- What Hi-Fi team, What Hi-FiEntertaining, hip design, portable and wireless – the Big Jambox is a cool product, but there are rivals with more detailed sound.
- Will Greenwald, PC MagazineThe Jawbone Big Jambox doesn't offer the best audio quality among portable Bluetooth speakers, but its long battery life, speakerphone features, and generally solid sound make it worth a listen.
Warranty (Months) | 12 months |
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Size | 25 x 8 cm (9.9 x 3.2 in) |
Weight | N/A |
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The full lineup of Jawbone speakers include the original, the Mini and, last but not least, the Big Jambox. As the name suggests, the Big Jambox is the largest of the group, weighing a whopping 1,224.7 grams (2.7 pounds) and measuring 9.14 x 25.4 x 7.87 cm (3.6 x 10 x 3.1 inches), nearly three times as large as the original. Despite its large size, reviewers found it compact enough to grasp one-handed. Aside from the size, however, it still shares the same boxy design, perforated metal grill and rubberized top and sides.
The increased physical dimensions lead to increased audio output. It puts out 110 decibels from its dual two-inch drivers and central subwoofer, compared to the 85 decibels from the original. While it might appear that that’s only a small difference, experts explain that Big Jambox is actually more than three times as powerful. PC Mag adds, "I filled the 5,000-square-foot PC Lab with music by cranking the volume to max." Critics mention that high notes were bright and crisp, and mid-range notes were full and accurate.
In addition, Jawbone added their LiveAudio technology to the Big Jambox. LiveAudio uses a cross-talk filter to cancel out competing audio from the left and right speakers, creating the illusion of 3D audio. While good in theory, critics were less than impressed. Engadget states, "While it certainly widens the soundstage…it also tends to bury vocals and…it can soften a song's bite." Without the use of the LiveAudio feature, reviewers found the mid and high range notes to be very clear and accurate at normal volumes. At higher volumes they noticed that the sound distorted slightly.
As with its predecessor, the Big Jambox also features speakerphone capabilities. As a type one speakerphone, it is capable of being used for the office. According to Gizmodo, "The mic works great both across a table and up close" and sound quality was good on both sides of the call.
Overall, critics were generally impressed with the quality of the speakers. One of the only major complaints was its lack of Wi-Fi. Besides this, however, it was praised. AppAdvice says, "…the quality of the product, its music playback, and the additional features on offer make it worth the price." PopSci adds, "I've never had a single speaker envelop the entire apartment…making it a worthy replacement for an expensive whole-home audio setup."
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Cnet, Engadget, AppAdvice, The Verge, PC Magazine, What Hi-Fi, TrustedReviews, All Things Digital, Gizmodo, Laptop Mag, Wired, Pocket-lint, SlashGear, iLounge, T3, Popular Science, Coolsmartphone, Venture Beat, Pocketables, Android Central, The Telegraph, Business Insider, UnleashThePhones, TechHive
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