BLUF: This lightweight portable speaker packs a lot of features in a small package. This speaker is perfect for those who need a mobile package and will be hosting small groups.
A little bit bigger than a standard pint glass
You may recall that my first projector was the Brookstone pocket projector. Even though it has an internal speaker the sound was a bit tinny and I didn’t want to have to sit close to the projector to hear the movie while we were camping. The projector doesn’t put out enough power to drive big speakers and because I wanted to use it camping, I needed something that could power itself. Enter the [easyazon_link identifier=”B00BNIO4H8
” locale=”US” nw=”y” tag=”backyardmov05-20″ cart=”y”]JBL Charge speaker[/easyazon_link]! This speaker is approximately the size of a can of Fosters, is Bluetooth capable and has a battery that will last 7-8 hours on a single charge. It has a USB port that will allow you to charge your phone or tablet off of its internal battery.
Use this USB slot to connect your cable to charge other devices.
It has 3 buttons: volume up, volume down, and the power button which doubles as a pairing button. I would connect my tablet to the projector with the HDMI capable and I would pair the speaker with the tablet. This allowed us to set up the projector wherever we wanted and I could keep the speaker close by so that we could hear, this ensured we didn’t have the volume up too loud, thereby preserving the camping experience for our neighbors not into glamping!
My first speaker did fail a few months into ownership, it wouldn’t power down when the button was pushed. A quick phone call with JBL and within a few days of mailing my old one in, I had a brand new speaker and haven’t had a problem in several years of ownership.
We paid approximately $100 for this speaker. The latest iteration of the Charge is out now and based on my experience with the original I would recommend giving it shot.
Pros:
Power and Volume Buttons
Long lasting battery.
Portable Size
Doubles as a battery charger
Great bluetooth range
Relatively inexpensive
Cons:
Slow to charge
Space for a 3.5mm jack and a microUSB for charging.
Not good for a large group
[easyazon_infoblock align=”none” identifier=”B00BNIO6G2″ locale=”US” tag=”backyardmov05-20″]
[easyazon_infoblock align=”none” identifier=”B00Y3SD4EY” locale=”US” tag=”backyardmov05-20″]
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you click on the link and make a purchase, I receive a small percentage of the sale. My goal is to provide you with my personal experience with products whenever possible and I will always disclose whether or not my knowledgeable is based on the input of others.
BackyardMovies is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.