There are thousands of words to describe poor sound quality… NONE of them will feature in this review.

The JBL Flip 7 is here! It’s portable, it’s loud and in the coolest way possible… It’s cool!

As someone who predominantly uses a speaker for travel, a random get together or a sing in the shower, I’m not in the market for an absolute TANK of a speaker. The JBL Flip 7 was exactly what I needed.

It’s incredible! I feel like I’ve held V cans bigger than the Flip 7. It really is easy to throw in your bag for a road trip or a trip to the beach. Plus, with up to 16 hours of playtime, a good charge often lasts the getaway.

When you’re on the go, the best kind of speaker is one you don’t have to worry about. The Flip 7 has a fantastic battery life. It’s also waterproof, dustproof and drop proof! (Up to 1m). But honestly, one meter’s all you need. If I’m passing it to a mate, tossing it to my beach towel or it gets bumped off the table during game night, I know the beats will keep on blasting. (Plus, if you’re dropping your speaker from any higher, that’s on you.)

JBL does have an app for their speakers that allows for updates and audio customization, but as someone who understands ‘the sound’ more than the specs, I’m stoked with the out of the box experience. Fantastic balance, a surprising amount of bass and it can play LOUD. You can also pair it with your other speakers using Aura cast, you know, in case you ever need even more UMPH!

At this point, I don’t know if it’s industry standard or JBL standard, but it’s always nice when you can get music playing without a glance at the manual. I charged it, pressed the on button, held the Bluetooth button and paired it. That’s the way it should be.

The only negatives I have with the Flip 7 are very minor. For example, the speaker does not come with its own charger (USB-C). I understand it is a very common cord to own nowadays, but it’s always nice to have one per device. The horizontal foot of the Flip 7 is also more of a kickstand, so when it’s on its side, it does have a tendency to roll when knocked.

But realistically, I’m getting a bit pickier than the average adventurer. The interchangeable carabiner and loop feature put all those concerns to the back of my mind. That feature is innovative, fun and gives the speaker some personality. That’s something modern devices need more of, creativity to keep things from getting stale.

Overall, the speaker gets a 4.6 out of 5 from me. It’s not perfect but it’s certainly earned its spot as my day to day speaker. So how can I give it any less!

The post JBL Flip 7 Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL’s next generation Flip 7 and Charge 6 portable bluetooth speakers have launched, with a bold new look and new audio features to deliver bigger sound, deeper bass and better performance.

Built to improve on the listener experience, both speakers feature JBL’s proprietary AI Sound Boost technology to analyse music in real-time and optimise the speaker driver without distortion.

“The Flip and Charge series have always been popular in New Zealand, thanks to their ability to pump out big sound from a compact, ultra-portable and robust speaker design. In this latest iteration, we’ve packed in even more audio technology to give listeners a best-in-class sound experience. There are also some new design and connectivity features, such as Auracast, and new options for straps and carabiners, to make it easier to share and take your tunes with you on the go,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

Whether you’re chilling in the garden or meeting up with friends at the park, the new Flip 7 has been redesigned with an interchangeable finger loop and carabiner hook making it easier to take your music anywhere. Equipped with AI Sound Boost for powerful bass without distortion and an upgraded tweeter with a dome design, Flip 7 offers clear and crisp sounds at higher volumes, no matter the setting.

Out and about? The new IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating makes it easier to carry your tunes with you, without worrying about spills or drops. Other new features include increased battery life for up to 16 hours with Playtime Boost, the latest Bluetooth 5.4 capabilities for improved wireless connectivity, and Auracast pairing with other JBL Auracast enabled speakers.

The Charge 6, now equipped with a detachable and versatile handle strap, has evolved to make high-quality audio more accessible than ever. With the introduction of AI Sound Boost and an upgraded woofer for deeper bass, prepare to feel the beat across any room. The introduction of Auracast allows friends to sync their compatible speakers for even more sound. Keep the party going for longer with up to 28 hours of battery when using Playtime Boost. Remaining true to the name, the speaker not only electrifies the dancefloor, but comes equipped with the built-in USB-C powerbank for charging devices at a moment’s notice.

The new JBL Flip 7 and JBL Charge 6 are available now in black, blue and red.

The post JBL Unleashes Next Generation Flip 7 & Charge 6 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL has launched the JBL Tour PRO 3, the brand’s most advanced True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds yet.

With the introduction of dual drivers, JBL Spatial 360 with Head Tracking, True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0, and an improved Smart Charging CaseTM packing truly unique features, JBL Tour PRO 3 redefines the TWS listening and user experience and leads the way in TWS Smart technology

“The JBL Tour PRO 3 sets new standards in customisation, performance, and convenience. New Zealanders will be particularly excited by the new generation Smart Charging Case. The new audio transmitter technology unlocks so many potential scenarios for improving the listening experience, from air travel to group listening sessions,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

At the forefront of the JBL Tour PRO 3’s innovations is the second-generation Smart Charging Case. The case not only provides full control of the earbud features, but also acts as a wireless audio transmitter, enabling ‘Everywhere Entertainment’ from any USB or analogue source such as an inflight entertainment system. Simply plug in the charging case for an instant and automatic connection to your earbuds.

Better yet, the direct connection between case and earbuds is more stable, and lower latency, than Bluetooth, making it the perfect companion for gaming, calls*, movies and music.

JBL Tour PRO 3 is JBL’s first TWS model with full Auracast functionality. Easily share audio content with any Auracast-enabled device using the AuracastTM button on the Smart Charging Case display. Or join an existing broadcast by simply tapping in with the case and accompanying app so you can listen to the same content as your friends and family.

The redesigned Smart Charging Case now features a 30% larger screen than its predecessor, all wrapped in a smaller, more pocketable package. The screen provides seamless control over music playback, call management, access to ID3 Tag, caller ID and media file information, and more without needing to access your phone.

The JBL Tour PRO 3 brings JBL Spatial 360 and Head Tracking technology from any audio source. This feature transforms stereo sound into a fully immersive experience – particularly beneficial when watching movies or playing games. Head Tracking deepens the immersive experience by making sounds appear to come from outside your head and stay fixed in space, even when you move your head.

No matter what you are listening to, enjoy it in excellent quality. JBL Tour PRO 3 boasts a hybrid dual driver system in each earbud, a first for JBL TWS, delivering JBL’s legendary Pro Sound. The balanced armature driver handles the high notes with enhanced clarity, freeing the 11mm dynamic driver to provide powerful, cleaner bass and vivid vocals. With a dedicated DAC for each driver reproducing a specific part of the frequency range from 20Hz to 40kHz, enjoy every detail in stunning definition, closer than ever to studio sound reproduction.

Further enhancing audio quality, the Hi-Res certified wireless audio codec LDAC, delivers three times more data than the standard Bluetooth codecs, resulting in exceptional high-resolution sound.

Most features of the JBL Tour PRO 3 are fully customisable, including the True Adaptive Noise Cancellation 2.0 technology. This advanced system measures over 50,000 times per second, adapting to environmental changes and compensating for sound leakage.

For the best comfort and performance, JBL Tour PRO 3 ships with an extensive selection of ear tip options. Find your perfect fit with five different sized silicon and one additional set of foam ear tips.

With six microphones and a hydrodynamic windproof design, the Tour PRO 3 ensures clear and undistorted voice transmission during calls. The earbuds use a new, proprietary, JBL Crystal AI call algorithm to enhance clarity even in noisy environments. Your voice will now not only be clear in places with low frequency stationary noises such as traffic or at a train station, but also in situations with more sudden high frequency noises such as coffee shops.

Further enhance your calling experience with the new smart call equalizer, Voice Call. This features a sound level optimiser which helps reduce the volume of loud talkers or amplify quiet talkers.

For a fully personalised sound, the Personi-fi 3.0 hearing test offers a customised sound profile. This JBL algorithm accurately measures and adjusts for individual hearing profiles using 12 bands for EQ compensation and 14 warble tones. The adjustments are now made separately for each ear, providing the most personalised listening experience to date.

Additionally, Tour PRO 3 allows users to personalise the display lock screen and wallpaper with any photo and supports display commands in 13 languages.

JBL Tour PRO 3 will be available in Black and Latte colourway.

The post JBL Launches the Tour Pro 3 True Wireless appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL, known for excellent audio products and a legend in the business, spins things up with their Spinner BT Bluetooth turntable.

As vinyl makes a huge comeback for a new generation, JBL have jumped on it with a superior kit.

A mix of modern and retro feels, the JBL Spinner BT relies on the JBL app (Android and iOS) to set up your wireless connection to a Bluetooth speaker.

For this review and to keep the retro vibe real, I paired up with the JBL Authentics 300 portable Bluetooth speaker.

I have reviewed this series previously, here, and honestly, the Authentics range is my absolute fav portable speaker. It has the gold and black finish, appearance of the 1970s with a boom audio loud enough for any environment.

The JBL Authentics Bluetooth Speaker range takes you back to the age of Jive, and is also a smart speaker, able to pair up with Google or Alexa from any Bluetooth device.

Once connected you can mix it up with the Spinner BT which is built with AptX-HD encoding to maximise your personal record collection.

There is provision for long or short play records.

With the tonearm and platter being made of aluminum, it is not like the record player your parent’s had in their day. It’s light weight and if you’re an inspiring vinyl DJ the top cover is removable.

When you first open the box of one of these, do expect some assembly, and if you’re planning on traveling with the JBL Spinner BT, it can come apart as well. But note that this is not a portable turntable it does need AC power to operate.

If you have an existing amp and speaker set up at yours, the JBL Spinner BT has the old school (yet reliable) RCA ports.

Either start your own vinyl collection, or raid your parents audio cabinet to get yourself in to a present day retro sphere and have a more intimately emotional experience with your music, with the very excellent JBL Spinner BT.

The post JBL Spinner BT Turntable Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL has announced the launch of two innovative new headphone designs, utilising JBL OpenSound Technology to transform the listening experience and set a new standard for audio quality in comfortable and versatile new form factors.

The JBL Soundgear Frames and the JBL Soundgear Sense are now available, providing listeners with JBL’s Signature Sound quality while maintaining a natural connection to their surroundings.

There’s no more iconic pairing than music and fashion – and now JBL has created the perfect fusion of style and sound in one functional design.

Now available, the JBL Soundgear Frames are the first audio sunglasses created by audio powerhouse brand JBL. Slim, flexible and lightweight, the Soundgear Frames are comfortable enough to wear all day and come in a choice of three translucent colours and two stylish designs.

“These glasses present a stylish new option for Kiwis to experience sound on-the-go, setting a whole new standard in wearable audio. Perfect for travelling, exercising outdoors or just strolling around town – the Soundgear Frames are a comfortable new way to listen to your favourite music,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

The JBL Soundgear Frames deliver an immersive and engaging sound experience while leaving your ears completely open, so you can still hear everything that’s happening around you.

Each arm of the Soundgear Frames cleverly conceals JBL’s unique ultra-thin high amplitude speaker, featuring a special algorithm for bass enhancement and frequency division processing. Whether you’re grooving to RnB, or prefer the upbeat tempo of EDM, the Soundgear Frames deliver your favourite tunes in high quality, thanks to JBL’s superior sound engineering.

Need to make a call on the go? The advanced beamforming 2-mic array on one temple, with dual-module environmental noise cancellation is perfect for making and taking calls, without needing to take your phone out of your pocket.

8 hours of playtime gives you music and calls throughout an entire day of work or fun. And if you need some more juice, a quick 10-minute charge gives you another 2 hours.

Not only are the JBL Soundgear Frames lightweight and comfortable enough to wear all day long, they’re also IP54 certified water resistant. Perfectly suited to New Zealand’s springtime weather, not even the rain can interrupt listeners enjoying their music through the Soundgear Frames.

Controlling the Soundgear Frames is a breeze. The JBL logo doubles as an easy-to-find control panel, giving you fast, accurate control of your favourite tunes. Use the JBL Headphones app on your device to tweak your sound and customise your gestures as you need. You can also select from six EQ presents or a fully customisable 10-band equaliser to adjust your music for your personal taste and listening preferences.

The durable, flexible, lightweight frames come in three translucent colours – Onyx, Pearl and Amber – with a choice of square or round frames to flatter all face shapes. The semi-transparent lenses feature UV A/B blocking, and you can also fit the Soundgear Frames with prescription lenses.

Stay connected, stay aware, and immerse yourself in legendary JBL sound quality with the JBL Soundgear Sense. Featuring JBL OpenSound Technology, the JBL Soundgear Sense introduces a breakthrough in audio technology by providing listeners with JBL’s Signature Sound quality while maintaining a natural connection to their surroundings.

With uniquely designed 16.2mm drivers and a bass-enhancing algorithm, JBL Soundgear Sense takes open-ear sound quality to the next level. Hear the world around you while enjoying every beat of your favourite tracks. Enjoy punchy bass and clear vocals from playlists and calls.

With unrivalled flexibility, the ear hooks offer rotation and size adjustments for truly personalised, all-day comfort. Designed to enhance your daily routine, the air conduction earbuds rest comfortably on the curve of your ears without obstructing the ear canal; they also use the unique design and shape to reduce sound leakage and protect your privacy. JBL Soundgear Sense ensures a secure yet relaxed fit for extended wear, making them ideal for outdoor activities, office use, or exploring the city.

In addition to delivering impressive sound, JBL Soundgear Sense boasts multi-point connectivity for seamless connections with all your devices. Switching and reconnecting is a thing of the past. With four integrated microphones, JBL Soundgear Sense delivers great call quality, no matter the environment. Seamlessly integrating into your active lifestyle, the IP54 rating guarantees resistance to sweat, dust, and rainfall. The detachable neckband provides an added level of security during those heavy workouts.

“Given the immense popularity of features like Ambient Aware in our True Wireless earbuds, we aimed to elevate this experience by designing a naturally open product that can still deliver a premium listening experience. Kiwis looking for a headphone that keeps them connected to their surroundings, especially while performing outdoor activities like running or cycling, will appreciate the functionality of the Soundgear Sense,” says Sherman.

The JBL Soundgear Sense is available now in white and black.

The post JBL launches Soundgear Frames & Soundgear Sense appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL is at the top when it comes to audio production.

From large sound stages, recording booths, to your home and on-the-go, only JBL sound the way they do.

They also bring us busy outdoors (and indoors) people functions that we never knew we needed, such as a Smart Charging Case for their earbuds.

As we saw with last years Tour Pro 2 TWS, JBL have now released the Live Flex 3.

The Smart Case comes with the same functionality as the Tour Pro 2, where you can tweak your audio settings, control music and volume as well as customize the lock screen.

You can also set up your smart phone’s notifications to come up on the case screen. This is a bit hit and miss though.

The buds themselves are super comfy for long wearing periods and put out an astounding tub-thumping mix of highs and lows, with a rumble for that bassline.

However, they are prone to slipping out of your ear due to having no silicone tips.

Side touch functionality is still there, to take a call or control your music or media, and the Live Flex 3 are also a bit prone to the occasional Bluetooth drops as their Tour Pro 2 also suffers from.

But the JBL Live Flex 3 will see you right for that long commute, flight and literally all-day.

A whopping 50 hour battery life from full charge (or around 10 hours on a 15 – 20 minute charge up) means you are not going to have to charge these up every few hours.

I’ve had this review pair for a bit over one week and they are still going strong after one full charge when I first received them.

The JBL Live Flex 3 are the buds to have in your bag or pocket, and take with you, for reliability.

If you’re a fitness fanatic or someone that moves around a lot, they may not be the best due to their ability to fall out.

At home, work or that long haul flight, you can’t go wrong. You can put your phone away and pump up the jam on your fav playlists from the Smart Case.

The post JBL Live Flex 3 Ear Buds Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

JBL continues its legacy of innovation, with the latest addition to its popular True Wireless lineup, the JBL Live TWS 3 series.

Featuring JBL’s Smart Charging Case, the new Live series takes the true wireless experience beyond audio, thanks to the 1.45” inch LED touch display.

“At JBL, our strategy is to push the boundaries with each generation of our headphones, to offer consumers the best possible technology at each pricepoint. The Live 3 TWS series is no exception,” says Michael Sherman, Senior Strategy Manager at JBL New Zealand.

“Alongside the Smart Charging Case, a first for our Live series, we’ve also added enhanced wireless audio technology, including Hi Res audio, True Adaptive NC and Spatial Audio for a more immersive experience.”

The latest version of the JBL’s first Smart Charging Case provides consumers with full control of almost all features and functions in real time, with just a tap on the 1.45″ inch LED touch display.

Customise your listening experience by adjusting volume and EQ, controlling your music, taking phone calls, and seeing messages, without needing to open your device. You can even customise the screensaver with your favourite photos.

Building on the sound quality of the previous generation, the JBL Live 3 TWS series delivers monumental audio, with dynamic drivers powered by JBL Signature Sound. Each driver is perfectly tuned to deliver deep bass, balanced mid-range, and refined high frequencies at any volume level. JBL Spatial Sound makes you feel like you’re at a concert as the sound comes from virtually everywhere around you.

Tune out the outside world entirely or customise just how much ambient sound you decide to let in, with four noise-sensing mics that automatically adapt to your surroundings in real time. The auto compensation in the JBL Headphones app adjusts and optimises the Adaptive Noise Cancelling level to your wearing and ear canal conditions, ensuring effective noise cancellation tailored to your personal hearing experience.

With three different wearing styles available – Buds, Beam and Flex – the JBL Live TWS 3 series ensures comfort and flexibility.

All models are available in Black and Silver on the 1st August 2024.

The post JBL’s New Live TWS 3! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Xbox (or PC) gamers can chat and game and have the audio advantage over and above their battlefield foes with JBL’s Quantum 360X.

A full sized, over-head headphone, the Quantum 360X is designed for Xbox Series X|S or PC (actually any Bluetooth enabled device), connecting up wirelessly or for a more stable connection, USB. You can also have a more stable wireless connection using the dongle.

Bluetooth connection for me was good, but I did experience a few drops. Pairing to the dongle was tight, and of course via USB, no issues at all.

Built with memory foam ear-cups for comfortable non-sweaty marathons, the 40mm driver speakers produce supreme audio with that JBL signature sound.

It is fair to say that for some the JBL Quantum 360X may be a bit bass centric for some users, during heated action moments, you do literally feel those explosions as your ears vibrate.

For me though, that was fantastic.

This said the JBL Quantum 360X has voice focus. No matter how crazy things are getting in-game, how loud those explosions are or the whoops of exhilaration from team mates as you complete a successful raid, you’ll always be heard and hear others.

The Quantum 360X will game with you for as long as you can. With an up-to 22 hours battery life when using Bluetooth or via the dongle

Using the JBL Quantum as headphones only was a pleasing experience. When I put down my game controller and cranked up the tunes, bending the mic away from my face it was on par with almost all JBL audio headphones.

Given the lower price point, the JBL Quantum 360X surpassed my expectations.

These are headphones built to game, and as it turns out, no matter the platform if you use Bluetooth.

JBL Quantum 360X is a worthy weapon in your video gaming arsenal, whether you’re gaming on the go or at home.

The post JBL Quantum 360X Wireless Gaming Headset Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The party is at yours as you bring the playlist, the lights and the boom with JBL’s Partybox 120 portable speaker.

Pairing up with your smartdecvice via Bluetooth and syncing with the ‘JBL Partybox’ app not only do you transform in to the party master, but also the DJ.

The JBL Partybox 120 is a full sized speaker that you can use at home or out of the house with it’s swappable battery and around 12 hours lifespan.

You can use the Partybox 120 plugged in to the mains outlet, this will also charge the battery too, of course. If you’re caught short a 10 minute charge up will give you about a couple of hours of party time.

Also water resistant, or splash proof – if it rains on your party or that embarrassing Uncle who drinks too much spills his beverage on the speaker, you should be right.

You will need the app if you want to customise not only the EQ for audio, but also the trancy lighting.

From strobing to strip lights to flashing and trailing, optimise, select and change colours as you wish. You’re in full control.

On the top of the JBL Partybox 120 is a series of buttons and knobs. Volume (you can control all of these wirelessly of course), Bluetooth, play controls and three magic buttons that add soundeffects in to your music.

These sound effects can also be modified via the app.

There’s ports too. Wow your friends and family with your musical or vocal talents by plugging in a guitar or mic.

The audio is bassy. Even at a low volume it will rattle the windows of your neighbourhood.

Use the JBL Partybox 120 in a room I doubt you’ll get anywhere near mid volume range. Outside the entire neighbourhood will hear the greatest hits of your playlists.

The JBL Partybox 120 can be parired up to another JBL portable speaker, or you can set it up for Auracast.

Being slated as a portable speaker, which it is, it’s heavy. It’s not going to be your everyday grab-and-go but it is definitely a speaker that you will take to the beach, a mates house or any gathering where there’s to be music. And HQ sounding music too.

JBL most definitely has a signature sound for it’s speakers, and it’s something that only JBL seems to have got right in the portable speaker market.

For your next event there’s no need to hire a DJ, get yourself a JBL Partybox 120 for an instant party zone.

The post JBL Partybox 120 Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It’s small but got boom.

The JBL Go 4 is just slightly larger than a credit card, easily pocketable and ready to rock out when you are.

Waterproof and rugged, the Go 4 has onboard play and volume controls with a single USB-C charging port.

Pair it up via Bluetooth  to your smartphone or tablet to take on the go. To get the most out of your JBL Go 4 you’ll need to download the JBL Portable app.

With this you can tweak the audio settings either via preset EQ options, or customise to your liking.

With around 7 hours of battery life, the JBL Go 4 will keep up with you all night, or all day.

If you’re caught short – on the app is a Boost. This will optimise the audio to extend the remaining battery life by up to 2 hours.

Using the JBL Go 4 in and out of the house I was able to squeeze around 6 hours out of the tiny speaker before it got down to 15%. Trying the battery life boost did exactly what it claims, ad more than once I was able to get another 1 to 2 hours before it finally died.

Price wise, these punchy, bassy super loud portable speakers come well under $100. So, I would recommend having a couple of them, so you can pair them up for stereo sound – or use Aura Cast.

Infact the audio that’s produced from a speaker that can literally fit in your pocket is fully beyond what it should be able to produce. It can fill an entire room with sound and then some.

Small but mighty the JBL Go 4 is definitely the most portable high quality bluetooth speaker I’ve come across. If the quality of sound is important to you while out and about, the JBL Go 4 is going to impress.

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