I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who finds the sound of 2 Charge 3s most pleasing when it comes to Bluetooth speakers from JBL. When I bought my first Charge 3, I knew that it offered the best sound-to-portability-to price ratio and that for some reason I preferred its sound to that of the Charge 4, maybe also due to the Charge 4's single-driver solution. Recently, my girlfriend got herself a Charge 3 as well and we were both surprised what big a difference a second speaker makes in terms of the listening experience - and at that point we were listening to them in party mode. Since each of us has their own flat, both of us ordered one another Charge 3. We were curious as to how they would sound whilst playing in sync, so we've updated the firmware to get Connect+ and at first, it sounded pleasing to have one Charge 3 in each corner of the living room but I did some testing of my own, playing the kind of music, I would normally listen to (mostly Classic Rock) and came to the conclusion, the 2 Charge 3s in Stereo give me a more pleasing, more vivid and some ways a fuller sound in most tracks than 4 Charge 3s in Party Mode where there is not enough separation of any kind when it comes to vocals and instruments, so that even the bass seems a little overpowering and everything else too muffled. I kind of wish the Connect app offered the option to use Stereo with 4 speakers with the option to have 2 speakers play the left and 2 speakers play the right channel, to see if that would sound better, but since that is not an option, I'll stick with my 2 Charge 3s and my girlfriend with hers. Now, having that said, do I regret having made the firmware upgrade to get Connect+? Well, yes and no. It's kind of a love-hate thing. I do like the option to connect more devices and even though I don't like the 7-second sync wait, I do find that Connect+ is more reliable when it comes to establishing a connection. With Connect, it happened to me several times, that both speakers would confirm that they are connected and yet still, only one speaker would be playing. On the other hand, with Connect+, the app is a bit of a mess. I'm not saying that it doesn't work. Actually, it does, but its response time is super long. The time it takes for the app to recognize, that there is a second speaker for it to offer you the stereo option is way too long and of course, the app keeps forgetting the last setting. But that's pretty much the only problem, I have with the upgrade. Other than that, I don't feel like the upgrade has messed up the sound at all, so I'm still happy. I've been contemplating the Xtreme as well, but for me personally, it too base-heavy and doesn't necessarily offer a pleasing listening experience compared to the 2 Charge 3s in stereo, at least not when it comes to my kind of music. I'm sure that some people may like it. Anyway, what I actually wanted to say is that I like your detailed reviews. Greetings from the Czech Republic. Stay safe and healthy!
👍🏻 Great review, and you explained the new firmware to a tee there at the end. I am lucky that I purchased my x2 only 10 days ago and was able to exchange it! I feel the same exact way about the version 1.6, but most of my listening is indoors and @ 50-75% volume. JBL should offer a way to download the old firmware versions on all their speakers for just this reason! Louder aint better, its just louder!!
not being able to rollback a firmware or at least be able to do a true factory reset is a big downside of jbl speakers. My biggest problem with firmware 1.6 is that it is only described as a bug fix and people have no idea it will change the eq of the speaker. what will you get now?
Alan Ross Reviews I guess our ears are very similar, the update boosts the bass and overall loudness, which I believe we both feel like it decreases the sound quality. I absolutely love my x2 with the 1.2 firmware, it is plenty loud enough and sounds great at moderate volume levels. I listen to it in my living room which is around 400 sq ft, it fills the room with sound and shakes the walls at 50-70% No need for the update in my situation, I feel like the x2 is plenty loud enough and great sound quality with the original 1.2 firmware. The update makes it more hollow sounding like the x1
I would recommend the x2 to all my friends, but would also let them know that they may not want to download the 1.6 firmware depending on how they are going to use the speaker. If it is mostly used indoors I would stay with the 1.2, mostly outdoors then update to 1.6
but its not really decreased, its just that it now plays louder, using more power so of course it lasts shorter but if you play it at the old max volume it will still be 10 hours. What would have been nice is rather than do this in firmware simply give us some eq modes in the app and let us choose what we want. Dont forget they didnt even say it was anything but a bug fix. Very poor showing by JBL. yes i think we have similar ears, you still have plenty of people loving the new firmware but i guess they are playing louder than we do and just looking for bass thump.
I love my Xtreme 2 I got 1 month ago bass is insane especially when plugged in I can feel it on floor when it’s plugged in it gets crazy insane loud and the sound quality is insanely good sooooo crisp it’s very well balanced it’s also heavy and the battery life is good
Hi Alan, I’ve been taking my sweet time lallygagging and getting up to speed on knowing all the products comparing what price tier I’d be satisfied with. Leaning on picking up Charge3. Ive watched many reviewers which is good to see but as polished they seem, are a bit glib on detail. Coming across your videos I like the way you describe the listenability of sound presence and A/B comparisons . I appreciate the thoroughness to prepare your viewers with the idiosyncrasies in the model generations; their usability in industrial design and the interfaces both app software and firmware. Sub’d from Oakland California, thanks for sharing and keep on-keepin’ on!
After the update, is this worth it? I need a new outdoor speaker and this one looks so good + the shoulder strap makes this perfect for outdoor use, exactly what i want.
Thanx, you've confirmed my choice of the Xtreme 2 over the Xtreme 1. Question: more than once with my Xtreme 2 I've noticed the blue power button blink while in the middle of playing music. Do u know what that's all abt?
thanks. yeah my new one is here th-cam.com/video/_odCv_ykHT0/w-d-xo.html but beware, there was 1.9 inbetween so the diff between 1.6 and 2.0 is not the same as 1.9 to 2.0, which are you on?
I'm new to all this am 61yrs old and brought up on record players, cassettes and wires n cables. I have a JBL Charge2+ and it sounds great. I now need a slightly louder bassier (but now overpoweringly so) model to fill a large room for a party. Can my Charge2+ be paired (stereo or otherwise) wirelessly with the Extreme?
I read mixed opinions about this update, with some it's still the same and some it's a lot worse. Mine clearly sounds less good. Maybe it's some kind of quality issue
@@alanrossreviews Do you have any idea about how X2 users with Android phone can upgrade the firmware to 1.6/9. On my JBL app no update option is showing.
Hey Alan, great review! I have literally just bought the x2 because of it and love it. Just a question about the LED charging lights: Mine aren't on all the time. They only seem to come on when it is being charged or when I first turn it on, then they disappear. Is this right, and if so how to I check the battery once they have turned off?
The lights will come on if, while playing music on the speaker, you press the Play/Pause button. They will go off again after about 10 seconds when you press the Play/Pause button again to resume playback. It took me a while to figure it out! What a fantastic speaker it is. So impressed with the sound quality. I haven't updated mine. I'm staying with firmware 1.2.
@Robert Wiseman it really is great. I’m not sure if since you’re on an old firmware it may not do this, but since I’m on 2.0, the volume buttons will also show the lights as well . But seems like a silly way to do it in my opinion, instead of not having them in all the time . But hey ho, the speakers amazing so who cares!
@@Chris-jk8xk Sorry im kinda late on responding to this but i just wanted to let ya'll know that all JBL speakers do this, it has nothing to do with updating or faulty wiring, if you wish to check how much battery it has you can do so from the JBL app or like Rob said hit the Play/Pause button, i agree though they should have either had them on all the time or have a dedicated button/swipe on the speaker for it. Cheers!
I have a purchasing problem of whether to buy the X or X2. Just returned my megblast for being faulty and wanting to try one of these but not sure which. X2 is £60 more at the moment with it being on sale. Wondering if you think it is worth it?
In my opinion the Extreme 2 sounds way better than the Extreme. Beautiful high end with no harshness & really deep bass without the awful boominess of the Extreme. You don't have to take my word for it, What Hi Fi Magazine has just given the Extreme 2 a glowing review. They gave it 5 stars. You can view the review on the What Hi Fi website.
Robert Wiseman beat you to it because I’ve already bought the X2! Haha. Yeah I love it, so far while it’s still obviously breaking in, already the sound is amazing. Very obviously better than my UE megablast, incomparable really
I use my Xtreme2 for teaching aqua class, indoor pool. It's great! However, my voice needs to be louder. Will the bluetooth in my speaker also pick up my voice with a bluetooth headset? Will my voice AND music come through speaker clearly? If so, do you have a suggestion for a voice amplifier? Thank you!
Bought the jbl extreme 2 and i am happy with it to because i love bass to me i would say the extreme 2 does give some pritty good decent bass. However i still think the original extreme has pretty more kick on the bass and deeper stronger bass then the extreme 2.
I dont know, it may be just me. You look like Antonio Banderas, and honestly you are really a very cool person and amazing reviewer. If you are able to see this review, can you answer this question Alan or any other Xtreme 2 users: - How is the battery life of this Speaker, not per day. My question life cycle, is it only good for the 1 year warranty period or you guys have been are still using it outdoor without much battery issues. I believe since its portable, this has gotta have a good battery life in terms of years atleast 2-3 years it should'nt end. If Antonio answers my question, I'll subscribe :)
well bit early to say, xtreme 1 wasnt the greatest but x2 has an improved battery. if you are happy tearing down the speaker you can still replace the battery if needed. Thanks for the antonia banderas comment, made my day haha!
@Alan Ross Reviews, Which speaker will you suggest as of today (i.e. Charge 3 or Xtreme 2? etc.) I intend to buy a Bluetooth speaker this week that fills the room with quality sound and music fidelity and other features. Or any other worthwhile suggestions?
@@alanrossreviews I'm looking to get in on the JBL ecosystem as the resell value is also good in comparison to other brands. As you've suggested, Xtreme 2, though the price is steep here in Europe (226 Euros)
@@alanrossreviews Hmm, very well said. Good secondhand is also difficult to get and most are quite pricey. Guess, i'll look towards connected indoor speakers with Bluetooth options...🤔💭
Hello I am not sure if you are aware of this as I wasn't until I saw another video but if you hold down bluetooth and minus until all the leds light up it kinda turns the speaker in to a different mode with no bass or less bass not sure what the purpose of it is perhaps you know and can explain as I cannot find any info on it at all. somepeople have said it is outdoor mode but I have found that if anything you need MORE not less bass outside so perhaps it is indoor mode XD
it is a service mode with all eq removed. it also removes the bass limiter which means using the speaker this way can blow it. they call it low bass mode but it isnt.
@@alanrossreviews OH really what is the purpose of it then ? Also can you please link me to some information about it ? I did wonder why it wasn't in the manual
Hey alan I previously commented on your charge 4 video and I got a red charge 4 but I want something louder.I want the xtreme because it is on sale for 159 us dollars so I was wondering if It is worth it in 2020.
it goes louder and deeper but not as loud as you might expect unless you use plugin power. the motion plus goes louder than the extreme when both are on battery but it doesnt have the low end of the xtreme. have you seen the w-king d8? goes louder than the xtreme and half the price.
@@alanrossreviews ok,thanks I was wondering if I can connect them because my friend and I connect my charge 4 with his charge 3 and I loved so If i connected the xtreme 1 and charge 4 i would really enjoy right
@@alanrossreviews guy who working in JBL said this: ' update for the Xtreme is currently in the works which should be released quite soon.This update should allow the original Xtreme to pair with Xtreme 2' its not fake :)
Great review Alan. So bottom line.... with or without the update, do you think it is worth getting the X2 if you already have the X1? Right now wich do you think is the better buy, the x1 or the x2? Price difference between the 2 floats around 70/80 euros.... By the way, have you ever tried the 2016 harman kardon go+play? Would love a comparison between the hk and the x2. I have a X1 and a hk go play right now.... i was thinking of selling my hk and my x1 to buy a pair of X2s but after seeing your and other reviews i think i might get a second x1 or a second hk go play for pairing... Anyway.... keep up the good work! :) Cheers m8....
the xtreme 2 is a better speaker, plays cleaner with a fuller sound. But xtreme 1 is not bad for the money and has a tad more punch generally. I think xtreme 2 can sound a little muddy where the leaner sound of the xtreme 2 will sound clearer with sharper high end. Depends what you listen to. Not been hands on with the hk. If you already have an x1 im not sure the xtreme is really worth the price, but its a personal thing. Also, on firmware 1.2 the xtreme 2 made mroe sense to me with forward clear vocal and playing well at low volume. The formware 1.6 tweak left me cold making it sound a bit boring. But louder.
Hi Alan, a great review once again. I own a charge 3 and longing to pair it with another jbl bluetooth speaker ever since. I waited for xtreme 2 and now i read that charge 4 is on its way. I expect charge 4 to have improvements all over the place but what i dont expect is a boomy bass. I want to add more bass into my listening experience yet i dont want to lose portability - like buying a boombox. Any opinions on this matter? PS: I have to say that i really really appreciate your time spent on these videos, i love to see graphs showing skills of speakers and their ranges - which seperates Alan Ross reviews from the rest in my opinion. Keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
thanks for the kind words :) maybe the the best thing at this stage is to wait on the charge 4 and see what it brings. the thing is you are only looking to add one speaker and want more bass. you say you want to pair it with another jbl speaker so i assume you want to play both at same time. if you dont use matched speakers you lose the point of stereo so again i assume you will just use party mode. there is no way the charge 4 will have bass like the xtreme 2 but you dont want boomy. xtreme 2 is only marginally boomy, its not too bad at all its just not going to allow you the benefit of true stereo. for me with 2 charge 3s and both the xtremes its a pair of charge 3s in stereo thats my go to. you wont get deeper bass but you do get a little more slam because of 2 passive radiators vs 4.
I have a new one. What firmware? Where is it? JBL has none listed, further the JBL connect software won't connect! It plays music from my iphone no problem. Sounds great too!
Hi, I was just thinking would it make any sense, to plug it in to the tv, so it acts like a soundbar??? :] can it compete with a normal soundbar??? : ]
you can do this but its not practical and not designed to work that way and of course offers only stereo and no surround sound decoding. JBL make a dedicated soundbar which would be a better option.
In my opinion I have both xtreme 2 and xtreme 1 and definitely definitely definitely........ The xtreme 2 sounds way better than xtreme 1 it really sounds like a heigh quality speaker
Honest opinion I like listening you You say it how it is I have the xtreme 2 jbl speaker I love it I put the equalizer app on the Jbl 2 xtreme and it makes a lot Of differents I but each to their Own opinion of the speaker The sony srs x55 Bluetooth speaker I have still sounds Brilliant and still impressive Strong sound to it but I do Love the way you say what you feel and that's what I like about You many thanks but I don't Believe you should play in water Because it doesn't make sense in Doing that at all just play it normal Like people do keep up you brilliant videos peace to you brother thanks TH-cam
ha! ok thank you :) i must admit i am playing it more after the firmware 2 update, i like it more now, if they just had a an embedded eq it would make all the difference. Peace!
Love your channel, and you're SO funny when ya do that annoyed, slightly mocking voice about how this and that are different from the reality specs of these speakers. Anyway, no offense at all, totally my favorite part of your reviews haha! SO, do you feel like the Extreme 2 is worth the money for me to upgrade o it from my Charge 4? Great review, super long/and thoroughly entertaining. 👌
no it has 30 watts on battery (after update) and 40 watts on plug in power. the difference is small. its a decent speaker for the money and the package, but for me with the update its a little boring and muffled, before the update it had more clarity.
its personal preference, update if you will use this outdoors and/or at high volume. dont update this is you like the forward vocals and clarity and like how it sounds good at quite low volume.
you say about the EQ Can i get as much PUNCH as the extreme 1 on the extreme 2 IF I mess around with EQ aka turn bass up XDD??? or is it simply a design ? the extreme 1 was made to have more BOOM PUNCH than the 2 ? beacuse i thought as the extreme 2 is bigger drivers it should be punchier ?
I think it will be my last question about x2 I'm listening music a lot in home but sometimes im going outside I heard from people x1 battery after 1 year get dead but what and x 1 is louder so x2 is louder than charge 3? Or is more silent I want good bass and it's must louder than charge 3 or flip 4
x2 is louder by a lot than charge 3 and flip 4, after latest updat x1 is louder than x2 when on battery. x1 had a bad battery, x2 battery is improved. both can be replaced.
its hard to say, they keep changing the sound of the x2, at least u know where u r with the x1. they both have their place, i still hav both. x1 is cheaper. outdoors i guess x1 is better,
Hi, I have a question. On my new xtreme 2, I hear in the tweeters (next to the woofers) a little wind-blown, a little shhhh is really not loud but still noticeable when the music is very weak or when I leave the music and go down volume thoroughly. You too? Because I hope it's not a factory problem ... If you could test for me would not be really nice because I stress a little THANK YOU :) Translated by Google translation so risk of problems lol
@@alanrossreviews This is not my phone because when I turn on the sound of the jb I hear the little noise, and it does not change with the volume just when I turn up the volume I can not hear it anymore
Alan Ross Reviews No, actually, on the contrary, I sincerely hope it matters to you none whatsoever, and it certainly shouldn’t make any difference to how you go about your business at all. I suppose I may have sounded a little insulting or something to that effect, but I intended no disrespect. I guess I was just so uninterested after hearing a few minutes that I felt I needed to express how god-awful the review was going in my head to the point where I couldn’t stand it anymore. It was like I accidentally signed up for the wrong class and had to tell the instructor that I request a schedule change so I don’t end up hating school. I would definitely skip that period every day and just retake the exam after graduation to get the credit. Like, let me out of here, pleeeease!! Anyway, that’s my take. Apparently some people must enjoy what I considered torture. I say to that, “great, good for you, glad it worked out in your favor”. So maybe you ARE doing something right. I can’t imagine how people find it to be good material, but hey, more power to you. I don’t believe I fit in the category of “troll” or whatever it was. I’m just trying to give credit where credit is due. Now go get’em tiger, knock’em dead.pc
@@arthurevans2029 i congratulate you on the amount of spare time you have to spend on something that means so little to you 😆😆 i feel honoured that you still feel im important enough to devote your continued time on. Its times like this i know im on the right track., 😋😋
Both speakers sucks I just returned to the store the xtreme 2 in my opinion both are just a waste of money even the g boom project 2 sounds better and that cost just 80 dollars at Walmart jbl speakers sucks
First what is your criteria for better, worse and sucks? Bluetooth speakers all have trade offs and comparing them simply on sound makes no sense to me, just get a seperates system which will make them all sound silly. Surely Bluetooth portable speakers are about usability, portability and sound quality combined and then accepting we all have different tastes. 🤔🤔
JBL xtreme 2: geni.us/jblxtreme2
JBL xtreme 1: geni.us/jblxtreme1
*affiliate links. I get a small percentage of any sale.
I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who finds the sound of 2 Charge 3s most pleasing when it comes to Bluetooth speakers from JBL. When I bought my first Charge 3, I knew that it offered the best sound-to-portability-to price ratio and that for some reason I preferred its sound to that of the Charge 4, maybe also due to the Charge 4's single-driver solution. Recently, my girlfriend got herself a Charge 3 as well and we were both surprised what big a difference a second speaker makes in terms of the listening experience - and at that point we were listening to them in party mode. Since each of us has their own flat, both of us ordered one another Charge 3. We were curious as to how they would sound whilst playing in sync, so we've updated the firmware to get Connect+ and at first, it sounded pleasing to have one Charge 3 in each corner of the living room but I did some testing of my own, playing the kind of music, I would normally listen to (mostly Classic Rock) and came to the conclusion, the 2 Charge 3s in Stereo give me a more pleasing, more vivid and some ways a fuller sound in most tracks than 4 Charge 3s in Party Mode where there is not enough separation of any kind when it comes to vocals and instruments, so that even the bass seems a little overpowering and everything else too muffled. I kind of wish the Connect app offered the option to use Stereo with 4 speakers with the option to have 2 speakers play the left and 2 speakers play the right channel, to see if that would sound better, but since that is not an option, I'll stick with my 2 Charge 3s and my girlfriend with hers. Now, having that said, do I regret having made the firmware upgrade to get Connect+? Well, yes and no. It's kind of a love-hate thing. I do like the option to connect more devices and even though I don't like the 7-second sync wait, I do find that Connect+ is more reliable when it comes to establishing a connection. With Connect, it happened to me several times, that both speakers would confirm that they are connected and yet still, only one speaker would be playing. On the other hand, with Connect+, the app is a bit of a mess. I'm not saying that it doesn't work. Actually, it does, but its response time is super long. The time it takes for the app to recognize, that there is a second speaker for it to offer you the stereo option is way too long and of course, the app keeps forgetting the last setting. But that's pretty much the only problem, I have with the upgrade. Other than that, I don't feel like the upgrade has messed up the sound at all, so I'm still happy. I've been contemplating the Xtreme as well, but for me personally, it too base-heavy and doesn't necessarily offer a pleasing listening experience compared to the 2 Charge 3s in stereo, at least not when it comes to my kind of music. I'm sure that some people may like it. Anyway, what I actually wanted to say is that I like your detailed reviews. Greetings from the Czech Republic. Stay safe and healthy!
as someone who stood by the charge 3 for years, have you tried the motion plus?
I really appreciate your in depth comparison between the products.
You have a really good ear should I say ears, cheers.
thanks, but checkout the final final review i.e. firmware 2 :)
@@alanrossreviews Could you add a link to final final review in description? ta
@@danalexsmith this is the playlist th-cam.com/play/PL2HLRLzOQRKvUSirFGJ-u3fJD9yE9Nc99.html
👍🏻 Great review, and you explained the new firmware to a tee there at the end. I am lucky that I purchased my x2 only 10 days ago and was able to exchange it! I feel the same exact way about the version 1.6, but most of my listening is indoors and @ 50-75% volume. JBL should offer a way to download the old firmware versions on all their speakers for just this reason! Louder aint better, its just louder!!
not being able to rollback a firmware or at least be able to do a true factory reset is a big downside of jbl speakers. My biggest problem with firmware 1.6 is that it is only described as a bug fix and people have no idea it will change the eq of the speaker. what will you get now?
Alan Ross Reviews I guess our ears are very similar, the update boosts the bass and overall loudness, which I believe we both feel like it decreases the sound quality. I absolutely love my x2 with the 1.2 firmware, it is plenty loud enough and sounds great at moderate volume levels. I listen to it in my living room which is around 400 sq ft, it fills the room with sound and shakes the walls at 50-70% No need for the update in my situation, I feel like the x2 is plenty loud enough and great sound quality with the original 1.2 firmware. The update makes it more hollow sounding like the x1
I would recommend the x2 to all my friends, but would also let them know that they may not want to download the 1.6 firmware depending on how they are going to use the speaker. If it is mostly used indoors I would stay with the 1.2, mostly outdoors then update to 1.6
Then after saying that, the decreased battery life with the 1.6 makes me think to stay with 1.2 regardless!!!🤷🏻♂️
but its not really decreased, its just that it now plays louder, using more power so of course it lasts shorter but if you play it at the old max volume it will still be 10 hours. What would have been nice is rather than do this in firmware simply give us some eq modes in the app and let us choose what we want. Dont forget they didnt even say it was anything but a bug fix. Very poor showing by JBL. yes i think we have similar ears, you still have plenty of people loving the new firmware but i guess they are playing louder than we do and just looking for bass thump.
I love my Xtreme 2 I got 1 month ago bass is insane especially when plugged in I can feel it on floor when it’s plugged in it gets crazy insane loud and the sound quality is insanely good sooooo crisp it’s very well balanced it’s also heavy and the battery life is good
so youre not happy with it then?
Hi Alan, I’ve been taking my sweet time lallygagging and getting up to speed on knowing all the products comparing what price tier I’d be satisfied with. Leaning on picking up Charge3. Ive watched many reviewers which is good to see but as polished they seem, are a bit glib on detail. Coming across your videos I like the way you describe the listenability of sound presence and A/B comparisons .
I appreciate the thoroughness to prepare your viewers with the
idiosyncrasies in the model generations; their usability in industrial design and the interfaces both app software and firmware.
Sub’d from Oakland California, thanks for sharing and keep on-keepin’ on!
thanks for the comment :) i will keep on keeping on 🤗🤑
Really helpful review thanks. Subbed.
Thank you!
After the update, is this worth it? I need a new outdoor speaker and this one looks so good + the shoulder strap makes this perfect for outdoor use, exactly what i want.
for outdoor use yes the firmware makes sense, it goes louder with more bass.
Hows the speaker? Still working?
yup not had any problems, xtreme 3 about to hit of course!
Thanx, you've confirmed my choice of the Xtreme 2 over the Xtreme 1. Question: more than once with my Xtreme 2 I've noticed the blue power button blink while in the middle of playing music. Do u know what that's all abt?
is it connected to more than one device?
@@alanrossreviews No, my cell is the only device.
Super explanation. How about the new firmware. Heard they released another one
thanks. yeah my new one is here th-cam.com/video/_odCv_ykHT0/w-d-xo.html but beware, there was 1.9 inbetween so the diff between 1.6 and 2.0 is not the same as 1.9 to 2.0, which are you on?
I'm new to all this am 61yrs old and brought up on record players, cassettes and wires n cables. I have a JBL Charge2+ and it sounds great. I now need a slightly louder bassier (but now overpoweringly so) model to fill a large room for a party. Can my Charge2+ be paired (stereo or otherwise) wirelessly with the Extreme?
no not possible. get yourself the anker motion plus, or a couple of them.
I just did the update to 1.9 hopefully it sounds better from 1.6
Mine became worse, less base and overall it isn't as loud anymore
Bas Lenters mines sounds good with the 1.9 still has bass and loud..
I read mixed opinions about this update, with some it's still the same and some it's a lot worse. Mine clearly sounds less good. Maybe it's some kind of quality issue
Bas Lenters I know some people say the 1.9 is good some people say it’s not .. That’s weird.. I was on 1.6 to 1.9 I feel the 1.9 is even louder
Bas Lenters could be like you said QC issues
What do you prefer the x or x2
x2, more balanced, fuller sound.
@@alanrossreviews thnx sir
@@alanrossreviews Do you have any idea about how X2 users with Android phone can upgrade the firmware to 1.6/9. On my JBL app no update option is showing.
@@SoumendraBagh some people are reporting updates are coming back, maybe they are rolling them out slowly.
@@alanrossreviews Will patiently wait for it. Love your Channel from India.. You are an Audio Wizard
Hey Alan, great review! I have literally just bought the x2 because of it and love it.
Just a question about the LED charging lights: Mine aren't on all the time. They only seem to come on when it is being charged or when I first turn it on, then they disappear. Is this right, and if so how to I check the battery once they have turned off?
The lights will come on if, while playing music on the speaker, you press the Play/Pause button. They will go off again after about 10 seconds when you press the Play/Pause button again to resume playback. It took me a while to figure it out!
What a fantastic speaker it is. So impressed with the sound quality. I haven't updated mine. I'm staying with firmware 1.2.
@Robert Wiseman it really is great.
I’m not sure if since you’re on an old firmware it may not do this, but since I’m on 2.0, the volume buttons will also show the lights as well . But seems like a silly way to do it in my opinion, instead of not having them in all the time .
But hey ho, the speakers amazing so who cares!
@@Chris-jk8xk Sorry im kinda late on responding to this but i just wanted to let ya'll know that all JBL speakers do this, it has nothing to do with updating or faulty wiring, if you wish to check how much battery it has you can do so from the JBL app or like Rob said hit the Play/Pause button, i agree though they should have either had them on all the time or have a dedicated button/swipe on the speaker for it. Cheers!
I have a purchasing problem of whether to buy the X or X2. Just returned my megblast for being faulty and wanting to try one of these but not sure which. X2 is £60 more at the moment with it being on sale. Wondering if you think it is worth it?
yeah go x2, its a better all round option.
In my opinion the Extreme 2 sounds way better than the Extreme. Beautiful high end with no harshness & really deep bass without the awful boominess of the Extreme.
You don't have to take my word for it, What Hi Fi Magazine has just given the Extreme 2 a glowing review. They gave it 5 stars. You can view the review on the What Hi Fi website.
Robert Wiseman beat you to it because I’ve already bought the X2! Haha.
Yeah I love it, so far while it’s still obviously breaking in, already the sound is amazing.
Very obviously better than my UE megablast, incomparable really
Robert Wiseman but cheers for the comment and advice though!!
Great review but should I stay with my jbl xtreme2?
thank you :) its up to you, either you like it or you dont. have you done the update or still firmware 1.2?
Alan Ross Reviews Yes I’ve done the 1.6 update plus I can pair my xtreme2 with my charge 3 so I have decided to stay with it
ok, sounds like you made the right decision.
Alan Ross Reviews Would you pick JBL X2 over JBL X1??
yes, fuller sound, for me thats enough.
I use my Xtreme2 for teaching aqua class, indoor pool. It's great! However, my voice needs to be louder. Will the bluetooth in my speaker also pick up my voice with a bluetooth headset? Will my voice AND music come through speaker clearly? If so, do you have a suggestion for a voice amplifier? Thank you!
you cant have two sources connected togther.
Bought the jbl extreme 2 and i am happy with it to because i love bass to me i would say the extreme 2 does give some pritty good decent bass. However i still think the original extreme has pretty more kick on the bass and deeper stronger bass then the extreme 2.
no the xtreme 1 has a more boosted bass yes but the xtreme 2 goes deeper.
I thought you were Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple doing a speaker review ! Great review btw
oh shit! i need more sleep!!!!!!!!!
JBL needs to hire you.
fire me i think they say 😜
I dont know, it may be just me. You look like Antonio Banderas, and honestly you are really a very cool person and amazing reviewer. If you are able to see this review, can you answer this question Alan or any other Xtreme 2 users:
- How is the battery life of this Speaker, not per day. My question life cycle, is it only good for the 1 year warranty period or you guys have been are still using it outdoor without much battery issues. I believe since its portable, this has gotta have a good battery life in terms of years atleast 2-3 years it should'nt end. If Antonio answers my question, I'll subscribe :)
well bit early to say, xtreme 1 wasnt the greatest but x2 has an improved battery. if you are happy tearing down the speaker you can still replace the battery if needed. Thanks for the antonia banderas comment, made my day haha!
@@alanrossreviews :) Well you do and thanks for replying so fast, love your reviews, you have earned a subscriber. Thanks :)
@Alan Ross Reviews, Which speaker will you suggest as of today (i.e. Charge 3 or Xtreme 2? etc.) I intend to buy a Bluetooth speaker this week that fills the room with quality sound and music fidelity and other features. Or any other worthwhile suggestions?
Of those two id go for the x2 but also consider a pair of secondhand xb40s.
@@alanrossreviews I'm looking to get in on the JBL ecosystem as the resell value is also good in comparison to other brands. As you've suggested, Xtreme 2, though the price is steep here in Europe (226 Euros)
@@tosin7c the truth is virtually all bluetooth speakers are overpriced. Can you get one secondhand?
@@alanrossreviews Hmm, very well said. Good secondhand is also difficult to get and most are quite pricey. Guess, i'll look towards connected indoor speakers with Bluetooth options...🤔💭
Hello I am not sure if you are aware of this as I wasn't until I saw another video but if you hold down bluetooth and minus until all the leds light up it kinda turns the speaker in to a different mode with no bass or less bass not sure what the purpose of it is perhaps you know and can explain as I cannot find any info on it at all. somepeople have said it is outdoor mode but I have found that if anything you need MORE not less bass outside so perhaps it is indoor mode XD
it is a service mode with all eq removed. it also removes the bass limiter which means using the speaker this way can blow it. they call it low bass mode but it isnt.
@@alanrossreviews OH really what is the purpose of it then ? Also can you please link me to some information about it ? I did wonder why it wasn't in the manual
My speaker is actually insured against every concievable damage so I am not too worried about blowing although I would rather not obviously :)
@@cubbykovu8955 then go for it :) theres nothing official i can link to.
@@alanrossreviews Oh How did you find out then ? Its just morbid curiosity is all the only reason I want to know I am just very curious
Hey alan I previously commented on your charge 4 video and I got a red charge 4 but I want something louder.I want the xtreme because it is on sale for 159 us dollars so I was wondering if It is worth it in 2020.
it goes louder and deeper but not as loud as you might expect unless you use plugin power. the motion plus goes louder than the extreme when both are on battery but it doesnt have the low end of the xtreme. have you seen the w-king d8? goes louder than the xtreme and half the price.
@@alanrossreviews I really want the xtreme but how much louder is it than the charge 4 and can I connect them.
@@matthewhart5693 yes you can connect them. it is louder but not by a huge amount.
@@alanrossreviews ok,thanks I was wondering if I can connect them because my friend and I connect my charge 4 with his charge 3 and I loved so If i connected the xtreme 1 and charge 4 i would really enjoy right
@@matthewhart5693 ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, i thought you meant xtreme 2! no you cant connect xtreme 1 with charge 4.
Soon will be available update for xtreme 1, then it will be possible to connect xtreme 1 with xtreme 2
nope, wont ever happen!!
@@alanrossreviews guy who working in JBL said this: ' update for the Xtreme is currently in the works which should be released quite soon.This update should allow the original Xtreme to pair with Xtreme 2' its not fake :)
interesting because they used to say it wont ever get the update. watch this space then.
Great review Alan. So bottom line.... with or without the update, do you think it is worth getting the X2 if you already have the X1? Right now wich do you think is the better buy, the x1 or the x2? Price difference between the 2 floats around 70/80 euros....
By the way, have you ever tried the 2016 harman kardon go+play? Would love a comparison between the hk and the x2. I have a X1 and a hk go play right now.... i was thinking of selling my hk and my x1 to buy a pair of X2s but after seeing your and other reviews i think i might get a second x1 or a second hk go play for pairing...
Anyway.... keep up the good work! :)
Cheers m8....
the xtreme 2 is a better speaker, plays cleaner with a fuller sound. But xtreme 1 is not bad for the money and has a tad more punch generally. I think xtreme 2 can sound a little muddy where the leaner sound of the xtreme 2 will sound clearer with sharper high end. Depends what you listen to. Not been hands on with the hk. If you already have an x1 im not sure the xtreme is really worth the price, but its a personal thing. Also, on firmware 1.2 the xtreme 2 made mroe sense to me with forward clear vocal and playing well at low volume. The formware 1.6 tweak left me cold making it sound a bit boring. But louder.
Hi Alan, a great review once again. I own a charge 3 and longing to pair it with another jbl bluetooth speaker ever since. I waited for xtreme 2 and now i read that charge 4 is on its way. I expect charge 4 to have improvements all over the place but what i dont expect is a boomy bass. I want to add more bass into my listening experience yet i dont want to lose portability - like buying a boombox. Any opinions on this matter?
PS: I have to say that i really really appreciate your time spent on these videos, i love to see graphs showing skills of speakers and their ranges - which seperates Alan Ross reviews from the rest in my opinion. Keep up the good work 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
thanks for the kind words :)
maybe the the best thing at this stage is to wait on the charge 4 and see what it brings. the thing is you are only looking to add one speaker and want more bass. you say you want to pair it with another jbl speaker so i assume you want to play both at same time. if you dont use matched speakers you lose the point of stereo so again i assume you will just use party mode. there is no way the charge 4 will have bass like the xtreme 2 but you dont want boomy. xtreme 2 is only marginally boomy, its not too bad at all its just not going to allow you the benefit of true stereo. for me with 2 charge 3s and both the xtremes its a pair of charge 3s in stereo thats my go to. you wont get deeper bass but you do get a little more slam because of 2 passive radiators vs 4.
You gotta take the strap off for it to float with the speakers up
ah! still a bit pointless, if im off to the beach im gonna use the strap.
Which one I'm gonna switch X1 or X2 base on bass
X1 for midbass
X2 for subbass
What about the new JBL Boombox firmware 2.8.0?
No one told nothing about it.
Do you know that?
Tks.
nope, dont have the boombox!
I have a new one. What firmware? Where is it? JBL has none listed, further the JBL connect software won't connect! It plays music from my iphone no problem. Sounds great too!
the firmware is listed in the app under options.
is it possible to downgrade the firmware?
Crudo are you died
@@morghanet No why
I had a great number of speakers of jbl, vifa, sony, bose, aiwa, onkyo, cambridge, but the best was canton.
which model?
S and XS best in class
1.9 is out can you do a video about this with a sound chart please
im on vacation, will do this next week :)
Hi, I was just thinking would it make any sense, to plug it in to the tv, so it acts like a soundbar??? :] can it compete with a normal soundbar??? : ]
you can do this but its not practical and not designed to work that way and of course offers only stereo and no surround sound decoding. JBL make a dedicated soundbar which would be a better option.
Is it me or is the bass radiator a little larger on the xtreme than the xtreme 2?
xtreme have 7.5cm driver, xtreme 2 haves 7.0cm driver :)
Which one is louder pair of charge 3 or xtreme 2
does it matter? you love the xtreme! ☺ its a world class speaker right?
In my opinion I have both xtreme 2 and xtreme 1 and definitely definitely definitely........ The xtreme 2 sounds way better than xtreme 1 it really sounds like a heigh quality speaker
my advice? buy a high quality speaker 🤒
Honest opinion I like listening you
You say it how it is I have the xtreme 2 jbl speaker I love it
I put the equalizer app on the
Jbl 2 xtreme and it makes a lot
Of differents I but each to their
Own opinion of the speaker
The sony srs x55 Bluetooth speaker I have still sounds
Brilliant and still impressive
Strong sound to it but I do
Love the way you say what you feel and that's what I like about
You many thanks but I don't
Believe you should play in water
Because it doesn't make sense in
Doing that at all just play it normal
Like people do keep up you brilliant videos peace to you brother thanks TH-cam
ha! ok thank you :) i must admit i am playing it more after the firmware 2 update, i like it more now, if they just had a an embedded eq it would make all the difference. Peace!
So I can't charge the Xtreme 2 with a mobile phone charger?
no the xtreme uses a 57 watt charger.
@@alanrossreviews Damn. But thank you for answering my question, Alan.
Love your channel, and you're SO funny when ya do that annoyed, slightly mocking voice about how this and that are different from the reality specs of these speakers.
Anyway, no offense at all, totally my favorite part of your reviews haha!
SO, do you feel like the Extreme 2 is worth the money for me to upgrade o it from my Charge 4?
Great review, super long/and thoroughly entertaining. 👌
the longest review i ever seen...
you watched it all?
Not really..... @@alanrossreviews
@@lixusu2579 shame on you!
Please make your videos longer, speakers are a big hobby for me too. I love all that you have to say.
On ac x2 is louder but when I don't plug in ac to speaker x2 is silent?
if you do the firmware update there is not so much difference, before the update ac was significantly louder.
Alan Ross Reviews Some people say the 1.9 is no good..
Jbl xtreme have 40 wat but when you plug it to electricy it have 50 wats and my question is it worth to buy this cuz I don't know
no it has 30 watts on battery (after update) and 40 watts on plug in power. the difference is small. its a decent speaker for the money and the package, but for me with the update its a little boring and muffled, before the update it had more clarity.
@@alanrossreviews so better do not update x2?
its personal preference, update if you will use this outdoors and/or at high volume. dont update this is you like the forward vocals and clarity and like how it sounds good at quite low volume.
you say about the EQ Can i get as much PUNCH as the extreme 1 on the extreme 2 IF I mess around with EQ aka turn bass up XDD???
or is it simply a design ? the extreme 1 was made to have more BOOM PUNCH than the 2 ? beacuse i thought as the extreme 2 is bigger drivers it should be punchier ?
Wolf Reviewing it’s not about the drivers it’s about the amplifiers and how many watts it’s giving it
Subbed
thank you 😊
Sir tips wats d best 1.6 or 2.0 need ur help tnks.....
very similar, just as long as you skip 1.9
@@alanrossreviews wats the best firmware update sir?
Try 4 -6 flip 5s ?
sure, hang on a sec while i go buy them 🙄
Which is better onyx 4 or extreme 2?
mike wilson onyx I have both
I think it will be my last question about x2 I'm listening music a lot in home but sometimes im going outside I heard from people x1 battery after 1 year get dead but what and x 1 is louder so x2 is louder than charge 3? Or is more silent I want good bass and it's must louder than charge 3 or flip 4
x2 is louder by a lot than charge 3 and flip 4, after latest updat x1 is louder than x2 when on battery. x1 had a bad battery, x2 battery is improved. both can be replaced.
@@alanrossreviews so what better take x1 or x2
its hard to say, they keep changing the sound of the x2, at least u know where u r with the x1. they both have their place, i still hav both. x1 is cheaper. outdoors i guess x1 is better,
@@alanrossreviews but I have flip 4 and pulse 3 if I take x1 I will not able to connect them
not right now, their are rumours they may update he x1, not sure if its true or not.
not a pennys difference and i dont think im goin skin diving with any speaker
fair enough 🤓
All the have to do to make it float right is
Huh? 😜
Anyone know how to get it to play at 30w battery?
update it.
JBL CHARGE 4 is released !!!!!!!! Comes out oktober !!!!
now it gets interesting.....
this is the big one................
How to connect jbl xtreme vs flip4?
xtreme 1? you cannot connect xtreme 1 and flip 4.
Dumb is dumb...
JbL xtreme 2 have deep bass i love it ☺️
My infinity fuze 700 is of the size of a flip series speaker but reaches deeper than the xtreme 2
If u dont believe, see my bass test video
I had just bought JBL Extreme 2. I am not happy with Bass when play low volume. So can you guide me how to adjust/increase Bass? Thanks
I think u should work for JBL to improve their stuff, I mean they make AMAZING speakers but I actually think u could help them improve😂👏🏼❤️
thank you for the faith 😛
Hi, I have a question. On my new xtreme 2, I hear in the tweeters (next to the woofers) a little wind-blown, a little shhhh is really not loud but still noticeable when the music is very weak or when I leave the music and go down volume thoroughly. You too? Because I hope it's not a factory problem ... If you could test for me would not be really nice because I stress a little THANK YOU :) Translated by Google translation so risk of problems lol
i dont have this, are you hearing an interference noise? does it change with volume?
@@alanrossreviews This is not my phone because when I turn on the sound of the jb I hear the little noise, and it does not change with the volume just when I turn up the volume I can not hear it anymore
i think jbl made a mistake they should call the extreme 2= extreme and the extreme= extreme 2
maybe they mean it was like a number 2? :)
Is the sound good for inside to?
And for rap (Eminem)
Are the high notes good to?
this is not hifi, its a pretty decent all rounder though with its strong point being bass, high end is not a strength of the x2.
will you just spit it out already and quit repeating yourself
i guess the answer is no 😜🤒
Good review but GAWD DAMN DIRTY ASS SPEAKERS a wipe down would have been grateful 🤣🤣🤣
shows i use them, dont just sit them on a table one time and review them
Xertmt
GG version is the Best=))))
are you sure?
42 mins!
The first 6 mins was the same crap over and over. There's no way I would make it thru 42 mins.
6 mins and out
Thank you. This was very useful information. It means you will never be seen on my channel again! Yippeeeeeeeeee 👍👍👍👍🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😍😍😍😍😍👊👊👊👊
Damn dude, you are hard to listen to. Sorry, I can’t keep playing this. Gotta go move on.
You think this matters to me because?
@@alanrossreviews never mind trolls.
@@tosin7c no worries, if they think im important enough to leave a comment then i know im doing something right 😜😜
Alan Ross Reviews No, actually, on the contrary, I sincerely hope it matters to you none whatsoever, and it certainly shouldn’t make any difference to how you go about your business at all.
I suppose I may have sounded a little insulting or something to that effect, but I intended no disrespect. I guess I was just so uninterested after hearing a few minutes that I felt I needed to express how god-awful the review was going in my head to the point where I couldn’t stand it anymore. It was like I accidentally signed up for the wrong class and had to tell the instructor that I request a schedule change so I don’t end up hating school. I would definitely skip that period every day and just retake the exam after graduation to get the credit.
Like, let me out of here, pleeeease!!
Anyway, that’s my take. Apparently some people must enjoy what I considered torture. I say to that, “great, good for you, glad it worked out in your favor”. So maybe you ARE doing something right. I can’t imagine how people find it to be good material, but hey, more power to you.
I don’t believe I fit in the category of “troll” or whatever it was. I’m just trying to give credit where credit is due.
Now go get’em tiger, knock’em dead.pc
@@arthurevans2029 i congratulate you on the amount of spare time you have to spend on something that means so little to you 😆😆 i feel honoured that you still feel im important enough to devote your continued time on. Its times like this i know im on the right track., 😋😋
This boombox is a piece of crap..... Only good between 50 to 80% volume.....
Oh
Both speakers sucks I just returned to the store the xtreme 2 in my opinion both are just a waste of money even the g boom project 2 sounds better and that cost just 80 dollars at Walmart jbl speakers sucks
First what is your criteria for better, worse and sucks? Bluetooth speakers all have trade offs and comparing them simply on sound makes no sense to me, just get a seperates system which will make them all sound silly. Surely Bluetooth portable speakers are about usability, portability and sound quality combined and then accepting we all have different tastes. 🤔🤔