JBL Link 20

Smart speaker from JBL

With Amazon allowing other speaker makers to embed Alexa in their own models, it was only a matter of time before Google did the same with its Assistant. As soon as this happened, smart speakers from popular acoustic manufacturers rained down on the market. One of the first was JBL with the Link line.

Waterproof and battery powered

The younger model Link 20 is a compact hybrid of a conventional JBL Charge portable speaker and a Google Home smart home centre. It has a built-in battery that allows you to work up to 10 hours at medium volume, but there is no analogue audio input and a minimum of control buttons. Command with your voice. Plus, the JBL Link 20 is water resistant (IPX7 rated) and can withstand submersion up to a metre deep for up to 30 minutes. However if you put it under water in the sink, then the assistant is unlikely to hear you because of the noise of the water.

Google Assistant

As for the assistant, here we have a multifunctional Assistant from Google, which not so long ago learned to understand the Russian language. The assistant can do a lot of things: control smart devices (light bulbs, refrigerators, smart switches, etc.), stream music from Spotify and other streaming services, wake up according to a schedule, turn on your favorite series, and even talk a little about life.

Loud, clean and punchy

In terms of sound quality, Link is very close to the average Charge models — they play loud, clear and assertive. At the same time, there is no overabundance of bass, traditional for JBL. All in all, the Link 20 sounds surprisingly pleasant for a takeaway speaker format. Plus, if you combine several speakers into a multi-room system, you can get a good set of home acoustics.