There are loads of methods to be loud and annoying. For instance, there’s loud night breathing—a timeless basic that isn’t solely loud, but additionally deprives you and others of sleep, killing two very miserable birds with one stone. Then there are extra vestigial and area of interest types of being obnoxious, like yodeling, which, if achieved exterior of the Swiss Alps, appears like extra of a cry for consideration than anything.
However these are nothing whenever you enter Bluetooth audio system into the equation. Within the yr of our lord, 2025, due to Bluetooth connectivity and LTE, there are tons of of how to be loud and annoying, and loads of them will value you. You’ve received premium choices like Bose’s SoundLink Plus, which convey model and finesse to the Bluetooth speaker sport, after which there are extra rugged choices just like the Soundcore Increase 3i that you would be able to actually throw in a pool. However what if model, sturdiness, and even sound aren’t your high precedence? What if you happen to’re in search of a small method to sound actually large? Properly, if that’s your jam, JBL’s $100 Grip may need simply what you want.
JBL Grip
The JBL Grip is a conveyable Bluetooth speaker with extra quantity than you’d anticipate.
- Very tiny
- Nonetheless an enormous sound!
- Customizable lights are enjoyable
- Barely costly for what you get
- Sound is simply okay
The tall boy of Bluetooth audio system
After I first noticed JBL’s Grip, I dubbed it the “tall boy of Bluetooth audio system,” and now, having held the Grip in my hand and having laid eyes on it for myself… I stand by that declare. The Grip is all concerning the dimension, which on this case, is just like a “can of seltzer” based on JBL, or if you happen to’re a hoodlum like me, then a tall boy. For proof of its tall boy-ness, I put the Grip side-by-side with a can that equals one pint. Right here’s the Grip subsequent to a Narragansett to your viewing pleasure:
Whereas the Grip resembles a tall boy in dimension, it truly weighs much less—this speaker is simply 385g, which makes it each light-weight and compact, which is sweet as a result of portability is what JBL goes for right here. That’s additionally why there’s a loop on the highest of the speaker so you’ll be able to strap the Grip to a belt, or a bag, or possibly clip it to your bike to blast tunes when you get some cardio in. I didn’t strap the Grip to something for my testing, however I did carry it round Manhattan and might verify that it’s not very burdensome.
Don’t let the dimensions and portability idiot you, although; the Grip is not any slouch within the quantity division. The very first thing I seen after I performed the Grip out loud in my workplace was that it actually cranks. There’s 16W of energy on this tiny speaker, which doesn’t sound like a ton, however imagine me after I say it holds its personal. Whereas utilizing the Grip within the park, I used to be capable of drown out music from some reside jazz being performed within the neighborhood. To be trustworthy, I didn’t even know there was reside music taking place close to me till I made a decision to pause the Grip momentarily.
Sound-wise, you’re not going to get the identical nuance as a much bigger Bluetooth speaker from Bose or perhaps a larger transportable speaker like JBL’s Cost 5 (which I additionally personal), however that’s not likely the purpose of a speaker this dimension. What you need out of a speaker just like the Grip is portability with a sound that’s adequate, and I’d say that’s precisely what the Grip brings to the desk. It does an honest job with treble (vocals are clear), although you gained’t catch a lot complexity within the midrange the place guitars reside. Bass isn’t notably booming, clearly, however I performed some Daft Punk whereas strolling round exterior, and it didn’t sound bereft of low finish. General, I’d say this speaker did higher in a rock style (I performed a couple of of my favourite tracks by Geese), however your mileage could differ.
For sure, this isn’t the speaker you need if you happen to’re making an attempt to fill a room with sound, however if you happen to’re simply making an attempt to seize a speaker to convey on a hike, or a picnic, or to the seashore/park for an informal cling, there’s no cause to not seize a Grip—particularly if you happen to’re low on area.
Tall boy, smaller battery
As is the case with any gadget that emphasizes portability, battery life is all the time in query. The JBL Grip is rated for 14 hours of battery, although that may rely on the quantity. I wasn’t capable of check the Grip battery life extensively, however in my utilization, the Grip appears to carry up as marketed, if not higher. I examined the Grip, utilizing the speaker at about 50% quantity for an hour. I began my check at 40% battery, and by the point I used to be achieved listening, I used to be solely at about 37%. Clearly, 50% quantity is somewhat decrease than what most individuals shall be listening to out within the wild, but it surely’s nonetheless an honest exhibiting from a small speaker. In the event you’re blaring this factor, you’ll be able to clearly anticipate much less.
The Grip has some character exterior of the portability, too. There’s (after all) a companion app that you should use to fine-adjust EQ (seven complete bands) and change between EQ presets. You may also monitor battery life utilizing the JBL Transportable app and use your cellphone to decide on the colour of the LED on the again of the speaker. One good contact is with the ability to set the LED element to have completely different lighting results through the app. There’s nothing tremendous sensible about with the ability to do any of that, however I assume if you happen to have been anxious about dropping your speaker at midnight, it’d truly come in useful. I might have liked to see that characteristic become a battery indicator so you’ll be able to inform how a lot juice you could have left within the Grip at a look, however utilizing it for somewhat additional personalization is ok. I like with the ability to toggle lighting results particularly, to provide it some additional aptitude.
One other nice-to-have characteristic is an IP68 water and mud ranking, which implies this speaker is principally as water resistant as an precise can of beer. To check that out, I gave the Grip a pleasant little bathe within the sink, working it below water for a few minutes. Fortunately, the Grip survived my check and got here out somewhat soggy, however totally useful and capable of play music simply in addition to earlier than. It doesn’t float or something like Soundcore’s Increase 3i speaker, which I examined not way back, however you undoubtedly don’t have to fret about dropping the Grip in a pool or leaving it out within the rain by chance.
Nothing to put in writing house concerning the button choice right here. On the entrance, there’s a play/pause button and a quantity up and down. On high, there’s a Bluetooth button for pairing, an influence button, and a button for Auracast, which helps you to pair a number of audio system collectively, if that’s one thing you’re enthusiastic about.
Do you have to get a Grip?
JBL’s Grip isn’t for everybody. In the event you’re an audiophile in search of the absolute best sound, this isn’t your choose. Neither is this one of the best choose if you happen to’re in search of the most of plenty of issues, together with options, battery, and even use in water. That being mentioned, it does strike a strong stability of all of these arenas that ought to be on the radar if you happen to’re in search of a speaker that’s very transportable.
I do want the worth was somewhat decrease than $100, contemplating audio system just like the Soundcore Increase 3i, which do a couple of issues very properly and solely value $30 extra. Positive, possibly Soundcore’s floatable speaker isn’t fairly as small, but it surely’s nonetheless fairly rattling transportable, much more sturdy, and comes with extra options than you’d ever anticipate in that value vary. I’m left questioning after testing the JBL Grip if the distinction in dimension is admittedly all that particular. In the event you’re carrying a backpack round with sufficient room, will you actually need the area? In the event you’re mountaineering, and each gram counts, that’s a special story.
So, if you happen to’re emphasizing dimension above all else and also you need one thing that sounds respectable and gained’t be overpowered by environmental noise, then you definitely may wish to look JBL’s means and seize a pleasant tall glass of Bluetooth audio. And if dimension doesn’t matter to you, then there are tons of different choices on the market, although possibly none fairly as beer-like.
