Martin Lévay Until recently, the Jawbone Jambox was almost alone among miniature portable wireless speakers. It was one of the first products in its category, promoting a new lifestyle associated with mobile devices. A stylist, one might say. Let's explore the Jambox up close.
What the Jawbone Jambox can do
A small portable speaker with a decent sound, to which up to two devices can be connected at the same time via Bluetooth and can act as a hands-free phone or for Skype calls. What is surprising about the sound is that the speakers play low notes and the table top vibrates as if they were playing much bigger speakers.
Gear
Three control buttons at the top and one power switch (on/off/pairing), a USB connector for charging and of course a small 3,5 mm audio jack connector for connecting a computer or other audio source. There is a built-in battery that offers up to 15 hours at normal volume. Of course, it lasts a little less at maximum volume.
Microphone
Jawbone is known for its hands-free sets, so using a microphone and hands-free function was a relatively logical step. Customers are satisfied with Jawbone headsets, the sound is good and the microphone is sufficiently sensitive and of high quality, so solid performance can be expected from Jambox in this regard. In addition, this is a very useful feature - when playing music via BT, you can answer a call with one of the buttons on the top of the Jambox and there is no need to look for the phone.
Sound
Great. Really great. Clear highs, distinct mids and unexpectedly low bass accentuated with passive radiators. We will mention the construction with a closed sound box and an oscillating radiator. It's probably fair to say that the sound is of good quality, but in order to preserve battery life, performance is not something the Jambox excels at. I remind you that when using other miniature speakers such as Beats Pill and JBL Flip 2, you will not rattle the windows in the room either. In terms of volume, they are all roughly at the same level, they only change by a stronger or weaker emphasis on low tones. As for the speakers, they will play low tones, only different types of enclosures will emphasize them some more and some less. Jambox are such a golden mean. The designers at Jabwone really squeezed the most out of the very compact dimensions. JBL Flip 2 play louder, they also handle the bass very well, but they use a classic bass reflex enclosure. The Jambox uses speakers to vibrate a weight in the radiator (soundboard design with a weight on the diaphragm) and low tones can be heard and "felt" in this way.
Construction
The Jambox is pleasantly heavy, mainly because it's made of stainless steel mesh. It is protected from above and below by rubber surfaces that protect all edges of the device in the event of a fall. Despite its weight, it wandered around my table at high volume thanks to the vibrations from the radiators. Therefore, it is certainly wise to be careful that the Jambox does not travel over the edge of the table after a while. Then the aforementioned rubber-protected edges would come into play.
Usage
I can say for myself that even after two months of playing, I still enjoyed Jambox. In terms of sound and functionality, there was nothing that bothered me. The only minus is perhaps the small range of Bluetooth, due to which the playback is interrupted. But this rarely happens. The Jambox's battery lasted for several days of playing, and there is no reason not to believe the stated fifteen hours of continuous listening.
Comparison
Jambox is no longer alone in its category, but it is still among the candidates for a pleasant and high-quality gift. The Beats Pill may play louder, but it beats the Jambox (at least in the low tones) thanks to its speaker. JBL's Flip 2 is a comparable product - both have well-emphasized bass, better than, for example, the competing speaker from Beats. I have to say that four thousand for a good wireless sound does not seem like an insurmountably high amount to me after longer testing. Flip 2 is sold for around three thousand crowns, Pill and Jambox are more than a thousand more expensive, and in all cases the sound and functionality are adequate. All three use Bluetooth and have audio input via a 3,5mm audio jack. In addition, the Pill and Flip 2 also have NFC, which, however, may not be of interest to us iPhone owners.
We discussed these living room audio accessories one by one:
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Hello, although it is not current, I would like you to compare the iPod HiFi as well, since Jobs did not spare praise for these speakers and I would like to know how they stand up to today's top. Thanks
I should have tried the iPod iPod Hi-Fi that way, the price was too high, I think it was around 15000 SK and I know that I was missing the treble/bass regulator. Otherwise it played well, but today you can pay 100 EUR for the same quality. more here >http://www.letemsvetemapplem.eu/2013/07/30/10-apple-produktov-ktore-zlyhali/
I have a Zeppelin Air, but a friend has an iPod hifi and I have to say sometimes I feel that the Apple hifi plays better. A gem of sound engineering. It's worth trying to listen. You definitely won't find anything like it in the €100 or €200 price range!
OK, I probably exaggerated the 100 Euros, but 200 is the maximum.
Otherwise, the iPod hifi was unsalable because of the price, and I know of 2 Slovak Apple sellers who had it in stock for many years and then had to sell it below the price. Otherwise, I wrote that it played decently.
I forgot to write that the iPod hifi was released in 2006 and therefore has charging support only for FW models of iPods, i.e. all iPods from around 2007-2008 with 5V USB charging I will not buy, not to mention the iPhone, which is already a matter of course today and besides, it has a 30-pin dock and you can forget about Lightning or Airplay or BT.
Thanks for the opinion, I would be interested to hear what the author of the article would say about it, because it looks like he knows about these things.
Sorry, I didn't really get around to it so I can't compare.
we know him and he uses it when we have outdoor parties... I would take the speaker to heaven but I have no experience with other such "big" portable speakers... but the price is excessive... I don't know what it costs today... but as for the quality of playing and I also liked the volume a lot
It has been exactly 2 years since I bought this device. At that time, there was not much else to choose from, exactly as the author of the article writes. Something similar happened, about 4000 CZK. I needed something for the bathroom. Unfortunately, it's been about 14 days since this device died, exactly 2 years after it was first turned on, maybe a coincidence, maybe the manufacturer's intention, I wouldn't be surprised. So now it is already somewhere in the trash, maybe already in a warehouse.
So I will add my observations after 2 years of using it for about an hour every day. It is possible that something has changed in the structure since then (according to the picture it is the inside, but still the same), something could have changed in the electronics, battery life, etc., so everything else concerns the 2-year-old model.
I warn you in advance that the manufacturer does not provide after-sales service. I wrote to them first, and their statement is that you will get a new piece under warranty, after the warranty you will have money. This also applies to the battery, which cannot be replaced. At least in my model, the bass reflex part was on the back. There are no rear connectors, the wires are hard-wired both on the battery side and on the electronics side, and these connections are properly covered with some kind of substance. Therefore, the manufacturer definitely does not want anyone to change the battery. I'm not saying that some skilled electronics wouldn't fix it somehow, but it definitely doesn't concern the casual user.
The claimed battery life of 15 hours is the stuff of science fiction, again I'm talking about my 2-year-old model, something must have changed since then. In addition, battery life gradually decreases over time, after a year it will last significantly less. If I give an average, I would guess for about 5-7 hours, in the best case. Since I didn't have a socket nearby, I solved it by buying an external battery. Another thing is that the battery discharges "exponentially", so one day it is half charged, the next day your device dies in 15 minutes. The battery charge can be seen, for example, on the phone, when connected via bluetooth (Iphone 4, I don't see how it is done elsewhere).
The connection via bluetooth is fine, the range practically covers the whole apartment, I have no comments.
As for the sound, probably considering the size and intended device, it's perfectly fine, I can recommend it. Anyway, I definitely don't think it's a device designed for serious listening to music, really not. In the bathroom, in the kitchen, outside, at a party, etc. just fine, the device is designed for these cases. I haven't been a teenager for a long time, but when I was, we used to go outside with a cassette tape recorder like kids. Today, this is how teenagers walk around with their cell phones on loud. I always wonder how the quality of listening in this direction has decreased significantly over the years :-) I think that Jambox could be a worthy replacement for today's teenagers. The equipment is light and very durable.
The device is well made inside as well, there are no fragile Chinese plastics and wires after opening, as is often the case today. Everything fits to the millimeter, all components are well connected using the connector (including the battery), everything can be disassembled beautifully, ideal for a service... which does not exist.
See the sentence in the article "The designers at Jabwone really squeezed the most out of the very compact dimensions.". I would definitely agree with that, but I bought a replacement for the Jambox and changed my mind. I chose for a long time, Jambox no longer in principle. Then there are a lot of different similar boxes from other manufacturers, which are also similar in sound. In the end I chose this http://www.alza.cz/bose-soundlink-mini-bluetooth-stribrny-d472408.htm, it's a little more expensive, but it's a little different in terms of sound and performance quality. After the experience with the Jambox, I bought another 3-year warranty, the Bose brand may be a bit different in terms of service, but today I don't trust anything anymore. Sound-wise, Bose has incredible bass, moreover, it's not as "artificial" as the Jambox. However, the bass is too much for my taste, I would easily reduce it. Bose plays beautifully and very quietly, ideal even for a bedroom bed. It is decided that it can also be used for some longer, better quality listening to music somewhere in the room, it was born from the Jambox. By that I mean the average listener.
But the Bose is really heavy, it is not so much intended for carrying, and in case of a fall, there is probably a risk of more damage than with the Jambox. So, for a teenager, the Jambox or something similar is definitely better.
Yes, I tried the scarier version two years ago, the battery of the 15 did not last there either, but apparently the manufacturer made some modifications and it could be better in the new ones. The second thing is that I think they use half the volume to measure the endurance, like for example the brightness of the display for the endurance of the MacBook.
Thanks for confirming the information about the sound, I really enjoyed the Jambox, it was such a simple functional toy that didn't resist and did what it was supposed to do and pleasantly surprised me with the sound. With today's offer, however, I would rather consider a similar device from Bose or JBL.
It's annoying with the battery, but the fact is that it might not even make sense to repair it, the price of the work could catch up with the price of a new device. Have you tried contacting Apcom.cz? He is an importer as far as I know.
The Bose Soundlink would be my choice too, I've heard and it's a really incredible device - I'll write about it again. According to my information, Bose has much better support, I wouldn't be afraid to contact BaSys, which handles it in the Czech Republic, I have good experience with them, they always tried to accommodate.
Bose Soundlink Mini you think I hope :) I would very much like to read a review of it... everywhere praises it as a miracle from another universe and I would be curious how it would turn out for you
Yes, the Soundlink mini, it plays really well.
I've had the Bose Soundlink Mini for about a week and I have to say that I haven't seen such a great device in a long time. The workshop processing of BOSE products and especially the sound is absolutely perfect. I would also like to read a review, because a portable speaker with such a sound and a battery life of 7 hours with a price of up to 5000/- would deserve a review.
I also just bought a Bose Soundlink mini yesterday based on hundreds of reviews on Amazon, but unfortunately I can't evaluate how well it performs in the given category because it's my first portable piece. It plays just fine, but maybe other brands do for less money, so I'm looking forward to a review from someone who knows about it. What I can evaluate is incredible workshop processing. Really top notch. However, the big minus is that it lacks airplay.. for 5 thousand I would like it there.
The AirPlay function is definitely there, I connect via Bluetooth and then it shows up under the AirPlay icon on the system and in the music player. I start the music and then switch the output on the iPhone to the Bose Soundlink mini and it plays wirelessly.
Yes, our apple devices allow this feature, but it still goes via bluetooth, so the range is limited. The possibility of connecting to home wifi would probably be great. If I'm not talking nonsense, because I'm still planning to equip my home with an airplay multi-room system. If I'm still misunderstanding all of this, then excuse me. Thank you.
You understand it correctly. In order for the speaker to use the AirPlay protocol, it must be in the same network as the mobile/tablet/notebook and must support the protocol. This speaker does not implement the protocol and does not even have the possibility of connecting to a network, it is a regular bluetooth speaker...
The only way to use it with the AirPlay protocol is to connect it with a 3.5mm jack to the airport express...
Yes, technically you are right, it doesn't support the AirPlay protocol in the true sense of the word, but it shows up under the AirPlay icon and there is no point in explaining it to some users because they don't care. By the way, I described the difference between WiFi and Bluetooth connection right in the introductory part: http://jablickar.cz/airplay-1-dil-uvod-do-problematiky/
I agree that the "only true" AirPlay is via WiFi, after using studio speakers connected via Airport Express for a long time, the connection via Bluetooth connection bothered me, I still had to somehow manipulate it, connect it, wake it up, etc. But I recognize that it may suit some people, eg as a single device in an office without WiFi, BT is the best solution.
I've included some speakers even if they don't support AirPlay because they're interesting for other features, I hope the kind reader will forgive me :-)
sure sorry :) of course sometimes BT is a better solution, I have no doubt about that. The only problem for me is that when I'm looking for an airplay speaker, I really want an airplay speaker and not a BT one. Otherwise, the series is excellent, hats off! Maybe it would be worth considering to make a separate serial for AirPlay and a separate one for BT :)
Great idea! If you find someone to pay for it, I'll go for it :)
But seriously now for a moment. Take photos, choose the best photos, edit them a little, add comments to them to make sense and better check every product information on the website. If I leave out the months of trying and testing, then each part is hours of writing and debugging the text and finding information. Basically, I'm doing this as a favor to Libor Kubín, with whom we agreed that this topic might be of interest to a lot of people. The money for the articles doesn't even cover the coffee and beer I drank while writing…
By that I mean, feel free, but I also have to make a living, so I'm not currently able to invest my time and money into new reviews. But everything is written in such a way that, according to my notes, a person interested in a speaker system for the iPhone is able to compare in his head what he wants, how much he wants to pay for it, and can then compare two or three favorites, instead of twenty unknown devices without an overview of what is "the best". So he can come to the store and play the A7 from B&W and compare whether something from NAD or Cambridge Audio plays better. I didn't get to them and I simply don't know them.
Thanks for understanding and thanks for the support to all readers of Jablíčkář.
Hello, if I'm not mistaken, this speaker is bluetooth and does not have airplay, so why is it in the series about airplay?