JBL Clip 3 Review

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We all know a few must-haves when it comes to camping, one for sure is music. Now yes there are a bunch of ways to listen to music, and devices that can play music, but how many can do what the JBL Clip 3 can? It is the perfect size to be portable in almost any scenario and the clip makes it even easier to travel with.

Sound Quality

When it comes to sound quality expectations, a speaker this small has to be graded on a slightly curved scale, however, the JBL Clip 3 audio quality still impressed me.

Lows

Lows are present in the JBL Clip 3, there isn’t much that the speaker misses with the quality of the song. The bass isn’t much but for how small this speaker is, it surpasses other speakers of its size.

Mids

The Clip 3 mid-range scale is beyond impressive to me, you can be long boarding down a sidewalk while the bumps in the pavement are a little loud, and still be able to hear JBL Clip 3 over those bumps with no problem. Even if you’re hiking or camping, the sound has the ability to drown out the crackling of fire or rustling of leaves. You will be impressed with the speakers’ mid-range tones.

Highs

Highs still sound good, but there are a few songs which are a little bass oriented in which the speaker draws back the volume a tad, nothing to terrible though. It does not affect the quality or distorts the song what so ever.

Weather Proofing

If you’re not afraid to get wet, neither is the JBL Clip 3. With its waterproof capabilities, you can go anywhere. The JBL Clip 3 still will function fully submerged in water, obviously, the sound won’t be as loud because of the water, but as soon as it becomes unsubmerged, it goes right back to it, like it was never in water. There really isn’t anyplace for water to stay on or inside the speaker, once you give it a wipe down, that’s pretty much it. No water residue left on the speaker. Just be sure you have the charging port closed with the waterproofed rubber piece that goes over it, and it will work just as it was designed to.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is just another thing JBL has done very well, the range on it goes from 15-20 feet. I’ve never had the Bluetooth cut out, stutter or have any delay of a song that I was playing. Immediately when you turn the speaker on (if you have synced it before to that device) it connects right after it turns on. When you’re on the go and someone is calling you, the JBL Clip 3 has a built-in noise and echo-canceling speakerphone that gives you crystal clear calls with the press of a button. On the calls, it is a little quieter than the music I was playing, which is hardly noticeable. When it does disconnect out of range, it will immediately reconnect as soon as you are back in range of the JBL Clip 3.

Battery

This battery life is insane, I have only charged my JBL Clip 3 roughly 3 times. I use it every day for at least an hour, I have been using this speaker almost daily for the past 3 weeks. At work just listening to music, clipped on my side when we go out to the flight line, and I can turn it all the way up and leave it like that for an hour or so, doesn’t seem to affect the battery life what so ever. It takes roughly 2 1/2 hours to 3 hours for a full charge, but that is beyond worth it for how long it will last. Now the manufacturer claims it has a 10 hour play time, but I have found myself pushing this limit from 12 to 14 hours per occasion, depending on how often I would reconnect or connect a friends phone. Regardless this battery is a beast.

Specifications

Final Thoughts

Now you ask yourself why would I need a speaker on a clip when I can buy another Bluetooth speaker? Well, do you have one that is waterproof that you can kayak with? One that is able to long board in the rain? The water resistance has held strong for me multiple times and has gone through hurricane Florence with me. This waterproof speaker is so versatile and built with quality for its size. I couldn’t ask for a better speaker for the applications I put it through, it fits my lifestyle immensely. If you’re an outdoorsy person who likes music and battles the elements, then this speaker is for you.

For more information on the Clip 3 or other JBL products visit jbl.com or amazon.com/jbl.   MSRP: $59.95