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JBL Boombox 3 WiFi - From now on with Bluetooth and WLAN as well as immersive audio through Dolby Atmos

The JBL Boombox 3 WiFi portable speaker no longer relies solely on Bluetooth like its predecessors; with this new generation, WLAN is now also available. With this new network integration, Google Chromecast is now available in addition to Apple AirPlay 2 and Alexa MRM.

Story Highlights
  • With the latest generation of the Bluetooth speaker, it is not just Bluetooth, but with the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, wireless networking is now also available.

Harman International Industries has been clearly pursuing the goal of offering solutions that can be used anywhere and at any time with the portable speakers of the JBL brand, which can act as an ideal play partner in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with Bluetooth naturally being the first choice.

With the latest generation, this is now changing, the solutions are also getting WiFi, such as the latest generation of the JBL Boombox Series, which, as the JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, is proving to be a particularly flexible wireless speaker even in the home network.

New, slim design

The most striking innovation, however, is that the JBL Boombox 3 WiFi now presents itself in a new, slimmer design compared to its direct predecessor, the JBL Boombox 3, despite the great similarity in the name, and is also kept in discreet black, with golden elements providing a thoroughly eye-catching accent. One could almost think that the focus is more on elegance than on the colourful design of the previous generations…

In any case, it should be mentioned that there is an increased focus on sustainability, for example, in the production of the loudspeaker housings, 90 per cent recycled plastic is used, and in the loudspeaker grill, 100 per cent recycled plastic is used.

Of course, the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi is also designed in such a way that it is IP67 certified and thus particularly robust and resistant to dust and water, so that nothing stands in the way of its use on the terrace, in the garden, or even on the road.

Rich sound

The JBL Boombox has always rightly borne its name, and this should also apply to the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, which will impress you with its particularly rich, powerful sound. For this purpose, the latest generation uses a three-way system consisting of two tweeter drivers, two mid-range drivers and a woofer.

A new feature is that the DSP-based signal processing not only ensures optimal control of the drivers by the Class D amplifier module, but is also used to automatically adapt the reproduction to the respective environment. The manufacturer refers to this as a self-optimisation function and thus always promises the best possible sound, JBL Original Pro Sound with the deepest bass, to quote Harman International Industries literally.

Hi-res audio and immersive audio through Dolby Atmos

The DSP-based signal processing is also used here to reproduce content in hi-res audio, with the spectrum extending up to 24-bit and 96 kHz. They also emphasise that the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi is able to play back content with immersive audio, based on Dolby Atmos.

WLAN 6 for a stable connection and high-quality audio streaming

With the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, such content is naturally transmitted first and foremost via WiFi, whereby this solution relies on WiFi in accordance with IEEE 802.11ax and supports streaming technologies such as Apple AirPlay 2, Alexa MRM, Spotify Connect and Google Chromecast. Via the matching app, the JBL One app for Google Android and Apple iOS, direct access to various streaming providers such as TIDAL is possible, which also offer content in hi-res audio and immersive audio, among other things.

WiFi is also the basis for the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi to be part of the Smart Home, so it can be controlled via voice control, at least indirectly via Apple Siri or Google Assistant, provided that the corresponding devices are integrated in the network. The JBL Boombox 3 WiFi alone does not support this.

Bluetooth 5.3 included

Of course, Bluetooth is still available with the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, so that any smartphone can function as a source anywhere and at any time. The interesting thing here is that the new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi not only has a particularly long playing time of up to 24 hours, it can also be used as a so-called power bank thanks to the integrated lithium-ion battery with 7.2 V and 9,600 mAh and thus directly charge the smartphone as a source device.

It should also be mentioned that this solution has dimensions of 82.4 x 256.9 x 199.7 mm, bringing it to 6.79 kg.

“Sound is at the heart of our JBL brand. That said, we know how big a role technology plays. That’s why we are constantly striving to optimise the user experience for our target audience. With the launch of our new JBL Boombox 3 and JBL Charge 5 Wi-Fi speakers, we are excited to offer a significant upgrade both sonically and technologically. Wi-Fi not only provides additional connectivity, but also enables new audio formats such as Dolby Atmos. The speakers also join our ever-growing range of environmentally friendly audio products. A topic very close to our hearts.”

Carsten Olesen, President Consumer Audio, Harman Lifestyle Division

Pricing and availability

The new JBL Boombox 3 WiFi is expected to be in stores soon. The manufacturer lists the recommended retail price for this solution at € 599,-. It will be delivered in an environmentally friendly FSC packaging made of certified paper printed with soy ink.

Getting to the point

The JBL Boombox 3 WiFi, the latest generation of the JBL Boombox and one of the most successful Bluetooth speakers from Harman International Industries, is an exciting innovation. As the name suggests, it is no longer limited to Bluetooth alone, but now also includes Wi-Fi and the wireless speaker supports Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Amazon MRN, can play back hi-res audio and is even said to be equipped for the playback of immersive audio based on Dolby Atmos.

PRODUCTJBL BOOMBOX 3 WIFI
Price€ 599,-
BrandJBL
ManufacturerHarman International Industries
DistributionHarman Deutschland GmbH
More about this manufacturer at HIFI BLOG
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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