Today, we are writing this JBL Clip 4 Review to share a notable product released in 2020. This speaker is the 4th generation of the Clip series featuring an integrated carabiner hook. It allows you to clip the product to your bag or backpack wherever you go.
Its design slightly differs from the earlier Clip speakers, having a more squarish yet stylish shape. You can learn more about this product in our JBL Clip 4 Review. Here, we will look into its design, features, functions, specifications, and if it performs just as well.
JBL Clip 4 Packaging
The Clip 4 ships in a cardboard box with a transparent front that allows you to see the product. This space displays its name, the company branding, and primary features.
There is not much to see at the back of the box. You will only find an image of the product, branding, and the speaker name. Inside, the Clip 4 ships with the following items/accessories:
- USB-C Cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Safety Sheet
- Warranty Card
JBL Clip 4 Review – Design and Functionality
Earlier in this JBL Clip 4 Review, we mentioned that the speaker sports a squarish design. This form is more convenient since it is stylish and can fit in your hand.
Its front and back panels are rounded and covered in grilles to safeguard the 40mm 5W driver. Plus, a USB-C port is present at the bottom of the speaker.
Several colours are available, including grey, squad, black, red, pink, and blue. As its name states, the Clip 4 sports an integrated carabiner hook that lets you securely hang the speaker. Additionally, there is a JBL logo on the front part of the product.
Its rear has a set of rubber ribs that helps keep the Clip 4 in place. Even on a smooth surface, the product will not move around. Why is this necessary? High volumes increase the bass, which makes the speaker vibrate.
The Clip 4 is also battery-powered, lightweight, and small, making it highly portable. Mainly, it sports a design for increased portability, letting you take it anywhere.
Build Quality
Like other JBL products, the Clip 4 has an excellent build. Aside from sporting a rubber base, most of the product features a tight netting. Plus, its carabiner hook is sturdy, durable, and thick.
Design-wise, JBL guarantees it has an IP67 rating that makes it dust and water-resistant. The presence of this is to certify that the speaker is dust-free and immersible in up to 1m of water. You can keep it submerged for 30 minutes.
Moreover, this speaker houses an easy-to-access USB-C port, which is also sturdier than the one from previous generations. The latter was prone to breakage along its hinge. Fortunately, JBL listened to its customers, so its clip has tenuous parts embedded into the casing.
Lastly, operating the product is possible with a single hand, making it ideal for biking or walking around.
JBL Clip 4 Controls
We love its simple controls, which we experienced while testing the speakers for this JBL Clip 4 Review. It has dedicated buttons to switch on/off, pause/play audio, adjust the volume, and pair via Bluetooth.
You can press its play button twice to skip to the next tune. However, there is no way to return to the previous track.
We also appreciate how JBL made its buttons easy to press, and a chime plays when you increase its volume. To know if the Clip 4 is powered, a white light appears and flashes when pairing with a device. On top of the speaker is a red light that keeps you up-to-date with its battery life.
Remember that the Clip 4 does not have an integrated mic. That means you cannot use its buttons to answer/end calls.
Key Features of the JBL Clip 4
To help determine if this speaker is perfect for your needs, we listed the elements that make it worth considering.
Rich JBL Original Pro Sound
This feature offers punchy bass and rich audio thanks to the compact size of this speaker.
Bold Style + Ultra-portable Aesthetics
Its design blends nicely with current aesthetics, and its colourful material lets you express your style and preferences. This feature makes it look as good as it sounds.
Optimised Integrated Carabiner
Earlier in this JBL Clip 4 Review, we mentioned its built-in carabiner. It is a redesigned element that JBL integrated into the speaker for added protection and durability. This specific design allows you to take the product everywhere you go.
Just clip it onto your strap, bag/backpack, or belt, and you are ready to go.
Wireless Bluetooth Streaming with JBL Clip 4
You can stream music wirelessly from your smartphone, tablet, etc.
10 Hours of Continuous Battery Life
With longer battery hours, you do not have to worry about charging. This speaker gives you up to 10 hours of music playtime on a single charge.
Vibrant Colour Options of the JBL Clip 4
The Clip 4 has exclusive colourways inspired by street fashion trends. Choose from different fun shades and colour combinations.
IP67 Dustproof and Waterproof
With its IP67-rated enclosure, you can take the Clip 4 to the pool, park, and anywhere you go without worries.
Specifications
- Output power: 5W
- Dynamic Frequency Response Range: 100Hz – 20kHz
- Dimensions 8.6 x 13.5 x 4.6cm (3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches)
- Weight: 239g
- Charge Time: 3 hours
- Max Music Playtime: 10 hours
- Bluetooth:
– Frequency: 2400 – 2483.5MHz
– Profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6
– Transmitted Modulation: GFSK, 8DPSK, π/4 DQPSK
– Transmitter Power: 10 dBm (EIRP) or lower
– Version: 5.1
Hands-on with the JBL Clip 4
For this JBL Clip 4 Review, we used the speaker for a week to observe its performance. It allowed us to see how it fares under various scenarios.
JBL Clip 4 Audio Quality
Generally, the speaker sounds excellent, thanks to its standalone dynamic driver. Its perfect frequency response goes well with numerous music genres. However, its reduced bass is not ideal for hip-hop or electronic music.
Like the earlier Clip speakers, this product has more volume and enhanced audio quality than similar products. It can get loud enough to fill a standard-sized room with audio.
However, remember that it is a small product. It is not for massive and open spaces. Additionally, it has some compression when you max out its volume.
Frequency Response
The bass was adequate on the Clip 4, and its audio was superb when playing less demanding tracks. It excelled with acoustics, which offers more strength in the midrange. Plus, the speaker provides richer sound for movie playback than smartphone or tablet speakers.
Another thing we noticed about the Clip 4 was its slightly bass-heavy sound. Its extra punch carries over into the mids, muddying voices and lead instruments.
Due to its size, the speaker struggled to deliver the thump and rumble of the low bass. It was highly noticeable with EDM, hip-hop, and other bass-heavy genres.
This speaker barely implies sub-bass synth hits that accentuate the beat. It delivered the raspy top notes but not much on the low frequencies. Despite that, the drum loop received additional low-frequency heft.
Vocals
The Clip 4 delivered clean vocals with adequate clarity and minimal sibilance. What we loved about this speaker is it could get loud despite its size, but it never sacrificed quality.
We loved the clarity it delivered for spoken voice and singing. Plus, orchestral sounds were natural and balanced, which surprised us since Clip 4 is a tiny mono speaker. The lows remained present and were not overpowering, while higher bass and string instruments retained a bright presence.
Although most music has a stereo mix, the Clip 4 downmixed tracks into mono. But despite that, its 360-degree design delivered excellent directivity. As a result, the audio was consistent from all angles.
The vocal quality of the Clip 4 makes it an ideal speaker for listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts.
Connectivity
The connectivity of this product also impressed us while testing it for our JBL Clip 4 Review. It instantly paired with our devices and had an impressive range. We tried moving away from our device, and the speaker remained connected.
We also loved the low latency of the Clip 4 since it allowed us to enjoy videos and movies. There were no lip-synching issues since the audio synced with the videos we watched. However, some apps compensate for latency differently, which may deliver varied experiences.
JBL Clip 4 Review Summary
The Clip 4 is a simple yet powerful portable product that ticks every box for a high-quality and durable speaker. Its audio impressed us when we tested this product for our JBL Clip 4 Review. The sound quality was better than expected, and we delivered adequate volume.
We loved the upgraded design and audio quality of this product. Its lightweight body and unique clip feature make it attachable to a backpack. Plus, its sound is better than its predecessors.
Aside from the design and audio quality, the Clip 4 has an impressive Bluetooth range. It remained connected from a distance and easily connected to our devices.
Like all Clip speakers from JBL, this fourth iteration of the series is easily recommended. It has an appealing, portable design and high-quality audio. This speaker is the perfect companion when listening to music while biking or around a bonfire.
Visit the official product page of JBL for more details about the Clip 4.
