JBL Clip 2 review: A well-rounded speaker, that checks all the right boxes

Of the numerous things that smartphones and PCs are used for these days, one very important is multimedia consumption. Whether it's enjoying music or binge-watching movies and TV shows, an increasingly large number of users prefer using mobile phones and laptops. But as convenient as using smartphones and PCs is, audio output from the built-in speakers of these devices is generally average at best.
That's precisely where Bluetooth speakers come into the picture. As the name suggests, these fun little gadgets connect to phones and laptops using Bluetooth for wireless audio playback. Among the many conveniences of Bluetooth speakers are portability and battery-powered operation. So if you plan on buying one, it's important to take these factors into consideration.

When it comes to audio accessories, JBL is a name that needs no introduction. The Harman-owned company recently launched its Clip 2 Bluetooth speaker in India. So at an asking price of Rs 4,990, is this the Bluetooth speaker your multimedia collection needs? We find out in our full review of the JBL Clip 2.

Design and build quality

While it may not be the funkiest looking thing out there, the Clip 2 isn't bland either. It has a drum-like design, with a circular metallic speaker grille covering the entire top. A tiny, orange-coloured plate engraved with the JBL logo sits in the centre of the lower half of the speaker grille.

The lower section of the Clip 2 has a hard, rubbery construction with a matte-finish. There are a total of five soft-touch buttons located on its outer periphery. While three of them - Call answer/Pause, Volume up and Volume down are on the left, the other two - Power and Bluetooth are on the right. Between the latter two buttons lies a rather thick rubber flap, which opens to reveal a microUSB charging port.

At the 12 O' clock position, the JBL Clip 2 has a triangular carabiner which can be used to 'clip' (hence the name) it to anything from a rope to a backpack. Just below the carabiner, there's a notification LED that glows/blinks in different colours to indicate different things. Lastly, the Bluetooth speaker has an integrated 3.5mm audio cable that can be used to connect it to devices that don't have Bluetooth.

We found the overall design and build quality of the JBL Clip 2 to be quite good. Its subtle design aesthetics, notably the 3.5mm cable that can be perfectly stowed away in a groove that runs around the periphery of the speaker make it look even better. No complaints here.

Setup and performance

Before you can use the JBL Clip 2 to jazz up the party, this thing needs to be paired with the audio source such as a smartphone or a PC. And thankfully, doing so is a walk in the park.

To get started, press the power button and the Bluetooth pairing button, in that order. Assuming you've switched on Bluetooth on the other device, the JBL Clip 2 should show up in the list of available devices. Simply tap/click on the speaker's name and it's done. The speaker has distinct audio tones for different actions such as power on/off and Bluetooth connectivity, a feature we found to be really helpful.

When the JBL Clip 2 is playing audio over Bluetooth, you can use the call answer button to quickly pause the playback. This can come in quite handy when the source device isn't within your reach.


Completely waterproof, the JBL Clip 2 provides 8 hours of playtime. (Image: www.jbl.com)

But for some odd reason, the same button can't resume playback.

So what about the audio performance? Well, if we had to sum it up in one sentence, we'd say that the JBL Clip 2 has a really good audio quality. We played everything from EDM and Hip-hop to Rock and New-age during our testing, and the Clip 2 didn't disappoint. It's not too heavy on the Bass and treble is quite balanced as well. Highs and mids are pretty well separated, although lows get a bit muffled at times.

Oh, and the speaker is plenty loud as well. It easily fills up a small-to-medium sized room at just about 60%-70% volume level.

With an IPX7 rating, the JBL Clip 2 easily withstood a few water spills that we subjected it to. Its wireless daisy chain functionality lets you connect two speakers for more audio output.

Let's talk about the battery life. During our testing, the JBL Clip 2 lasted around 4-5 hours of music playback (wireless and wired combined) on a single charge. While it's not exactly the greatest battery life out there, we think it's pretty good for the price.

Verdict
As a well-rounded portable Bluetooth speaker, the JBL Clip 2 checks nearly all the right boxes. It has an understated compact design, handy features such as a carabiner and an integrated 3.5mm cable, and appreciable battery backup. Add features like wireless daisy chaining and waterproofing to the mix, and things get even better. So if you're in the market for a Bluetooth speaker under Rs 5,000, the JBL Clip 2 is definitely worth consideration.