INTRODUCTION

    As far back as I can remember I've always enjoyed listening to music, while at home and later on at work or even while on the road both in my car and on foot. Because of that I've always enjoyed testing headphones and speakers and even though at times I’ve felt that the market has nothing new to offer something always seems to appear (eventually anyways) that piques my interest and at least for the most part makes me change my mind. One of the most recognized and well established names in the audio market is none other than JBL and today with me I have their Xtreme 4 portable waterproof speaker which I've been using for almost 2 weeks now.

    For over 75 years, JBL has shaped life’s most memorable moments at the intersection of music, lifestyle, gaming and sports. JBL elevates listening experiences with superior audio quality and product designs that encourage individuality and self-expression. With unmatched professional credentials and industry-leading innovation, JBL is a trailblazer in the audio industry because of passionate and talented engineers and designers around the globe. JBL Pro Sound is the foremost technology pushing culture forward through major pop culture events and partnerships with the world’s top talent across music, sports and esports.

    The Xtreme 4 portable speaker is currently available in 3 colors (black, blue and black camo) and sports a somewhat bulky IP67 waterproof and dustproof certified enclosure inside which JBL two 70mm woofers, two 20mm tweeters and two bass radiators resulting in a frequency response of 44Hz-20Khz. Each of the two woofers offers up to 30W RMS in AC power mode (20W RMS in battery mode) whereas each of the two tweeters offers up to 20W RMS in AC power model (15W RMS in battery mode) adding to a total of 100W RMS in AC power mode (70W RMS in battery mode). JBL has also equipped the Xtreme 4 with Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity (support for A2DP v1.3 and AVRCP v1.6), 9444mAh removable lithium-ion polymer battery (up to 24 hours of music playback plus 6 with playtime boost - eco mode / 10 minutes of recharge offer 2 hours of music playback) and a USB-C charging port which you can also use to charge your portable devices (in/out). In terms of featured technologies, the Xtreme 4 comes with JBL's brand new A.I sound boost (optimal driver performance depending on source/track) and their Auracast  multi-speaker connectivity (larger area coverage - compatible with PartyBoost JBL speakers). How does the Xtreme 4 perform  however, let's find out.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

JBL packs the Xtreme 4 inside a large white box that has a large product picture at the front along with the company and Bluetooth logos and of course the product name.

The multi-speaker connectivity is showcased on the left side of the box.

Another product picture is placed at the rear of the box along with descriptions for the 4 main features.

The Xtreme 4 gets shipped inside a synthetic cover and between two cardboard spacers.

Aside the Xtreme 4 inside the box you'll also find a wall power adapter, shoulder strap, safety and warranty paper and the quick start guide.

THE XTREME 4

The 2.1Kg heavy Xtreme 4 is a medium to large sized portable speaker that measures 297mm in length, 141mm in width and 149mm in height.

A large activity LED is placed in front of the speaker right between the two 70mm woofers and two 20mm tweeters (JBL has used recyclable materials for the grille of the Xtreme 4).

Here you can see a partially exposed picture of the Xtreme 4 fascia (marketing material).

At the top of the speaker we find the multi-speaker, power on/off and Bluetooth buttons just over the media buttons (volume down, play/pause and volume up).

The bass radiators are placed on both sides of the Xtreme 4.

Moving at the rear we just find the USB-C charging port (in/out).

Turning the Xtreme 4 over we find two red rubber feet and the removable battery compartment.

Once the rubber cover is removed taking out the battery requires just a light pull.

This is an 68Wh (9444mAh) lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery.

At the top we also find two pieces of metal where you can attach the bundled shoulder strap.

The shoulder strap is one of the sturdiest I've seen used with a portable speaker.

JBL PORTABLE APP

For complete control over the Xtreme 4 you will need to download the JBL Portable App.

Once you finish following the app instructions the Xtreme 4 will appear under your available devices.

Thanks to the Auracast feature you can cover much larger spaces by adding many PartyBoost JBL portable speakers together.

From inside the main tab, you can check battery life and if there's a firmware update like in my case that alert is going to cover much of the screen.

You can of course use the equalizer function from the main tab, enable PlaytimeBoost (eco mode for 6+ extra hours of music playback), use the Stereo Group function and check product information.

Finally, from inside the product information page you can rename the speaker, enable/disable feedback tones and reset the speaker to its factory settings.

CONCLUSION

    Not having reviewed the Xtreme 3 portable speaker by JBL means that I can’t do a direct comparison with the Xtreme 4 (regrettable but that’s how it is). Still after roughly two weeks of testing the Xtreme 4 did very well overall and left very little to be desired. Power is probably its strongest selling point and yes, you can easily fill a large area both with AC and batter powered mode. Both highs and mids are very clear and accurate and as for bass, it’s also very good although perhaps not as warm as I’d like. Enclosure quality is second to none although at 2.1Kg the Xtreme 4 is not exactly the easiest portable speaker to carry around. JBL states a battery life of up to 24 hours and well, that’s not a number you’ll be seeing, not if you use the Xtreme 4 at high volume levels. As a matter of fact, the longest time I was able to record was just over 20 hours and that was probably at around 50% volume. Yes, the Playtime Boost feature does help increase battery life, but audio accuracy just doesn’t feel the same. Speaking of which being able to remove and replace the battery in just under 2 minutes is great, still having to spend USD100/100Euros on a new one is a bit much and will almost certainly disappoint some buyers. Finally, the one thing I was hoping JBL would have looked into more (especially since this is a Bluetooth only model) is the supported wireless audio codec which sadly is limited to SBC. Yes, the Xtreme 4 is not Hi-Res certified but even so being able to play music tracks via aptX HD or LDAC would be great, especially for all of us with extensive FLAC collections.

    The Xtreme 4 portable waterproof speaker by JBL already counts 4 months in the global market and currently retails for USD379.95 inside the USA (Amazon.com / bundle with spare battery 400) and for 302.15Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price tag which reflects exactly what you’re getting. At the end of the day the Xtreme 4 is yet another powerful portable speaker by JBL and even though it’s not quite perfect it does deliver on most things I’d look for a high-end model which is why it gets the Golden Award.

PROS

- Near Excellent Build Quality
- IPX67 Certified (Water & Dust Proof)
- Bluetooth v5.3
- Very Good Audio Quality & Bass Levels
- Featured Technologies
- Strong Volume Levels
- Battery Life (Up To 30 Hours)
- Replaceable Battery Pack
- Available in Black, Blue and Black Camo Colors
- Grille Made Of Recycled Materials

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- SBC Audio Codec Only
- Bluetooth Only Speaker