This is the review of the comparison between two portable Bluetooth speakers from the same brand. The comparison here is between the JBL JR POP and the JBL Go 3. There is only ten dollars difference in their price range. To know which one is good for you to buy, go to the detailed review.
JBL JR POP | JBL Go 3 |
BUY NOW | BUY NOW |
PROS | PROS |
Crisp, clear audio performance. Portable design. Waterproof. Built-in LED lights. Extremely Lightweight. | Weatherproof (IP67 dust/water certified). Rich, crisp, relatively powerful audio for the size. Low Android and iOS latency. USB Type-C for charging. |
CONS | CONS |
Has no Charge Level Indicator. Lacks low-bass. Can get louder than is ideal for kids. | Battery life could have been a little longer. Limited onboard controls. Lacks low-bass. No speakerphone, digital assistant support. |
SPECIFICATIONS:
HEADER | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Brand | JBL | JBL |
Model | JR POP | Go 3 |
Manufacturer | Harman | Harman |
AUDIO SYSTEM | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Type | speaker | speaker |
Designed For | for portable use | for portable use |
SPEAKER SYSYTEM | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Hands-Free Function | Yes | Yes |
Amplification Type | active | active |
Multiroom | ||
Nominal Output Power | 3 Watt | |
Frequency Response | 190 – 20000 Hz | 110Hz – 20kHz |
Audio Amplifier | integrated | integrated |
Connectivity Technology | wireless | wireless |
Built-in Decoders | ||
Controls | ||
SPEAKER SYSTEM DETAILS | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Speaker Type | Bluetooth Speaker | Bluetooth Speaker |
Speaker Channel Type | mono | mono |
Nominal (RMS) Output Power | 4.2W | |
Driver type | full-range driver | full-range driver |
Driver Diameter | 1.5 m | |
BATTERY | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Rechargeable Battery | rechargeable | rechargeable |
Run Time (up to) | 5 hour(s) | 5 hour(s) |
Recharge Time | 2 hour(s) | 2.5 hour(s) |
CONNECTIONS | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Type | DC power input | |
Connector Type | USB Type-C | |
DIMENSIONS & WEIGHT | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Type | Speaker | Speaker |
Width | 3.5 in | 3.4 in |
Depth | 3 in | 1.6 in |
Height | 1.6 in | 3 in |
Weight | 4.27 oz | 7.37 oz |
FEATURES | JBL JR POP | JBL GO 3 |
Features | JBL Sound Quality Designed for Kids. Wireless Bluetooth Streaming. IPX7 waterproof. Built-in multicolor light themes. Audio Cable Input. Connector Type: 3.5Mm Stereo. Power Source Type: Battery Powered. | A full-featured IP67 waterproof and dustproof Bluetooth speaker to take with you everywhere. Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery supports up to 5 hours of playtime. This kit offers up the GO 3 with a gSport Deluxe Hard Case with a rigid structured surface covered in tough nylon. The Sport Deluxe Case’s soft velvet interior protects the speaker and integrated mesh pocket is designed perfectly for accessories. |
Detail Review:
INTRODUCTION:
JBL JR POP
The JBL JR POP is a portable Bluetooth speaker from the JBL that is specially designed and launched for kids. This does not only look like it is for kids but also build in the way it can sustain by the kids for that purpose this speaker has an IPX7 rating. This speaker is retailing for around forty dollars currently on Amazon.
JBL Go 3
The JBL Go 3 is the latest version speaker of the Go series speakers from the JBL. This speaker is also retailing for quite a budget-friendly price range. This speaker is retailing for around fifty dollars currently on Amazon.
DESIGN:
JBL JR POP
As far as the first impressions, this speaker is like a toy, it’s made of that really durable plastic and rubber, it looks like this thing you can take a beating, so this is probably why they do marketing this type of body to the kids because I think you can safely give this to a kid and not worry about them breaking it. It comes in all different eye-popping colors. On the back of the speaker there, we got the traditional JBL logo. On the side, there are the plus and minus volume buttons and on the bottom there you’ve got your micro USB charging port, and then when we turn it to the other side, we have the LED on/off button, then you have your Bluetooth connect button, and then your on and off switch.
What I notice also is a little harder to push in than the other JBL portable speakers probably because they want this to be a little harder for kids to press in and start messing with but if you press hard enough, you’re gonna get there. If I compare this size-wise to Clip 3, it’s considerably smaller. It does have a little strap while Clip 3 has the metal carabiner. This one just has the button strap on the back, so you can attach it to the clothes, backpack, or whatever, and snaps right down and then there you go it should be secure enough for kids running around or whatever they’re doing on the playground.
JBL Go 3
It basically still has that square shape but it’s not as boxy anymore. We have these nice rounded curves. It’s wrapped in a nice fabric mesh, so it feels very sturdy, very durable, and can probably stand up to a drop or two this thing feels pretty sturdy. Then we have very large JBL branding that dominates the front of this speaker, and it’s in that same soft rubber material that we see all through the body here. On the bottom of the speaker, we have some nice soft rubber feet, and putting it on the ground grips the table pretty nicely, and then on the backside, we have more of that soft rubber.
We have a nice integrated loop right here which makes this little speaker ultra-portable, and on that loop, we have more of that soft rubber that we see throughout this speaker. Right next to that integrated loop, we have our USB-C charging port, super glad to see USB-C on this. As we turn it around to the other side, we have our power button, our Bluetooth button, and some more Go 3 branding, and then right there we just have an led status light. Then on the very top of the speaker, we have our plus and minus buttons that act as volume up and volume down, and then right in the center, we have our play pause button which also doubles as track forward and there’s no trackback on this speaker.
FEATURES:
JBL JR POP
The JBL JR POP is coming in multiple colors, they had blue, got a green, red, purple, pink, and aqua color. As far as the features they claim on their website, we got wireless Bluetooth streaming, 5 hours of playtime, it’s IPX7 waterproof so you can basically submerge this up to 3 feet for a half hour and it’s going to be perfectly fine, a built-in multicolor light mode that’s cool, and ultra-portable with strap. As far as the general specs, its got 3 watts of output power, it has music playing time of five hours, waterproof, light shell, Bluetooth, auto power-off, it weighs 0.26 pounds that would be 0.12 kilograms and battery capacity is 600 milliamp battery and takes two hours to charge.
Inside the box, you get your speaker itself, your USB charging cable, then your Quick Start, and it comes with a bunch of stickers, so if they want to decorate this thing however they like, it comes with a bunch of goofy emojis, eyes, mouth, some letters, and numbers. What happens if you put this on one of your kids and they go outside and they get caught in the rain or they accidentally drop it into a pool or a lake, they claim is IPX7 waterproof, so it will alright till 30 minutes. If you notice here on the speaker, the charging port is open but they still claim this is IPX7 waterproof and also, it floats which is really good.
Those little LEDs do light up like a little mini-light show but they don’t sink to the music which is kind of a bummer. To pair these up, turn on the speaker and press the Bluetooth button and then you need to turn on the Bluetooth in your mobile phone and it should automatically be searching for this speaker and then select JBL JR POP and that’s it you are connected. As mentioned before the LEDs don’t sink to the music which is unfortunate. I really wish this kind of sync to the music because that would be pretty cool but as is I think the kids will love this little LED light show going on.
JBL Go 3
The JBL Go 3 comes in a little clear plastic case with very familiar orange branding right there and really nothing else to talk about on the box. Inside the box, you get the speaker itself, then your USB Type-C charging cable, and warranty information, and manual. The JBL Go 3 comes in multiple colors, a blue one, there’s a light blue, there’s a gray, there’s a red, and then there’s a black and then it looks like they have multiple color combinations that you can get as well.
It has an output power of 4.2W RMS, a frequency response of 110 hertz to 20 kilohertz, we have a built-in 2.775-watt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery, We get up to five hours of playtime on a two and a half-hour charge. We have the latest technology with Bluetooth 5.1 and as you already know is charged via a USB Type-C cable, and we have IP67 dust and waterproof rating, so the six means it’s completely dustproof and the seven means you can submerge it underwater up to three feet for a half hour. The Go 3 is 3.4 inches by 2.7 inches by 1.6 inches and they say it weighs 0.46 pounds on the website. To connect this speaker with your mobile phone, first of all, you need to turn on the speaker and then press the Bluetooth button. Then turn on the Bluetooth in your mobile phone and search for the JBL Go 3 in the list and select it and you are done.
If we do a size comparison compared to the JBL Clip 3, the thickness differences between Clip 3 and the Go 3. Then if we compare it to the Tribit StormBox Micro, the size differences it is just a tad bit smaller than the StormBox Micro. How nice and light this feels in the hand in my opinion is the Go 3 just has a much better aesthetic than the previous Go 2. I just think it has a more modern and pleasing look to it and I love the addition of the little integrated loop right there, so you can basically just hang this anywhere you want to that will fit this little integrated loop.
SOUND QUALITY:
JBL JR POP
It’s not a bad little speaker for the size, it has a little bit of bass to it, the highs sound pretty nice. It’s not the best JBL speaker out there but it’s not trying to be as this is made specifically for kids and it’s actually a pretty nice offering if you ask me. It has such a nice little rumble to it, this speaker has some pretty nice rich-sounding bass but what I like is the bass doesn’t seem to drown out the highs in the mids at any given point, even at 100%. It actually sounds louder than it is ideal for kids.
JBL Go 3
I’ve listened to multiple types of music in multiple genres and the first time I played music through the speaker my first impression was just how much volume and how powerful this little speaker was. The sweet spot is at 75 volume and it’s because it really is the sweet spot for most of these Bluetooth speakers and the JBL Go 3 is no different. So right at 75%, it has a really nice full-sounding bass, which you really wouldn’t expect from a speaker this small. But at the same time, the mids and the highs were extremely clear no matter what type of music I was listening to. In my opinion, 75 percent of rock music seemed to sound the best for some reason just the sound of the drums, very clean-sounding guitar, very clear vocals, and even the symbols came in very clear on the high end. Generally, at 100% I usually expect a speaker this small to get a little jumbled, a little muddy sounding. Most of the time the bass tries to overcome the mids and the highs.
WHICH TO BUY?
As the name claims if you want a portable speaker for your kids then the JBL JR POP is good for you to buy than the JBL Go 3. IF you want a nice portable Bluetooth speaker for you to be taken on camping and all then the JBL Go 3 is good for you to buy than the JBL JR POP.
Expert Reviews of JBL JR POP:
By PC Mag
The JBL JR Pop is a kid-friendly portable waterproof speaker with a low price, though it may get louder than some parents will be okay with.By Rtings
The JBL JR POP speaker is alright for outdoor use. It’s very small and lightweight, so it’s easy to bring on the go, and kids…By myaudiolover.com
This JBL JR Pop is simply irresistible to use as a Bluetooth speaker. I found it unique from the rest of the choices in the market. This is indeed…By thestreamingblog.com
What makes the JBL JR POP absolutely child-friendly is that it’s IPX7 rated waterproof. The light show is a great bonus to the device since it adds to the fun…Expert Reviews of JBL Go 3:
By gadgetbytanpal.com
To conclude this review, the JBL GO 3 is a fine addition to the company’s lineup of portable speakers. It brings great maturity…By PCMag
JBL’s Go 3 speaker delivers solid wireless audio performance in a waterproof, easily portable design for a low price.By RTings
The JBL GO 3 is disappointing for videos and movies. Its balanced mid-range helps it reproduce voices and dialogue clearly, but…By which.co.uk
The JBL Go 3 seems to be a good value, small Bluetooth speaker. It’s waterproof and there are…