The JBL Xtreme 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that is quite suitable for most purposes thanks to its portable design and balanced midrange that can reproduce vocals and lead instruments clearly. It’s IPX7 waterproof, though we’re not currently testing that. There’s also a bottle opener built into the strap, so you can enjoy drinks while listening to your music.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is equipped with Bluetooth 4.2 and the standard SBC codec, so you won’t find compatibility with high-end codecs here. While the Bluetooth range was pretty average at around 30 feet and rarely stuttered or skipped within that distance, you can’t take advantage of aptX or AAC. This includes the low latency aspect when watching videos, so you can expect a slight delay when using the device as a speaker for your YouTube videos.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a great wireless boombox speaker. It’s slightly larger than the original Xtreme, but you have to put them side by side to notice the difference. It’s too big to stow in your carry-on for a weekend trip, and perhaps too bold for some living rooms, as JBL didn’t opt for crowd-pleasing neutrality here. However, the functional focus is as specific as the visual design.
The JBL Xtreme 2 is a large, portable speaker, and it does the job perfectly. Its fabric grille and chunky rubber back port cover are IPX7 waterproof, which is enough to survive immersion in 1.5 meters of water. The strap looks odd, but is also functionally great. Two carabiners attach a miniature car strap to the top of the Xtreme 2.
It’s a shoulder strap with extra padding in case you want to carry the speaker further. One of its closest portable competitors, the Go + Play 2 from Harman Kardon, certainly looks more elegant. But if we had to choose which one we’d rather take on a hike across a field, it would be the JBL Xtreme 2.