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 and that applies both with AC and battery powered modes. 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