So CES 2022 is currently going on and JBL just announced even more speakers. And I’ll
be honest… I was in the middle of working on my Flip 6 and Charge 5 Vs Pulse 4 video… but I think
its pretty important that we address JBL’s new Boombox 3 and Pulse 5 cause I have some thoughts.
So first lets address the new Pulse 5… cause basically with the Pulse 4… you are mainly
paying for the light feature… cause sound quality wise, the Pulse 4 just doesn’t sound
anywhere near as good as either the Charge 5 and Flip 6. Now design wise… the Pulse 5
looks very similar to the Pulse 4… except its proportions are a little different. And
the lights feature now extends to the passive radiator. Which I think is extremely cool.
However… the pulse 5 now has a built in strap, just like
the Flip 6. And JBL is really making an effort that you should
take this speaker on the go with you. However personally… I wouldn’t like to take the Pulse
5 on the go with me cause I wouldn’t want to risk scratching or cracking its acrylic body.
And like I have mentioned in the past… my first pulse 4 died of water damage. So ever since I
have been skeptical about the Pulse 4’s water proofness. And that extends to the Pulse 5.
However what has me really curious about the Pulse 5 is that it has a new speaker set up. It has a
larger passive radiator… so this is supposed to help with bass. But like I will mention
in my upcoming video… the Pulse 4 already has a lot of bass… But what really has me excited
is that the Pulse 5 now has a dedicated woofer and tweeter. So hopefully this will help with
the Pulse 5’s instrument separation… cause this is a major weak point for the Pulse 4.
But regarding other tech specs, the Pulse 5 is still rocking an
advertised battery life of 12 hours… which personally does have me worried…
However, the Pulse 5 is still using Partyboost which is good… and I wouldn’t be surprised
if it has a customizable EQ just like the Flip 6, Xtreme 3, and now Charge 5.
Regarding availability the Pulse 5 will be released in the Summer… for $250.
And right now I will say that if you are thinking about getting a Pulse 4 right now… I would wait
for the Pulse 5 cause the Pulse 4 is just really hard to justify cause it doesn’t sound
all that great. So hopefully the Pulse 5’s new speaker setup and hopefully improved sound quality
would justify spending $250 on what essentially is a mid sized speaker.
But now lets move on to the Boombox 2. Which admittedly did arrive much sooner than I expected.
Now from a design standpoint… I am just going to be blunt… this thing
looks hideous. Now I like the overall shape and proportions of this speaker. These are
the same proportions that you’ll find on the Xtreme 3 and Charge 5… but I do
not like this handle. It just doesn’t look like it belongs there. And unfortunately it
doesn’t look like JBL has taken my advice and added a shoulder strap to this speaker.
But design aside… just like with JBL’s newer speakers… the Boombox 3 does have
a significant speaker set up upgrade. Which I really think is important… cause there really
wasn’t a speaker set up difference between the Original boombox and Boombox 2. Really the only
difference between the original boombox and the Boombox 2 was the addition of Partyboost… and
very marginal sound quality improvement that most people wouldn’t even notice or care about.
However, with the Boombox 3… JBL makes mention about a new 3 way speaker set up consisting on a
race track subwoofer… two mid range drivers, and two tweeters.
Now given that we can see your classic passive radiators on either side of the Boombox 3…
I think this means the Boombox 3 is going to have a new oval subwoofer right in the
middle… and its going to be flanked by your mid range drivers and and tweeters.
Now the Boombox 2 has a dual woofer and dual tweeter set up… and personally I am very happy
to see JBL is making better use of the space found on the boombox 3. However I do assume
the mid range drivers on the Boombox 3 are going to be smaller than the woofers found on
the Boombox 2. But hopefully this will help with the Instrument separation on the Boombox 3…
and it will also add a whole lot of bass… which is something the Boombox 2
really lacks at higher volume when compared to my baby… the UE HYPERBOOM.
So overall… I think the Boombox 3 looks hideous… but I am excited to hear what it sounds like.
And personally… I do think that it is worth waiting for the boombox 3 if you’re thinking
about the getting the Boombox 2. The Boombox 3 will also be available in the summer for
$500… and it still has an advertised battery life of 24 hours and it is still rocking party boost.
But next up, there is the Partybox Encore… and Partybox Encore essential… and given at how JBL’s
latest Partybox speaker’s have performed… I really don’t know how to feel about the
Encore series. Now on one hand, the Partybox 110, 310, and 710 are all great… but on the other hand,
the Encore looks like a replacement for the Partybox On The Go… which was a huge let down.
Now just like the the Partybox On the Go, the Encore series has an output of 100 watts…
and it also has a single main woofer in the center and a pair of tweeters.
Now the Encore essential has an an advertised battery life of 6 hours
where as the more Premium Encore has an advertised battery life of 10 hours.
Now the more premium Encore also comes included with 2 wireless microphones with control dials
up top and it also has a larger light feature with a larger strobe light up top and led lights on the
sides. Now both of these speakers Encore Speakers are compatible with the JBL Partybox app… and I am
willing to bet that you will be able to wirelessly pair an Encore to at least one other Partybox 110,
310, or even 710. Cause JBL has already said that you can pair two encores together.
Now these encore speakers will be available in march… the Encore Essential will retail for $300
where as the Sam Club Exclusive Encore will retail for $400. And personally I think its a no brainer
to spring for the Sam’s Club version. But at $400, you’ll might as well just get the 110…
if you can find one. But overall… I am cautiously optimistic about the Partybox Encore.
And thats pretty much it. Now JBL also announced a few pairs of wireless earbuds and a new pair
of $1000 mark lesion ANC headphones… but I really don’t like JBL’s headphones.
But overall… I really feel that if you are thinking about getting a JBL Pulse 4
or JBL Boombox 2 in early 2022… I really think that it is worth waiting for the new Pulse 5
and Boombox 3. Right now it is very hard to justify getting the Pulse
4 cause that speaker really doesn’t sound all that great when compared to the Flip 6
and Charge 5… and even though I think the Boombox 3 looks really bad… hopefully this speaker has
the significant sound quality improvements that we were looking for on the Boombox 2.