The JBL Xtreme 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that's fairly good for most uses, thanks to its portable build and well-balanced mid-range that can clearly produce vocals and lead instruments. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. There's also a bottle opener built into its carrying strap, so you can enjoy drinks while listening to your audio. Unfortunately, it lacks some low-bass and doesn't have a graphic EQ for tweaking its sound. However, it's suitable for use in large or crowded rooms since it can get quite loud, although there is some compression at max volume.
Our Verdict
The JBL Xtreme 2 is alright for music. It has a well-balanced mid-range, so it can clearly reproduce vocals and lead instruments, although higher frequencies can sound dull because of its underemphasized treble range. It also lacks some low-bass, so you won't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy genres like EDM. Also, it doesn't have a graphic EQ, so you can't adjust its sound profile. Although it can get quite loud, there's some compression at max volume.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Well-balanced mid-range.
- Can get fairly loud.
- Very long battery life.
- Some compression at max volume.
- Doesn't have a graphic EQ.
- Lacks some low-bass.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is acceptable for videos and movies. It can reproduce dialogue clearly thanks to its well-balanced mid-range, although higher frequencies can sound dull or veiled. Its soundstage is somewhat narrow, which results in a less immersive sound. It also lacks some low-bass, so you won't feel the deep rumble in action-packed movie scenes. Thankfully, its latency with iOS and Android devices is very low, making it suitable for watching videos. However, some apps compensate differently for this, so user experience may vary.
- Well-balanced mid-range.
- Can get fairly loud.
- Low latency with iOS and Android devices.
- Some compression at max volume.
- Lacks some low-bass.
The JBL Xtreme 2 portable Bluetooth speaker is satisfactory for podcasts. Thanks to its well-balanced mid-range, it can clearly reproduce dialogue, although higher frequencies may sound dull or veiled because of its underemphasized treble range. It's also quite portable, thanks to its lightweight build and carrying strap. Although it can get fairly loud, there are some compression artifacts present at max volume. Its soundstage is also somewhat narrow, so the speaker doesn't sound very immersive.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Well-balanced mid-range.
- Very long battery life.
- Some compression at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 2 has disappointing voice assistant capabilities. It relies on your smartphone's voice assistant since it doesn't have one built-in. Although it can hear you quite well from a distance, it may have trouble understanding you if you're in a noisy environment.
- Voice assistant can understand you from a distance.
- No built-in voice assistant.
- Voice assistant has trouble understanding you in a noisy environment.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is decent for outdoor use. It has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. Thanks to its lightweight build and carrying strap, it's easy to take with you on-the-go. It also has an exceptionally long battery life, lasting almost fifteen hours on a single charge. While it can get quite loud, there's some compression present at max volume.
- IPX7 rating for water resistance.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Can get fairly loud.
- Very long battery life.
- Some compression at max volume.
- Doesn't have a graphic EQ.
- Lacks some low-bass.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 19, 2023: Added market comparison for the Bushnell Wingman View in the Frequency Response Accuracy box.
- Updated Dec 19, 2022: Changed Track Next/Previous from No to Forward Only (Physical).
- Updated Feb 15, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Feb 11, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Xtreme 2 comes in five color variants: 'Black', 'Blue', 'Red', 'Green', and 'Camouflage', so you have many options for finding a look that fits your style. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see its label here. We expect all five variants to perform similarly.
If you come across a variant not listed here, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a medium-sized speaker that's decent for most uses. It has a fairly well-balanced sound profile, so it can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly. It also has an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. It's very portable, thanks to the carrying strap that you can attach to the small hooks on top of the speaker. However, it lacks some low-bass, and the underemphasized treble range can make higher frequencies sound somewhat dull and veiled.
See also our recommendations for the best Bluetooth speakers, the best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. They have very similar builds, but the Xtreme 2 has a slightly more balanced sound profile and a longer battery life. Also, only the Xtreme 2 has voice assistant capabilities. Although the two speakers can get similarly loud, the Xtreme 2 has fewer compression artifacts present at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 5. While the Charge 5 has a more balanced sound profile, the Xtreme 2 can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone.
The JBL PartyBox 100 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 2 overall, though you may prefer one over the other depending on your listening habits. The PartyBox 100 is has a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass when set to 'Bass Boost 1'. It can also get much louder with less compression at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. However, the Xtreme 2 is significantly smaller, making it more portable. It's also better built with an IPX7 rating for water resistance, though we don't test for this.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. Unlike the Charge, the Xtreme can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and it can get somewhat louder. Also, only the Xtreme has voice assistant features, even though it may have trouble hearing you in a noisy room. Although both speakers lack low-bass, the Xtreme has a more balanced sound profile.
Test Results
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