The JBL Xtreme 3 is the company’s portable Bluetooth speaker – literally, it has a shoulder-strap carry handle that you can clip on and off – and it delivers huge, bubbling levels of bass while sporting an almost army-esque design and a shoulder-strap carry handle.
As we noted in our review of the Xtreme 2’s predecessor, it isn’t the nicest or most sophisticated-looking speaker available. Then then, this isn’t attempting to be some kind of Bang & Olufsen fancy-pants inside gadget – it’s all about being bold and robust, owing to its new complete dust and water resistance, and it’s perfect for the big outside adventure!
So, when the world opens up, is the JBL Xtreme 3 the portable party speaker to bring to those park picnics and pool parties? Or is it something else entirely?
1.Design & Build
- Weight: 1.97kg / Dimensions: 299 x 136 x 134mm / Dimensions: 299 x 136 x 134mm
- Ports include USB-C charging, USB-A out, and a 3.5mm input jack.
- A carry handle is included, and it clips on and off.
- Fabric and rubber construction provide long-lasting durability.
- On the top, there are physical control buttons.
- IP67 protection against dust and water.
We recently evaluated the smaller JBL Charge 5, which is the first of the company’s speakers to mark a significant shift in appearance, since it is the first to have the company’s new, bigger logo. The Xtreme 3 is similar to that little speaker, but it is much larger.
image credit POCKET-LINT
Almost, at any rate. It’s hard to overlook the two large metal hooks on the top of the Xtreme 3, which are used to attach the supplied carry handle, which allows you to easily transport this speaker around over your shoulder. This is the feature that will divide the group: many would want a more discreet design that does not have a carry handle, while others will appreciate the convenience of not having to give up a hand in order to transport it.
On each side of those carry clips are the physical control buttons, which include power on/off, Bluetooth connection, independent plus and minus volume controls, and a JBL app/multi-speaker pairing control, among other things.
The ‘feet’ of the two previous Xtreme designs have been replaced with rubberized diagonal embossed lines, which guarantee that the speaker remains upright while avoiding unnecessary aesthetic protrusions on the front of the speaker. It has a much more professional appearance.
Due to its strong mesh shell and almost cylindrical form, the Xtreme 3 is intended to provide the most possible room for the two open and exclamation-marked ends, which are where the air is allowed to flow out in order to provide the most amount of low-end power possible. It’s very mesmerizing to see these panels warble while the bass pumping out in the background.
image credit POCKET-LINT
It has a few inputs and outputs, but they’re all pretty basic: Bluetooth 5.1, an aux input (3.5mm), and a USB-C charging connector hidden behind a panel on the back. As strange as it may seem, removing this panel is still difficult (a complaint we had about the predecessor), and we’ve had to use other objects to pry it open on a number of occasions. As a result, you must go behind the Xtreme 3’s flap in order to access the USB-C connection, which is more apparent here since it is constantly accessible on the smaller Charge 5. This is necessary for charging purposes.
The fact that the panel needs to be tightly closed in order to maintain a dust- and water resistance (it’s IP67 rated, which means you can drop the product into a pool and it won’t stop working) is understandable – but, again, the Charge 5 boasts the same rating and does not require the USB-C port to be concealed.
2.The Quality of the Sound
- 2x 70mm woofers, 2x 20mm tweeters, and 2x passive radiators are used in this system.
- The frequency response ranges from 53.5Hz to 20,000Hz.
- The overall power output is 100W.
- JBL PartyBoost is a mobile application.
- Playback time is 15 hours.
- Bluetooth 5.1 is a new version of the Bluetooth standard.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is very loud, as in extremely loud. It has four drivers and two bass radiators, and it can produce a total of 100W of power in total. While that number isn’t huge, this speaker is nevertheless capable of delivering powerful music to large groups of people – and its volume doesn’t have to be turned up to the highest setting to be entertaining. It’s incredibly loud while still staying absolutely clear, which is usually a good indication of high-quality audio equipment.
image credit POCKET-LINT
As we previously said about its predecessor, the best thing about this JBL Xtreme is the bass it produces. It is possible to squeeze out a few additional Hertz at the low end with this model, which now goes down to 53Hz. This model delivers low-frequency with vigor. The ability to take hold of massive 808 bass beats, for example, and deliver them with ferocity is shown in bass music. Additionally, it is equally or even more capable of handling other genres: given the fact that bass guitars can’t truly tune below 60Hz in any case, that frequency is well-positioned to really drive.
If you use the device at a high volume, the onboard battery can last for up to 15 hours, which is not an increase over the predecessor, but you’ll simply have to take it down a notch in order to get that amount of run time. We’ve been using it as an office speaker most of the time, but we’ve also taken it into the kitchen while cooking, where it’s played non-stop music for a couple of days without a hitch without any issues.
While the sound is large and clear, and there is plenty of basses, don’t be fooled by the cylinder shape into believing that it is entirely one-way output. It is not the case. This speaker is primarily a front-firing speaker, with no output provided from the backchannel. When it comes to public spaces, this is not always a negative thing if you don’t want to needlessly aim sound towards other people. However, there are rivals that capitalize on the fact that sound output is omnidirectional.
For anyone interested in pairing two or more JBL speakers together for use in stereo mode, the JBL PartyBoost app is also available (it supports up to 100 simultaneous pairings; we’re pretty sure no one has ever done this). However, it’s a fun concept.
Compared to its predecessor, the JBL Xtreme 3 improves on it by adding dust resistance (as part of the IP67 certification), a couple of additional Hertz lower frequency responses in the low end, and some design changes that, despite the now-massive logo, make it appear better overall.
Having said that, it isn’t the most visually appealing speaker ever, but it is built for use in the great outdoors, and it can withstand water splashes and submersion, as well as fistfuls of sand or dust, without breaking a sweat.
It’s probable that the carry handle design will divide the group, but there aren’t many other items on the market that provide such a practical solution, so there’s no disputing that some will consider it to be a very useful option.
The fact that this speaker has a strong bass response is the most essential feature of all. What you will hear is a strong, clear sound that thumps hard no matter what musical genre you choose to play through it. That, in the end, is what will sell this speaker and make it worth the money it costs to purchase it.
3.Ports and battery life of the JBL Xtreme 3
While the JBL Xtreme 3 doesn’t feature a plethora of connections, there are a few that are useful: an audio-in 3.5mm jack, a USB Type-C In/Out port for charging, and a USB Type-A Out port. Yes, the JBL Xtreme 3 may be used as a power bank to recharge your electronic gadgets. In addition, a USB Type-C power adaptor is included with the speaker.
Although the JBL Xtreme 3 is claimed to last up to 15 hours on a single charge, it seems that this is correct as I have spent the last several days playing video games and watching television without having to recharge the speakers.
4.JBL Xtreme 3 connectivity, controls, and app
The JBL Xtreme 3 can be powered up in a variety of methods, one of which is via its 3.5mm connector. Please bear in mind that the JBL Xtreme 3’s Bluetooth 5.1 chip will not provide you with the full power of the music until you connect to it through Bluetooth 5.1.
Additionally, the speaker includes a function called JBL PartyBoost, which allows it to be used in conjunction with another set of JBL PartyBoost-enabled speakers to create a surround-sound-like atmosphere for music and movies. That may be difficult to do, though, since it would need an investment of at least $700 to accomplish.
There are six buttons onboard that operate from left to right, including a PartyBoost button, a decrease-volume switch, a power switch, a Bluetooth connection button, an increase-volume switch, and a play/pause button. The play button may be pressed twice to go to the next track in the current track.
It is possible to link the JBL Xtreme 3 to your phone via the JBL Portable app, however, doing so just serves to serve as a trigger for the PartyBoost functionality. Unfortunately, there are no audio options that can be tweaked in this game. Furthermore, connecting to the app may be a hassle, but you can connect the speaker to your phone without using the app by using Bluetooth.
5.JBL Xtreme 3 audio: for listening to music and games
The JBL Xtreme 3 is equipped with two 20-millimeter tweeters and two 70-millimeter woofers, which provide a powerful punch whether gaming or rocking out to your favorite music.
Listening to Dream State’s “I Feel It Too,” the opening electric guitar was lush and mesmerizing, and the rest of the song followed suit. It was a well-rounded sounding vocal performance as the song began, and it became even sharper when the chorus began. Aside from that, the percussion had a great kick to it due to the bassy tone, and all of the instruments were clearly distinguished from one another.
The beginning rhythms of mxmtoon’s rendition of “Creep” were pulsing, and the vocals were so melodious that I forgot I was writing this review and lost track of time for a few minutes. It was much easier to distinguish between the other instruments when the softer, higher-pitched electronic rhythms were played over the voices than when they were performed on their own.
After a while of running through Lady D’s mansion in Resident Evil Village, her booming voice burst through the speakers with a bassy tone as she started pursuing me through the corridors. The sound of a tremendous boom rang throughout my living room as I blasted one of her numerous children with my shotgun. I could feel the weight of my shotgun in that instant. It wasn’t until I returned to the titular town that I heard the growling of werewolves approaching me; the air was so sharp that I was able to track them down and kill them without being injured.
The bullets in Titanfall 2 were so loud and powerful that I had to turn the sound down many times while playing the game. With the Xtreme 3, you’ll never have to worry about your audio being too quiet again. Although I was watching a cutscene, I was able to pick up on the voices of BT and Cooper flawlessly, whereas, on my present TV, I would have had to fiddle with the settings in order to get that result in the past. Every sound effect, from the melee to the wall rushing, had a strong impact due to the sharp treble and heavy bass used in the production.
