Review on JBL CHARGE 5: Gray Portable Bluetooth Speaker with Waterproof IP67 rating and USB Charge Out by Jose Brunson

We needed a portable Bluetooth speaker for poolside music and trips to the beach (and other activities). While size and weight were somewhat important, it didn't need to fit in a cup holder or anything. I've been a live sound audiophile for decades and have my own high-end speaker system, play in a band and DJ for select family and friends on my equipment as a hobby. I just mentioned that so you know I know a good sound when I hear it. Ergonomics: The device can be carried comfortably in one hand and is very light. The device is stuck when you put it down. The controls are easy to use and obvious. Sound Quality: This thing can EASILY fill the music in a private pool. Bass response in the room feels a little too loud when cranked up a bit (seems ok at lower volume indoors); but on the outside it is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered. Externally, the Charge 5 sounds full, warm and crisp. You can easily hear different instruments in the mix. Personally, I wouldn't use a Bluetooth speaker indoors. or, if I did, I would choose one designed for that specific purpose (better quality codec, more balanced EQ, etc.). It's clear that the Charge 5 is built for the outdoors (IP67 rating, ultra-long battery life, etc.). It's not a bad speaker for indoor listening (especially if you're not an audiophile like me and just want to hear something while you do the dishes/laundry/etc etc). After listening indoors I was quite satisfied (although my acoustics are nothing to worry about ;). Of course, one would hope that a 10,000-strong front-of-house speaker would sound better than a $180 Bluetooth speaker.) In terms of output volume, this little speaker can get pretty loud. When I'm not throwing a big party (which I would be using my real speaker system for anyway), this speaker is more than enough for everyone. In summary, we can say that the sound quality is really very good. Bluetooth Connection: Simple and convenient connection. I had no problems. The speaker seems to have a longer range than the range of my house! My wife drove away in her car and even in her car he kept playing until she pulled out of the driveway. Pretty impressive. More than enough range to cover an outdoor area or an entire floor in your home (maybe even 2 floors, but why not just take it upstairs?). . In the current firmware version, the device does not have an adjustable equalizer. I really hope JBL gets down to business and fixes this. This would be particularly useful for internally cutting bass at higher volumes when the included default EQ gives too much bass. Of course, most people won't play it that loud indoors, and some will like the bass boost for what it is (maybe not sound purists :)). The remaining features are very good and well thought out. For $180, this speaker is as good as it gets.