Short answer: the Klipsch Nashville. It ranks #65 of 136 medium speakers by sound quality at $93; the JBL Flip Essential ranks #66 and costs $130, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Klipsch Nashville gets right: Sturdy rubber-coated build. The catch: Upper bass boost.
What the JBL Flip Essential offers: Aux input for wired sources. Watch for: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Buy the Klipsch Nashville. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Flip Essential and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If battery life is a priority, the Klipsch Nashville is rated for 24 hours versus 10 hours for the JBL Flip Essential.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Nashville | JBL Flip Essential | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $93.00 | $130 |
| Ranked | #65 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #66 of 136 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | No |
| Aux Input | No | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~64Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IPX7 |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 10W) | - |
| Power Input | USB-C | - |
| TWS | Yes | - |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 970 g | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 4.1 |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm fullrange | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| Dimensions | 7" x 3.1" x 3.2" (178 x 78 x 81 mm) | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 20W RMS | 16W RMS |
| Max Volume | 89dB | - |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Charge 3 vs JBL Charge 2
- Sony XB23 vs Sony XB33
- Minirig Mini 2 vs Sony XB23
- JBL Flip 5 vs JBL Flip Essential
- JBL Charge 5 vs Klipsch Nashville
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Nashville: $93.00 Amazon
Pros: Sturdy rubber-coated build. ~24 hour battery life with fast 18W USB-C charging; can reverse-charge your phone. IP67 rated.
Cons: Upper bass boost. Bass not as deep as the top ranked speakers. Boosted lower treble, sounds a little harsh like most Klipsch speakers.
Full Klipsch Nashville review and specifications →
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~64Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 7" x 3.1" x 3.2" (178 x 78 x 81 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 57mm fullrange |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 89dB |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 20W RMS |
| Party Mode | Yes (Broadcast Mode) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C, 10W) |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 2.1 lbs / 970 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Flip Essential: $130
Pros: Aux input for wired sources. IPX7 rated. Genuinely portable at under a pound; a cheaper, more basic alternative to the Flip 5.
Cons: Less bass than a Flip 5.
Full JBL Flip Essential review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | Yes (3.5mm) |
| Battery Life | 10 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 4.1 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 6.7" x 2.5" x 2.5" (169 x 64 x 64 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 40mm fullrange |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Output Power | 16W RMS |
| Party Mode | No |
| Weight | / 1 lbs / 471 g |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge 3
- JBL Flip Essential vs Sony XB23
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge Essential
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Charge 2
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Flip 4
- JBL Flip Essential vs JBL Flip 5
- JBL Flip Essential vs Beats Pill 2024
- JBL Flip Essential vs Sonos Roam 2
- See all 9 comparisons