Before we go into the specifics of the JBL Go 2 and examine its sound quality, performance, waterproofing, build quality, design, and price, let’s first provide a broad overview of the product and the market for which it was intended. The JBL Go 2 is a portable Bluetooth speaker that strives to provide the highest levels of portability and durability. Extremely small and lightweight, it fits easily and comfortably in the palm of your hand and is simple to transport anyplace.
It is also extremely sturdy and rugged, with a resistant and waterproof design that makes it suitable for usage in places such as pool parties and beaches. You can even completely submerge this device in water without worrying about it failing. The JBL GO 2 lacks the fabric exterior found on other waterproof speakers. Instead, it has a rubberized exterior that seems sturdy. If you’re concerned about looking like everyone else at the beach with a black box, the GO 2 is available in a startling 12 hues, allowing you to select the hue that most reflects your personality.
There is a large JBL logo and a sound-projecting grille on the front of the speaker. Similar to the Sony SRS-XB41, there is no back grille for passive bass radiators, although this is to be anticipated for a speaker of this size. On the top of the speaker are all of the controls. There are buttons for power, pairing, volume, and a button with many functions. The latter controls playing, and a long press engages the voice assistant on the device. This also indicates the presence of a speakerphone, on which you can control your voice assistant or receive calls.
However, the speakerphone is not very sensitive, so you will need to talk louder. A rubber door on the right side of the speaker conceals the microUSB charging port and 3.5mm aux jack for outdated devices. A single push on the power button is sufficient to activate the speaker. To begin pairing mode, you must press and hold the Bluetooth button for a few seconds. When the speaker is powered on, the LED shines white and blinks when it is ready to pair. Long-press either of the volume buttons to adjust the volume up or down.
Unfortunately, these buttons cannot also skip or play the previous song. To skip a song, though, you can double-tap the play button. At higher volumes, the speaker is loud enough to fill a 150 square foot space. Complex tunes, such as Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses, make it difficult to identify individual instruments.
Occasionally, when listening to a few tracks at maximum volume, the audio clipping occurs. You should be satisfied if you listen to a genre that emphasises vocals or for watching movies. The Go 2’s built-in microphone allows it to receive and make phone calls. We could hear callers perfectly, and they could hear us as well, although they noted that we sounded quite distant.