We managed to grab one of the
presents given to celebs at the BRIT Awards
Details
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Price: $165
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Manufacturer: Harman International Industries
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Website: www.jbl.com
Named after James Bullough Lansing, a
leading influence in the development of speaker systems that help revolutionize
the cinematic audio experience, the JBL Flip is a speaker unit with
speakerphone capabilities. Although bearing the same name as the camcorder Flip
so dramatically killed off by Cisco, this JBL product does not have a
‘flip-out’ USB Connector. In fact, it does not make use of USB at all, instead
using Bluetooth as its means of communicating with other devices such as
smartphones or tablets.
JBL
Flip Portable Wireless Loudspeaker
Cylindrical in shape, this speaker unit has
dimensions of 63 x 160mm (diameter x height) and comes with a padded carry
pouch. The unit is predominately white in color although the wrap-around grille
does give it a speckled appearance. Depending on whether you prefer the device
laid flat or stood upright on one end, the unit’s few controls are located on
the left end or top of the speaker. Personally, I prefer the upright position,
which gives easier access to the power and telephone buttons plus the volume
rocker. There are connections for mains power and an Aux device on the rear of
the unit.
Cylindrical
in shape, this speaker unit has dimensions of 63 x 160mm (diameter x height)
and comes with a padded carry pouch.
When you first power up the Flip, its power
button emits a pale blue glow and flickers while it searches for any paired
device. This is totally separate from the actual pairing process. To put the
Flip in this mode you need to hold down the power button until it begins to
flash alternately blue and red. At this point you can put your audio device
(smartphone, tablet etc) in search mode so that a pairing can be achieved.
Generally, I found that I needed a couple of attempts before I was able to
achieve a pairing with the various devices I used. Once the initial pairing was
complete, the Flip would immediately connect to whatever device was being used.
All
the buttons, including the speakerphone call/end button, are in one location.
Whether using a Bluetooth connection or the
Aux socket (you do need to provide the lead as one is not supplied), I was
reasonably impressed with the delivered audio quality with 2 x 5W
amplification. There’s a slight drop in volume level, nothing too drastic, when
switching between a Bluetooth and Aux source but not to degree you get with
some products. Unlike some other Bluetooth speakers, which only allow either
Bluetooth or Aux delivery of audio, the Flip is quite willing to accept an
audio stream from both routes simultaneously. I am not sure why you would want
to do this, but the option is there if the mood takes you to mix your music.
There's
an auxiliary input for non-Bluetooth devices (optional cable required). Alas,
the speaker doesn't charge via USB.
If the device paired with the Flip has
telephonic capabilities, then the Flip can act as a speakerphone. Any music
that is being played will be interrupted by an incoming call thus allowing you
to accept or reject as you would in the normal manner of things. If, during the
first call, a second call is detected, then you will have the opportunity to
pause the first call or hold the second call as you go about your business. A
further option allows you to issue voice commands via the Flip’s built-in
microphone – assuming your handset supports such features. At the conclusion of
your phone calls, the music will then resume automatically.
One slight disappointment with this
Bluetooth device is that it can take up to three hours to fully charge the
unit’s internal li-ion battery. This will give around five hours of playing
time.
