Verdict
Sensible modifications and improved sound make the JBL Cost 6 the Bluetooth speaker to beat on this space of the market.
Clear, detailed, weighty audio
Lengthy battery life (on the proper quantity)
Sturdy Bluetooth efficiency over lengthy distances
Lossless audio over USB-C
Carry strap
No USB-C cable included
Barely overrated battery claims
Key Options
Powerbank
Internall battery can cost different gadgets
IP68
Water- and dust-proof, plus drop-proof
USB-C
Lossless audio by way of USB-C
Introduction
The JBL Cost 5 was, in widespread parlance, a banger of a Bluetooth speaker. The Cost 6 builds on that basis by bringing some wanted and helpful tweaks to the earlier components.
Longer battery life, a carry deal with, and AI-assisted sound are among the many spherical of enhancements. The Cost 5 set the benchmark, does the Cost 6 push it additional?
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Design
- Water and dust-proof
- Carry strap
- USB-C enter
Identical to the earlier variations, the Cost 6 is the speaker in JBL’s out of doors vary that almost all seems to be such as you’d need to play American Soccer or catch with it. Although at over 1kg of weight, you gained’t need it to hit you within the face (or anyplace else for that matter).
Regardless of the load achieve (1.37kg), the brand new removable carry strap makes carrying really feel as if it’s lighter. The strap is straightforward to affix, and as soon as it’s carried out, you may have one thing lower than an American Soccer and extra like a purse.
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The button placement has modified to accommodate the strap, with two rows of controls for the Flip 7’s Auracast characteristic, energy, quantity, and playback controls. The USB-A port is gone, with a lone USB-C port included that additionally helps lossless audio from one other supply. It’s a disgrace then that JBL not features a cable with the Cost 6.
The IP ranking has shifted from IP67 to IP68, which makes this speaker waterproof and dustproof (it’ll survive submersion at a sure depth for some time). It’s additionally drop-proof from a couple of metre, so no want to fret if you happen to’re the member of the occasion with clumsy arms.
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Colors embrace pink, squad, purple, blue, black, pink and white.
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Battery Life
- 24 hours claimed
- Quick charging
- Acts a powerbank
With each the Grip and the Flip 7, I’ve talked about that the battery life isn’t so long as anticipated if you happen to’re taking part in at 50% quantity. Clearly, JBL’s testing is completed at decrease volumes, however with sure audio system, meaning you lose out on some audio efficiency, too.
I play music from a Spotify playlist (all the time shuffled) at 50% quantity for a number of hours with every wi-fi speaker I take a look at. After I did this with the Cost 6, I recorded a 20% drop in battery over two hours. That may recommend the speaker is able to 10 hours at 50% quantity.
However the Cost 6 is larger than both the Grip or Flip 7, and it might probably go louder. So dropping the quantity all the way down to about 30% (nonetheless good for sound) produces higher outcomes.
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After seven hours of taking part in music, the Cost 6 recorded an 11% drop. I’m not going to trouble with maths, however that’s quite a bit higher and means that 24 hours (JBL’s claimed battery life) is properly inside attain, and that maybe probably the most optimum quantity for battery life is within the 40% quantity space.
Allow the Playtime Increase and that gives one other 4 hours, in keeping with JBL. The Cost 6 also can carry out as a powerbank, although JBL says there’s not sufficient juice to energy a laptop computer. There’s quick charging help with 10 minutes offering an additional 2.5 hours, and it’s faster to refuel the tank than it was with the Cost 5, taking three hours from zero to full.
Options
- Bluetooth 5.4
- Auracast
- JBL Transportable app
Options isn’t an space the place JBL’s Bluetooth audio system pack a lot of a punch. It’s quite simple and to the purpose.
I’ve talked about that it might probably act as a powerbank and may play lossless audio via its USB-C enter. The Bluetooth 5.4 connection helps AAC streaming, which is par for the course at this worth. The Bluetooth connection is stellar, with no connection points over lengthy distances.
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There’s Auracast for grouping the Cost 6 with different suitable JBL audio system. There’s the potential of stereo pairing if you happen to’ve acquired two handy.
With the JBL Transportable app, you may verify the battery life, replace the speaker’s firmware, and mess around with the sound within the EQ presets and customized choices.
Sound High quality
- Clearer, extra detailed than Cost 5
- Weighty bass
- Spacious sound
It’s fast from the off that the Cost 6 has a extra highly effective sound than the Cost 5. The facility has been boosted from 40 to 45W, and on the similar quantity, you may hear the Cost 6 expel low frequencies with extra drive.
It’s an even bigger sound and JBL has made some sensible tweaks. It’s a little bit clearer via the frequency vary and positive aspects a little bit extra when it comes to sounding pure. It’s a easy copy of music, so whereas there are areas for additional enchancment, in relation to power, vocal readability, low-end efficiency, and element, it’s a transparent enchancment over the Cost 5.
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With the midrange and vocals, there’s extra depth, element, definition and readability. The Cost 6 is healthier at separating voices from the remainder of the observe than the Cost 5, so vocals stand out extra.
With Shaka Khan’s Ain’t No person, within the second half of the observe, the Cost 6 picks out her voice with extra readability and definition than the Cost 5, which sounds a bit extra mumbly regardless of its crisper tone. The vocal readability of the Cost 6 is superb, whether or not coping with feminine or male audio system.
It’s extra deft in speaking the highs, so though treble isn’t the brightest, in comparison with the Cost 5 these highs are clearer and extra higher outlined, making the older speaker sound thinner compared. There’s a way that the highs are smoothed out, however it does imply the Cost 6 is much less abrasive and fatiguing with the highs.
Bass is weighty, summoning good quantities of power and depth – it digs deeper than the Cost 5 and sounds clearer. The bass additionally holds up when taking part in music open air, so whereas it’s less than the requirements of the Brane X, it performs properly.
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The Cost 6 additionally sounds rather more managed than the Cost 5, the sound of which may usually spill out into sounding brighter, harsher and thinner by comparability. The Cost 6 pushes out extra power and energy, music tracks stream higher, there’s extra dynamism (although nonetheless not a lot) which makes for a greater all-round sound.
The Cost 6 is extra articulate, extra fluent, extra enjoyable than the Cost 5. It’s higher at filling a room with sound, higher when it comes to loudness. It’s not the best-sounding Cost speaker within the vary, an honour that goes to the Cost 5 Wi-Fi, however when it comes to purely Bluetooth audio system, it’s the most effective within the sequence.
That’s to not say there aren’t areas for enchancment. Bass may go deeper with some tracks that require extra extension, and the highs may stand out extra, however these are minor quibbles. Should you had the selection of a transportable Bluetooth speaker and, say, an indoor Bluetooth speaker just like the Bose SoundLink House to select from, the JBL wins.
Must you purchase it?
You need the most effective Bluetooth speaker in its subject
Sure there’s competitors from the likes of Marshall and Bose, and whereas the hole is closing in some respects, the JBL continues to be the outright chief.
You want even larger sound
JBL’s Xtreme and Boombox sequence provide larger sound if you happen to’re actually trying to make some noise.
Ultimate Ideas
Small tweaks add as much as an enchancment over the Cost 5. Like with the Flip 7, JBL has made considerate modifications to the design and sound, offering extra bang on your buck with what’s fairly simply the most effective Bluetooth audio system.
The battery lasts for longer (on the proper quantity), and it’s retained a lot of the core options such because the powerbank whereas beefing up its IP ranking and including lossless audio over USB-C. It is a Bluetooth speaker that provides nice worth and efficiency, making certain JBL stays the model to beat.
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How We Take a look at
The JBL Cost 6 was examined over three weeks, in comparison with the Cost 5 for sound.
Battery drains and Bluetooth connectivity checks had been carried out.
- Examined with actual world use
- Examined for 3 weeks
- Battery drains carried out
Full Specs
JBL Cost 6 Assessment
UK RRP
£169
USA RRP
$199
Producer
JBL
IP ranking
IP68
Battery Hours
24
Quick Charging
Sure
Dimension (Dimensions)
x x INCHES
Weight
1.37 KG
Launch Date
2025
Audio Decision
SBC, AAC
Ports
USB-C
Audio (Energy output)
45 W
Colors
Purple, Squad, Purple, Blue, Black, Pink and White
Frequency Vary
56 20000 – Hz
Speaker Sort
Transportable Speaker
