Comparison JBL Charge 5 vs JBL Charge 4

— 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).

A band is a specific part of the frequency range reproduced by an acoustic system. In single-way acoustics, only universal speakers are used that are responsible for the entire operating range. The presence of several bands means the use of specialized speakers, “tailored” to certain frequencies: for example, in two-way speakers, separate high-frequency “tweeters” are most often provided, and in three-way speakers the frequencies are divided into low, medium and high.

For different frequencies, the optimal speaker design will also be different; thus, the multi-band design allows for better sound quality. On the other hand, single-way speakers are lighter, more compact and less expensive. This is exactly what most portable speakers are, since Hi-Fi sound is not alien to them.

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.

The presence in the design of the acoustics of a protected housing that prevents dust and moisture from entering the sensitive electronic filling. The specific degree of such protection in different models may be different — some speakers are able to endure even complete immersion under water ( waterproof), others are designed only for exposure to moderate rain. Therefore, the specifics of the protected case should be clarified separately according to the manufacturer's official data. However, anyway, such speakers will be more resistant to bad weather and better suited for outdoor use than those that do not have dust and water protection; therefore, if you are choosing acoustics for outdoor trips, it makes sense to pay attention to models with this function.

Some models with this feature are officially IP certified. The IP index includes two digits — for example, IP54. The first digit indicates the degree of protection against dust, the second — from moisture; the higher the number, the higher the corresponding degree of protection, detailed data can be found in special sources.