JBL Go 2 Bluetooth Speaker Review – Full-Sounding Waterproof Speaker

First Impressions

I was impressed with how JBL’s designs for their audio products improved throughout the years, and the JBL Go 2 is a sentiment with how simple their speakers were before. It comes in a wide variety of twelve color variants. I won’t list them all, but because of my thoughtfulness, you can check the available colors for the Go 2 in this link.

The Go 2 comes in see-through PVC packaging that shows the product inside. The bottom part of the packaging features the iconic JBL logo resting on a water background, which hints at the waterproof feature of this speaker.

Meanwhile, the back of the box shows the features of the speaker, which include a 5-hour battery life, IPX7 waterproof capability, and a microphone. Yes, a microphone.

I bought the “Moss Green” variant and, to be honest, it looks like a soap bar, specifically an Irish Spring soap. Inside the packaging, you’ll find the other inclusions such as the micro USB cable for charging, a quick start guide, and some paperwork.

Build Quality and Features

The overall appearance of the JBL Go 2 kind of passed the vibe check, but I can’t deny that it looks like an Irish Spring Soap bar.

Regarding build quality, the Go 2 strays away from the usual cloth exterior of most waterproof Bluetooth speakers. It has a rubberized housing that feels smooth because of its almost corner-free edges. At the bottom, there are four dot-like rubber supports that keep the speaker from tilting or sliding too much because of its powerful sound output.

The front of the speaker is all grille and is painted with the JBL Logo while the rear side shows an engraved logo of; Wait for it… yes, JBL. I think it’s a real statement these days to own a product from them.

The top panel of the speaker shows the different buttons which are for power, Bluetooth pairing, volume control, and playback. Pressing the playback button twice will advance to the next track, and long-pressing it activates the phone’s voice assistant.

Meanwhile, you’ll find the charging and AUX port on the right side. It’s protected by a rubber flap, so don’t worry about water getting inside your speaker’s electronics.

Battery Life

The battery life is where the JBL Go 2 starts to show its downsides. Charging it for about 2.5 hours with a playing time of 5 hours doesn’t sound good to me.

It’s too inconvenient, especially for scenarios when I want to use the speaker for long periods, such as picnics and beach trips. This defeats the JBL Go 2’s outdoor portable speaker personality but if we consider its size and price, I’d say that the 5-hour battery fits the JBL Go 2.

Bluetooth Connectivity

I don’t have problems connecting my laptop or phone to the JBL Go 2. As soon as I turn it on, it automatically connects within 3 seconds. 

I’d also like to add that there’s not much of a delay when it comes to gaming or watching movies. Everything totally looks and sounds in sync. Mind that the Go 2 uses a very old Bluetooth 4.1 for its connectivity, yet it doesn’t suffer much with latency and delay problems.

Sound Quality

My experience with JBL Go 2’s sound quality didn’t make an impact as other Bluetooth Speakers at lower price points sound better. The overall sound is too thin for a speaker. It’s like the bass is just a speck of dust within the galaxy. However, the smoothness within the mids and treble region is definitely remarkable.

It produces a very narrow sound but yes, it’s a mono speaker. However, other mono speakers deliver a more realistic sound than the JBL Go 2.

In terms of volume output, the Go 2 sounds the best at 75%. Going beyond that gradually distorts the sound and can be too fatiguing to listen to. I also tested it with movies and they’re okay. The sound effects were produced so nicely that it sets the movie’s emotion very well.

Despite all of these issues, the JBL Go 2 is a full-sounding speaker.

Conclusion

The JBL Go 2 is a decent portable speaker for its price regardless of its shortcomings. I’d recommend it if you’re an outdoorsy type of person.

It produces a full sound but be careful as it loses details within the sound quality the moment it gets loud. It may not be loud like other portable speakers in the current market but it does its job nicely. In addition, the build quality and waterproof feature are also excellent, contributing greatly to its durable profile.

So be sure to bring a power bank if you plan to use it extensively as its battery can only last up to 5 hours. You don’t want to waste your precious time waiting for this speaker to get fully charged.

This post was last updated on 2025-01-07 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.