Short answer: the JBL Flip Essential 2. It ranks #71 of 150 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 3.3/5, at $85.90. The DBSONO X-Blast F37 ranks #102, rated 2.8/5, at $69.99, $15.91 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The case for the JBL Flip Essential 2: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. The tradeoff: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight.
Why pick the DBSONO X-Blast F37: 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 Flip Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $15.91 you would save on the DBSONO X-Blast F37 does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Flip Essential 2 | DBSONO X-Blast F37 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $85.90 | $69.99 |
| Ranked | #71 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #102 of 150 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators | 25W woofer, 10W tweeter, passive radiator |
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS | 35W |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IPX5 |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC (inferred; additional codecs unverified) |
| Party Mode | No | - |
| TWS | No | Yes |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | No | Yes (Bass Boost) |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) | 1.7 lbs (771 g) |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) | 8” x 2.5” x 3.6” (202 x 64 x 90.9 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| 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 Flip Essential 2: $85.90 Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Flip Essential (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: Essentially a Flip 5 in a new shell: the same single 44 x 80mm racetrack driver and 20W amplifier, rated down to 65Hz. In a side by side loudness test it got louder than the JBL Grip, and listeners comparing it with the Marshall Emberton found it more open sounding and clearer. IPX7 waterproof, 520 g, USB-C charging and Bluetooth 5.1 with two phones connected at once.
Cons: There is no tweeter, and side by side comparisons found it does not sound as good as the Flip 6, with less bass; its bass stops growing above about 70% volume, so turning it up mostly adds loudness, not weight. No app, no EQ, no PartyBoost or stereo pairing, a claimed 10 hours of battery, and IPX7 covers water but not dust.
Full JBL Flip Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 20W RMS |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.9” x 2.7” x 2.8” (175 x 68 x 70 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 44x80mm racetrack fullrange + 2x passive radiators |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 65Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | No |
| Weight | 1.1 lbs (520 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- AudioTribe: JBL Flip 6 vs JBL Flip Essential 2 FULL TEARDOWN in Just 15 Minutes!
- Speaker Fan: JBL Flip 6 VS JBL Flip Essential 2 VS JBL Grip Loudness Test - Which Is Louder?
- HQ AUDIO Exchange: JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. Flip 6 | Bass Sound Test!
- Cristian Catalin’s Sound&Video: JBL Flip Essential 2 VS Marshall Emberton - sound comparison
- Angelicaaudio: Mini JBL Flip Essential 2 vs. JBL Charge 5 Bluetooth Speaker Review
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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 →
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBSONO X-Blast F37 vs Tribit StormBox Flow - Cheap But Cheerful? 🙈
- Alan Ross - The Anti Shill!: DBsono X-Blast F37 is warmer than the Bahamas in a heatwave!
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