We have tested the JBL Clip 3 Bluetooth speakers!

We tested the JBL Clip 3 portable speakers!

A few decades ago, a wireless and portable speaker was only a figment of our imagination. But today, portable, compact and wireless speakers have become the need-to-have products available to everyone.
If you want a speaker that you can take to the beach or to the bathroom, the JBL Clip 3 is the best choice.

JBL Clip 3 features

The JBL Clip 3 is a portable and practical Bluetooth speaker. The speaker has an integrated carabiner that you can simply clip onto your trousers or bag and you’re ready to go. It’s one of the most powerful sounding Bluetooth speakers available at this price and size.

Design

The quality and design of the speaker is impressive. It is aesthetically pleasing and the sound is excellent.
Available in 12 colours, there’s a shade to suit almost everyone.
The speaker has a flat, round shape that gives it a pleasing appearance. The carabiner runs around the edge of the speaker, so it’s fully integrated into the speaker. The front panel is covered in a solid fabric and the back panel is covered in silicone.

The front panel features the JBL logo and there are three buttons on the top. A central button controls playback, call management and other functions, while the plus/minus buttons control the volume. The speaker can also be laid flat, as the sound output is exclusively via the front panel.

The power and Bluetooth connect buttons are located on the side of the device. The jack and USB connectors are hidden under a small cover at the bottom of the speaker.
The built-in microphone also allows you to make phone calls using the speaker. You can put calls on speakerphone at the touch of a button, and thanks to the built-in noise and echo filtering, you can expect a clear and distortion-free communication.

Sound quality

Compared to the Clip 2, this model seems to have better sound quality. It has 3.3 watt speakers and some acoustic improvements over its predecessor.
Clip 3, covers frequencies up to 120 Hz and 20 kHz. The basses are pleasant, although not bite-sized due to the speaker’s size.

Outdoors, the speaker performed absolutely well, with no hiss or distortion at higher volumes.
The resulting sound levels are absolutely ideal for the purposes for which we might want to use it. However, if you want intense basses, you’ll need to spend more money on a bigger speaker. This speaker brings out the treble and midrange, so the vocal sound is crisp and clear, but if you’re unhappy with the bass notes, you’ll need to look for another product.

We also tried the JBL Clip 3 indoors in a small office. The acoustics of the office were ideal, with broadband acoustic panels and diffuser front panels on the walls and ceiling to eliminate reverberation, and acoustic carpet on the floor. Eliminating echoes is one of the most important parts of managing office acoustics to achieve a pleasant working environment.
If you want a perfect sound experience, it is essential to ensure that you have acoustic treatment in your rooms.

The Clip 3 did a great job indoors, although we found the sound a little too ear-piercing at high volumes, but that couldn’t be otherwise for a speaker of this small size. Bass notes didn’t really stand out during testing, but that’s an acceptable compromise for such a compact, portable speaker.

Water resistance

This is one of the most useful features of the Clip 3, as it can withstand any type of water, including inclement weather conditions. There is absolutely no need to worry about the speakers getting wet or damaged. This speaker is the perfect choice if you want to take it to the beach, on a trip or even listen to music while taking a shower.
Thanks to its IPX7 rating, it can be submerged in water up to 1 metre deep! If it falls into the water, no worries, it will float instead of sinking.

Portability

It is one of the smallest Bluetooth speakers on the market, yet the JBL delivers the same legendary sound quality. It weighs around half a kilo thanks to its sturdy, waterproof construction and durable metal tube.
It guarantees 10 hours of playback time, thanks to its 1000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

Final assessment

As mentioned earlier, the design and assembly quality of this product makes it extremely high-tech. There’s absolutely no need to worry about damaging the speaker with a bump, and thanks to its water resistance, it won’t be damaged by heavy rainfall or if it falls into the pool.

The sound quality is very good for a speaker of that size. With a wide range of colours to choose from, anyone can find the ideal one. The integrated metal carabiner is sturdy, protects the speaker and can be easily attached to your clothes or bag. It has a range of about 10 metres.

On the downside, the bass is weak and the price tag is a bit excessive. It sometimes loses connection with certain devices (especially cheaper mobile phones) and it lacks a charge indicator.
Overall, this is one of the best quality and sounding Bluetooth speakers available at this price.

G.H.

Written by Róbert Polgár