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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The JBL Flip 7 speaker is available to preorder for $149 in Black, Blue, White, Red, Camo, and Purple.
- This small, rugged speaker can withstand the elements and produce enough sound to keep the party going for hours.
- However, the Flip 7’s sound isn’t refined and lacks punch, specifically in the low end.
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JBL Flip’s line of Bluetooth speakers offer impressive sound and even more impressive durability. The second you hold one of these speakers in your hand, you know they can take a beating. JBL unveiled the latest Flip 7<!–>, and it’s tougher and more portable than ever.
Let’s dive right in.
My experience
As soon as I removed the Flip 7 from the box, I knew its exact purpose. Its size and durability make it the perfect companion for anyone needing to carry their music or podcasts with them without worrying that the speaker will be damaged by rain, rocks, or gravity.
Given its size, you’d think it would weigh far less than it does, but this thing has some heft. On top of that, the rubber bumpers on either end of the speaker have been beefed up from the Flip 6; if the speaker lands on either end, you know it will laugh at the ground in abject mockery as if to say, “Haha! You cannot best me!”
Also: Finally, a Bluetooth speaker that rivals the Bose SoundLink Max – and it costs hundreds less
The JBL “PushLock” system also allows you to swap out the string loop attachment for a carabiner. Remove the loop, attach the carabiner, clip it to your pack, and hit the great outdoors.
What about the sound?
First, the speaker supports Google Fast Pair, so pairing the device with my Pixel 9 Pro was just a matter of turning the speaker on, unlocking my phone, and waiting for Android to prompt me.
The loop and carabiner options are easily interchangeable on the JBL Flip 7.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
With the speaker connected, I jumped to Rush’s “Signals” album and fired up “Analog Kid.” Honestly, the default EQ curve for the Flip 7 is a bit too midrange-y for my taste. Take that with a grain of salt because I’m a rather odd bird who was weened on the EQ stylings of early Van Halen albums that loved lows and highs but not so much the mids.
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The good news is that, during the speaker setup on my phone, it automatically opened the JBL app (I honestly can’t remember if it was already installed or not). Right at the top of the page was the EQ section. I tapped Custom, changed the EQ curve to better suit my taste, and all was good.
I won’t say this speaker will blow you away with deep, resonant lows and crystal-clear highs. But at $149, you shouldn’t expect the equivalent of a $1k pair of desktop speakers. Even so, the Flip 7 produces impressive sound (once the EQ is dialed in). Because of the small enclosure, there’s no way of pushing the bass too far, and the EQ is limited to only seven bands (125, 250, 500, 1k, 2k, 4k, >8k).
Also: This portable Bluetooth speaker delivers room-filling sound at an extraordinarily low price
After giving my favorite band some time, it was time to switch genres. Here’s my take.
- Classical music: The Flip 7 lacks the refinement necessary to really give classical music its due. I found nearly every piece of classical music so narrow (a very small soundstage) that the instruments blended together too much.
- Ambient: For this, I tested some binaural beats and found the Flip 7 absolutely fantastic. If you need music to help you relax or study, play some binaural beats through the Flip 7 and enjoy.
- 80s: I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: 80s music sounds good through anything, and the Flip 7 was no exception.
- Djent (yeah, it’s a genre): The Flip 7 was fairly capable with this genre. There was even enough low end to give it some oomph, although it could use more detail and separation at the lower end of the audio spectrum.
- Industrial: The mids kind of did this genre in, but not enough to make it a non-starter. There was just enough on the low and high ends to salvage it.
- Musicals: The Flip 7 treated the genre with the kindness and splashiness it deserves. Thanks to the mids, the voices were clear and clean.
- Rock: This genre was the biggest surprise because I assumed it would fall flat. Steve Perry’s “Somewhere There’s Hope” came to life with surprising clarity.
- Metal: This genre didn’t fare as well because the lows bled too much into the mids, becoming a bit muddy on the bottom.
- Pop: The Flip 7 delivered this genre with all the excitement you could ask for. It was a bit empty on the low end, but pop tends to lean heavily into mids, while highs and lows are a bonus.
- R&B: I tripped all the way back to Kool and the Gang’s “Get Down On It” and found myself getting a pretty serious groove on in my office. Although it could have used more punch at the bottom, the sound will get you moving.
ZDNET’s buying advice
At $149, this speaker will certainly not break the bank. But when you can purchase other speakers that offer more punch and clarity at the bottom end of the EQ spectrum, why would you drop the coin on the JBL Flip 7–>?
Also: This portable Bluetooth speaker might not be a Bose or JBL, but it still delivers the bass
It’s all about portability and durability. When you mix in the decent sound produced by the Flip 7 and its ability to get loud enough to be heard in large rooms and the great outdoors, along with an exterior capable of withstanding the elements, the Flip 7 is suddenly a good buy.
If you’re always on the move and want a portable speaker you won’t have to worry about, this is the one for you.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
