If you asked us for recommendations for Bluetooth Speakers in the Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 price band, the JBL Flip 6 would definitely be part of the list. A couple of years ago, purchases in this category or in the sub-Rs 10,000 segment would come with a number of compromises but that’s changed and how. Even our picks under Rs 10,000 punch above their weight. The JBL Flip 6 is the successor to the Flip 5 and it comes with some interesting enhancements.

Stays in the Flip mould

It’s easy to mistake the JBL Flip 6 for its predecessor as the real changes are under the skin. At 550 gm, it weighs about the same and can be positioned vertically or horizontally; now you know why it’s called Flip. We checked out the Black variant but it’s the Squad colour option with its camouflage finish that is our favourite. It’s just what you need for that camping trip. The Flip 6 is geared for the outdoors thanks to its IP67 certification that makes it dust and water proof: one of the key improvements over the Flip 5.

Setting up is a breeze

You get an illuminated power on/off button and a Bluetooth pairing button. The JBL Flip 6 paired instantly with my iPhone with a simple Bluetooth prompt. There’s a companion app, called JBL Portable, with a pleasing UI. It doesn’t offer too many elements aside from a battery level indicator and simple controls that allow you to tweak treble, bass and mids. I didn’t notice a significant bass boost when I tweaked the bass to maximum but this equaliser did make a difference when I played around with the treble settings. I found the default settings perfect for most of the music I played, suggesting that you may not need this app after all.

Impressive sound stage

I like how JBL has kept things simple and focused on the things that really matter. Sound quality tops that list and that’s where JBL has upped its game over the Flip 5.  The first song I tried was Rammstein’s new single “Zick Zack” and the Flip 6 impressed with its sound stage. I didn’t hear any distortion even at 70 percent, where the sound output was quite loud for a speaker this size. From the wide range of vocals in “Raamam Raaghavam” from the RRR soundtrack to a wide range of instrumental sounds on Bjork’s “Hunter” (a song I usually use a lot to evaluate headphones), the JBL Flip 6 delivers impressive details and output.

Getting the basics right

This speaker includes dual passive radiators, a powerful racetrack-shaped woofer, and a separate tweeter for better high-frequency extension. It’s very portable, perfect to toss into your backpack for a short business trip or holiday. Our battery tests validated the 12-hour battery life claim. There are speakers at this price point with a better battery life but they don’t deliver the same satisfying acoustic experience as the JBL Flip 6. 

The JBL Flip 6 comes in Black, Blue and Squad and is available for Rs 11,999.