Home Portable Speakers Jbl Boombox 3 Vs. Jbl Pulse 5

Jbl Boombox 3 Vs. Jbl Pulse 5 Review

Last updated on May 29, 2023   8 minute read
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JBL Boombox 3

JBL Boombox 3

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Boombox 3

Overall Score 8.2 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP67
  • Has A Subwoofer
  • Battery Life of 24 hours
  • Multipoint Count of 2 only
  • Has A Mobile App
VS
JBL Pulse 5

JBL Pulse 5

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Reasons why you might like the JBL Pulse 5

Overall Score 5.9 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.

  • Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating of IP67
  • Has A Subwoofer
  • Battery Life of 12 hours
  • Multipoint Count of 2 only
  • Has A Mobile App

Jbl Boombox 3 Vs. Jbl Pulse 5 Review In Summary

Category Features JBL Boombox 3 JBL Pulse 5
DESIGN ingress protection (ip) rating IP67 IP67
volume 24,728cm³
weight 6,700g 960g
height 257mm 96.5mm
width 482mm 223mm
thickness 200mm 94mm
is dust proof and water resistant
SOUND QUALITY has a subwoofer
size of subwoofer 189 x 114mm
has stereo speakers
drivers count 5only
has a passive radiator
snr - signal to noise ratio 80dB
audio output power 180W
lowest frequency 40Hz 70Hz
highest frequency 20,000Hz 20,000Hz
POWER battery life 24hours 12hours
charge time 6.5hours 4hours
has a battery level indicator
CONNECTIVITY multipoint count 2only 2only
can be used wirelessly
has a detachable cable
has an aux input
has a socket for a 3.5 mm audio jack
has bluetooth
bluetooth version v5.3 v5.1
maximum bluetooth range 10meters 10meters
supports wi-fi
has usb type-c
usb ports 1only 1only
EXTRAS has a mobile app
has voice commands
has voice prompts
has airplay
has a remote control
travel bag is included
control panel placed on a device
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Jbl Boombox 3 Vs. Jbl Pulse 5 Review In Detail

Design

Ingress Protection (Ip) Rating

JBL Boombox 3 IP67
JBL Pulse 5 IP67

Ingress protection ratings refer to the level of protection offered by an electrical enclosure, against solids and liquids. The letters 'IP' are followed by two numerals The first number of the IP rating refers to protection against solids say dust, while the second refers to protection against liquid.

Scoring IP67, the JBL Boombox 3's rating is read as, the first value of 6 denotes that they are completely dust proof, and the second value of 7 means that they are protected against temporary immersion in water under set conditions, say 1 metre for 30 minutes.

Compared to the JBL Boombox 3, JBL Pulse 5 has a rating of IP67 meaning that they both have the same rating against dust and that of liquids is that, they both have the same rating against liquids

Volume

JBL Boombox 3 24,728cm³
JBL Pulse 5

Volume is the quantity of three-dimensional space taken up by the product's body or, in simpler terms, the space the product fills. JBL Boombox 3 takes up 24,728cm³, it is important to know the space that the speaker occupies just so as to ensure that it will fit with ease into the available space next to your other gadgets.

Weight

JBL Boombox 3 6,700g
JBL Pulse 5 960g

We prefer a lower weight better because lighter devices are more comfortable to transport. A lower weight is also an advantage for home appliances, as it makes transportation easier, and for many other types of products.

The JBL Pulse 5, at 960g weigh more than the JBL Boombox 3 by g. Commonly a genuine quality system is a little bit heavier than average quality products though If you will need to change the position of the soundbar often, then you should try to purchase a lighter soundbar.

Height

JBL Boombox 3 257mm
JBL Pulse 5 96.5mm

The height represents the vertical dimension of a device, JBL Boombox 3 has a height of 257mm.

The JBL Pulse 5, at 96.5mm is shorter than the JBL Boombox 3 with a difference -160.5mm

Width

JBL Boombox 3 482mm
JBL Pulse 5 223mm

The width represents the horizontal dimension of a device, JBL Boombox 3 has a width of 482mm.

JBL Pulse 5, at 223mm is smaller in width than the JBL Boombox 3 with a difference -259mm

Thickness

JBL Boombox 3 200mm
JBL Pulse 5 94mm

The thickness (or depth) of JBL Boombox 3 is 200mm, to know the thickness of the speaker you divide its volume(space occupied) by the surface area( length by width)

JBL Pulse 5 has a thickness of 94mm, meaning that it is less thicker than the JBL Boombox 3 by -106mm

Is Dust Proof And Water Resistant

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

The JBL Boombox 3 is dustproof and water-resistant. A water-resistant device can resist the penetration of water, such as powerful water jets, if it is to be submerged in the water this is usually set to a given depth and for a specific time period.

JBL Pulse 5 too is dustproof and water-resistant, this makes both devices water-resistant and dust-resistant, thus preventing water and dust from entering the interior of the devices keeping the interior components safe

JBL Boombox 3
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Sound Quality

Has A Subwoofer

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

A subwoofer is a speaker that delivers lower frequencies in the range of 20 -200Hz, the low frequencies are produced by instruments such as pipe organs, bass guitars, even the kick drums, and any explosive sound effects say in a movie. Devices that have a subwoofer inbuilt give a richer bass sound when listening to bass-heavy music like hip hop.

Both the JBL Pulse 5 and JBL Boombox 3 have a subwoofer

Size Of Subwoofer

JBL Boombox 3 189 x 114mm
JBL Pulse 5

Bigger subwoofers are capable of producing deeper bass sounds. JBL Boombox 3 has a 189 x 114 mm subwoofer

Has Stereo Speakers

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

JBL Boombox 3 has stereo speakers, devices with stereo speakers deliver sound from independent channels on both left and right sides, creating a richer sound and a better listening experience.

The JBL Pulse 5 also has stereo speakers

Drivers Count

JBL Boombox 3 5only
JBL Pulse 5

A speaker driver is an individual transducer that converts electrical energy to sound waves. Drivers come in different sizes and modes, but generally, you'll find three types: tweeter driver, which handles the high-frequency treble range (above 2,000 Hz), and midrange driver: which handles the midrange frequencies (200 Hz to 2,000 Hz). Woofer driver: handles the low-frequency bass range (below 200 Hz).

Based on the frequencies they handle more drivers may result in better sound quality, JBL Boombox 3 has 5 only.

Has A Passive Radiator

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

A passive radiator is a type of driver in speakers that can get extra power and resonance from a speaker system, usually used in smaller speaker systems. This radiator is called passive because it is not powered by electricity but by air pressure found in speaker cones.

The sound vibrations produced by a passive radiator depend on its mass and the size of its enclosure. It is usually used in combination with a woofer to produce deep, resonant tones that would normally be produced by speakers in large boxes powered by AC.

The JBL Pulse 5 and JBL Boombox 3 both have a passive radiator

Snr - Signal To Noise Ratio

JBL Boombox 3 80dB
JBL Pulse 5

The signal-to-noise ratio is a measure that compares the meaningful sound a speaker produces to the level of noise produced by internal components of that speaker, the higher the number the less perceived noise. JBL Boombox 3 has an audio signal level of 80 dB higher than the level of noise.

Audio Output Power

JBL Boombox 3 180W
JBL Pulse 5

The audio output power of a device is based on the number of speakers and their power in watts JBL Boombox 3 has 180W, this is the amount of power the speakers can be loaded with "comfortably".

A higher audio output power results in louder, clearer sounds though this is not the sole factor determining the device's loudness. To get a better understanding of how loud any speaker can get, there are other features to factor in such as sensitivity, sound pressure, etc.

Lowest Frequency

JBL Boombox 3 40Hz
JBL Pulse 5 70Hz

Low-frequency response measures if and how well an audio component reproduces low audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. JBL Boombox 3's lowest frequency is at 40Hz, the lower the low-frequency response, the stronger and juicier the bass.

JBL Pulse 5's lowest frequency is at 70Hz, this means that JBL Pulse 5 got a juicier bass than the JBL Boombox 3

Highest Frequency

JBL Boombox 3 20,000Hz
JBL Pulse 5 20,000Hz

High frequency response measures if and how well a particular audio component reproduces high audible frequencies and if it makes any changes to the signal on the way through. JBL Boombox 3's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, the higher the high-frequency response, the clearer and crispier the treble.

JBL Pulse 5's highest frequency is at 20,000Hz, this implies that both devices produce equal treble

Power

Battery Life

JBL Boombox 3 24hours
JBL Pulse 5 12hours

Your speaker's battery life will reduce over time while in use, the battery life is given by the manufacturer, and with longer battery life, you get to use it for longer and have to charge the device less often. JBL Boombox 3's battery life is 24 hours

JBL Pulse 5's battery life is 12 hours. Each time you recharge your device, it gets a little less listening time. The effect is barely noticeable at first. But over a few years, you may find that your speaker, no longer plays for long like it used to.

Charge Time

JBL Boombox 3 6.5hours
JBL Pulse 5 4hours

It takes 6.5 hours to fully charge the JBL Boombox 3's battery. It is recommended to fully charge the battery before using it for the first time or when they have been unused for extended periods.

JBL Pulse 5 takes 4 hours to fully charge the battery

Has A Battery Level Indicator

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

JBL Boombox 3 has a battery level indicator, an indicator shows you when the device has a low battery. The battery indicator lights show the charging status of your speaker.

JBL Pulse 5 too has a battery level indicator, charging indicators allow you to determine the charging state of your speaker, whether fully charged, or the battery is running low.

JBL Boombox 3
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Connectivity

Multipoint Count

JBL Boombox 3 2only
JBL Pulse 5 2only

JBL Boombox 3 support multipoint, which allows you to link to more Bluetooth devices and switch between them. For example, you can easily switch calls from one device to another without having to manually disconnect and reconnect.

The JBL Pulse 5 support multipoint count. Bluetooth multipoint would come in handy because you can be on one call without missing notifications coming from another device.

Can Be Used Wirelessly

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

JBL Boombox 3 can be used wirelessly, wireless devices allow users more freedom of movement.

The JBL Pulse 5 also can be used wirelessly

Has A Detachable Cable

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

Detachable cables are cables that have connectors on both ends. One end goes into your headphone cups, while the other end is inserted into a source device. Some new headphones, and not just the expensive ones, are coming with detachable cables, JBL Boombox 3 is one of those.

Has An Aux Input

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

An auxiliary input allows you to play other audio sources by connecting them through a simple audio connection like a 3.5mm jack

Has A Socket For A 3.5 Mm Audio Jack

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

Being an industry-standard audio plug, a standard 3.5mm male connector is suitable for use with all MP3 players and computer sound cards. This means that it is commonly used in stereo headphones to your phone or connecting your phone to an external amplifier, sound bars, your car radio, etc. JBL Boombox 3 has this connector giving it a wider range of connectivity with most of the sound devices out there. All plugs have at least a tip and sleeve with the number of rings that stand as a differentiating factor.

Has Bluetooth

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that allows you to easily transfer data between different devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Both the JBL Pulse 5 and the JBL Boombox 3 have Bluetooth

Bluetooth Version

JBL Boombox 3 v5.3
JBL Pulse 5 v5.1

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard that allows data transfers between devices placed in close proximity, using short-wavelength, ultra-high frequency radio waves. JBL Boombox 3 has a v5.3

JBL Pulse 5 has a Bluetooth version of v5.1. Newer versions provide faster data transfers.

Maximum Bluetooth Range

JBL Boombox 3 10meters
JBL Pulse 5 10meters

Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances. The JBL Boombox 3 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth or infrared to another device.

The JBL Pulse 5 can connect at a 10meters distance via Bluetooth

Supports Wi-Fi

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that allows devices such as computers, and mobile devices .i.e smartphones and wearables to connect and interact with other devices on the internet, the JBL Boombox 3 can connect to Wi-Fi.

Has Usb Type-C

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

JBL Boombox 3 supports USB TYPE-C, an industry-standard connector for transmitting both data and power on a single cable. The USB-C plug is now part and parcel of most current laptops, phones, and tablets, it features reversible plug orientation and cable direction.

JBL Pulse 5 too has USB TYPE-C

Usb Ports

JBL Boombox 3 1only
JBL Pulse 5 1only

With more USB ports, you are able to connect more devices, like those you save your music on, JBL Boombox 3 has 1 only

JBL Pulse 5 has 1 USB ports

Extras

Has A Mobile App

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

You can use your smartphone as a remote control for the device through a dedicated app. By this, you can change settings, unlock features, and get real-time updates so you can always listen to your music the best way you see fit.

Has Voice Commands

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

You can use your voice to control key functions of the JBL Pulse 5 and you can easily access it without pushing any button but just giving it voice commands.

Has Voice Prompts

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

With voice prompts, the device notifies you via audio messages, say its battery is running low it will notify you that it's time to recharge the device.

Has Airplay

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

AirPlay allows wireless connection of Apple devices with external screens or speakers.

Has A Remote Control

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

A remote control allows you to control the device remotely without moving to the device.

Travel Bag Is Included

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

Carrying a device without a case, or putting them in bags without a casing can easily put them at risk of getting damaged. The JBL Boombox 3 comes with its own special case or pouch, which is useful for safe transportation.

Control Panel Placed On A Device

JBL Boombox 3
JBL Pulse 5

There is a control panel on the JBL Boombox 3 body, so you can easily access the volume control or remote without having to interact with a cable or another device it's connected to.

The JBL Pulse 5 too have a control panel on them.

JBL Boombox 3
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