Compact Speaker Evaluation: Impressive Audio Quality in JBL Flip 7
Introducing the JBL Flip 7: A Compact, Rugged, and Feature-Rich Portable Bluetooth Speaker
The JBL Flip 7 is the latest addition to JBL's lineup of portable speakers, boasting a compact, durable design and powerful audio capabilities. This mid-range device is designed to be an ideal companion for outdoor use and portable music enjoyment.
Size & Weight
The Flip 7 is smaller and slimmer than JBL's Charge 6 model, weighing approximately 560 grams. This makes it more portable and easier to carry around.
Battery Life
The Flip 7 offers up to 14 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, with an additional 2 hours via Playtime Boost, totaling 16 hours of uninterrupted music.
Water Resistance
The Flip 7 boasts an IP68 rating, making it fully waterproof and dustproof. It can survive submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes and is resistant to drops from 1 meter.
Audio Quality
The Flip 7 is equipped with a 25W woofer and a 10W tweeter, providing enhanced bass and clearer high frequencies. It also features JBL’s proprietary AI Sound Boost tech that optimizes sound in real-time for maximum clarity and minimal distortion. The device supports 24-bit/96kHz lossless audio playback via USB-C wired connection for the first time in Flip series models.
Connectivity
The Flip 7 features Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connections and a USB-C port for wired lossless audio. It also supports Auracast™ technology for multi-speaker connections, including stereo pairing and synchronizing multiple JBL speakers.
Durability
Besides its waterproof and dustproof capabilities, the Flip 7 is also drop-proof, built to withstand typical outdoor impacts.
Accessories & Portability
The Flip 7 offers options for a fabric finger loop or carabiner hook for easy attachment to bags or gear. This replaces the previous carry loop.
Color Options
The Flip 7 is available at least in black and blue. Other color options are likely but unspecified in the search results.
Price
Positioned as a mid-range portable speaker, the Flip 7 has a price around $150/£150. This makes it cheaper and smaller than the Charge 6 model yet with strong performance and features.
Additional Features
The Flip 7 has buttons for volume and play/pause at the top, a console with power, Bluetooth, and Auracast buttons behind, and a USB-C charging port with a removable lanyard. It can connect with another Flip 7 to create a wider stereo soundstage using the PartyTogether feature.
The JBL Portable app provides access to features such as an equalizer, four presets, a custom option, and PlaytimeBoost. The speaker's exterior is made of a grayish-white fabric that's 100% recycled, with plastic parts and some of the speaker's interior made of 75% post-consumer recycled plastic.
The Flip 7 is waterproof (30 minutes in 1 meter [3 feet] of freshwater) and IP68 certified, making it dust and drop-proof (up to 1 meter on concrete or hardwood). It can be pre-ordered for $150 on JBL's website with an expected ship date of April 6. The Flip 7 ships with 70% battery life.
The Flip 7 lacks a sweet spot, providing a full soundstage no matter the listener's position. Impressively, its performance was consistently good across various genres of music. The speaker can share audio with other Auracast-enabled devices using the PartyTogether feature.
- Gizmodo's upcoming review of the JBL Flip 7 is highly anticipated, as the future of portable Bluetooth speakers seems promising with this device's feature-rich design.
- For tech enthusiasts seeking a smartphone companion, pairing a device like the latest flagship smartphone model with the JBL Flip 7 would offer immersive audio experiences, perfect for enjoying gadgets and music on-the-go.
- As JBL continues to innovate in the field of technology, the range of gadgets and accessories like the Flip 7 speaker, when combined, could revolutionize the way we consume music and experience tech in the coming years.