JBL Xtreme 3 Speaker Review

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 Xtreme 3 is a better speaker than the JBL FLIP 5overall. The Xtreme 3 can get louder, and can produce a more extended low-bass than the FLIP 5. It can also play stereo content without downmixing it to mono, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though the latter can depend on your usage, and your real-world experience may differ. That said, the FLIP 5 is smaller and more portable than the Xtreme 3. It also has a wider-sounding soundstage.

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 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 Ultimate Ears MEGABOOM 3 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. Thanks to its 360-degree design, The Ultimate Ears has amazing directivity, meaning you can hear your audio clearly from all angles. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets so you can customize its sound to your liking. That said, out-of-the-box, the JBL can produce a more extended low-bass than the Ultimate Ears. It can also be paired to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to quickly switch between audio sources.

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Roam or the JBL Xtreme 3. The Sonos has a more portable design and it supports voice assistants. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments for sound customization. However, the JBL supports stereo content, gets louder, and has longer battery life.

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 JBL Xtreme 3 and the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom are similar speakers with different strengths. The JBL has somewhat better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage. It's also better-built and has a shorter charge time, though battery performance can vary depending on usage. That said, the Anker can get louder with less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volumes. You can also customize its sound thanks to the graphic EQ and presets in its companion app.

The Bose Portable Smart Speaker is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3 overall. The Bose offers a slightly better-balanced sound profile than the JBL and is more customizable thanks to the bass and treble adjustments featured in its companion app, meaning that you can tweak its sound to your liking. It also offers remarkable voice assistant support with Alexa and Google Assistant built-in. That said, the JBL is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. It can also get somewhat louder than the Bose, with less compression at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volumes.

The Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3, though they have different strengths. The Bose is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It offers a wider-sounding soundstage, and supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. However, the JBL can play stereo content without downmixing it to mono. It can also get louder than the Bose, and has a longer-lasting battery life, though the latter can depend on your usage habits, and your experience may vary.

The Anker Soundcore Motion+ is a slightly better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3 overall, though they perform similarly. The Anker has a slightly wider-sounding soundstage and comes with a graphic EQ and presets you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. That said, the JBL can produce deeper bass than the Anker. It's also better-built, with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't test for this.

The Ultimate Ears HYPERBOOM is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3. The Ultimate Ears can get louder than the JBL with less compression at max volume, so your audio sounds clean and clear at louder volume levels. Its sound profile is also more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets featured on its companion app, and it offers a more spacious-sounding soundstage. That said, the JBL is better-built, smaller, and more portable than the Ultimate Ears. 

The JBL PartyBox 310 is a better speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3 overall, though they have different strengths. The PartyBox 310 is a large party speaker that offers a better-balanced sound profile that can produce a more extended low-bass than that of the Xtreme 3. It can also get much louder with fewer compression artifacts at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio during louder listening sessions. However, the  Xtreme 3 is much smaller, and much more portable than the PartyBox 310. It's also better-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.

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 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 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.

You may prefer either the Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 or the JBL Xtreme 3 depending on your listening habits. The Ultimate Ears is smaller and more portable than the JBL. It offers a much more open-sounding soundstage than that of the JBL, thanks to its 360-degree design. It also has less compression present at max volume, resulting in a cleaner sound at louder volume levels. However, the JBL can get louder, and can produce a much more extended low-bass than the Ultimate Ears. It also has lower latency with iOS and Android devices via Bluetooth, though some apps compensate for latency differently and your experience may differ.

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 Solar Bluetooth Rock Speaker. 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.

The JBL Xtreme 3 is a slightly better speaker than the Klipsch The Three II, though they have different strengths. The JBL is battery-powered and better-built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, so you can easily take it outdoors with you when you're on the move. It has slightly better directivity, resulting in a more open-sounding soundstage. It can also be paired to up to two devices at once, which can come in handy when you need to switch between audio sources. However, the Klipsch can get significantly louder than the JBL, with slightly less compression present at max volume, resulting in cleaner audio at louder volume levels.

The Sony XB72 is a better overall speaker than the JBL Xtreme 3, though they have different strengths. The Sony can get louder than the JBL and is more customizable thanks to the graphic EQ and presets on its companion app. It also supports voice assistants through your smartphone, though its performance isn't very good. However, the JBL is better built with an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, though we don't test this. It's also smaller and battery-powered, making it more portable than the Sony.