Through the years, JBL’s Flip has turn out to be my favourite Bluetooth speaker, providing one of the best cut price between sound, measurement, and sturdiness. My trusty Flip 5 is probably not probably the most hi-fi mannequin in my arsenal, however it affords clear and full audio efficiency, and its handy mixture of usability and mobility makes it the one I flip to after I want music on the go (or on the patio).
The Flip has gotten a notch higher with every iteration, and the brand new Flip 7 retains tempo. It provides a welcome battery increase, new options like a detachable carry strap, sound upgrades in a tweeter tweak, and a brand new “AI Sound Increase” DSP system for extra punch. Sadly, the characteristic creep comes with a value rise (thanks, inflation). It’s solely $20 over the Flip 6, however that skinny margin of separation between rivals just like the UE Increase 4 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) and Beats Capsule (8/10, WIRED Recommends) was a part of the Flip’s enchantment.
The brand new speaker additionally trades JBL’s handy PartyBoost system that connects a number of older fashions in tandem for the subsequent massive factor, Auracast. That’s irritating for JBL collectors and will make grabbing the same Flip 6 on sale a wiser purchase. These factors apart, the Flip 7 is a wonderful speaker that sounds higher than ever. Should you’ve been holding out, it’s a worthy improve and as soon as once more among the many finest Bluetooth audio system you should buy.
(Barely) New Digs
The Flip’s fundamental design hasn’t modified a lot over time, with the identical tubular profile wrapped in a flack jacket in six totally different colorways. That’s really the gross sales pitch: “Similar measurement, greater punch,” although the speaker bought a teensy bit taller at 7.19 inches. The matte metallic JBL emblem on the entrance supplies a classy improve over the ageing Flip 5 however seems to be practically equivalent to the 6.
{Photograph}: Ryan Waniata
The few noticeable adjustments embrace an additional protruding rubber prong across the endcaps, rearranged onboard controls, and a brand new loop that detaches with a button press. The breakaway design isn’t probably the most steady—I misplaced the loop momentarily throughout my analysis by presumably urgent the discharge key by accident—however you do get a backup with a carabiner.
A lot of the new stuff is undetectable, together with shockproof testing for one-meter drops to match audio system just like the Increase 4 and Megaboom 4. I’ve kicked round my non-shockproof Flip fairly carelessly with out problem however I respect the added safety, particularly since one drop of the Capsule off a cabin stairway resulted in some nasty scars.
The Flip 7 can also be IP68 climate resistant, versus the extra commonplace IP67. The “6” means top-tier dustproofing for seaside escapades, whereas the “8” is nebulously outlined by producers; on this case it equates to secure dunking at 1.5 meters of water for half-hour quite than IP67’s 1 meter.
JBL says it redesigned the Flip’s half-inch tweeter dome for extra refined sound, which pairs with a 1.75- by 3-inch racetrack woofer for a mono soundstage. Beats’ Capsule’s twin audio system present a extra open sound, whereas the Increase affords a 360-degree soundstage. Regardless of that, the Flip 7 excels with a few of the finest sound you’ll discover at its measurement. JBL says one other a part of the sound equation is its up to date digital sign processing, referred to as AI Sound Increase (JBL loves the phrase “Increase”).