Short answer: the Cleer Audio Scene. It ranks #31 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $74.99; the JBL Charge Essential ranks #78, rated 3.2/5, at $73.99. With prices this close, go by the sound-quality ranking rather than the cost.
Why pick the Cleer Audio Scene: Quite neutral frequency response, almost indistinguishable from the very neutral Flip 6 besides the worse bass extension. Watch for: Less bass extension than a Flip 6.
What the JBL Charge Essential does well: Doubles as a power bank. The catch: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off.
Buy the Cleer Audio Scene. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1 you would save on the JBL Charge Essential does not close the gap.
If battery life is a priority, the JBL Charge Essential is rated for 20 hours versus 12 hours for the Cleer Audio Scene.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Cleer Audio Scene | JBL Charge Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $74.99 | $73.99 |
| Ranked | #31 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #78 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~62Hz | - |
| 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 | Micro USB |
| Stereo | Yes | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | No | No |
| Weight | 1.6 lbs (742 g) | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 4.1 |
| Dimensions | 8.5” x 3” x 3.5” (217 x 76 x 89 mm) | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 48mm neodymium dome drivers + 2x passive radiators | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Amplifier Power | 20W | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | - | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Strap | - | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Cleer Audio Scene:
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- JBL Charge 6 vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Flip 6 vs Cleer Audio Scene
- JBL Flip 7 vs Cleer Audio Scene
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM 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 | Yes |
| 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
- Cleer Audio Scene vs Soundcore Boom 3i
- Cleer Audio Scene vs Tribit Xsound Plus 2
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JBL Charge Essential: $73.99 Amazon eBay
Newer model: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE, ranked higher, rated 3.7/5.
Pros: Doubles as a power bank. IPX7 rated. Supports true wireless stereo pairing with a second Charge Essential.
Cons: Less clarity than the Flip 4, highs rolled off. An overpriced rebranded Charge 3 for people who want stereo sound.
Full JBL Charge Essential review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.4” x 3.5” x 3.4” (213 x 89 x 87 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 50mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Connect+ up to 100 speakers) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-A, 5V/2A) |
| Power Input | Micro USB |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (770 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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