Comparison JBL Clip 3 vs JBL Clip 2

— Bluetooth. Wireless technology for transmitting sound from mobile phones, tablets, etc. Allows connecting a device wirelessly at a short distance from the signal source. The quality and overall capabilities of Bluetooth depend on the version:

Bluetooth 4. Each version brings improvements over the previous one. For instance, version 4.0 integrated three standards: traditional Bluetooth, high-speed channel, and a power-saving mode for small data volumes. This optimized channel usage and battery consumption. In version 4.1, interference resistance was enhanced near 4G LTE modules. Version 4.2 mainly offered overall improvements in speed and security.

Bluetooth 5.0. One of the most significant innovations of the Bluetooth 5.0 standard was the expansion of the BLE ("Bluetooth Low Energy") mode capabilities: when necessary, the device can increase range by reducing speed, or speed up transmission by reducing range. Additionally, several enhancements were made for simultaneous operation with multiple connected devices.

— Bluetooth 5.1. A substantial upgrade in version 5.1 was the ability for precise positioning of the signal transmitter (receiver). While previous versions could only determine distance, version 5.1 can also determine direction. This improved navigation functionality, enhancing smart home systems, locatin...g connected devices, etc. Additionally, improvements again addressed power-saving and simultaneous operation with multiple connected devices.

— Bluetooth 5.2. The next update after 5.1 in the Bluetooth 5 generation. The main innovations in this version were a range of security enhancements, additional power consumption optimization in LE mode, and a new audio signal format for synchronizing parallel playback on multiple devices.

— Bluetooth 5.3. The Bluetooth v 5.3 wireless communication protocol was introduced at the beginning of 2022. Innovations speeded up the channel agreement process between the controller and the device, implemented fast switching between low duty cycle and high-speed mode, improved bandwidth and connection stability by reducing susceptibility to interference. In case of unexpected interference in Low Energy mode, the channel selection procedure for switching is now faster. The 5.3 protocol does not present fundamental innovations, but several qualitative improvements are evident.

— Bluetooth 5.4. Introduced in early 2023, the version increased the range and data exchange speed. Also, Bluetooth v 5.4 enhanced the BLE power-saving mode. This protocol uses new security features to protect data from unauthorized access, has increased connection reliability by selecting the best channel for communication, and prevents connection losses due to interference.

— Mini-Jack (3.5 mm). Standard Aux audio input for connecting speakers to an audio signal source — for example, a laptop or smartphone.

— USB. Presence of a USB port allows connecting USB flash drives, mobile phones, MP3 players, and other similar peripherals to portable speakers. Therefore, such models have a built-in player and enable using connected gadgets solely as storage devices.

— Card reader. Like the above-described USB, this feature implies the presence of a built-in player in the speaker system. A card reader allows using memory cards as storage where songs can be recorded.

— FM receiver. An integrated tuner, allowing the speaker system to function as a full-fledged FM radio receiver — this range is popular among music radio stations (particularly due to the ability to broadcast sound in stereo format).

The ratio of the level of the useful signal (the actual sound being reproduced) to the level of extraneous noise provided by the speaker amplifier in normal mode.

Any amplifier inevitably creates its own noise; You cannot get rid of them, but you can reduce their level. The higher the signal-to-noise ratio, the cleaner the sound will be, the less noticeable extraneous interference will be. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the signal-to-noise ratio is far from the only parameter that affects sound quality, and its high value does not guarantee pleasant sound from the speakers.

The presence of a passive radiator in the design of the speaker system.

Such an emitter is a speaker cone that does not have its own coil and magnet — in other words, it does not produce sound itself, but only vibrates from the sound of other speakers. Like the phase inverter (see above), this part is intended to improve sound pressure and sound depth, especially at low frequencies; at the same time, the advantage of a passive radiator is the absence of a tube, due to which the design is simpler and more compact than with a phase inverter.

The total power of all channels of the speaker system. The higher the power, the larger the size of the room in which the audio system can be used, however, more powerful portable speakers usually have larger dimensions and weight.

The model supports the ability to synchronize the operation of several speakers connected to one signal source. This solution allows you to realize truly stereo sound, improve the quality and power of sound reproduction, and also expand the stereo panorama. The only thing is that both speakers must support the appropriate connection type. Different brands may have their own technologies for combining speakers (JBL Connect, JBL PartyBoost, Sony Party Chain), or maybe a universal TWS.

Theoretically, a higher capacity allows to achieve greater battery life, but in fact, the operating time also depends on the power consumption of acoustics — and it can be very different, depending on the characteristics and design features. So this parameter is secondary, and when choosing it is worth paying attention not so much to the battery capacity, but to the directly claimed operating time (see below).

Operating time of a portable audio system without connecting to an external power source (network or USB port, depending on the capabilities). Note that manufacturers tend to indicate battery life in their specifications under optimal conditions for energy saving: at low volume, without using additional functions, etc. Therefore, in fact, this indicator may be noticeably lower than the claimed one, and speakers with a long operating time will not sound at full volume for the specified hours.

The time it takes to charge a fully discharged device to 100% charge.