A Tiny Method to Be Large Loud

There are a whole lot of methods to be loud and annoying. For instance, there’s snoring—a timeless traditional that’s not solely loud, but in addition deprives you and others of sleep, killing two very miserable birds with one stone. Then there are extra vestigial and area of interest types of being obnoxious, like yodeling, which, if finished outdoors of the Swiss Alps, seems like extra of a cry for consideration than the rest.

However these are nothing while you enter Bluetooth speakers into the equation. Within the 12 months of our lord, 2025, due to Bluetooth connectivity and LTE, there are a whole bunch of how to be loud and annoying, and a whole lot of them will price you. You’ve obtained premium choices like Bose’s SoundLink Plus, which carry model and finesse to the Bluetooth speaker recreation, after which there are extra rugged choices just like the Soundcore Boom 3i that you could actually throw in a pool. However what if model, sturdiness, and even sound aren’t your high precedence? What for those who’re in search of a small solution to sound actually massive? Nicely, if that’s your jam, JBL’s $100 Grip might need simply what you want.

The tall boy of Bluetooth audio system

After I first noticed JBL’s Grip, I dubbed it the “tall boy of Bluetooth speakers,” and now, having held the Grip in my hand and having laid eyes on it for myself… I stand by that declare. The Grip is all in regards to the dimension, which on this case, is just like a “can of seltzer” in line with JBL, or for those who’re a hoodlum like me, then a tall boy. For proof of its tall boy-ness, I put the Grip side-by-side with a can that equals one pint. Right here’s the Grip subsequent to a Narragansett to your viewing pleasure:

Whereas the Grip resembles a tall boy in dimension, it truly weighs much less—this speaker is barely 385g, which makes it each light-weight and compact, which is nice as a result of portability is what JBL goes for right here. That’s additionally why there’s a loop on the highest of the speaker so you may strap the Grip to a belt, or a bag, or perhaps clip it to your bike to blast tunes whilst you get some cardio in. I didn’t strap the Grip to something for my testing, however I did carry it round Manhattan and may affirm that it’s not very burdensome.

See JBL Grip at Amazon

Don’t let the dimensions and portability idiot you, although; the Grip is not any slouch within the quantity division. The very first thing I seen once I performed the Grip out loud in my workplace was that it actually cranks. There’s 16W of energy on this tiny speaker, which doesn’t sound like a ton, however consider me once I say it holds its personal. Whereas utilizing the Grip within the park, I used to be in a position to drown out music from some reside jazz being performed within the neighborhood. To be sincere, I didn’t even know there was reside music taking place close to me till I made a decision to pause the Grip momentarily.

Sound-wise, you’re not going to get the identical nuance as a much bigger Bluetooth speaker from Bose or perhaps a larger moveable speaker like JBL’s Cost 5 (which I additionally personal), however that’s not likely the purpose of a speaker this dimension. What you need out of a speaker just like the Grip is portability with a sound that’s adequate, and I’d say that’s precisely what the Grip brings to the desk. It does an honest job with treble (vocals are clear), although you gained’t catch a lot complexity within the midrange the place guitars reside. Bass isn’t notably booming, clearly, however I performed some Daft Punk whereas strolling round outdoors, and it didn’t sound bereft of low finish. Total, I’d say this speaker did higher in a rock style (I performed a couple of of my favourite tracks by Geese), however your mileage might range.

Evidently, this isn’t the speaker you need for those who’re making an attempt to fill a room with sound, however for those who’re simply making an attempt to seize a speaker to carry on a hike, or a picnic, or to the seashore/park for an off-the-cuff grasp, there’s no purpose to not seize a Grip—particularly for those who’re low on house.

Tall boy, smaller battery

As is the case with any gadget that emphasizes portability, battery life is all the time in query. The JBL Grip is rated for 14 hours of battery, although that may rely on the quantity. I wasn’t in a position to take a look at the Grip battery life extensively, however in my utilization, the Grip appears to carry up as marketed, if not higher. I examined the Grip, utilizing the speaker at about 50% quantity for an hour. I began my take a look at at 40% battery, and by the point I used to be finished listening, I used to be solely at about 37%. Clearly, 50% quantity is slightly decrease than what most individuals can be listening to out within the wild, however it’s nonetheless an honest displaying from a small speaker. Should you’re blaring this factor, you may clearly count on much less.

The Grip has some character outdoors of the portability, too. There’s (after all) a companion app that you should use to fine-adjust EQ (seven complete bands) and change between EQ presets. You may as well monitor battery life utilizing the JBL Transportable app and use your telephone to decide on the colour of the LED on the again of the speaker. One good contact is having the ability to set the LED element to have completely different lighting results by way of the app. There’s nothing tremendous sensible about having the ability to do any of that, however I suppose for those who have been apprehensive about shedding your speaker in the dead of night, it’d truly turn out to be useful. I might have cherished to see that characteristic became a battery indicator so you may inform how a lot juice you will have left within the Grip at a look, however utilizing it for slightly additional personalization is okay. I like having the ability to toggle lighting results specifically, to present it some additional aptitude.

One other nice-to-have characteristic is an IP68 water and mud ranking, which suggests this speaker is principally as water resistant as an precise can of beer. To check that out, I gave the Grip a pleasant little bathe within the sink, operating it beneath water for a few minutes. Fortunately, the Grip survived my take a look at and got here out slightly soggy, however absolutely practical and in a position to play music simply in addition to earlier than. It doesn’t float or something like Soundcore’s Growth 3i speaker, which I examined not way back, however you undoubtedly don’t have to fret about dropping the Grip in a pool or leaving it out within the rain by chance.

Nothing to write down dwelling in regards to the button choice right here. On the entrance, there’s a play/pause button and a quantity up and down. On high, there’s a Bluetooth button for pairing, an influence button, and a button for Auracast, which helps you to pair a number of audio system collectively, if that’s one thing you’re concerned with.

Do you have to get a Grip?

JBL’s Grip isn’t for everybody. Should you’re an audiophile in search of the very best sound, this isn’t your decide. Neither is this the most effective decide for those who’re in search of the most of a lot of issues, together with options, battery, and even use in water. That being mentioned, it does strike a stable stability of all of these arenas that ought to be on the radar for those who’re in search of a speaker that’s very moveable.

I do want the worth was slightly decrease than $100, contemplating audio system just like the Soundcore Growth 3i, which do a couple of issues very nicely and solely price $30 extra. Certain, perhaps Soundcore’s floatable speaker isn’t fairly as small, however it’s nonetheless fairly rattling moveable, much more sturdy, and comes with extra options than you’d ever count on in that worth vary. I’m left questioning after testing the JBL Grip if the distinction in dimension is absolutely all that particular. Should you’re carrying a backpack round with sufficient room, will you really want the house? Should you’re mountain climbing, and each gram counts, that’s a special story.

So, for those who’re emphasizing dimension above all else and also you need one thing that sounds first rate and gained’t be overpowered by environmental noise, you then would possibly need to look JBL’s means and seize a pleasant tall glass of Bluetooth audio. And if dimension doesn’t matter to you, then there are tons of different choices on the market, although perhaps none fairly as beer-like.

See JBL Grip at Amazon