The JBL Go 5 arrives in Singapore with louder sound, improved bass, new ambient lighting and a particularly neat trick called AirTouch, which lets two Go 5 speakers pair in stereo simply by touching them together.
The Go has always been JBL’s grab-and-go proposition, and the fifth-generation model does not stray far from that formula.
What has changed is the amount of sound JBL is trying to extract from the compact enclosure. The Go 5 is rated to play 10 per cent louder than its predecessor, while delivering deeper bass through a revised design. Even the hollow contour JBL logo has been engineered to contribute to the speaker’s acoustic output rather than serving merely as decoration.
The design also gains JBL’s Ambient Edge Light interface. Besides adding a little visual theatre, the lighting provides practical status cues to show whether the speaker is switched on, connected, running low on battery or operating in Auracast mode.
AirTouch is arguably the best feature of the new speaker. Rather than navigating through menus when using two Go 5 speakers, owners can simply place them side by side and touch them together to establish a stereo pair.
The Go 5 also supports Auracast, allowing multiple compatible JBL speakers to be linked for a larger soundstage. USB-C lossless audio playback is supported as well. Battery life is rated at up to eight hours on average, with Playtime Boost EQ providing a further two hours when needed.
Portability would mean rather less if the Go 5 had to be handled like porcelain.
The speaker carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, and its exterior incorporates rubber edges to provide additional protection from the inevitable knocks that come with being thrown into backpacks, placed beside pools or carried outdoors.
That ruggedness remains one of the Go family’s more useful qualities.
Where things become more interesting is JBL’s new EasySing Mic Mini. The compact wireless microphone connects to compatible JBL speakers through a USB-C dongle, with the Go 5 specifically listed among supported models.
The system offers a wireless operating range of up to 20 metres, effectively turning the speaker into a portable vocal setup without requiring a traditional karaoke system.
The microphone can be held using its ring handle or attached to clothing with its magnetic clip, making it suitable not only for karaoke but also presentations, podcasting, livestreams and mobile content creation.
The EasySing Mic Mini’s headline feature is its real-time Vocal Removal technology. Rather than requiring dedicated karaoke versions of songs, JBL says the system can remove lead vocals from virtually any track.
Users can choose to retain 25 or 50 per cent of the original vocals as guidance, or remove them completely and take the lead themselves. EasySing treats the original song as raw material, separating the lead vocal so that practically any suitable track can become something to sing over.
JBL’s Voice Boost feature is intended to support higher notes and strengthen vocal presence, while tuned EQ settings and preset effects can change the character of the performance. AI-powered noise suppression also reduces unwanted background noise during recording.
Whether any of that improves the singer is another matter entirely.
JBL is deliberately positioning the EasySing Mic Mini beyond singing alone. Its compact size allows it to function as a handheld or clip-on wireless microphone, making it suitable for speaking to camera, mobile presentations or podcast-style recording.
The accompanying USB-C dongle includes AUX output and Bluetooth connectivity for use with a broader range of speakers and smartphones, while settings can be adjusted through the JBL One app. Battery life stands at up to six hours for the microphone and another six hours for the dongle on average.
A compact carrying case is also included, keeping the system consistent with the same grab-and-go philosophy as the Go 5 itself.
The JBL Go 5 is priced at S$95 in Singapore and is available through the JBL Online Store, JBL’s official Lazada, Shopee and TikTok Shop storefronts, as well as authorised retailers.
There are nine colour choices: Black, Blue, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Squad, White and Yellow.
The JBL EasySing Mic Mini is priced at S$219 with one microphone, while the EasySing Mic Mini Duo costs S$309 and includes two microphones. Both are available through the JBL Online Store and authorised retailers.
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