JLab Block Party - Review 2022

JLab'southward contempo foray into multiroom wireless speakers is intriguing for what information technology lacks—at that place's no app, no need for Wi-Fi, and, nearly importantly, no high toll tag. Telephone call it the anti-Sonos system. The JLab Block Political party, at $149.99, is the most expensive of ii speaker options that can be combined for an upwards-to-viii-speaker array (at that place's as well the smaller $99.99 JLab House Party). If having an app to control everything—plus larger, more powerful speaker options—is what you're after, Sonos is even so the best multiroom system out at that place, but if you're on a budget, JLab's expandable Bluetooth system is worth a heed for its elementary, affordable approach to multiroom wireless audio.

Design

Measuring 6 past v.5 by 5.v-inches, the Block Political party looks nearly identical to its smaller sibling, at least in terms of layout—but it is much larger. And at 5.half-dozen pounds, it'south also notably heavier. Even and so, its size is relatively compact for a speaker that delivers equally much audio and power as it does. Its IPX4 rating makes it splash-proof, just don't get dunking information technology in water.

A rubberized top panel houses the control panel for the speaker. The Main push with the JLab logo operates Play/Pause, and it also has a status indicator congenital-in. And so there'south a row of buttons for Ability, Volume Plus/Minus (these work independently of your mobile device's master volume level) and a Bluetooth pairing button. The volume controls are too multifunction buttons—you tin press both quickly for a battery level read-out on the underlit LED indicator. You can likewise apply these to switch between EQ modes—the Block Party, similar the Business firm Party, has Indoor and Outdoor modes (more on that in the next department). There are no controls for track navigation, unfortunately, and so you lot'll be using your phone for skipping tracks.

There'southward also no speakerphone, which ordinarily would be viewed equally an abrasive oversight, but it's piece of cake to understand why JLab opted non to include a speakerphone function for a multiroom system. When yous receive a phone call, music pauses and you but reply on your device itself; when yous hang upwards, music resumes.

There'due south a built-in strap fastened to the rear panel, which also houses the connections for the power adapter, 3.5mm Aux input, and USB port (for charging external devices). This connection department is protected by a safe, snap-shut cover. Unlike the less expensive House Party, the Block Party ships with a proper ability adapter (as opposed to a USB charging cable)—so, obviously, this speaker packs a little more power than its smaller sibling. However, there's no included sound cable for the Aux input—it would take been an easy inclusion at this price.

JLab Block Party inline As the cutting-away prototype shows here, the Block Party packs some impressive firepower in its relatively compact frame: There are dual 3-inch, 15-watt drivers pointed in opposite directions; dual 1-inch, seven.5-watt tweeters also arrayed in opposing directions; and dual 3-inch passive bass radiators. Rubberized feet on the bottom panel proceed the Block Party from dancing across tabletops due to bass vibrations.

In a multiroom scenario, y'all pair with the primary speaker as yous would whatever other Bluetooth speaker, using your mobile device's Bluetooth menu. After that, yous add new speakers by pressing the JLab/Play button for 3 seconds on each speaker to put information technology in share manner. While the main speaker'due south range is the typical xxx-or-and then anxiety for all Bluetooth systems, the added speakers communicate over a 5.8GHz channel and take a range of 100 feet from the main speaker.

JLab estimates the Cake Party's battery life to be roughly nine hours, but your results will vary depending on your volume levels, EQ modes (Outdoor is louder), and wired versus wireless playback. Ane tap of the JLab button sends the speaker—and all connected speakers—into a power-saving standby manner.

Performance

Most of our audio testing for the Cake Party happened while the speaker was in the EQ setting for Indoors, just nosotros toggled to the Outdoor setting at times to get a sense of the difference between the two. Both modes offer powerful bass, merely the Outdoor mode also seems to dial up the high-mids and highs a scrap more, which helps with clarity when in that location aren't many reflective surfaces nearby. Some listeners might find they prefer the Outdoor setting while indoors—it might make sense during parties with lots of people in the room, or in rooms that accept lots of sound-absorbing surfaces (like carpet and sofas).

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, similar The Knife's "Silent Shout," the Cake Party delivers quite a bit of thunder. It sounds like it has a subwoofer, albeit a modest 1, delivering the deepest lows, and at top volumes on both the speaker and the audio source (in this case, an iPhone 6s), there was no distortion. The House Party, on the other mitt, cannot evangelize anything resembling this type of bass response. The high frequencies are fairly well-matched with the lows on this rails as well, so we don't go a sense of things leaning besides far toward the lower end of the frequency range.

Beak Callahan's "Drover," a rails with far less deep bass in the mix, gives us a improve idea of the Block Party's overall sound signature. The drums on this track get some solid thunder, but naught that sounds over-the-summit. Bass lovers volition appreciate the added depression frequency punch the Cake Party can bring to a mix without upsetting the balance. Callahan's baritone vocals get a stiff low-mid presence, but they also get plenty of treble edge to give them enough contour and definition to stand up out confronting the bass-forward backdrop. The guitar strums and percussive attacks, too, benefit from the sculpted loftier-mids and highs. This is a nicely balanced sound signature—not an authentic one, but for all the additional bass, there's enough of high frequency presence to lucifer information technology.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop gets enough of high-mid presence, giving its assault a sharp edge, just it also gets substantial thump added to its sustain. Information technology sounds very powerful, as do the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat. Unlike with the Business firm Party, we get some existent sub-bass presence here—this is a great-sounding, bass-frontward system that doesn't forsake the highs in the name of delivering powerful lows.

Orchestral tracks, like the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, take a solid remainder through the Cake Party. The lower register instrumentation gets added presence, but it's non actually pushed that far forward in the mix. The higher register brass, strings, and vocals retain their brightness and prominence in the mix. Purists will find this sound far too sculpted in both directions, just the bass is additional fairly subtly here, and the loftier frequency sculpting but adds to the crispness—we don't get added sibilance or harshness.

Conclusion

The Block Political party sounds fantastic for a speaker this size and price—that it can expand into a multiroom organization merely strengthens its example. It'southward an easy winner for our Editors' Choice award—for but $250, y'all tin have a solid two-speaker multiroom system, with one of these and the capable, merely non nearly as powerful, House Political party playing backup. Of course, there's always the Sonos route, and if you want the multiple zones and full app experience, the Sonos Play:1 won't disappoint. If you're really only looking for a Bluetooth speaker and don't need the multiroom aspect, the Harman Kardon Onyx Mini and the Sony SRS-XB3 are winners in this price range. Only for $150, the Block Party delivers enough thunder and convenience to consider buying it on its own, even if you don't plan to add together more speakers.