The summer is here and the BBQ is in full swing what goes great with a good BBQ is great music and in this review, we have tested the JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker.
First Impressions
The JBL Go 4 is the fourth iteration of the JBL Go compact Bluetooth speaker. This speaker is perfect for entertaining guests in the garden or taking with you to the beach.
The JBL Go 4 is currently available for £39.99 so it’s budget-friendly and comes in the following colours:
- Purple
- Pink
- Red
- Black
- White
- Blue
- Squad (Camo)
So you should find a colour that suits your preferences. In this review, we were lucky to be sent the black version but it’s nice to see you have options when buying this speaker.
Design
The Go 4 is a trendy little speaker with a box-shaped design that features a mesh speaker cover over both the front and rear faces. The edges are wrapped in a grippy rubber material ideal if you happen to drop the speaker by accident. On the rear face are two rubber strips for gripping when laid down. This gives this speaker a sturdy and well-constructed design.
Along the top of the speaker are the controls with volume and playback buttons decided by several presses. The side of this speaker hosts the power, Bluetooth and speaker hookup all of which require firm clicks when pressed.
Last but not least size whose the JBL Go 4 measures 3.7 x 3 x 1.7 inches and is very lightweight at only 6.7 ounces. This makes it very easy to take with you on the go and also comes with a useful hook for connecting to a carabiner, attaching to a strap or just hanging it on a tree branch.
Connectivity
The JBL Go 4 uses Bluetooth 5.3 which is the latest version and connecting to your smartphone is very easy to do. There is also the JBL smartphone app that is available on both iOS & Android to connect this speaker.
The JBL Go 4 is also Auracast-enabled which means you can hook up multiple speakers in tandem which results in boosted sound and allows you to spread the sound across a larger area. If you want to use this feature then my advice is to set it up via the app. The Auracast system is effective for playing music throughout the house perfect for when having a party.
Battery Life
The JBL Go 4 offers up to 7 hours of playback on a single charge and when testing this speaker the figures lined up. The battery life could be greater for example the Sonos Roam 2 gives you 10 hours but the Sonos option is three times the price.
Features
The JBL Go 4 considering the price won’t shock you that is not feature-rich. However, it does come with its IP67 rated meaning it can handle being outside and will even survive being in around 3 feet of water so if you dropped it in the swimming pool on holiday, it should survive.
In addition, the JBL Go 4 also features Auracast connectivity that links multiple compatible speakers together. In this review, we linked this to the JBL Clip 5 we have also been sent to review. The best way to do this is using the JBL app which is fairly basic but works well. The app is free to download and easy to connect to and allows you to use the Auracast technology as well as customize EQ settings there is also a boost setting to maximise battery life.
Last but not least the JBL Go 4 has a hook for clipping to a carabiner or attaching to the strap of a backpack perfect for those on the move.
Sound Quality
When buying a Bluetooth speaker this speaker offers JBL’s signature sound which offers a punchy bass that might surprise you. In the tracks, we used to test I found the mid and bass frequencies were well-amplified.
I also played a mix of club classics from ABBA to Steps and was impressed by the quality of the JBL Go 4 it was distortion-free even at increased volume levels. The angle at which the speaker is positioned makes a difference to the audio quality. I would suggest placing the speaker with the JBL logo facing upwards to generate the best sound for those of us sitting in the garden listening to the music,
Verdict
We have been testing the JBL Go 4 for the last couple of weeks now and I found it works well for having a soundtrack in the background at a family gathering or if I just wanted to listen to some tunes in my office without taking too much space.
This speaker is ideal for being outside with the fact it’s IP67 rated. I was also impressed that a speaker like this had a portable app as it adds extra functionality and works well.
I found this speaker a nice addition considering the fact I already had the JBL Clip 5 as the Auracast connectivity allowed for that multi-speaker setup so I could position the speakers at different ends of the garden. When you consider this speaker is only £40 if you’re on a budget and want a well-known branded speaker this is something to consider.
Product Rating
Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Features: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Audio Quality: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall ranking: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars – 4 stars
The JBL Go4 is Available from Amazon for £33.99
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