Throughout Sha Sha Sha we become aware of the Flip 5’s ability not just to relay the material it’s given, but also to layer and celebrate it. Post-punk is one of the tougher genres we could have selected, and yet all musical strands are held competently in check, from the manic high hat to the angry bass to Chatten’s vocal in Big, which is given admirable due diligence, quality and texture. For a speaker slightly smaller than the Ultimate Ears Boom 3, it’s an impressively weighty performance through the bass. Grian Chatten’s vocal comes in centrally amid the tight, pounding bass drum, agile driving electric bass riff and expansive guitar chords. Pairing is a breeze, and the connection never falters. We start listening to Fontaines DC’s Too Real on Tidal from our iPhone 7. So, with the aux-in port and mic removed and a slightly bigger new driver, we are wondering whether the focus of the JBL Flip 5 has been more on sound performance. The app itself is otherwise a simple affair, with no scope for treble or bass alterations, although you can rename your Flip 5 if you’d like. The options for linking the Flip 5, then, are currently limited to more Flip 5s or the Pulse 4 a stumbling block for those who already own one or more JBL speakers they want to partner.
Want to connect the Flip 4 and Flip 5 in stereo or mono mode? Unfortunately, that’s not possible – and there are no plans to update older models to support the newer PartyBoost function via a firmware update.
This is not the same as the Connect+ button seen on the Flip 4, Charge 4 and older JBL Bluetooth speakers. Through the JBL Connect app, pressing the PartyBoost button on the Flip 5 helps you pair two PartyBoost-enabled speakers to create a stereo pair, or to link over 100 PartyBoost-compatible speakers in mono.
On our dark blue model, these four black, unlit buttons are somewhat difficult to locate in fading light, especially if the Flip 5 isn’t resting in our hands – perhaps not ideal for a quick volume adjustment, but it’s a minor issue.
The Flip 5 scores highly for portability, and once resting in our palm, the wrist strap slips comfortably over our hand and the buttons feel easily accessible.Īside from a light-indicator to denote charging next to the Flip 5’s only port, there are light-up power and Bluetooth buttons along its rubberised spine, plus a play/pause button, volume controls and a PartyBoost button on top of the casing. For testing, we place it in landscape mode so that both passive bass radiators are open to the elements.
Nothing has been compromised and all is well.Īlthough JBL claims you can stand the Flip 5 on one of its ends or lie it lengthways for listening, when placed upright it doesn’t stand entirely vertical. Music plays throughout and it soon dries off when we take it out. We test the JBL’s resolve by filling our sink with water and submerging the unit for a few minutes. There’s no cover for the USB-C charging port and though it is waterproofed, it isn’t tested against salt or sand ingress at the beach. This means you should be able to submerge it in water at a depth of one metre for 30 minutes. JBL claims the Flip 5 is waterproof to an IPX7 rating.