JBL has a lot to offer at this year’s CES. The audio experts from the US have not only presented new headphones, but also Bluetooth speakers. One of the most exciting is probably the Charge 5. The new edition of the extremely popular as well as robust speaker is to be launched this year.
Fifth generation of the JBL Charge series
With the Charge 5, JBL has introduced the now fifth speaker of the popular series. Already with the predecessor, the Charge 4, there was little to complain about among experts. The mobile Bluetooth speaker not only offers impressive sound quality, but also comes with a value for money that can hardly be beaten.
Indeed, apart from the sound qualities, it offers high resistance, a long battery life, as well as the possibility of being used as a power bank. In addition, the speaker shines with USB-C. This is quite impressive for a device that was already presented at the IFA in Berlin in 2018. The pressure is all the greater on JBL with the now unveiled Charge 5. But what the sister company of Harman Kardon has presented here sounds thoroughly positive.
Even better sound
As the owner of a Charge 4, I can only praise the sound of the small speaker to all heights. It is always amazing what the Bluetooth box is capable of. According to its own information, JBL would like to have improved this great sound even further. The magic word here is “JBL Signature Pro”. The company talks about a sound mix that is not only supposed to provide decent bass, but also crystal-clear trebles at the same time. All in all, the fifth generation of the speaker is supposed to deliver a “significantly better audio performance”.
The heart of the great sound is a driver that comes in an oval shape. This receives support from an additional tweeter, as well as the two now iconic passive membranes, which are located on the left and right side of the speaker. In their interaction, these components should be able to produce just this neutral sound.
Up to 20 hours of battery life
Once again, the Charge 5 shines with impressive battery life. At least according to JBL. With 20 hours, however, it is on par with its predecessor. The powerbank function is also on board again. This allows you to charge your own smartphone or other devices, for example. Thus, the new Charge is once again the perfect companion for any camping trip or barbecue in the park. The JBL PartyBoost function is also available. This makes it possible to connect several speakers of the manufacturer with each other. So you can easily turn your JBLs into a multi-room system or make stereo speakers out of it.
Never seen and yet recognized
JBL stays true to its predecessors when it comes to design. You can also recognize the Charge 5 at the very first glance. Some may dismiss this as not innovative. But why should you necessarily change the tried and true? The manufacturer has done a little, after all. The company logo is now much larger on the front of the Bluetooth speaker. All in all, you can see the high-quality workmanship of the speaker again. This should immediately expose the numerous copies from the Far East as plagiarism in the fifth generation. At least among connoisseurs. JBL has not only retained the great design, but also many other qualities. Thus, of course, the Charge 5 is also reliably protected against the penetration of dust and water.
The core elements of the old Charge speakers ensure that the fifth edition is also recognizable at first glance. One reason for this, for example, is the iconic bumper, which ensures that the speaker does not roll away. However, the company obviously also relies on proven materials when it comes to the choice of materials. The focus is clearly on durability and resistance. The success of the Charge 5 is probably preprogrammed precisely because of the lack of courage to make changes. After all, every Charge series has been very popular so far. At the latest with the Charge 4, JBL created the perfect Bluetooth speaker.
Available in stores from March
If you like the specs of the Charge 4, you need to hurry. After all, the release of its successor will also mark the end of the fourth generation’s lifespan. The Charge 5 is expected to go on sale as early as March this year at an MSRP of 179 euros.
