JBL Pulse 4 Review
Picture the mood when there’s a speaker that indulges not just through sound but through sight too. The JBL Pulse 4 can bring this effect to you- with considerably excellent performance.
Bluetooth speakers have been a revolution, with a deluge of high-performing options available today. Even so, JBL has caught everyone’s attention with its line of audio-visually appealing speakers. Whether you wish to throw the house party of the season or need some relaxing time alone, the Pulse 4 will deliver.
The JBL Pulse 4 comes with 360-degree LED lights, rich bass, and an unmissable style.
Where to Buy?
| Seller | Price |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Check Price |
What is the JBL Pulse 4?
The JBL Pulse 4 is a portable Bluetooth speaker with a one-of-a-kind profile. More typically than not, people refer to the Pulse 4 as a ‘party speaker,’ owing to its light shows. According to the company, the Pulse 4 produces ‘sound you can see.’
JBL holds a long and reliable history of producing some of the best wireless speakers. The Pulse 4 is yet another addition to the portfolio. It succeeds the popular Pulse 3, which is adored for its balanced quality of sound and provision to answer calls.
The JBL Pulse 4 offers well-balanced sound quality and a dazzling spectacle of light- thanks to its high-resolution, 360-degree LEDs. The light show is not the only aspect that touches each direction. The speaker delivers 360-degree JBL Signature Sound as well.
The speaker has an array of features on display, though it lacks certain crucial elements that the Pulse 3 exhibits. It does not have a microphone, which means you need to attend to calls from your phone. JBL also got rid of the 3.5 mm aux jack that adds versatility.
It is possible that the stunning fresh look of this speaker may be able to compensate for them.
Design, Features, and Build
JBL has created its own subgenre of wireless speakers with its Pulse models. Each model has had improvements over the previous, with a few plusses and minuses. The JBL Pulse 4 follows the same course in terms of design, features, and build.
Distinct Design
The defining aspect of the JBL Pulse 4 is undoubtedly its design. The speaker has a slender, pill-like body shape with LED lights wrapped around its entire length. Since these are the critical factors of light show speakers, the Pulse 4 wastes no space.
It is a significant change as opposed to the Pulse 3, which has a ring of cloth around the speaker’s base. This development brings depth to the speaker’s visual effects that the Pulse 3 cannot provide.
You must note that a thick acrylic casing shrouds the light element. You may feel it dampens the effects of the lights.
The top and the bottom of this party speaker have considerably large woofers that rope in a decent amount of bass. Party speakers often overemphasize the bass to boost the energy, but the Pulse 4 ensures a balance.
The controls of the Pulse 4 are placed in a ring formation around the top. The buttons and large enough with adequate clarity, making them easy to use. However, it can also prove to be a hassle when you need to turn the speaker around to access different controls.
Here are the functions that these buttons perform:
- Volume controls
- Light controls
- Playback
- Pairing
- Syncing with other JBL wireless speakers
You can get the JBL Pulse 4 in either black or white colors.
Solid Build
The quality of the build of the JBL Pulse 4 is excellent. The rounded cylindrical body has a height of 8.2 inches and a width of 3.8 inches. You may find that it is on the heavier side- weighing more than a typical wireless speaker.
The top grille projects audio from a sole 2.25-inch and 20-watt. The lower panel has a passive radiator with provisions for elevation.
The speaker has a solid and robust built that makes it capable of withstanding falls or slips. The outer casing ensures your speaker will bounce right back from any clumsy incident!
IPX7 Rating – Waterproof
The best and most handy feature of the Pulse 4’s build is its impressive IPX7 rating. You can safely submerge the speaker up to a depth of 1 m or 3 feet in water with no worries at all. You can let go of any concerns and enjoy your pool parties or outdoor raves with its waterproof nature.
360-Degree Light and Sound
The JBL Pulse 4 is equipped with a brilliant all-encompassing LED light show that shines in all directions. Additionally, the beat of your music will follow wherever you go since the Pulse 4 delivers signature sound with its 360-degree speaker array.
Performance
The JBL Pulse 4 provides a balanced profile that does not overdo the bass. It is decent in the sense that you will not feel a lack of sound in a room.
If you wish for high energy while playing outdoors, you may want to consider other options. It’s because the small speaker cannot maintain stride with volumes that are too high. Most people report that the response is ideal as long as you retain the volume below 60-70%.
The sound quality of the Pulse 4 is excellent, but it may seem like a downgrade if you owned the Pulse 3.
The battery performance of the Pulse 4 is rather mediocre, with only 12 hours of active playtime. If you expected an improvement over the Pulse 3, then there’s room for disappointment.
For specifics, the Pulse 4 wields a 7260 mAh battery. It takes a time of around four hours to go from 0% to 100% battery.
When it comes to visual performance, the JBL Pulse 4 exceeds expectations. The patterns that the light creates are fluid and in sync with the beats of the music. Even if the latter is not in play, the pastels and neons blend in an almost hypnotic manner- creating an attractive ambiance, nonetheless.
If you shake the speaker, the color palette will change. The powerful bass of the sound aligns well enough with the visuals to render an experience you cannot ignore!
Should You Buy the JBL Pulse 4?
The JBL Pulse 4 is a brilliant speaker, capable of swinging the mood of any party towards a positive. Is it worth its price? Below you will find a few more aspects to help you make your decision.
App Control
You can control the JBL Pulse 4 via the JBL Connect App to steer your party in any direction you please. The app lets you choose different light and volume settings or curate your own. You can turn off the light show to preserve the battery as well.
JBL PartyBoost
You can link multiple JBL PartyBoost speakers together for an unforgettable stereo sound and elevate your party to a new level. The JBL Pulse 4 offers the PartyBoost feature, making this possible.
Portable
The JBL Pulse 4 is compact and sturdy, making it hassle-free for moving around. The shape of the speaker is ergonomic as well. You can put it in a backpack and take your tunes with you without worrying about sharp or breakable ends.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Balanced and powerful sound
- Unique and attractive design
- Captivating and highly customizable light effects
- Capable of syncing with other speakers
- Waterproof
- Full-body LED lights
- 360-Degree sound
Cons
- The charging port does not come with a rubber covering for protection
- Microphone unavailable
- It does not come with a 3.5 mm aux jack
Final Verdict
When you look at the differences, in theory, the JBL Pulse 4 is a minor improvement over the Pulse 3. The speaker’s appearance is the main change, providing more area for the speaker to exhibit its light shows. The unparalleled look, however, comes at the cost of the microphone and 3.5 mm aux jack.
The price of the JBL Pulse 4 is slightly more than that of the Pulse 3, best at $249.95. If you need a powerful speaker with the same scope for light effects, you could go for the Pulse 3.
If we condense the entire value of the Pulse 4 into a word, it will be ‘stylish.’ There is no doubt that this wireless party speaker emerges on top in terms of design and style. However, it may not be the best speaker for you to invest in if you need extra versatility.
