JBL Flip 5 tested: Small sound miracle
30.9.2019
Translation: machine translated
Nothing less than "Sounds better than ever" is JBL's promise for the Flip 5. The manufacturer has a lot to say, but what's more important is how the Bluetooth speaker sounds in practice.
When it comes to medium-sized, portable speakers, the Flip models have so far been overshadowed by the UE Boom from Ultimate Ears. Find out here whether this will change with the JBL Flip 5.
Coveted speaker with lots of sound
When I unpacked the test device, my colleague Lennart from Business Development was standing next to me and wasn't impressed: "The Flip 4 was really rubbish...". He wanted to try out the Flip 5 after all. He was so impressed that I had to take the speaker away from him again for my test.
Because JBL seems to have done its homework on the Flip 5 very conscientiously. I don't know if it's really down to the advertised "racetrack-like speaker chassis", but the Bluetooth speaker's sound has improved considerably compared to its predecessor. It sounds much bigger than it is and can easily fill an entire room at medium volume - without any loss of quality as the volume increases, which is something not every speaker can claim.
The bass of the JBL Flip 5 is very powerful. You can amplify the effect by placing the speaker on the right surface. We tried out a few in the office and found the sound better on the mobile pedestal than on the desk, for example. The stool performed very poorly.
The bass is strong, but does not overpower the treble or the mid-range. To my ear, the JBL Flip 5 produced a well-rounded, complete sound image. I really enjoy listening to music or a podcast on it and didn't even have to turn the volume up particularly high, as the speaker has plenty of power. The manufacturer gives the rated output as 20 watts. For me, this means that I didn't dare turn it up to more than half the possible volume in my flat - and I was already afraid that the neighbours would come over. That's why my colleagues in the office had to put up with the full power, where the Flip 5 outperformed the much larger Marshall Stockwell II & Kilburn II.
No fear of water and parties
One bonus feature that I didn't get to try out is called "PartyBoost". This means you can connect the Flip 5 to any number of other JBL speakers that also support the function at the touch of a button. They then all play the same music. The system replaces "Connect+", which JBL previously used to connect its speakers with each other. Accordingly, you can only connect newer models to the Flip 5.
With its size, the JBL Flip is ideal for taking with you. However, weighing just over half a kilogramme, it is heavier than it looks. This is particularly noticeable when you attach it to your wrist with the wrist strap supplied. It's simply too heavy for that. But it hangs well on a rucksack, for example.
JBL promises that you don't have to worry about the Flip 5 when travelling. Its rubber housing is said to be robust and has received IPX7 certification. This means it is waterproof up to a depth of two metres - but then sounds significantly muffled.
The 4800 mAh battery is charged via a USB-C port. This takes around 2.5 hours when the battery is completely empty. In return, the Flip 5 then plays music for around twelve hours. So nothing stands in the way of a long party night.
Despite all the praise, not everything about the JBL Flip 5 is perfect. You no longer have the option of connecting an audio source via cable. There is no 3.5 mm connection. It only connects wirelessly via Bluetooth. And only via Bluetooth 4.2. With the newer Bluetooth 5.0, you would have benefited above all from a greater range.
Conclusion: serious competition for the UE Boom 3
Until now, the UE Boom 3 was the ultimate in medium-sized Bluetooth speakers for me. This has changed with the JBL Flip 5, which I consider to be on a par in terms of sound and is priced in the same region. There are differences elsewhere. While the Flip 5 has USB-C and Bluetooth 4.2, the UE Boom 3 charges via micro USB, has a longer range with Bluetooth 5.0 and a slightly longer-lasting battery.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.