JLab Go Party: Is this 850,000 VND portable speaker powerful enough for any party?
With its attractive price, the JLab Go Party offers eye-catching LED lighting and numerous features. However, the sound quality is only basic, suitable for casual gatherings.
Overview of JLab Go Party
In the sub-$40 (approximately 1 million VND) Bluetooth speaker segment, finding a quality product is not easy. Therefore, when JLab announced its new Go Party speaker at just $34 (approximately 850,000 VND), it immediately attracted attention. While the sound quality is commensurate with the price, the JLab Go Party remains a worthwhile option thanks to its features and design suitable for parties.
For users looking for an affordable speaker for gatherings, the JLab Go Party offers a reasonable solution. However, if superior sound quality is the top priority, users may need to consider options in a higher price segment.
JLab Go Party Specifications Table
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Selling price | 34 USD / 39 GBP |
| Connect | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Water and dust resistant | IP56 |
| Battery life | 4 PM (lights off), 8 AM (lights on) |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds (approximately 0.68 kg) |
| Size | 8.3 x 3.1 x 3.1 inches (21 x 7.8 x 7.8 cm) |
| Color | Black, blue, pink |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
The design is retro but not without its distinctive features.
Despite being a recent release, the JLab Go Party's design has a classic feel. The plastic-feeling exterior and fabric-covered speaker grilles may not give it a premium feel. Additionally, the speaker is quite heavy at 1.5 pounds, heavier than competitors like the JBL Flip 7 (1.2 pounds).
However, the product still has its own unique features. An RGB LED strip is located on the top, directly above which is a control panel that allows you to turn on/off, skip tracks, and change EQ modes without needing an app. A noteworthy detail is the volume control knob, offering a more enjoyable physical control experience than conventional buttons.
The speaker features a passive radiator at the base, which gently vibrates on the surface when music is playing, contributing to sound amplification and smoothing. The JLab Go Party comes in blue and pink color options, offering a more stylish look compared to the standard black version.
Outstanding features for the price.
The JLab Go Party boasts an IP56 water and dust resistance rating, sufficient for outdoor use such as at the beach or pool parties. While more expensive models like the JBL Flip 7 (IP68) or Bose SoundLink Flex 2 (IP67) offer higher water resistance ratings, the IP56 rating is still an impressive plus for a speaker priced at $34.
In terms of features, users can fully customize the EQ through the JLab app or choose from preset settings. Fine-tuning the EQ is recommended to optimize the speaker's sound quality.
The Go Party also features a 'LabSync' party mode, allowing you to connect with another JLab speaker to boost the volume. While activating this feature sometimes requires a few tries, once successfully synchronized, it significantly improves the sound experience and volume.
Sound quality: Loud enough for parties, but lacking in detail.
The sound quality of the JLab Go Party accurately reflects its price. This isn't a speaker for hi-fi enthusiasts, but rather a device designed for parties. The volume is loud enough to fill a room, but it lacks detail and nuance.
When testing with different music genres, the results showed that the speakers handled tracks with clear mid and high frequencies well. With Men I Trust's 'Billie Toppy', the sound was reproduced quite well, especially the vocals and instruments. However, with heavy rock tracks like Die Spitz's 'RIDING WITH MY GIRLS' or bass-heavy house music like Confidence Man's 'Real Move Touch', the bass tended to be muffled and lacked power. Adjusting the EQ in the app could somewhat improve this issue.
JLab app and battery life
The accompanying JLab app has a clean, intuitive, and easy-to-use interface, suitable for beginners. Users can easily control EQ, LED colors, update firmware, and manage battery settings.
In terms of battery life, the Go Party can run continuously for 16 hours with the LED lights off and 8 hours with the lights on. This is quite good battery life, comparable to the JBL Flip 7 and sufficient for a long party. The speaker uses a USB-C charging port and supports music playback while charging, ensuring the fun isn't interrupted.
Conclusion: Should you buy JLab Go Party?
At $34, the JLab Go Party is a very good option in the budget portable speaker segment. While its sound quality and design can't quite match high-end products, this speaker still does a good job of providing background music for parties and gatherings. Advantages like its IP56 rating, LabSync party mode, LED lighting effects, and app customization make it a worthwhile purchase. If you have a limited budget and need a sufficiently loud speaker, the JLab Go Party is a worthy option to consider.
