Short answer: the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It ranks #40 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $199.95. The DBSONO X-Blast F37 ranks #102, rated 2.8/5, at $69.99, $129.96 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
Why pick the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: Gets louder than the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen and digs deeper in the bass, with a separate 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators and 40W of amplification in the familiar Charge body. The tradeoff: In side-by-side listening against the Charge 6, its bass is weaker and less stable and distorts on bass-heavy tracks even with the bass turned down in the app, while a narrow boost in the upper mids makes it sound less natural.
What the DBSONO X-Blast F37 does well: 25W woofer + 10W tweeter + rear passive radiator. The tradeoff: Very recessed lower mids, peaky upper mids, just not a great frequency response overall.
Buy the JBL Charge Essential 3 SE. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $129.96 with the DBSONO X-Blast F37 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Charge Essential 3 SE | DBSONO X-Blast F37 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.95 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #40 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #102 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | - |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (Bass Boost) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX5 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | - |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) | 1.7 lbs (771 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) | 8” x 2.5” x 3.6” (202 x 64 x 90.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators | 25W woofer, 10W tweeter, passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) | 35W |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) | USB-C |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 49Hz |
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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
JBL Charge Essential 3 SE: $199.95 JBL eBay
Older models: the JBL Charge Essential 2 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5) and the JBL Charge Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Gets louder than the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen and digs deeper in the bass, with a separate 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators and 40W of amplification in the familiar Charge body. IP67 water and dust protection, a claimed 20 hours of battery life, a USB-C power bank output, Auracast stereo pairing and multi-speaker linking, Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC, and app EQ.
Cons: In side-by-side listening against the Charge 6, its bass is weaker and less stable and distorts on bass-heavy tracks even with the bass turned down in the app, while a narrow boost in the upper mids makes it sound less natural. Against the Bose SoundLink Flex 2nd Gen it sounds muddier and more strident, with less detail and a smaller soundstage. At full price it costs as much as the Charge 6, which is the better speaker.
Full JBL Charge Essential 3 SE review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 40W total (30W woofer + 10W tweeter) |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 20 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8.8” x 3.8” x 3.7” (223 x 96.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm x 90mm racetrack woofer, 20mm tweeter, two passive radiators |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | USB-C (5V/3A) |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes (Auracast) |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs (960 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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DBSONO X-Blast F37: $69.99 Amazon eBay
Pros: 25W woofer + 10W tweeter + rear passive radiator. Bluetooth 6.0 with a 30m range and TWS stereo pairing. IPX5 water resistance. Measured bass extension of 49Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Very recessed lower mids, peaky upper mids, just not a great frequency response overall.
Full DBSONO X-Blast F37 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 35W |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49Hz |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 8” x 2.5” x 3.6” (202 x 64 x 90.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 25W woofer, 10W tweeter, passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (Bass Boost) |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX5 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 1.7 lbs (771 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBSONO X-Blast F37 vs Bose Soundlink Flex 2 - They all want to be me 😊 More from alanrossreviews →
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- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBsono X-Blast F37 is warmer than the Bahamas in a heatwave!
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