Pros
- A balanced, bass-heavy sound
- Easy to use
- Unstable design
Cons
- Your phone has no ports for charging
- Voice assistant absent
- Only compatible in stereo mode
The JBL Flip 6 is positioned to carry on the history of the JBL brand, which is recognized for rugged Bluetooth speakers that effortlessly accompany users on treks or to pool parties. It still has a sturdy design and audio quality similar to the JBL Flip 5, but with some cosmetic tweaks and an ostensibly enhanced audio arrangement.
Bluetooth speakers, convenience, and mobility go hand-in-hand with how good they sound. Several speakers are made for various contexts. JBL is a leader in the style of music that appeals to large audiences. Its Flip line perfectly fits that description.
Is the Flip 6 a viable replacement for an established workhorse? To learn, we used this portable speaker for a week. Therefore, don’t anticipate the JBL Flip 6 to surprise you. You will receive enough bass and loudness if you are familiar with the Flip speaker family. What are the advantages of the little things JBL threw in, as both are apparent once the music starts playing?
Price and Release Date
The JBL Flip 6 release date was in December 2021, and it is currently on sale for $129.95, however, the JBL Flip 6 price in Australia has yet to be determined. That is a little more costly than the JBL Flip 5, which was released in August 2019 and cost $119.95 at the time, but only marginally.
Although the Flip 6 lacks other capabilities like Wi-Fi connectivity that would have increased the price of the Roam, JBL’s newest speaker is far less expensive than our favorite Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos Roam.
More affordable Bluetooth speakers are available; if money is tight, look at the Anker Soundcore Flare 2 or the 1More Portable BT Speaker.
What’s in the Box?
The Flip 6 comes with little to unbox. To avoid creating the perception that the speaker is larger than it is, JBL should consider reducing the size of its packaging or, at the very least, printing an illustration of the speaker’s precise figures on the side. A USB-C charging cord and beginner guide manual are included along with the speaker itself.
Stylish Design
The JBL Flip 6 first has a similar appearance to the Flip 5 thanks to its cylinder design, enveloping faceplate, and bass speakers across each edge that produces a signal as you play music. Our particular model had an eye-catching red color, but it’s also offered in black, blue, and grey. The Flip 5 has many more color possibilities, including one in a camouflage design, but we wouldn’t be shocked if JBL later added more hues for the Flip 6.
The lightweight, readily portable Flip 6 weighs 550g and is small enough to use in one hand. It also comes with a fashionable wristband.
The JBL logo is prominently displayed in the center of the grille, and all the controls PartyBoost, volume decrease, volume turned up, and play—is located directly above it. These controls are elevated and tactile, which makes it simple to discover them in dim light or touch them if you don’t want to look.
The control and Bluetooth pairing buttons, which glow when you push them, are located on the bottom of the speaker, along with a USB-C charging port. You will need to ensure your cell phone is fully charged before leaving the house because, except for the JBL Charge 4, there is no port for charging your phone.
The Flip 6 has the same toughness as the Flip 5, but JBL has added dust resistance and water protection for an IP67 designation this time. This means you can bring Flip 6 to the seaside without worrying that some sand or seawater will break it. Simply choose from the fantastic JBL Flip 6 colors option: Ocean Blue, Dusty Pink, River Teal, Grey Stone, Fiesta Red, Steel White, Midnight Black, Forest Green, or Squad. JBL Flip 6 characteristics include Deep bass with dual passive speakers.
Setup and Configuration
The JBL Flip 6 speaker entered pairing mode directly out of the box, making it simple to pair it with a Bluetooth device. By restricting the Bluetooth key on the speaker until it starts to flash, you can quickly put it back in pairing mode afterward. The Flip 6 doesn’t have speakerphone capabilities because it can only connect to one device simultaneously, and JBL didn’t give it a microphone. At this point in the business, there is a glaring absence because this gadget is about streaming audio, not answering calls.
The Flip 6 now has access to the JBL Portable app for iOS or Android, which is one update made by JBL. It can upgrade the firmware and modify the few available settings. The EQ, which earlier Flip speakers lacked, was the feature that stood out to me. With simple buttons for bass, mids, and treble, it’s pretty complicated, but it does signal a change in providing the Flip 6 with some degree of audio control.
PartyBoost is returning, but there are some restrictions. To play the same audio with other JBL speakers, we might employ the Party feature to link them wirelessly. You can make a stereo pair if you own a Flip 6 or a buddy. With Flip 5, we attempted to accomplish it.
Jbl Flip 6 Sound Performance
The JBL Flip 6 review stated it is a terrific option if you’re searching for an excellent Bluetooth speaker to fill a room and provide music for an outside picnic.
A racetrack-shaped woofer produces strong bass and mid-resonant frequencies, and a separate presenter delivers the peak with exceptional clarity. For gratifying, heart-pounding bass notes that had never sounded inflated or muddy, the passive absorbers on either end of the speaker push the low end even further.
While listening to Little Simz’s Woman, the vampy guitar riffs bounce about the mix, making the radiators pleasantly pulse. The jazzy piano chords perfectly complement Simz’s laidback rap style, while Cleo Soul’s lace-like vocal has a deep, luxurious texture that floats over the rest of the material.
The JBL Flip 6 can easily play intricate rhythms and time patterns despite its compact size, and sound doesn’t distort as you ratchet up the volume.
The driving rhythm of the Yeah Yeahs’ Soft Shock is characterized by trebly percussion, throbbing synthesizers, and hammering bass lines. Karen O’s floating voice also has a wonderfully natural touch. Although some sharp treble sounds did appear when cranking up the volume on this track, overall, the audio performance is warm, well-balanced, and transparent.
The PartyBoost feature allows you to combine two JBL speakers that are appropriate in stereo or several speakers in stereo for an audio wall if you desire to enhance the sound even more. Unfortunately, you can only stereo pair it with another Flip 6 speaker, but in the larger picture of things, that is a minor flaw.
Battery Life and Connectivity
According to JBL, the Flip 6 must provide 12 hours of playback; our experiments confirmed this. With a USB-C connector, the battery can be fully charged in 2.5 hours.
Bluetooth 5.1 is used for connectivity, and connecting the device with our iPhone 13 mini was incredibly quick and simple. While using the Flip 6, we didn’t encounter any aggravating connectivity outages, and you can attach it to two devices simultaneously so you can alternate DJing with your pals.
The JBL Portable app works with the speaker and enables you to browse the user manual, check for software updates, change the equalizer parameters by sliding the sliders for the bass, mid, and treble frequencies, and more. The PartyBoost feature is also available through this app.
Is the Jbl Flip 6 a Good Investment?
The JBL Flip 6 is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a strong and dependable party or outdoor speaker. This Bluetooth speaker keeps everything that makes the Flip 5 a hit while also gaining greater water and dust protection thanks to its IP67 classification. The Flip 6 isn’t perfect, though; we wish JBL would bring back the Flip 4’s aux input, but less and less Bluetooth speakers now have it.
The Flip 6 offers good value at $130. You get a portable speaker that has enough power to amplify when needed. It’s healthier and more effective in harsh settings like sand.
