Short answer: the Cleer Audio Scene. It ranks #31 of 144 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $74.99; the JBL Charge Essential 2 ranks #37, rated 3.8/5, and costs $130, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The case for the Cleer Audio Scene: Quite neutral frequency response, almost indistinguishable from the very neutral Flip 6 besides the worse bass extension. The tradeoff: Less bass extension than a Flip 6.
The case for the JBL Charge Essential 2: A tough, compact 930g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, USB-C charging, a USB-A power-bank output and a claimed 20-hour battery life. The tradeoff: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option.
Buy the Cleer Audio Scene. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Charge Essential 2 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Battery life favors the JBL Charge Essential 2: rated for 20 hours against 12 hours for the Cleer Audio Scene.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Cleer Audio Scene | JBL Charge Essential 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $74.99 | $130 |
| Ranked | #31 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #37 of 144 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~62Hz | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | No | No |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX7 |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (742 g) | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3” x 3.5” (217 x 76 x 89 mm) | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm neodymium dome drivers + 2x passive radiators | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 40W |
| Party Mode | - | No |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Cleer Audio Scene compares with other leading options:
- Earfun Uboom L vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Charge 6 vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Flip 6 vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Flip 7 vs Cleer Audio Scene
- Xiaomi Sound Party vs Cleer Audio Scene
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 12:12 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Cleer Audio Scene: $74.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: Quite neutral frequency response, almost indistinguishable from the very neutral Flip 6 besides the worse bass extension. Measured bass extension of ~62Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Less bass extension than a Flip 6. No app, EQ, stereo pairing, or multipoint. Sound is fairly directional - best right in front of it. Bigger and heavier than most speakers this size.
Full Cleer Audio Scene review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~62Hz |
| Battery Life | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3” x 3.5” (217 x 76 x 89 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm neodymium dome drivers + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (742 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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JBL Charge Essential 2: $130 eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: A tough, compact 930g speaker with IPX7 water resistance, USB-C charging, a USB-A power-bank output and a claimed 20-hour battery life. It delivers much of the Charge 5’s familiar punch and volume in a simpler package, with bass that reaches roughly 55Hz for this size. Measured bass extension of ~55Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It is a pared-back Charge: no app EQ, no PartyBoost/party mode and no stereo-pair option. It plays mono, has a little less bass authority than the Charge 5, and its IPX7 rating does not promise dust protection. Choose it for a good sale price, not for extra features.
Full JBL Charge Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~55Hz |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (930 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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