jbl Charge 4 unboxing first impressions - vs Charge 3

[@alanrossreviews]

buy online JBL Charge 4: geni.us/jblcharge4 *affiliate links. I get a small percentage of any sale.

[@johanngarcia7290]

Charge 4 all the way !!!!!

[@jeremiahmiles1927]

Charge 3 all the way !!!!!

[@qwertiee]

Thanks for this awesome review! When it releases here in Australia I will buy one and use connect plus for my first JBL stereo experience with my flip 4! I like the vid btw :)

[@alanrossreviews]

hope you love it :)

[@jblbasstester6198]

sadly stereo doesnt work with 2 different speakers so don´t buy it if you only want stereo

[@MrAlmiranda]

so is it you can't pair 2 charge 4 to get stereo?

[@afistfulofpimples1745]

@@MrAlmiranda Yes

[@matthewhart5693]

Great vid man thanks for the tips and know abouts,my charge 4 comes in tomorrow

[@alanrossreviews]

enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🤓

[@matthewhart5693]

@@alanrossreviews thankyou

[@nicotorres5867]

Hey Alan, just wondering if you have tried the newly released 'JBL Charge Essential'? It is supposedly a Charge 4 without the ability to connect with other JBL speakers, but from what I have googled, it is not mono like Charge 4 and is back to having 2 drivers. Hope you could look into it, and perhaps a review? Of course better if it can also be compared to the champ M+ and maybe a 'cameo' of the XB32 wouldn't hurt as well. Hahaha

[@alanrossreviews]

Xb32? Are you taking the mickey? 😊😊

[@nicotorres5867]

@@alanrossreviews Kidding, just enjoyed a little fun part before the actual reviews :)

[@arnairbalkhobar2929]

Ok... So i am not gonna upgrade to charge 4 this time. 🤔

[@alanrossreviews]

:) just as long as you get the differences, if you want bigger deeper bass the charge 4 is a winner. On just about any other criteria its a loser.

[@treylife5781]

@@alanrossreviews ok

[@ruleman1234]

Mr. Ross is it similar like the pulse3? Or it does hear of center when is in front o you?

[@aktunav]

Actually i was expecting little bit more improvement from JBL...Sound is not that improved but it has better bass performance i think...I never liked vocals in JBL family...

[@alanrossreviews]

i think for most jbl buyers its an improvement, the bass is much bigger and punchier but on a longer listen i am starting to think its a little tiring as its very forward sounding. not had long enough to judge yet but i can understand comments about charge 3 being slightly clearer. The charge 4 is really about the bass im thinking, if thats all you really listen for then i think its a big improvement. The vocals do hang forward although its not exactly natural sounding, but its certainly decent enough i would say.

[@aktunav]

I totally understand what you have mentioned, it was a great explanation for me...I tried 35 different type bt speakers (cheap and expensive, big and small), Vifa helsinki impressed me most until now, size and performance...

[@georgedavall9449]

Ahoy Mate! You got a few speakers, Doncha? 😆 Good thorough review1. Cheers! Ima pick one up, @ B&H, for 99.00. Peace

[@RobertNES816]

I hope Samsung doesn't ruin JBL and Harmon. Seems like the companies new releases are getting skimped out on.

[@alanrossreviews]

its not looking good, wait till my next upload, it gets worse :(

[@RobertNES816]

@@alanrossreviews Yeah I bet. I mean I have their new 310GA headphones which are fantastic! But seeing this Charge 4 is a big disappointment. Makes me happy I got the Pulse 3 instead.

[@alanrossreviews]

yeah i think you made the right choice. The more i get hands on with the charge 4 the more of a let down it is. It sounds good for the first listen but after that its a bit downhill, not terrible but not what it could/should have been. The bass is decent though.

[@RobertNES816]

@@alanrossreviews I've been saying the Charge 4 should've had two 55mm 15 watt drivers with long excursion cones to really allow for more bass and preserve that Stereo image. But the choice for a single driver just has me questioning JBL's logic. They took something good (Charge 3) and turned it into a big Clip 3 lol.

[@misterpimlott6330]

Honestly this is my first JBL Charge 4 I have had and man the bass is strong! The vocals are great too, I use a Samsung S20+ and I use Dolby Atmos, my friends iPhone 11 has more punchy mids and the vocals are sloppy, but my Samsung Phones since my Samsung S9+ the Bluetooth and Dolby Atmos is just nice to have. I hear some stereo with my Samsung but you can tell in some songs the back ground vocal "if you know what I mean" is kinda quiet but besides that on a few songs, I'm happy I got a JBL Charge 4, I came from a Sony speaker and man me being an audiophile the Charge 4 is not bad at all, especially at high volume. The Sony did not sound as good and it was the same price as the Charge 4.

[@alanrossreviews]

if you think the charge 4 has strong bass you really need to grab a motion boom.

[@joeyhu0715]

Hi Alan. I just got a Charge 4 about a week ago... And why I feel like it has almost no bass on low volume listening 😅? Is that normal? Is it because that 3.0.0 firmware sucks? 😅😫 I want bass haha

[@alanrossreviews]

hum, it should have bass, depends what you are used, its no boombox!

[@joeyhu0715]

@@alanrossreviews Ha... Because my previous speaker was ANKER Soundcore Boost, and I always leave that "BassUp" function on, it sounds so juicy even in low volume!~ I've compared it with Charge 4 side by side with the same about 30% volume, sadly Soundcore Boost sounds fuller... ohhhh

[@joeyhu0715]

(But in higher volume, Charge 4 definitely steps out😅. I think these two speakers are designed for using in different occasions?..

[@alanrossreviews]

you may be right but i was never a charge 4 fan. but the one thing it has is some mid to upper bass. the boost probably does kick a little deeper. if i ever go live maybe ask me to try a quick listen.

[@TheKfcBandit]

People keep saying the jbl charge 4 is so bad because it’s mono. But all of jbl’s speakers even if they have dual transducers run in mono. So Idk what your complaining about

[@alanrossreviews]

I don't know what you mean by they run in mono. They have left and right seperation between left and right drivers.

[@gemabiem5584]

@@alanrossreviews Does that mean that Charge4 is playing in stereo?

[@alanrossreviews]

@@gemabiem5584 charge only has one driver so no stereo unless you have a pair of charge 4s.

[@n_n8236]

Wich one is the loudest? And wich one is the best for outside?

[@alanrossreviews]

charge 3 is loudest, if you want for outside i would get the xtreme, i know its bigger but the charge 4 doesn't go loud enough ut it has a big bass while the charge 3 does have the ommph for decent outdoor listening.

[@n_n8236]

So the charge 3 is better for outside than the charge 4, but the xtreme is BEST for outside right? thx for the very fast answer btw ;)

[@alanrossreviews]

@@n_n8236 it depends on what you are playing, charge 4 has bigger fuller bass but little else and does not go as loud as charge 3. thats why i say skip it for outdoors because xtreme is better outdoors with better overall sound, even the xtreme 1 but i would get xtreme 2. yes the xtreme is the better option both for sound and loudness than the charge 3 or 4 outdoors.

[@oldafoubik1415]

I own Charge 3 and Xtreme 2.. I am thikning about replace Charge 3 by 4, does it worth if I own Xtreme 2 ?

[@alanrossreviews]

in many ways the c4 is a mini extreme 2, the tuning a bit different to c3, you gain a more impactful sound, deeper punchier base, you lose some midrange sweetness and airiness. Some people describe this as the charge 3 sounding clearer, i think partly because there is a lot going on. i would say if the size difference is a big plus go for it but it terms of sound will be similar, slightly less scale from the c4.

[@oldafoubik1415]

@@alanrossreviews thank you Alan, you are great !

[@Smrahno]

Alan Ross Reviews Hi Alan, thank you for your great work. As you say that the C4 is a mini extreme 2 - Im currently considering buying a xtreme 2 or charge 4, mainly for indoor use, in medium - sized living room listening at reasonable volume. Wouldnt be xtreme 2 an overkill for me? Can i rather stick to the smaller and cheaper C4 without regrets? Thanks a lot!

[@alanrossreviews]

the xtreme 2 is a bigger sound and with dual drivers you get some stereo image. The tuning between them is similar but the extreme still offers more. it will play at moderate volumes ok. I would be inclined to say extreme 2.

[@Smrahno]

Alan Ross Reviews Thanks a lot!

[@databang]

Thanks for uploading, very informative.

[@alanrossreviews]

thank you!

[@rangefindershieldsman9635]

This review was a big help, appreciate your work.

[@alanrossreviews]

glad you found it helpful but my views are evolving, this was really a first impression. Not sure what you decided but note i now find it a little tiring and not quite the speaker i was thinking from a quick first listen. If your main requirement is bigger better bass then its win win, but it has veiled highs compared to charge 3, less clarity.

[@selfelements8037]

Does anybody know if plugged in the battery is still consumed on the Charge 4? Also is there any difference in sound quality output when plugged in?

[@alanrossreviews]

it wont run down if thats what you mean.

[@nikivanev492]

Alan so can you help me? So i dont have bt speaker so want to buy one. I cant decide wich one - megaboom 3 or charge 3 or charge 4. I want to have good bass but also to clear sound. What can you say? You have heard both i guess.

[@alanrossreviews]

from your requirements and if it was me today, i would get the xtreme 2 and not update it, leave it on firmware 1.2.

[@nikivanev492]

@@alanrossreviews yeah but the xtreme 2 is too big and is above my budget. That's why im thinking about those 3 bt speakers. I know i cant go wrong with anyone of them but still cant decide. What do you think?

[@joshuas3897]

I think UE speakers sound pretty mediocre compared to JBL or even Sony.

[@alanrossreviews]

@@joshuas3897 i agree but they have a different form factor which people like. i had a pair of ue booms which i was happy with for me use before moving on....

[@joshuas3897]

Yeah that is true. If their form factor is a necessity they would be a decent buy. I still wish they had sound in 3 directions instead of just 2 for a more 360 degree sound

[@thugis07]

Are you going to get the HARMAN Kardon Onyx Studio 5. Of u do pls compare it to the charge 4 cause my next speaker is going to be the Kardon

[@metroishereyt6662]

Their not in the same category. One is a midsize speaker and the studio is a big speaker, it's even bigger than the xtreme 2. Btw i have the harman kardon oynx studio 5 and it sounds soo good

[@thugis07]

MetroIsHere YT Yh I get that but I wanna know

[@thugis07]

MetroIsHere YT do u have the xtreme 2 as well?

[@metroishereyt6662]

@@thugis07 no but my friend do

[@thugis07]

MetroIsHere YT which is better sound wise

[@z.bluee_6581]

In your next video about the JBL charge 4 Can you also show how it’ll sound with 1 Charge 3 and 1 charge 4 Because I already have a charge 3 And I’m planning to get a charge 4 How will it sound together?

[@alanrossreviews]

you mean 2x charge 4s and a charge 3? or charge 4 plus charge 3 vs 2x charge 4s?

[@migk2686]

Alan Ross Reviews hi Alan you are the champion on giving the details about the speakers 🔊... wow you said you prefer the charge 4 over the Denon... there is no need too ask you about two charges4 vs two Denons... I’m definitely more interested in two charges. Please can you test connecting one minirig to one charge if there is any delay on the sound? No need to make a video, just tell us the results. I plan to buy two mini minirigs and play with two charges4 to solve the lack of trebles since the mini has better smoother trebles than minirig.

[@alanrossreviews]

i am the champion ha! thats a good one :) do you mean connect minirig with charge wired? or do you mean the minirig sub? btw when i say i prefer one speaker over another, its only my opinion and my tastes which is why i tell you my reason for saying that. im not one to say one speaker is actually better than another, its a very personal thing.

[@alanrossreviews]

i guess you could also do this with the flip 4s which will add some treble i think.

[@migk2686]

Alan Ross Reviews I mean to connect the minirig speaker with the charge4 wired, if there is no delay on sound I will connect one mini minirig( the smaller version) with one charge4 and another mini with another charge4 and play 2.2, I know the charges will play all frequencies but I guess the stereo image would be insane. Will buy the sub too, but the bass of it is not as tight or precise as on the charge. Thank you in advance for your answer. I don’t like the highs on flip4 and there isn’t a possible way to connect with the charge4 in stereo.

[@antzxy]

Nice Review Alan 👍

[@alanrossreviews]

thank you :)

[@antzxy]

No problem :D

[@jack.steele._]

When it comes to Australia I would be getting it thanks for the review 👍👍👍👍

[@alanrossreviews]

enjoy :)

[@vuurwerktv630]

Do you prefer the charge 3 or charge 4?

[@alanrossreviews]

im starting to find the charge 4 a little tiring over a longer listen, outdoors i would say charge 4 but indoors im thinking although the charge 4 is way better bass wise, i like the balance of the charge 3, mid focussed. JBL seemed to have a stock tuning now with their speakers of a smiley face and the charge 3 was the last of the mid focused jbl speakers. I still think the charge 4 is an upgrade if you like your music bass heavy.

[@vuurwerktv630]

@@alanrossreviews thanks! Is the charge 4 much louder than the charge 3?

[@alanrossreviews]

im gonna do some testing tomorrow, will let you know :)

[@barnabascsontos1572]

where did he get it from? it's not even out on jbl.com

[@alanrossreviews]

uk.jbl.com/bluetooth-portables/JBL+CHARGE+4.html

[@russelllow4073]

I feel like jbl is rushing things to much to be put on the market to compete. When they released the flip 4 I was very impressed by it because it was a big improvement over the flip 3. They could have improved the xtreme 2 significantly. They could have extended the battery life, Wished they kept the 2 USB outputs, and improved the sound to make it louder and more powerful. I was blown away when I got the xtreme but when I got the xtreme 2 I wasn't impressed all that much. I do like that it has a more balanced sound but that's perfect much it.

[@alanrossreviews]

right, improvements if you can call them that are just incremental, not big moves forward. maybe the market is shrinking and they dont have big r&d budgets. They are milking their lineup though for sure.

[@Zimba040]

good video. i like that u know so much about the speakers keep it upp

[@alanrossreviews]

thank you :)

[@wallyveniotrocker1000]

Certain videos on KZbin have distortion on one channel..with a mono speaker that distortion doesn't appear!..mono is king here!

[@alanrossreviews]

wtf?

[@housewithnonamestudios6269]

charge 3 isnt stereo. i dont see why this mistake keeps coming around. yes it has 2 drivers but it doesn't mean they work in stereo.

[@alanrossreviews]

No idea where you got this information, charge 3 is indeed a stereo speaker playing left and right channels independently

[@housewithnonamestudios6269]

@@alanrossreviews No indication no where for this unit to play in true stereo. Plus the fact that if indeed it is stereo (again no real indication for that no where including the schematics), The is no stereo imaging whatsoever at this speaker distance and the sound will always be accepted as mono. there is a ratio of stereo imaging to the listener in acoustics.

[@alanrossreviews]

@@housewithnonamestudios6269 no idea what you are talking about. simply run a left right channel test to hear the sperate channels.

[@kevindoherty2716]

@@alanrossreviews alan the only way I hear stereo seperation in my charge 3 is if my ears are directly within 3 inches of the front of the charge 3...same with all of my supposed sterio bluetooth speakers like the flip 3 and four...Normal listening a few feet away they sound mono because the installed speakers are just to close in their Small perspective cabinets and the pressure waves inside might interfere with each other..I prefer the sound of the mono charge 4.. I'm wondering if seperate multiple speakers in the same enclosures interfere with each other in their non separated enclosures and degrade from the sound ? Possibly the reason the mono charge 4 sounds better to some people like me in normal listening conditions when your further than 3 inches from the front of the speaker..

[@Jul0570]

@@housewithnonamestudios6269 you expert! Stereo is not only about seperation, its also about the sound itself. Listen to pre occupied from jon bellion on a mono then on a stereo speaker, and come back to me. Mono sounds the same as stereo on small speakers? Oh dear....

[@rangefindershieldsman9635]

Cracked me out with the gun firing lol.

[@alanrossreviews]

:)

[@ckavishkaranasinghe]

what s the suitable charging adapter for charge 4? If can anyone put a link about amazon or any other site, it s a big thing for me.

[@alanrossreviews]

Any usb c charger will do

[@ckavishkaranasinghe]

Alan Ross thanks!

[@azrulleomessi9954]

I already had 2 JBL Charge 3 and enjoyed it play together, hopefully Charge 4 will deliver the same great combination..

[@alanrossreviews]

on a first listen it sounded a bit too boomy, only a quick listen though.

[@azrulleomessi9954]

@@alanrossreviews I wish the sound quality of Charge 4 is little bit better, well balanced.. Just can't wait to buy Charge 4 soon, since I love HK Onyx 5 sounding thru 1 driver. Btw great review as always Alan..

[@alanrossreviews]

thank you :) one think is not in doubt no matter your views on charge 3 vs charge 4, the bass is much improved, more impact.

[@64Gianfar]

Charge 4 does sound a little better versus the Charge 3, disappointed that there's no charger now included, seems a cheap move on JBL's part. Also think that where the Charge 4 is going to shine is when paired in stereo. A purely mono audio image simply doesn't appeal to me at all. Right now I'll stick with my B&O's and Sony's XB41 for travel, may even try a second XB41 and see how they pair up. JBL Extreme 2 is really pushing it for air travel, kind of too bulky, nor do these round type speakers pack easily in the carry on.

[@alanrossreviews]

yeah thats a bit cheap skate, no plug! its better but possibly a little more tiring for extended listening. Its certainly cleaner sounding. I just havent had long enough with it to make my mind up. Had a quick listen in stereo and it was a little boomy for me, but i was playing it in a small echoy room so might be unfair acoustics wise. I know what you mean about the mono image, i was thinking the same thing till i heard it. But this off center placement, now that i cant understand. Yeah xtreme 2 isnt plane friendly but i took mine with a flip 4 in hand luggage and apart from being guaranteed extra checks through security wasnt too bad. How you liking your xb41?

[@64Gianfar]

XB41 is good, obviously bass heavy, works best with latest Android as you can stream with LDAC. Sony's app allows sound & EQ adjustment which is good. Speaker has a fantastic range for a portable reaches deeper than the Extreme 2. High end isn't lacking for a pair of full range drivers, rather you need to reduce the bass for some genres of music as it can be over powering. X41 is best listened to at a distance with the volume raised. Audio image is warm, big & forward, doesn't feel boxy or constrained. I'm pretty set to pickup a second or at very least I'm going to try a pair in stereo. XB31 is more balanced and a pair would be easier to travel with, equally if you want the bigger sound the XB41 has the way, it's not a neutral speaker by any means, equally it's enjoyable and presents no problems Had the X41 for a few months now, and the BT speaker I use the most when traveling, as it's sounds very decent, durable, has multiple charging options, volume remains the same in mains & battery, app has a lot of options to tune the audio output. B&O P6 is not as loud, too prone to getting damaged without an additional travel case (most B&O BT speakers tend to compress the bass early and battery life is always poor), Charge 3 cant compete, nor the A2 Active. Note if you can only stream in SBC the XB41 will sound really muddy, losing all sparkle. So you want a newer Android device, iPhone with AAC or computer with APTX HD, ideally latest Android & Sony's app for LDAC. This may also explain the very mixed reviews the speaker gets. Wouldn't mind trying the new Sony SRS-XB501G, likely way to big to travel with....

[@alanrossreviews]

wow, thanks, you basically wrote a full review :) thats what puts me off with sony, just too much bass. Its fine for outdoors, travel but i cant make the most of it at home. With the xb31/30 im basically getting another charge 3/4 which makes no sense when i have a bunch of jbls that i can connect together already. Having said that the ones im enjoying most right now are the minirigs in 2.2, just so much messing about. Did you say you had tried the Boelit 17?

[@astralink080]

Its like JBL is pushing bluetooth speaker market towards buying speakers in stereo... I know I bought 2 Onyx studios 4s, 2 Flip 4s... Maybe Charge 4 is next :)

[@64Gianfar]

Mini Rigs look great, however too much hassle to travel with I think and you have to deal with wires etc. no doubt that the Mini Rigs sound the least compromised of portable speakers. Hear you regarding the Sony XB31, personally think it's little better than the Charge 3, however I believe that JBL does a better job of paring up the speakers. Beolit 17 is very decent, again not aircraft friendly, battery life and usability are weak (owned a Beolit 15). Speaker does sound great mind. I have a Teufel Boomster I use at home and that's another excellent BT speaker very neutral with a tuneable sub, although again way too big to travel easily with. Ultimately all small speakers are compromised on one level or more, right now the XB41 works for me, and I can reduce the bass if needs be. Sony need to fix the live mode as it simply sounds bad and allow the user to map buttons in the app similar to B&O as never touch the Live mode button, and frequently flip between Extra Bass & Standard modes. Had a look at the new(ish) Denon's, (DSB-250) sound good, equally cant see what the fuss is about. The buttons are really stiff and difficult to push and if the speaker volume is not on max the bass sounds off ( I mean high on the speaker, low on the phone etc.). Very balanced, good for personal listening, wont fill a larger space. I'd really like to try two speakers paired up in stereo, have Charge 3, but they suffer from intermodulation, B&O P6 starts to reduce the bass way too soon and doesn't really make the best of it's amps, which leaves the XB41. Maybe as I can pick up another XB41 for less than $200 US, equally is bass heavy and two might just be overkill as it would be harder to hit the sweet spot given the sheer volume of two XB41's. Two P6's would definitely work and probably sound the best, equally the price and keeping two powered up is another matter. Tempted to try an Extreme 2 but can see it being a PIA to travel with as I have a fair amount of gear with me when I'm away working. Believe it would be a little more balanced than the XB41, always looking for the next best one as when away working a decent speaker worth it's weight in gold :) I've tried loads, of BT speakers, and will probably try a lot more :) Really like your channel as you have a lot of detail and speak about a lot others never touch such as usability.

[@SLRathod]

Best speaker in the world

[@alanrossreviews]

its a small world...................

[@curtcodein6486]

I HATED IT I SEND IT RIGHT BACK GOT THE D9 BACK IN 2020

[@dxrrxw]

Is the charge 4 louder then the xtreme 2?

[@asilaydying1984]

ii_Beast77 Gaming no

[@brenthastings7881]

Its not even louder than the Charge3!

[@fazeanime8652]

I'm sorry but that was kind of a stupid question midsize speaker vs. Large speaker really

[@vuurwerktv630]

@@brenthastings7881 jbl charge 4 has 10 watt more than charge 3, so it's louder than the charge 3

[@rodolfotsang4327]

@@brenthastings7881 you are dumb, you cant afford Charge 4

[@abhisheknegi7528]

This sound signature is really liked here in India Most people only love bass from speaker

[@alanrossreviews]

The main problem for me is the mono sound, otherwise its decent enough, could be louder.

[@johnkulla362]

Sir u have so many speakers,pls parcel me one charge 4😁😁

[@alanrossreviews]

might send you my faulty one :)

[@johnkulla362]

@@alanrossreviews than send yah bro😁

[@TascamTascam]

Horrible method you have of doing comparisons you need to go quicker between speakers

[@alanrossreviews]

Because as we all know you are the oracle of how to make a KZbin video. Oh hang on a second, no you're not!

[@bodymaker33]

Talk too much

[@alanrossreviews]

so dont watch? whats your point? you think i make my videos to please you?

[@bodymaker33]

@@alanrossreviews not at all keep boring the listeners

[@alanrossreviews]

@@bodymaker33 i could never compete with your boring comments. amazing you have the time to twice comment on something you apparently have no interest in lol 😛👍😍

[@bodymaker33]

You're wrong on the contrary, I'm very much interested, but I do realize you're just trying to make some money, have a great night

[@bodymaker33]

F.Y.I Jim's reveiw.... Reviewed three speakers in under 11 minutes