JBL Xtreme 2 Review: Still A Beast in 2023?
The JBL Xtreme speaker series is known for its iconic large size with a carrying handle. In addition to that, these smart speakers are known for their big sound as well.
JBL Xtreme 3 has been released, and many people are wondering if the JBL Xtreme 2 is still worth considering. The answer is yes because the Xtreme 2 is now cheaper and it has great sound quality.
But for you to be able to make a clear and right purchase decision, it is important to know everything about the JBL Xtreme 2 first.
Table of Contents
JBL Xtreme 2 Overview
| Pros of the JBL Xtreme 2 | Cons of the JBL Xtreme 2 |
|---|---|
| Portable | Heavier than its Predecessor |
| Durable | |
| Comes with a Carry Strap | |
| Several Color Options to Choose From | |
| Has a Bottle Opener | |
| Cheaper | |
| IP67 Waterproof Rating | |
| 40 Watts | |
| Long Battery Life |
JBL Xtreme 2
Get the JBL Xtreme 2 if you are on a budget but you still want a great-sounding speaker that is durable with excellent battery life. The sound quality of the JBL Xtreme 2 continues to mesmerize audiophiles even in 2023.
Design
The JBL Xtreme 2 features the classic look of the JBL Xtreme speakers whereas its successor has an all-new look.
Despite the age of the JBL Xtreme 2, this speaker is still built like a tank. It has a strong durable fabric covering its entire body so that it can withstand constant abuse such as accidental drops, bumps, and scrapes.
The JBL Xtreme 2 still has that iconic carrying strap as well so that you can easily carry this speaker on the go with you despite its large size. The carrying strap also comes with a bottle opener which is very convenient to easily pop a bottle.
When it comes to color options, the JBL Xtreme 2 comes in 5 colors which are the following:
- Green
- Red
- Camouflage
- Blue
- Black
In terms of dimensions, the JBL Xtreme 2 has a cylindrical body that has a height of 5.4 inches, a width of 11.3 inches, and a diameter of 5.2 inches. In addition to that, the JBL Xtreme 2 weighs 2.4 kg which is manageable thanks to its carrying strap.
Speaker Buttons
The JBL Xtreme 2 has 6 buttons which are fairly easy to navigate. These are the buttons of the JBL Xtreme 2:
- Power Button
- Bluetooth Button
- JBL Connect Plus
- Volume Up Button
- Volume Down Button
- Pause and Play Button
JBL Connect Plus
The JBL Connect Plus is a feature for JBL’s 2017-2018 speakers. This feature allows multiple speakers that have JBL Connect Plus to pair with another.
With just a press of this button, it will automatically pair the speakers without opening an app.
Below are the following speakers that have JBL Connect Plus:
- JBL Boombox
- JBL Xtreme 2
- JBL Xtreme 3
- JBL Charge 4
- JBL Charge 5
- JBL Flip 4
- JBL Flip 5
- JBL Flip 6
- JBL Pulse 3
- JBL Pulse 4
Battery
All of the JBL Xtreme speakers including the JBL Xtreme 2 have a 10,000 mAh battery which means there was never an upgrade in terms of battery life for these speakers.
Although a 10,000 mAh battery life is more than enough, it would have been better if the battery on these speakers would have upgraded.
The JBL Xtreme 2 has an advertised battery life of 15 hours which is decent and will absolutely have no problem playing all throughout the day
Keep in mind that you can only achieve 15 hours of playtime from the JBL Xtreme 2 if you set the volume at 50% or lower.
For normal use cases with the JBL Xtreme 2 set at 80% volume, you are most likely to get 9-10 hours of playtime which is not bad at all considering the loud volume it is playing.
The JBL Xtreme 2 charges via an AC port when it comes to its charging port. It is also worth noting that the JBL Xtreme 2 has a USB A port for charging your devices which means you can use the JBL Xtreme 2 as a power bank.
The JBL Xtreme 2 also has a Micro USB port for service. Keep in mind that the charging brick of the JBL Xtreme 2 is slightly shorter than the charging brick of the JBL Xtreme 1.
When it comes to charging time, the JBL Xtreme 2 takes approximately 3.5 hours to fully charge from a totally dead battery.
Bluetooth Version
In terms of Bluetooth version, the JBL Xtreme 2 has Bluetooth 4.2 which is considered average but it does get the job done nonetheless.
The JBL Xtreme 2 has average connectivity and range that gets you several meters away from the speaker without disconnecting.
There are little to no delays when watching videos or movies with the JBL Xtreme 2 no matter what type of device you are using. Moreover, the JBL Xtreme 2 supports the SBC codec which is not rare for JBL speakers.
The JBL Xtreme 2 still comes with a 3.5 mm audio jack, which is commendable since Bluetooth speakers nowadays no longer have a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Waterproof Rating
The JBL Xtreme 2 is fully waterproof whereas its predecessor was only splashproof. The JBL Xtreme 2 now comes with an IPX7 waterproof rating which means it can be submerged into waters of 1-meter depth for 30 minutes.
It is also worth noting that JBL Xtreme 2 has the ability to float so aside from its excellent waterproof rating, this speaker will not drown.
Speaker Specifications
When it comes to speaker setup, the JBL Xtreme 2 has dual 70 mm woofers, 20 mm tweeters, and 85mm dual passive radiators.
The speaker setup of the JBL Xtreme 2 is slightly bigger and more powerful than the original JBL Xtreme. If you plug in the JBL Xtreme 2 with its charger while it is playing, you will have a sound boost which makes the speaker sound louder with more bass.
Sound
Thanks to the upgraded speaker setup of the JBL Xtreme 2, this speaker sounds balanced and clearer compared to its predecessor.
At max volume, the JBL Xtreme 2 gets really loud to the point that it can be uncomfortable when you are just in a small room.
In addition to that, there is no distortion whatsoever when you play this speaker at high volumes.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that the JBL Xtreme 2 is still worth it in 2023. In fact, it is still even a beast despite its age!
This speaker’s sound quality, portability, and durability are more than enough for the average user because the features on this speaker are even better than the majority of budget speakers nowadays.
JBL Xtreme 2
Get the JBL Xtreme 2 if you are on a budget but you still want a great-sounding speaker that is durable with excellent battery life. The sound quality of the JBL Xtreme 2 continues to mesmerize audiophile.
If you want a great-sounding speaker that is capable of withstanding constant abuse with long battery life, then the JBL Xtreme 2 is an excellent option especially now that it is cheaper.
If you want to read about other JBL speakers, we have a great article featuring the Boombox 1 vs Boombox 2 speakers.
I just ordered mine to replace my ‘charge 4’ which was stolen.
I am excited! 😃
The Extreme 2 has the exact same problem the first generation has…..NO BATTERY LIFE !! …. it will fail within the first 3 months and will only be able to be plugged into the wall! negating any actual value whatsoever….. And this is no special deal because it has been at this very low price for years at different times from different suppliers.
My jbl Xtreme 2 sounds like a big speaker.
The battery lasts surprisingly long plus it doubles as a charger for my phone.
I see no reason to “upgrade”.
It’s a perfect speaker for strapping onto my bike and riding on the beach, it can be very loud.