- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a medium-sized portable speaker with built-in hooks so that you can attach it to a carrying strap. It has over 12 hours of continuous playback time. It's rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for this, which makes it well-suited for outdoor use. That said, it has a warm sound profile, and it lacks low-bass. It also doesn't have an EQ to help tweak its sound to your liking. It doesn't have any voice assistant capabilities, either, and there are compression artifacts at max volume.
Our Verdict
The JBL Xtreme 3 isn't bad for music. It has a warm sound profile with a neutral mid-range, so vocals are fairly clear and accurate. However, it struggles to reproduce low-bass and its treble is underemphasized, so the upper harmonics of voices and instruments sound veiled. It lacks an EQ to help customize its sound, and while it can get fairly loud, there are compression artifacts present at max volume.
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Well-built and portable.
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Stereo soundstage.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Compression artifacts at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is sub-par for videos and movies. When placed horizontally, it lacks a thumpy low-bass which can affect sound effects in movies. Its soundstage is narrow and there are compression artifacts at max volume. On the upside, its audio latency on iOS and Android isn't bad when streaming video via Bluetooth. However, some apps compensate for latency differently.
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Well-built and portable.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Doesn't support Apple AirPlay, Chromecast, or Wi-Fi.
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Compression artifacts at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is satisfactory for podcasts. It has a fairly neutral mid-range, although vocal-centric content can sound veiled or dull due to the recessed treble range. It also doesn't have an EQ, so you can't tweak its sound. It doesn't support multi-room either, so you can't play podcasts in different rooms in your home. That said, it has a portable design and can be paired with up to two devices at a time.
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Supports multi-device pairing.
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Well-built and portable.
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Compression artifacts at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 3 doesn't have voice assistant support.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is decent for outdoor use. It has a great build quality and is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for this. It's also very portable, has a long-lasting battery life, and it can get pretty loud. However, there are compression artifacts at max volume, and it lacks low-bass. It also doesn't have an EQ for tweaking its sound.
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Supports multi-device pairing.
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Well-built and portable.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Compression artifacts at max volume.
- 6.4 Music
- 5.9 Videos/Movies
- 7.2 Podcasts
- 2.6 Voice Assistant
- 7.4 Outdoors
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Test Results
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a medium-sized cylindrical speaker that can be placed vertically or horizontally. It has two built-in low-profile hooks on its top side so you can attach its carrying strap. The carrying strap also has a built-in bottle opener, so you can enjoy drinks while you're listening to audio. It comes in three colors so you can find a look that suits your style.
This speaker is amazingly portable. You can carry it with one hand, and it has hooks integrated into its design so you can attach a carrying strap to it. Since it's battery-powered, you can also use it outside.
The JBL Xtreme 3's build quality is great. Although we don't currently test for it, it has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which makes it a suitable choice for outdoor use. It has a tight netting wrapped over its speakers, which makes it feel sturdy, and there's also a rubber base on its sides to keep it from slipping if you have it placed vertically. There are also built-in hooks so you can attach its carrying strap. The strap feels sturdy, and it has a built-in bottle opener.
The JBL Xtreme 3 has sub-par controls. While the buttons are easy to press, some features are missing. There are simple music management features like volume control and a play/pause button. You can also press the play button twice to skip to the next track, but unfortunately, you won't be able to go to a previous track. There are no call-related buttons. On the upside, there's a chime when you've reached max volume. The power and Bluetooth buttons light up as well, and there's a small, vertical indicator for battery life under the JBL logo. This speaker has a dedicated 'PartyBoost' button so that you can connect with multiple PartyBoost compatible speakers.
- JBL Xtreme 3 speaker
- Carrying strap
- AC adapter with USB-C connection cable
- User Manual
The JBL Xtreme 3 has acceptable frequency response accuracy. When placed horizontally, it struggles to reproduce a thumpy low-bass. That said, it has a warm sound that still delivers a good amount of boom. The treble range is a little underemphasized, though, so the upper harmonics of vocals and instruments can sound dull or veiled. Unfortunately, it doesn't have an EQ to help tweak its sound. For a speaker with a more balanced sound profile, check out the JBL Boombox 2 or the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6.
This speaker has a decent soundstage. Although it has separate speakers for its left and right channels, its soundstage is narrow and small. There's also overemphasis in the treble range, which may make the soundstage seem uneven.
The JBL Xtreme 3 has a passable dynamics performance. It can get fairly loud, which is suitable for large or crowded rooms, but there are a lot of compression artifacts at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 3 has an outstanding battery performance. It's advertised to last around 15 hours off a single charge, but we measured over 12 hours. Luckily, it turns off after roughly 20 minutes when you're not listening to an audio file to conserve battery life. That said, battery life can vary according to usage, so your experience may differ.
This speaker doesn't offer voice assistant support. For a similar speaker that has voice assistant capabilities, consider the JBL Xtreme 2.
JBL Connect is an alright app. It's compatible with both iOS and Android. You can use it to link two speakers to create a stereo pair or connect it with multiple speakers to play the same audio across a large space. However, it lacks an EQ to help customize its sound to your liking.
The JBL Xtreme 3 has a USB-A and a USB-C port, so you can use the speaker as a power bank to charge other devices. The USB-C port also acts as a charging port. Also, there's an AUX port, so you can use a wired connection between this speaker and your smartphone. However, this cable isn't included in the box.
The JBL Xtreme 3 has a great Bluetooth performance. It can be paired with up to two devices at a time, and it has a wide range. Its latency on iOS and Android is alright, and it can be a suitable choice for watching videos. However, some apps and devices compensate for latency differently, so your experience may vary.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The JBL Xtreme 3 comes in three color variants: 'Black', 'Blue', and 'Camo'. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see its label here. We expect all the color variants to perform similarly to our model.
If you come across another variant, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Compared To Other Speakers
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a medium-sized portable speaker. It has hooks built-in so you can attach its carrying strap to it, which makes it easier to take with you on-the-go. Just like the JBL PartyBox 100, you can use the speaker as a power bank if your smartphone or other device needs to be recharged. However, it struggles to reproduce low-bass, and it doesn't have any sound customization features to help tweak its sound.
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 Boombox 2 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. The Boombox has a more balanced sound profile, and its battery lasts longer. The underemphasized treble range of the Xtreme can make audio sound a bit dull and veiled. However, it's is a lot smaller and lighter, and also takes less time to charge.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Charge 4. The Xtreme is a better-built speaker that can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Its sound profile is also more balanced, with some extra warmth in the lower end. The Xtreme can also get louder than the Charge, though both have quite a bit of compression at max volume.
The JBL Xtreme 3 and the Sony SRS-XB43 are similar speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The JBL is better-built and has a better soundstage performance. However, the Sony has longer battery life, and it supports voice assistants. Also, the Sony's graphic EQ allows for greater sound customization.
The JBL PartyBox 100 is a better speaker for most uses than the JBL Xtreme 3. The PartyBox 100 has a better-balanced sound profile, a larger soundstage, and can get much louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume. However, the Xtreme 3 is more portable and feels better-built. It's also compatible with the JBL Connect app, and it has lower Bluetooth latency on Android and iOS.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a slightly better speaker than the JBL PartyBox On-The-Go. The Xtreme 3 is a better-built speaker that's more suitable for outdoor use, thanks to its smaller size and IP67 rating for water resistance. Its battery also lasts close to thirteen hours, while the On-The-Go only lasts 4.5 hours on a single charge. However, the On-The-Go has a more extended low-bass and gets slightly louder, so you may prefer it for use at parties or in large rooms.
The JBL Xtreme 3 and the Harman/Kardon Onyx Studio 6 are similarly-performing speakers, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Harman/Kardon has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box. However, the JBL is better-built, with longer battery life and better soundstage performance.
The Sonos Move is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. The Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile, has built-in voice assistant support for Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can tweak its sound using the bass/treble adjustment sliders on its companion app. It also supports Wi-Fi, and you can pair it with up to two devices at a time. However, the JBL has lower Bluetooth latency on iOS and Android.
The Marshall Emberton is a better speaker for most uses than the JBL Xtreme 3. The Marshall has a better-balanced sound profile, a wider soundstage, and has lower latency on iOS and Android. However, the JBL has a better build quality, a longer continuous battery life, and it can get louder. It also has a companion app.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a slightly better speaker for most uses than the Sony SRS-XB33. The JBL has a better-balanced sound profile and a more immersive soundstage. It can also get louder than the Sony, although there are more compression artifacts at max volume, and its battery life is outstanding. However, the Sony is better-built, and its companion app offers a graphic EQ so that you can tweak its sound to your liking. You can connect your smartphone's voice assistant to the Sony, and its Bluetooth latency on Android and iOS is much lower.
The JBL Xtreme 3 and the Sonos One Gen 2 are speakers with different strengths and depending on your preferences, you may prefer one over the other. The JBL is more suitable for outdoor use since it's battery-powered, supports Bluetooth, and has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, although we don't currently test for it. It can also get louder and with fewer compression artifacts. However, the Sonos is better for voice assistants as it has Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. It also can be connected with Sonos soundbars as surround speakers.
The JBL Xtreme 3 is a better speaker than the Alpine Corporation QLP542SLR-GR. The JBL is better-built, more portable, and it can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. Also, its out-of-the-box sound profile is more neutral, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. That said, some listeners may prefer the Alpine Corporation's rock-like design for their outdoor decor, and it also has longer battery life.
