JBL Xtreme 4 review

Keeping its classic cylinder shape but bulging in a few more places than its predecessor, JBL has dropped the latest iteration of its Xtreme series of Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Xtreme 4. Built like a tank and aiming to be that Goldilocks party speaker size, somewhere between portable and not-so-portable, let’s find out what it can bring to your next outdoor gathering in this JBL Xtreme 4 review.

What you need to know about the JBL Xtreme 4

The JBL Xtreme 4 is a rugged outdoor speaker with an IP67 protection rating. From the rubber bumpers protecting the passive radiators to the shoulder strap with a built-in bottle opener, the Xtreme 4 is ready to party just about anywhere. It’s not an elegant-looking speaker; there are much nicer-looking options if you’re after a Bluetooth speaker purely for home use. This one is designed with weekend camping trips and hot summer beach days in mind.

Cosmetically, the new Xtreme 4 looks similar to its predecessor, the Xtreme 3. You’ll need to look closer to find out what’s new and improved. One of the most notable upgrades is the addition of a rechargeable, swappable battery pack. While the unit still charges via USB-C, you can purchase a second JBL battery pack (currently $99 on the JBL website) to ensure your party goes all night long. Unfortunately, this new feature eliminates a couple of things. Unlike the Xtreme 3, the Xtreme 4 no longer features an AUX input or USB-A courtesy outlet. However, the single USB-C port works both ways; you can still charge your phone from it.

Speaking of power, it’s important to note that the Xtreme 4 speaker only provides 100W of output (2x 30W woofers and 2x 20W tweeters) when connected to the supplied AC to USB-C power source. Running on battery power, typical for an outdoor speaker, the Xtreme 4’s output power unfortunately drops to 70W (2x 20W woofers and 2x 15W tweeters).

What’s good about the JBL Xtreme 4?

As mentioned, the Xtreme 4 is built to handle just about any outdoor adventure, including the trip there. It’s not a speaker you have to baby; you can toss this one into the back of your car, and it’s no stress if it takes a dip in the pool. Your controls have now been split into two mini-control strips compared to the Xtreme 3. One row contains backlit power, Bluetooth, and new Auracast buttons, and one contains raised playback controls. While these raised controls are easy to find, considering you’ll use the playback control more often, it would be nice if they were also backlit.

The Xtreme 4 connects to your device via Bluetooth 5.3. While it does offer multipoint, which allows you to switch between two devices seamlessly, it’s still SBC only. There is no option for higher bitrate listening, but considering the Xtreme 4 is designed for rowdy outdoor parties, this should be fine for most potential users.

The JBL Portable app is also worth downloading to get the most out of this football-shaped speaker. While the companion app previously only offered a basic 3-band EQ to use with the Xtreme 3, the JBL Portable app offers four EQ presets. I was also happy that the 3-band EQ has been upgraded to a 5-band customizable EQ; now, you can personalize your sound further. The app will also allow you to connect to Auracast-supported JBL speakers like the new Clip 5 and Go 4.

Another significant upgrade the Xtreme 4 offers is a jump in battery life. JBL states that the Xtreme 4 can achieve 24 hours of playback with its new battery pack design, compared to the 15 hours offered by the Xtreme 3. Of course, your mileage will vary depending on factors like your EQ setting and volume levels, but as mentioned, you can now purchase a second battery pack from JBL if you have concerns.

Speaking of cranking things up, the Xtreme 4 can get pretty loud. The 70W of output this speaker provides on battery power is enough to keep a large-sized indoor or medium-sized outdoor gathering going. It does an excellent job at isolating and pumping up the low-end frequencies of a kick drum, even when listening to hard rock classics like “Twist of Cain” by Danzig, a song off an album that certainly did not win any awards for production. I noticed a steady low-end rumble while using the Xtreme 4 while genre skipping. That said, while the bass certainly sounds big, and you’ll hear the constant pulse of your favorite EDM song from a distance, let’s get into what could be better about the Xtreme 4.

What’s not so good about the JBL Xtreme 4?

I can’t say that the Xtreme 4 does a great job with its stereo left and right separation. Listening to “Dynamite Delorean” by Todd Terje and other more heavily produced tracks, the winding, panning of its retro synth-sounding layers doesn’t exactly translate to how I’m used to hearing them. Loudness and quality bass response aside, the rest of the mix for a stereo party speaker sounds confined and narrow, almost mono-sounding, as if the instruments are piled on each other.

Design-wise, the Xtreme 4 could use a handle like the one on the JBL Boombox 3. The shoulder strap is great for getting the speaker from your car to the waterfront, but if you need to move the speaker from place to place quickly, it can be challenging to pick up with one hand. You end up bunching up the strap awkwardly in a fist to move it across the table.

When it comes to the new swappable battery pack, they’re $99 each on JBL’s website. For less money, you could buy a quality external power bank to recharge your speaker, not to mention multiple devices around camp simultaneously. On the topic of battery, a quick note about the “PlaytimeBoost”. While JBL advertises an extra 6 hours of playback under this mode, it only achieves this by eliminating all bass frequencies to save some battery. You’re left with a sound similar to a Podcast or Vocal Booster EQ setting; it’s not great.

Lastly, it is disappointing that a speaker clearly designed for outdoor use can only offer you and your party guests maximum wattage when connected to an AC outlet. At $379.95, the Xtreme 4 isn’t cheap. It costs a premium, and unfortunately, I struggle to understand why this speaker is so expensive.

JBL Xtreme 4 specs:

Should you buy the JBL Xtreme 4?

At $379.95, I find it hard to recommend paying full price for the Xtreme 4. If you are okay with spending a lot and want a loud, durable speaker with decent bass for camping trips and BBQs, this speaker will do the job. Otherwise, keep an eye on the JBL website, as they often have sales. However, as mentioned, less expensive party speakers are available today that offer unique features and customizable sound, not just a new swappable battery pack.

If you want to save yourself a hearty $130, I recommend checking out the more affordable Anker Soundcore Boom 2 Plus.($249.99 at Amazon) While it’s a little bigger than the Xtreme 4, it’s still portable with its built-in handle and shoulder strap. This party speaker is IPX7, it floats, and it offers 140w of stereo output with plenty of booming bass on tap. It also features built-in LED party lights on its passive radiators. You can customize the lights via the companion app and use the 10-band EQ to fine-tune your speaker. Lastly, in my own A/B testing, I found the more extended design of the Boom 2 plus helped with its stereo left-right separation and provided a much wider sounding listening experience compared to the Xtreme 4.

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