JBL 104 Bluetooth Speakers Review

Creating an enjoyable atmosphere often comes to good sound, and a quality pair of speakers is a must. Pair that up with Bluetooth technology, and you get a portable device for the party on the go, your desktop setup, or your studio.

This JBL 104 Bluetooth Speakers review is there for you to decide whether these are the right for you and your purposes.

JBL is a well-known name in this field, and after evaluating different aspects of the JBL 104  Bluetooth speakers, we can confirm that the company has really hit a home run with these newest speakers from the 1 Series line.

Let’s break down the features.

Specs & Features

Before you proceed to the comprehensive review, take a look at what these speakers offer in theory:

Dimensions (H x W x D)	9.72 x 6.02 x 4.88 in
Frequency	60 Hz – 20 kHz
Low-Frequency Driver	4.5 in
High-Frequency Driver	0.75 in
Input Sensitivity	87 dB/1 m
Power Amplifier	Class D, 60 W in total (30 W for each speaker)
Input Connectors	1 x 3.55mm standard jack
Output Connectors	2 x ¼-inch (6.5mm); 2 x RCA; 1 x 3.5mm
Enclosure	Ported; ABS with metal grille
Total score	4.6/5

Of course, these are all numbers and facts unless you read more about them.

So, let’s see how the JBL 104 Bluetooth speakers are in reality!

Design

Firstly, this pair of speakers is easy on the eyes with standard ABS enriched with a matte black (or white) acrylic paint finish that adds to its contemporary look, together with the metal grille enclosure.

A beautiful JBL logo at the front is a nice touch.

Its most pronounced feature is that they are round on the edges. This is not the case with most of the speakers on the market that have rigid edges.

At 15.8 ounces, these Bluetooth speakers are more than portable, so you should have no doubts about carrying it with you anywhere you want.

You can get a set in white and black variants, both equally appealing and elegant.

We must admit, though, that there is some space for improvement in terms of design.

Especially when compared to other characteristics it sports, the design feels simplistic – hence not the maximum grade.

Sound Quality

When it comes to the sound quality of the JBL 104 Bluetooth speakers, both lows and high sound excellent. As expected, high-quality aligns with the remarkable trademark of JBL assortment – their speakers rarely disappoint.

The system of drivers features a 4.5-inch low and a 0.75-inch high-frequency driver, aka a soft-dome tweeter, that accounts for this.

If you know how much of a turmoil distortion can be, you can rest assured that there will be no signs of that with this set of speakers, at <10% of system distortion, and <0.2% of electrical distortion that it delivers.

The peak power that this set of speakers offers is 60 watts, which makes them an appropriate entry-level studio monitor speaker set.

What makes the speakers an excellent choice for the desktop and studio setup is the integrated Class D power amplifier so that you get accurate sound and beautiful acoustics.

In addition to securing excellent sound quality at all frequencies, the JBL 104 Bluetooth monitors offer reliable performance for gaming, movies, studio, or casual musical afternoon.

However, the bass can only be described as “decent” Perhaps, for the money, it’s the best it can be, but it simply wasn’t good enough to satisfy our standards.

Connectivity

If details matter to you, you will be impressed with what the JBL 104 set of speakers has to offer when it comes to connectivity. The producers have succeeded in including everything, from the standard connectors to the wireless option.

Firstly, there is the audio output regular jack, 3.5mm with auto speaker mute, which is, of course, the most widely used output.

As for the input options, they are virtually limitless – you can select an Aux, RCA, or TRS input.

But what bumps these speakers above some other choices is the Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity that allows you to connect it with your preferred supported device, e.g.,  smartphone, or laptop, without the fuss of any cables.

What is crucial when it comes to wireless technologies is that the sound quality isn’t worse or altered when streamed via Bluetooth, and it is confirmed that here it isn’t.

If you still decide to go wired, though, you will get a 3.55mm-to-RCA cable in the purchase, along with the 2-m extension wire.

Controls

Generally speaking, JBL products always come with clear and intuitive controls, and the JBL 104 Bluetooth speakers are no different.

The front panel contains the volume control dial (very precise) and the headphone jack that automatically mutes the speaker. Also, you can change the input mode at the press of a small button next to the dial.

Considering that it has many connectivity options, maybe a couple of buttons extra for controlling them would have been nice.

Oh, and you also get a quick setup guide if you need it! It’s very concise and clear, so, bonus points for that.

Conclusion

As this JBL104 Bluetooth Speakers review showed, they are a set of audio speakers with an okay design, great sound quality, and extra features that cannot go unmentioned.

They do not have all the bells and whistles of professional speakers, but they do not promise it, either.

With an affordable price, the JBL 104 speakers are for people who want an excellent entry-level choice for their studio, PC setup, or simply a set of speakers to have on the go.