A pretty animated light effect, unfailing solidity, an undeniable style… but two downsides. Everything you need to know about the latest wireless speaker from JBL, a historic player in audio, but a distant subsidiary of Samsung for a few years.
Despite the many advantages of speakers connected to the network (which fetch the music themselves, your smartphone is only a remote control), those using Bluetooth remain very popular, especially with younger generations, who are traditionally more mobile.
Remember that Bluetooth speakers have a great advantage over their cousins, which must connect themselves to the Internet (network cable or Wi-Fi): they generally have a long-lasting battery (the sound does not consume much) and do not have only need a wireless music source (usually a smartphone, but it can be a tablet or a computer).
The other side of the coin: when your phone rings, when you receive a notification, the music gives way to an often strident melody. And if you move away from a few meters, the connection is lost. Not necessarily practical…
JBL Pulse 5, 249€ in style
The JBL brand is certainly not unknown to you. Founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing, the company which manufactured loudspeakers was absorbed by the Harmann group, itself owned by the Samsung group since 2016. JBL has a professional division which equips concert halls in particular, but also a division general public, the one recently released the Pulse 5. As you will have understood, it is one of the many Bluetooth speakers offered by the brand.
And she is quite atypical: you just have to look at her to understand. It is a fairly heavy cylinder (1.5 kg) 22 cm high and 9.5 cm in diameter, the surface of which is made of thick translucent plastic. Perfectly waterproof (IP67), it has a small tweeter (treble) on the top, covered with a grille, and a bass radiator on the bottom, surrounded by a luminous circle.
Mets les lights, DJ !
Light is the main feature of the Pulse 5. Indeed, the solid transparent plastic contains a multicolor LED device of the most beautiful effect, capable of displaying quite spectacular light effects over 360°. It throws.
The light follows the rhythm of the music played, which allows the JBL speaker to put a festive atmosphere in a room that is a little dark. During the day, it can create a relaxing climate (if you play the music that goes with it) in your living room.
Via the button with the light symbol you can change the color and rhythm of the LED device. Via the JBL Portable application, you can customize these colors and styles, as well as play ambient sounds (fire, water, forest, wave, night). A little gimmicky, but young people love it, I guarantee it.
Two downsides
The JBL Pulse 5 attracts all eyes, its manufacturing quality is neat, down to the small elastic handle which also exudes solidity. However, I noticed two downsides. The first is nothing blocking: the absence of volume and music control buttons. Impossible to put more or less strong, to go to the next song. This allows whoever controls the musical atmosphere to remain in control, but he will always have to take out his smartphone to change it.
The other downside is more problematic in my eyes, or rather in my ears: the sound quality of the Pulse 5 is neither up to the price, nor up to the weight and bulk. I suspect the light fixture and thick plastic are the main reason for the lack of precision and fishing; nevertheless, it’s hollow, it lacks finesse, it lacks depth and richness. The maximum volume is reasonable given the size, but at €249, you can find much better, including within the wide JBL range.
As you have understood, the main qualities of the Pulse 5 are its solidity, its waterproofness, its luminous and rhythmic prowess. The audio isn’t sloppy, but it could be better…