JBL Flip 6

JBL’s updates to its portable Bluetooth speaker lineup may be predictable, but we have no complaints given their consistently high quality. The JBL Flip 6 ($129.95) closely resembles its predecessor, the Flip 5, and performs just as admirably; few speakers in this price range can pump out bass that sounds as robust. The most significant changes to this outdoor-friendly speaker include an official dustproof rating and a new companion app with adjustable EQ. It sits comfortably between our Editors' Choice winners, the $99.99 Sony SRS-XB23 and the $179.95 JBL Charge 5, and while it doesn't necessarily stand out from either of these speakers, it's a worthwhile option depending on how much you're looking to spend.

Compact and Durable

Available in black, dark blue, gray, light blue, or red, the cylindrical Flip 6 measures 7.0 by 2.6 by 2.8 inches (HWD) and weighs just over 1 pound. It looks similar to previous speakers in the Flip lineup, with passive radiators on both ends, the JBL logo on the front, and a speaker grille that wraps around the body. A sporty, shoelace-like adjustable strap on the back makes the speaker easy to hang and carry around.

Internally, a 1.7-by-3.0-inch, 20-watt woofer and a 0.6-inch, 10-watt tweeter deliver a frequency range of 63Hz to 20kHz. The Flip 6 is compatible with Bluetooth 5.1 and supports the AAC and SBC codecs, but not AptX.

Across the top panel, you get buttons for controlling the volume and a multi-function button for playback and track navigation. Oddly, the latter only lets you skip forward, not backward. A PartyBoost button for linking the Flip 6 to other compatible JBL speakers sits on the far left.

The back houses power and Bluetooth buttons (which light up when the speaker is on and paired), plus a USB-C port for the (lengthy) USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable that comes in the box. JBL estimates that the Flip 6 can last roughly 12 hours on battery, but your results will vary based on your volume levels.

The speaker's excellent IP67 rating means that it is both dust-tight and waterproof. You can technically submerge it up to 1 meter for 30 minutes, though the speaker also floats (and Bluetooth doesn't work well underwater). In any case, you don't have to worry about splashing the speaker or dunking it underwater to clean it.

Unfortunately, the Flip 6 lacks speakerphone functionality and there’s no aux input. These ommissions aren't deal breakers, but we'd like to see these features included nonetheless.

The JBL Portable app for Android and iOS (previously JBL Connect) is a one-size-fits-all solution for JBL’s various portable speakers. Pairing the Flip 6 with the app unlocks a simple three-band EQ; access to the user guide and firmware updates; PartyBoost controls; and some other basic settings. The app experience isn't very compelling, but the EQ is useful for tweaking the sound signature (even though we found the bass band to be less effective than bands for the mids and highs). In testing, we downloaded and installed an over-the-air firmware update without issue.

Impressive Audio

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” the Flip 6 delivers powerful low-frequency depth. At top volume levels, the bass doesn’t distort, though the digital signal processing (DSP) thins out the lows considerably. At more moderate levels, the speaker still pumps out plenty of volume and the bass is more robust. Subwoofer-like bass, however, isn't a reasonable expectation for the size or price of this speaker—it excels at delivering lows and low-mids, but not thunderous rumble.

Bill Callahan’s “Drover,” a track with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the Flip 6’s sound signature. The drums on this track have a solid thump—some boosting is noticeable in the lows—and Callahan’s baritone vocals come across with a low-mid richness that matches well with the crisp high-mid definition. The acoustic strums and higher-register percussive hits sound bright and clear. This type of sculpted mix is common for mono portable speakers. 

On Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild,” the kick drum loop receives plenty of high-mid presence. Its attack retains its punch, but the loop also gets some added bass thump. At moderate volumes, the loop sounds significantly beefed up in the lows—raise the volume to the maximum level and the drum loop noticeably thins out. The DSP works as intended to prevent the woofer from distorting; if you need powerful bass, save up your money for a physically larger speaker.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene from John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary, sound a bit bright, with some pleasant and rich lower-frequency boosting anchoring the highs. 

JBL Delivers Another Solid Speaker

JBL's Flip 6 improves upon its predecessor with a dustproof design and adjustable EQ via the redesigned companion app. It joins the list of our favorite portable Bluetooth speakers in the $150 range, sitting alongside the Bose SoundLink Flex ($149.95) and the Sony SRS-XB33 ($149.99). If you can spend a little more, the $180 JBL Charge 5 is larger and provides more power and bass in a frame that's still relatively compact. And if you're looking for a more affordable option, the Sony SRS-XB23 delivers quality portable audio for under $100.