speakerphone No AUX input Our Verdict The JBL Charge 5 is a premium speaker that sounds great, has remarkably well designed controls,. This small, lightweight speaker can be carried in one hand, making it easy to take when you're on the move. Specs & Features. If your tastes run to more contemporary hits like those by Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar, and Kate Bush, the Charge 5 sounds so good that I wouldnt be surprised to learn that contemporary mix engineers use the JBL portables as reference speakers during their mix sessions. The Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than the JBL. Listeners who want something with an even louder output should look at the JBL Xtreme 3. This speaker takes a different approach to its design as it delivers 360-degree audio, but is similar to the Charge 5 in many ways. Premium Audio and Dynamic Navigation [dyn_nav] with 3-year trial [trial_dyn_nav]includes 8-in. Tough as it sounds Slip this little gem onto your wrist and get grooving. The JBL Charge 5 is the next generation of the JBL Charge 4. Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available. Speaking of keeping track of battery life, you fortunately wont need to be too fastidious: the advertised 20 hours of battery life are legitimate (give or take depending on mediators like overall volume and how long/often youre charging another device). The JBL Charge 5 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Pulse 4. Its available for $379.95 at Amazon. Whether or not JBL Charge 5 is going to be the best purchase for you comes down to several factors. Sale. Its play and pause button can also be double-pressed to skip to your next track. There are no racing lights, no speakerphone, and you cant plug in another audio source. Plus, multi-device pairing allows you to connect it to up to two audio sources at once, making it easy to switch between listening from your phone and your laptop. That gives the speaker a bit more visual flair, but also causes it to lean like the Tower of Pisa if you want to stand it on one end instead of laying it flat. The USB C port is likely just for charging only, not connected with a DAC or anything else except to power the device. The JBL Xtreme 3 and the JBL Charge 5 are very similar speakers. The JBL Charge 5 doesnt come with a whole lotjust the speaker, a protective sock, a charging cable, and some documentation about the product. JBL Charge 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a built-in power bank. With the Charge 5, it makes a few small changes especially to the design while also simplifying certain features. The JBL offers a more balanced sound profile out of the box, suitable for listening to a wide variety of audio content. The interface of the app is pretty easy to use and offers helpful information about each of its components. It offers a wider and more immersive-sounding soundstage that can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Yes, you are able to use the speaker while its charging. The speaker is fairly small and is meant to be placed horizontally on its base.