The JBL Go 5 is tiny enough to go almost anywhere, but sounds considerably bigger than it looks.
There is only so much you can reasonably expect from a Bluetooth speaker small enough to disappear into a handbag. Apparently, nobody told JBL.
The JBL Go 5 costs S$95 in Singapore, weighs just 230g and is compact enough to bring along without having to decide whether it deserves precious bag space. Yet somehow, it manages to produce a sound that feels far less miniature than the box it comes in.
Small but not shy
The Go 5 has a 4.8W output, which does not sound especially impressive on paper. In practice, it is surprisingly energetic. There is decent weight to the bass, vocals remain clear and the higher frequencies have enough sparkle to stop everything sounding muddy.
Push the volume hard and physics eventually wins. Bass does not have the depth or authority of a larger speaker, and anyone hoping to soundtrack a house party should probably look further up JBL’s range.
For a bedroom, hotel room, picnic table or shower, though, there is more than enough here. And crucially, it sounds pleasant rather than merely loud.
Built to be abused
A portable speaker is only really useful if you are comfortable taking it outside. Here, JBL has wisely prepared for the fact that portable electronics tend to encounter water, sand and gravity sooner or later.
The Go 5 carries an IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating and has a drop-resistant construction, which means it is far better suited to poolside duty or outdoor trips than its cheerful appearance might suggest. There is also a built-in loop, making it easy to hang from a bag.
It is an uncomplicated little thing, and that is part of the appeal. Press a button, connect your phone and music comes out. Some technology would benefit from remembering that not everything needs to feel like operating an aircraft.
There is still an app if you want one. The JBL Portable app lets you adjust the equaliser and play around with the speaker’s ambient lighting, while AirTouch can be used to pair compatible speakers for stereo playback.
USB-C audio is supported too, including lossless playback from a wired source. Whether anyone buying a 230g portable speaker is deeply concerned about lossless audio is another matter, but it is nice to have.
Enough juice for the day
Battery life is rated at up to eight hours, stretching to around 10 hours with PlayTime Boost enabled. That is hardly record-breaking, but it should comfortably cover an afternoon at the beach or a day out before the Go 5 needs to return to a charger.
More importantly, its compact size means you are actually likely to bring it with you. The best travel speaker is not necessarily the one with the most bass or the longest battery life. It is the one that does not make you reconsider packing it.
Should you buy one?
At S$95, the JBL Go 5 sits in an interesting position. It is inexpensive enough to be an easy recommendation, though cheap Bluetooth speakers are hardly difficult to find.
What distinguishes it is that very little about it actually feels cheap.
It sounds good for its size, can survive the sort of treatment a portable speaker is likely to receive, and slips easily into a bag. The app, lighting and lossless USB-C playback are useful extras rather than gimmicks desperately trying to justify the price.
Buy something larger if you want room-filling bass or all-night battery life. But if what you want is a tiny speaker that can follow you around Singapore without fuss, the Go 5 is your speaker.
Sometimes, going small does not have to mean settling for less.
JBL Go 5
Price: S$95
Output: 4.8W
Battery life: Up to 8 hours / 10 hours with PlayTime Boost
Weight: 230g
Water and dust resistance: IP68
Connectivity: Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C audio
Features: JBL Portable app, custom EQ, ambient lighting, AirTouch stereo pairing
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