STEREO GUIDE verdict
The JBL Flip 7 looks almost the same as its predecessor, but brings innovations for sound, connectivity and practicality, as the test showed.
Pros
- Lively, fresh sound with differentiated bass for the size
- USB Hi-Res playback
- Interchangeable fastenings thanks to push-lock system
- Longer battery life
Cons
- No analog input
- No hands-free function
-
Naturalness / transparency7.7
-
Bass / Dynamics7.2
-
Usability / Connectivity8.5
-
Price/Performance9
After what feels like an eternity – at least according to common practice in the field of electronic gadgets – the JBL Flip 7 replaces its successful predecessor , which was one of the first Bluetooth speakers to be reviewed on STEREO GUIDE four years ago. The seventh generation focuses on numerous detailed improvements. However, it remains true to the approach that JBL introduced with the change from the fifth to the sixth generation. While its predecessor still had to make do with a mono full-range chassis, from then on a bass-midrange driver and a dome tweeter shared the workload. The two-way principle had proven itself over the years with the Bang & Olufsen Beosound A1. And in terms of naturalness, JBL’s bestseller has so far lost out to the Danish designer product despite all the updates.
AI comes on board
Now the Americans want to use artificial intelligence to take the Flip 7 to the next level with an “AI Sound Boost”. Their secret weapon is the bass: With speakers as small as the JBL Flip 7, the compromise between depth and sound pressure in the bass is particularly noticeable. In the 7th generation, AI therefore monitors the excursion of the low-midrange cone to prevent overloading.
To do this, the AI analyzes the music in real time and generates a signal that is intended to produce the richest, most undistorted sound possible. How exactly the trick works in detail is unfortunately not documented. But improving the DSP control in this class is of course a key to more sound volume from small cabinets with tiny diaphragms. This is due to the acoustic short circuit and the amount of air that has to be moved in the bass range.
After all, despite being supported by passive bass radiators on both sides, the cone, which is small compared to its Herculean task, has to perform large strokes in the bass range. Its oval shape is also known as a race track, as it is reminiscent of typical US racetracks. This allows the 4.5 x 8 cm (1.75 x 3 inch) driver to cover the largest possible area despite the narrow housing. The mysterious new AI control in the DSP ensures that it can utilize the increased drive power of the power amplifier, which has been increased from 20 to 25 watts RMS, with as little distortion as possible. The tweeter with its 1.6 cm (0.6 inch) dome tweeter in the 7th generation JBL Flip once again has 10 watts and thus sufficient power at its disposal.
More endurance for the new generation
The lithium-ion polymer battery of the JBL Flip 7 has the same capacity as that of its two predecessors. It therefore remains at 4,800 mAh. Nevertheless, despite the higher amplifier power, JBL now promises a runtime extension of up to 12 to 14 hours. And if you use the Playtime Boost function, familiar from the JBL Clip 5 and Go 4 mini Bluetooth speakers introduced last year, you can squeeze out up to two more hours of operation. The price for this is a reduced bass. In contrast to the two mini speakers, which due to the laws of physics can’t really offer particularly full bass anyway, the lack of punch and fullness in the new JBL Flip 7 is surprisingly easy to cope with.
If the battery runs out after more than 12 hours, as in our endurance test at medium volume, it can be fully recharged in around 2.5 hours using a USB port with 5 volts at 3 amps. JBL is now doing away with the USB cable required for this, citing higher goals: “In order to minimize electronic waste, we have made a conscious decision not to include a charging cable in our packaging,” it says in the description.
In addition to the obligatory documents such as the operating instructions, the Americans now only include a snap hook with the Flip 7. Well, the little Bluetooth box already has a carrying strap, some people might think when unboxing it. But thanks to what I think is a smart innovation, you can remove the loop and engage the carabiner by pressing the square release button. JBL calls the innovation for quick docking of accessories the “Push-Lock-System”.
More protection
Outdoor suitability is given a further boost by complete all-round protection against water and dust. This increases the IP protection class from the usual IP67 to IP68, making the new Flip 7 the primus inter pares. JBL also promises that the wireless speaker can fall from a height of one meter onto concrete without damage. Very tempting, but as we wanted to return the Flip without scratches and scuffs after the review, we decided against it.
In terms of functionality, JBL concentrates on the points described above with the Flip 7, which is already priced as a premium offering compared to competitors such as the Tribit Stormbox 2 or the Tronsmart Mirtune C2 . While the Mirtune C2 even offers the option of playing music from a microSD card, the JBL doesn’t even have an analog input. And as usual, the Flip also does not have a hands-free facility for making calls or calling up the voice assistant.
With Auracast technology, two or more Flip 7 speakers can be paired wirelessly via Bluetooth in no time at all to cover a larger area evenly. In addition, multiple JBL devices can be connected to Auracast so that the same playlist is played synchronously in different rooms. However, Auracast is not backwards compatible with the previous Party Boost function.
Recycled plastic and covering material as well as FSC-certified paper packaging
The Flip 7 is now available in seven color variants: black, white, blue, pink, purple, camouflage (“Squad”) and red. As JBL emphasizes, the bluetooth speaker was developed with sustainability in mind: according to the manufacturer, 77% of the housing is made from recycled plastic. The mesh fabric that covers the speaker cover is made from 100% recycled materials. In addition, the packaging is made from FSC-certified paper that is printed with soy ink in an environmentally friendly way.
Oh dear, no sound via USB for the time being
Speaking of paper promises: According to the JBL product page, the Flip 7 can now even play Hi-Res content via USB connection. Excited about the new feature, I first tried to connect the mobile Bluetooth speaker to my computer. After all, a cable connection makes the most sense for high-resolution content on the desktop. But the MacBook Pro did not recognize the small JBL as a medium for sound output. But it remained unrecognized.
Next attempt: I plugged the JBL Flip 7 into the iPhone 16 Pro with the latest iOS version using a cable with USB-C plugs on both sides. The JBL had also downloaded the latest firmware via the app before the USB tests. At least the iPhone recognized it as an “accessory” – but only to immediately complain that it draws too much power and therefore cannot be used (see screenshot).
There is nothing in the quick start guide on the whole topic of USB playback, and there were no long instructions on the homepage either. And there was also no USB switching in the rather spartan app.
Ultimately put on a leash after all
After some Googling, I finally found the solution: when plugging in the USB cable, you have to hold down the play button on the Bluetooth speaker. Once you know this trick, you can use the Flip 7 both as a USB speaker for the iPhone and with a MacBook Pro — for example, with the streaming service Qobuz. In the output selection menu there, you’ll also see the maximum possible resolution via USB-C connection: 24-bit/192 kHz. In that case, it’s not the data format or the connection that becomes the bottleneck, but the small Bluetooth speaker itself. But why isn’t this USB playback trick explained in the manual? Maybe JBL will add that in a future production run.
JBL Portable App
With the JBL Portable app, which is available to download free of charge from the Apple App Store and Google Play, the Americans focus on essential functions. It provides sound customization with a 7-band graphic equalizer and four sound presets: “JBL Signature” (good mix of punch and balance), “Chill” (somewhat soft for background sound), “Energetic” (bass and treble emphasis) and “Vocal” for audio books and podcasts. And it provides access to support and firmware updates for the small wireless speaker. I was particularly struck by the speed with which the latest operating software could be installed on the JBL Flip 7. It easily stayed under five minutes, whereas some competitors take a long time to do so.
Sound test: This is how the JBL Flip 7 sounds
The first thing I noticed in the sound test was the much more precise and differentiated bass. While the predecessor emphasized a narrow frequency range in the upper bass and thus gave the impression of a rich punch, the new one is not only suitable for disco beats. With the JBL Flip 7 you can now also enjoy acoustic drums live, for example Foreigner’s “Urgent”. It is truly amazing how authentically the latest version of the perennial bestseller can reproduce drums with a certain punch and an astonishing degree of precision in relation to its size.
The cymbals also come into their own very well. The JBL focuses on brilliant highs and is not exactly restrained in this area. However, the trebles are of a remarkable quality. The small Bluetooth speaker sounds quite fresh, but unlike some cheaper copies and competitors, it doesn’t sound harsh or tinny. Complex vocals such as Tori Amos on the song “Swimming Pools” (Trevor Horn: Echoes) can also unfold very well. Not so long ago, you wouldn’t even have been able to get anything like this from many medium-sized Bluetooth speakers.
The AI can do something
You can turn the JBL Flip 7 up quite a bit until it becomes shrill. The new AI can’t do magic either, but it does manage to push the point at which the bass has to be noticeably reduced compared to the mids and treble very far out. Depending on the type of music, it is between 80 and 90 percent of the maximum level. If you listen closely, you will of course notice that the small Bluetooth speaker sounds most balanced and rich in the middle of the control range.
If you open the volume control further and have trained ears, you will notice that the sound balance shifts more and more in favor of mids and highs and that the bass is gently reduced as the level increases. This is where the new generation marks a noticeable step forward. Especially if you want to enjoy more sophisticated music with natural instruments.
Using the reserves of the equalizer
The new 7-band equalizer also benefits from the greater dynamic reserves in the bass. In our review, the predecessor only had three control ranges (bass, midrange and treble) and it was noticeable that the bass control had practically no effect. This indicates that JBL had already loaded the bass and its DSP control to bursting point in the standard tuning of the Flip 6.
If you now use the 7-band equalizer on the Flip 7, you will notice relatively small differences in the lower ranges. In other words, not as much happens as with a JBL Boom Box 3, where you have plenty of reserves. But you can really influence the sound balance in the low frequency range to a certain extent. If you want a little more oomph without having to deal with seven controls, we recommend the “Energetic” preset.
What also stood out positively was the very airy presentation. The sound detached itself very well from the speaker and was very fully perceptible from different directions. This made the JBL Flip 7 seem larger than it was. The mono concept, on the other hand, plays no role with such small speakers, as the two channels have to be much further apart than the cabinet allows for proper stereo imaging. On the contrary: two stereo channels right next to each other can even lead to cancellation in certain areas. In this respect, JBL has done everything right with the 2-way mono concept.
Practical running time
I listened to music for hours with the JBL Flip 7 – not just for my sound review, but also to check the promise of increased battery life. In my experience, the brochure values of the predecessor can easily be exceeded at medium volumes. That’s really good for such a small speaker, especially as you can use the battery saver function, as already mentioned, without having to pay for it with a phone sound like the small JBL speakers. If you’re not in a party mood, the associated loss in bass volume and punch is easy to get over. The difference is most noticeable with beats and at higher volumes, whereas most people don’t notice it at all with background music.
I tried out a lot of different tracks and was sometimes surprised by the differentiated and pleasant, clear voice reproduction. After the switch to two-way technology in the previous generation, the overtone resolution of the JBL Flip was a prime discipline anyway. But the Flip 7 has improved the most in the low-mid range. Voices sometimes really spread flair, for example in the tracks of the Qobuz playlist Audiophile Voices from STEREO GUIDE. On top of that, you can really enjoy the bass – especially when it comes to acoustic drums. But even complex electronic beats and sounds in tracks like “Ratchets” (Heedegard) from our Qobuz playlist Extreme Bass Tracks really impressed me in view of the small dimensions.
JBL Flip 7 vs B&O Beosound A1 Gen. 2
It was clear early on that this time it would be very close in the eternal duel between the respective JBL Flip generation and the B&O Beosound A1, which has only had one update since my first review a felt eternity ago. And that was many years ago. We have one of these speakers as a sound reference in the small class in the editorial department. I was finally able to fire it up again.
Before the direct comparison, I wasn’t quite sure whether the JBL wouldn’t even overtake the A1 Gen 2. But the old Dane still played surprisingly well. It even offered more of a foundation in the lower bass range than the new JBL, which was more spirited. The B&O also sounded finer in the mid-high range, especially with vocals. On the other hand, it wasn’t quite as lively at medium volumes, but it remained fairly balanced almost to the limit of the volume control, even without AI control for the bass.
JBL Flip 7: Conclusion and alternatives
Depending on your taste in music, you could almost call it a pat in the sound rating, which is a big step forward for the JBL Flip 7. Anyone who appreciates dynamic music with particularly fresh high-frequency impulses and a particularly transparent mid-range will probably tend towards the JBL. If you’re looking for that last bit of bass foundation and naturalness in vocals or natural instruments, you’ll probably prefer the Bang & Olufsen.
Apart from the sound, it is also not an easy decision between the two very good small Bluetooth speakers. The Bang & Olufsen has an even higher quality finish. Half of its housing is made of perforated sheet aluminum. It also offers useful features such as the hands-free system, which can be used to make phone calls or call up the voice assistant of the smartphone connected via Bluetooth. In this respect, the choice between the two is ultimately a matter of taste and a question of budget. The Danes have now raised the recommended retail price to 300 euros. This means that it normally costs twice as much as the Flip 7, but in terms of sound, JBL has never been on a par with the Danes. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the best JBL Flip of all time.
JBL Flip 7: Technical specifications
- Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: 150 Euro
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 18.3 x 7 x 7.2 cm
- Weight: 560 g
- Battery life up to 14 hours, 16 hours with Playtime Boost function
- Special features: waterproof and dustproof according to protection class IP68, JBL Auracast, JBL Portable App, equalizer, USB playback in Hi-Res
- More at: www.jbl.com
