Hands-on Review: JBL Flip 7
I am wondering, how does a portable speaker that measures a few centimetres wider than my iPhone, pump out such a powerhouse of sound? After throwing a broad range of music at the JBL Flip 7, from Weird Al Jankovic to Lucy Grimble to Alan Parsons Project, I loved both the clarity and the range of the sound. JBL explains that this is because, "We've beefed up our bass and tweaked our tweeter." They go on to explain that their "new proprietary tech, AI Sound Boost," analyses my music "to deliver maximum acoustic performance with less distortion." My immediate response to this was "Hey, Hey, My, My!" and Neil Young and Crazy Horse had me head-banging along happily. Even the deliberately distorted bass sounded amazing. However, I'm running ahead of myself. Let's go back to the unboxing.
What's in the Box?
The modern era demands a nod to packaging that is kind to the planet. JBL have been conscious of the environment, using recycled plastic and fabric in the construction of the Flip 7, and using FSC-certified paper printed with soy ink in the packaging. In the box is the Flip 7, a carabiner, swappable with a fabric loop, and the documentation. The Flip 7 requires a USB C charging cable, which is not included. While I raised my eyebrows at this lack, I simply reached to one of several USB C cables I already own. Yay; that's one less cable to clutter my home!
Key Features
I mentioned the loop and the carabiner, which are interchangeable courtesy of a new Pushlock accessory system. The Flip 7 incorporates IP68 waterproof and dustproof design, and JBL go on to say, "if you drop it from 1-meter onto your concrete floor, it'll keep on kicking." Auracast enables you to stereo pair two Flip 7 speakers together. I can only imagine the awesome sound that will generate, enabling you, says JBL, to "share the vibes with your tribe." The AI Sound Boost feature explains how a speaker with a small footprint can put out some quality sound. On top of this, you can expect up to 16 hours of playtime from a 2 ½ hour charge. This is 14 hours of normal playtime and an extra two hours of Playtime Boost.
Technical Specifications
Transducers 45 x 80 mm woofer/1.75 x 3" , 16 mm tweeter/ 0.6"
Output power 25 W RMS for woofer, 10 W RMS for tweeter
Frequency response 60 Hz - 20k Hz
Battery type Li-ion polymer 17.28 Wh (equivalent to 3.6V /4800mAh)
Battery charge time 2.5 hours (5V / 3A)
Dimensions (W x H x D)182.5 x 69.5 x 71.5 mm/ 7.19 x 2.7x 2.8 "
Net weight 0.56 kg/ 1.23 lbs
User Experience
With JBL, sound and build quality seem to go hand in hand, and the Flip 7 not only looks but also sounds the part. My listening tastes can be described as "eclectic," ranging from Gospel to 70's Rock to K-Pop, with a little Polka thrown in too. The Flip 7 sounds brilliant no matter the genre of sound. I was enthralled by the head-banging mix of bass and treble pitches of "Gangam Style." The clear high frequency sounds, say JBL, is due to a new tweeter dome design. I'm still wondering how they manage to get so much sound out of such a small amount of real estate.
Pricing
With a NZ purchase price of $199.95, I can see this speaker quickly becoming a cult classic of its own. From its eco-friendly packaging to its attractive design incorporating recycled fabric and plastic, it's a speaker that's both aesthetically and aurally satisfying.
