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Know your options: Best JBL Xtreme 3 alternatives
If someone tells you that the Xtreme speakers from JBL are good for nothing, don’t be a pushover. Actually, any of the three models in the new lineup can be your go-to choice. But that doesn’t mean you will never want to seek JBL Xtreme alternatives because that price tag can be a deal-breaker.
That is especially true for JBL Xtreme 3. There’s no question that it’s a good Bluetooth speaker with a slew of new upgrades for water resistance, charging time, connection, and weight when compared to its predecessors. Yet, to check out its stuff, you’ll need to shell out $350 while also settling for quite a few drawbacks. Yep, even such a sizable amount of money doesn’t rule out the negatives related to the mids and carabiner.
Does that price make you rein in your excitement a bit? We feel your pain. But here’s great news: you can treat yourself to a top-rated Bluetooth speaker and avoid being in the red with JBL Xtreme 3. This is when Treblab HD-Max comes in.
What makes Treblab HD-Max the best JBL Xtreme 3 alternative?
Like the Xtreme series, the HD line from Treblab comprises several Bluetooth speakers. Of them, the HD-Max stands out as an “awe-inspiring beast” from the very moment you take a peek at it. So, if you seek a budget-friendly large speaker (about the size of the Xtreme 3), this one’s for you.
Best
TREBLAB HD-MAX
Best JBL Xtreme 3 alternative
Long-lasting Battery & Powerbank
The HD-Max is a portable Bluetooth speaker with powerbank with pass-through charging and USB Type-C connector. Use the 20H play time and quick charge-time to always stay connected.
Big Stereo System Sound Quality
The TREBLAB HD-Max is a large loud Bluetooth speaker with bass and features a four-speaker design. The 50W speakers and 3 sound modes can function indoors and outdoors.
From the design perspective, Treblab HD-Max and JBL Xtreme 3 are pretty similar. Both speakers look tubular, have anti-slip features, and show off top-notch plastic protection to ensure the highest build quality. The HD-Max, though, has much smaller logo symbols in the middle than JBL’s model.
For a listening experience, the HD-Max packs four drivers for a 50W-powerful punch. It’s loud as hell, and like JBL Xtreme 3, it allows you to bring the party to wherever you are. But unlike it, Treblab HD-Max takes things to the new level with three sound modes. Whether you’re at home or outdoors, you can select a profile that works for your situation best. While the Xtreme 3 can sometimes be overly bassy, the HD-Max Bluetooth speaker is always tailored to your needs and wants.
It’s one thing to throw a party with the best Bluetooth speaker. It’s another to make it more terrific with a couple of those. Oh, it’s a breeze to do that when you have two Treblab HD-Max speakers at hand. All you need to do is pair them to double your fun, either indoors or outdoors.
To have more information at your fingertips, here’s a close comparison between Treblab HD-Max and JBL Xtreme 3.
Treblab HD-Max vs JBL Xtreme 3
| JBL Xtreme 3 | Treblab HD-Max | |
| Loudness | Extremely loud | Extremely loud |
| Drivers | 4 | 4 |
| Battery life | 15 hours | 20 hours |
| Charging time | 2.5 hours | 5 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Built-in microphone | No | Yes |
| Voice assistants | No | Google Assistant and Siri |
| Weight | 1.83 kg | 2.55 kg |
| Powerbank option | Yes | Yes |
| Water-resistance (IP rating) | IP67 | IP6 |
| Price | $350 | $200 |
Still on the fence? The HD-Max speaker has its own set of pros and cons, so you better consider them before making a final decision.
+ Pros:
- looks sturdy
- delivers a massive bass boost without sacrificing the highs and mids
- ideal for at-home and outdoor use
- packs 3 sound profiles to suit your mood
- can be used for phone calls
- available for about half the price of the Xtreme 3
- Cons:
- not rated for dust protection
- no ample choice of design color options
Other JBL Xtreme alternatives (when it’s not about prices)
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom
- great for parties
- so loud that you can lose yourself in sheer fun
- 24-hour battery life
- one-button control
- extremely heavy
- awkward to carry
Best for bass-heavy sound
Bose Portable Smart Speaker
- highly nuanced sound
- well-designed handle that completes a lightweight build
- can be easily voice-controlled
- outdoor noise may howl it down
- most voice control functions are limited to Alexa
Sony SRS-XB41
- lighting that syncs with your music
- Party Booster and Extra Bass modes
- 24 hours of playback time
- fancy sound effects with the app
- the app is pretty useless if you don’t need DJ effects
- inferior loudness at 15W
Marshall Tufton
- loud in an extraterrestrial way
- designed with durability in mind
- sound adjustability knobs
- heavy
- no double-speaker pairing option
Beats Pill+
- lightweight
- best for iPhones
- the cheapest speaker among the top-6 alternatives in the review
- not water-resistant
- no aggressive bass to be expected
Ultimate Ears Hyperboom – The buddy that goes BIG
Are you more of a clubbable person? Then UE Hyperboom should be listed high in your own collection of the top-ten Bluetooth speakers. It’s a real monster that weighs almost 6 kg and is priced at $400, but it can make any party unforgettable.
The biggest of the bunch in this review, the Hyperboom delivers a blast of 100 decibels to get you moving. Beyond its phenomenal power, there are four drivers coupled with passive radiators and an adaptive EQ system. It ensures that the Bluetooth speaker is always as powerful as it’s engineered to be. This system reads your surroundings and fine-tunes top EQ sound quality as you use the Hyperboom.
You don’t want your party to be over when it’s in full swing, do you? Fortunately, UE Hyperboom works around the clock as its 24-hour battery allows for that. It can even share some power with your smartphone.
Make sure your party isn’t a pool party, though. This speaker isn’t waterproof, nor can it float. At IPX4, it can only survive some splashes, so put your swimsuit back in that wardrobe.
+ Pros:
- great for parties
- so loud that you can lose yourself in sheer fun
- 24-hour battery life
- one-button control
- Cons:
- extremely heavy
- awkward to carry
- $400-price tag
Bose Portable Smart Speaker – Just say it to let it happen
Bose Portable Smart Speaker isn’t as loud and bassy as the Hyperboom. This may be a problem for those who expect an earth-shattering boost for the price of JBL Xtreme 3. But for others, this Bluetooth speaker can be a solid alternative.
Decked out with a top-notch built-in mic, the speaker picks up your voice so clearly that you will never need to raise it to command your tunes. Crank it up – and it still hears you and is ready to obey. It’s smart enough to get along with Alexa and Google Assistant to take calls, stream your audio, keep you updated on weather forecasts, and more.
Bose’s lantern-style beauty is easy to carry as it weighs only 1.06 kg. That’s something to factor in when looking for the best portable Bluetooth speaker for outdoor use. Also, it’s weather-resistant (to an IPX4 extent) and wraps its reliability up with an aluminum grille.
On one battery charge, this speaker can make your jams out for 12 hours. This may not be enough to listen to music all day long, but it is long enough to pamper yourself with Bose’s finest sound.
+ Pros:
- highly nuanced sound
- well-designed handle that completes a lightweight build
- can be easily voice-controlled
- Cons:
- outdoor noise may howl it down
- most voice control functions are limited to Alexa
Sony SRS-XB41 – The brightest one
This portable Bluetooth speaker from Sony is another option for party-goers. When you take it with you, you always have a visually flattering centerpiece that everyone can listen to. Line lights, speaker lights, flashing strobes – it has it all for you to enjoy the feast of colors.
What’s more, the SRS-XB41 comes with the Party Booster. After turning it on, you can tap the speaker with your palm in 5 places for additional sound effects. However, this function can almost halve its 24-battery life to 14 hours.
Similar to JBL Xtreme 3, the SRS-XB41 is dust- and waterproof at IP67. So yes, you can rely on both speakers to set the mood for your pool party. With the latter, you can even let your inner DJ out. For this, Sony’s Fiestable app will do nicely.
Unfortunately, the SRS-XB41 isn’t the best waterproof Bluetooth speaker for those looking to crank things up. Even if you enable the Extra Bass mode, it can defy your top volume expectations with seemingly quieter sound than the Xtreme 3 or Treblab HD-Max. But it’s a more lightweight alternative (1.5 kg).
+ Pros:
- lighting that syncs with your music
- Party Booster and Extra Bass modes
- 24 hours of playback time
- fancy sound effects with the app
- Cons:
- the app is pretty useless if you don’t need DJ effects
- inferior loudness at 15W
Marshall Tufton – The stalwart one
If you’re here to review the best portable speakers, keep searching. With the Tufton, Marshall proves that “portability” can sometimes take on a double meaning. It’s hard to deny that when you grab this 4.9-kg hulk speaker.
Marshall Tufton is renowned for being more than just loud. It hits 102 dB at max volume, with enough power to shake things up. Treble and bass knob control is the icing on its soundstage cake, meaning you can always adjust those highs and lows with ease.
This one will make a top alternative to the Xtreme 3 when you need to crank it up. However, when paying $50 more than for JBL’s Bluetooth speaker, you expect some high-end technology inside or new additional features. Well, not this time.
The Tufton keeps going for 20 hours per charge and is pretty rugged. Yet, it doesn’t allow for pairing with same-style speakers, nor is it highly water-resistant. IPX2 protection may indeed hold you back.
+ Pros:
- loud in an extraterrestrial way
- designed with durability in mind
- sound adjustability knobs
- Cons:
- heavy
- no double-speaker pairing option
- may take a knock when used outdoors
Beats Pill+ – The epitome of portability
How about a truly lightweight JBL Xtreme alternative? Here you go. The most lightweight in the review, Beats Pill+ is a 0.75-kg Bluetooth speaker that can add more fun to your weekend getaways and traveling time. Simply connect it to your iPhone (that’s what it works best for) and let it do its thing.
The portable design aside, Beats Pill+ is nothing short of elegant. Its power output is not that impressive, but it won’t disappoint you with loudness. And if you’re one of those audio mavens who believe $350 for JBL speakers is a huge amount of money, the Pill+ will likely put a smile on your face. Its price tag is $180.
Dig deeper into what you’re buying, though. Make sure you’re good with the speaker’s 12-hour battery and non-waterproof design. Also, Beats Pill+ will never be perfect for bass fans as its lows drop for some music.
+ Pros:
- lightweight
- best for iPhones
- the cheapest speaker among the top-6 alternatives in the review
- Cons:
- not water-resistant
- no aptX support
- no aggressive bass to be expected
Given all this, what’s your top alternative?
Whenever you shop around for the best wireless speakers, you may find yourself considering the new JBL Xtreme 3. Its sound is fantastic, but you will likely be hard-pressed to buy it. Are you really willing to pay $350 for the speaker that loses its mid frequencies all too often?
If you’re not, Treblab HD-Max is an obvious alternative to review. At $200, this portable Bluetooth speaker lets you customize audio profiles with three options and produces top-quality audio akin to JBL. Why pay more?
FAQ
❓ What is the best JBL Xtreme 3 alternative?
If you need the best overall yet much cheaper alternative, it’s Treblab HD-Max – no two ways about it. If you don’t care about the price, take a look at 5 more speakers above.
❓ What is a cheaper JBL Xtreme alternative?
Treblab HD-Max comes out on top thanks to excellent value for money. Beats Pill+ is another alternative that we want to review as it is more affordable than JBL Xtreme.
❓ Is JBL Xtreme 3 loud?
JBL Xtreme 3 won’t make you want to keep your kids away from the speaker because it’s deafeningly loud (but UE Hyperboom and Marshall Tufton speakers will). Don’t get this wrong. It’s still loud and, like Treblab HD-Max, blasts music in a balanced, euphonious manner.
❓ Which one is better: JBL Xtreme 3 or Treblab HD-Max?
The Xtreme 3 speaker features enhanced water protection and is more lightweight than the HD-Max. However, brace yourself to rough it as JBL’s model is stripped of a microphone and adjustable audio profiles, unlike Treblab’s device. What’s more, the Xtreme 3 is $150 more expensive than the HD-Max.
