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Bluetooth speakers have really carved out space in the consumer electronics market. Brands like Bose, JBL, and even industry giants like Sony and Marshall have each launched their own product lines. You have to agree, though, that some of these are pretty pricey. Some are even too expensive for most people.
Well, if you’re after portability and affordability, after a couple years of use, the JBL Go is still an excellent choice for a portable speaker. It’s not the first time JBL has made audio equipment, and the company is known for making good items. The JBL Go is no different. But should you get one? Find out by reading on.
Before we get started, though, JBL has already developed two sequels, namely JBL Go 2 and JBL Go Plus. But for this review, we’ll be focusing on the first generation JBL Go.
Build Quality
The JBL Go has great build quality. It’s tiny, it’s sturdy, and it’s tight. The speaker’s design features a rubberized matte finish which comes in different colors, with ours being black. It’s also pretty compact, as it’s smaller than a coffee mug. The speaker has a pretty minimalist design, resembling a little black box.
The top features the power button, Bluetooth switch, volume buttons and a dedicated phone button. The other sides are bare, save for a lanyard slot, aux input port, and micro USB charging port. On the front is the speaker grille, adorned with the JBL logo.
The speaker also features a LED light in front, which lights up during use and when hooked up to a charger. It also turns red when your battery level is low, which is quite handy.
Usage and Performance
Using the JBL Go is pretty simple. Just turn on the Bluetooth switches on both the speaker and your device, and you’re good to go. It’s compatible with a lot of devices, although I’ve noticed that it has difficulty connecting to my Windows 10 laptop. It does end up pairing, though, after a few tries.
Connection issues aside, the JBL Go can produce great sound quality for something so small. Playing tunes through the speaker sounds good and doesn’t give off the impression that you’re playing your music through a tin can, unlike with some lesser branded speakers. Personally, I think it really outshines the tiny speakers on my laptop and phone.
Pros
Affordable Price
Compact and Portable Design
Decent Sound Quality
Bluetooth Connectivity
Built-In Speakerphone
Cons
Limited Bass Response
No Water Resistance
Moderate Volume Levels
Limited Range
Movies and other media are more enjoyable if you’re the type of person who values audio quality. It won’t, of course, produce “perfect” sound quality, but it does highlight some of the deeper noises in movies and music that aren’t usually audible on most gadgets.
Further reading: Compact, Durable, Loud: Inside the Bose SoundLink Flex
Battery
As for the battery, inside the speaker is a 600 mAh battery, which can last between 6-9 hours of playback time, depending on your usage. As for charging, the JBL Go takes around a couple of hours to fully charge via the micro-USB port on the side.
The Bottom Line
Just to sum up, it’s nice to see stuffs like the JBL Go that provide good performance and quality at a reasonable cost. You can get decent audio playback and a sleek look for about a few bucks.
Will you be getting one? Let us know in the comments below!
Likewise, thank you too!
It was such a good choice when I was looking around for bluetooth speakers. You have a nice mix of brand name, affordability, and performance. Add portability as well!
Hi Henry. It really is a steal at that price, I got for my wife during the holidays. We’ve taken it on several trips since!
We’ve been able to connect it to the laptop many times now. I guess the first set-up was the fiddly part.
As for green, I think teal is the closest it’s got. But the JBL Go 2 has a somewhat dark green color!
Thank you Paul, glad you found it helpful!
It certainly is loud! We live in a somewhat small apartment and when using it, it tends to fill the entire place. Pretty useful when I have to do stuff in the kitchen but still want to watch Netflix on my phone.
Thanks for dropping by! Yes, it should prove to be a handy companion on those trips where you might need music.
Thank you for checking us out! It is pretty handy and offers clear and loud audio playback. I have zero regrets using this one.
Thanks for dropping by! We’re glad to have been of assistance.