ZDNET's key takeaways The JBL Charge 6 will be available for purchase on April 6 for $199 in Black, Blue, White, Red, Camo, and Purple.
The Charge 6 offers great sound, durability, battery life, and in-app features.
Although it's waterproof, constant, untreated exposure to salt and chlorine can incur internal damage, just like any other Bluetooth speaker. View now at Best Buy View now at JBL more buying choices
While there are plenty of Bluetooth speakers on the market, only a few strike the balance of durability and sound quality. Bose's SoundLink Max was one of the first I tested to bridge the gap, but JBL's latest Charge 6 is here to compete with it - and for $200 less.
Also: This wireless portable speaker delivers amazingly smooth sound with little distortion - and it's $130 off
I spent an early spring weekend toting the JBL Charge 6 to a family cookout around Atlanta's busiest outdoor space and between rooms while I completed some weekend chores. If you're looking for a souped-up portable speaker, you'll want to hear how it went.
The Charge 6 debuts with JBL's proprietary AI Sound Boost, which uses an algorithm to analyze your music as it plays in real time to tweak the speaker's EQ. According to JBL, this feature delivers maximum acoustics and decreases distortion.
Also: I replaced my JBL speaker with this surprise alternative. Here's why it's my new top pick
Decreasing distortion is exceptionally important, considering the Charge 6 packs a heavy bass response. At loud volumes, the bass can cause the speaker to rumble, muddy the bass, and overpower the other frequencies. Although the Charge 6 isn't the smallest Bluetooth speaker I've tested, its loudness is still impressive for its frame.
If the bass gets too heavy for your liking, you can adjust the speaker's EQ settings in the JBL Portable app. You can choose from preset EQs or create your own. The Charge 6 promises 28 hours of playtime on a single charge, four more hours than its predecessor.
... continue reading