When it comes to audio accessories, JBL is well-known, especially in the market for portable Bluetooth devices. The company made an innovative attempt in 2018 when it added FM radio to its portable speaker. The JBL Tuner FM was the outcome. The second-generation Tuner 2 has entered the market even though it did not reach Nepal. For the review, I was fortunate to obtain one for myself as well. Thus, let’s begin our evaluation of the JBL Tuner 2.
Design Rubber padding on a cylindrical body
Antenna for radio signal tuning with IPX7 waterproof construction
Starting with the design The cylindrical body of the JBL Tuner 2 FM is meant to be placed horizontally on a level surface. Rubber padding on the bottom, on either side, gives the speaker some height. But, because they are thin, these paddings won’t really help unless they are set on a flat surface.
The body of the JBL Tuner 2 is comprised of plastic, which feels smooth to the touch but has a rubberized appearance. Yet, it is prone to smudges. With an IPX7 classification, the speaker should withstand a few light water sprays.
Sides resemble “glastic” more. The power button, which has a tiny red decal, is also located on the left side. The button is small and not illuminated, but because it is pressed into the surface, I had no trouble finding it. The JBL logo has been carved out of the flat surface on the opposite side.
A sizable grill occupies the most of the space on the front. The grill appears to be composed of metal and is hence substantial. In the center is the JBL logo.
Screen
JBL has added a greyscale screen on the front of the gadget in addition to the grill. It’s included since the Tuner 2 supports Digital Audio Broadcasting (more on that later). The screen’s current mode (DAB/FM/Bluetooth) is indicated in the upper right corner. In a similar vein, the battery indicator, which is located in the upper left corner, regrettably does not display the battery’s %. This was one of the issues I had using JBL Tuner 2.
Even with a smartphone, you can never be certain how much battery life is left at any one time. I attempted to use third-party applications like BatON, but in vain. That might not seem like a big deal, but I would have preferred if the battery level had been displayed as a series of bars, similar to how the volume is.
You can see the precise frequency you are on while using the FM, as well as the preset number if you are using a personal FM that you have saved. When on Bluetooth mode, the screen notifies you if the device is in pairing mode or has been connected to a device. The speaker will re-establish connection with the most recent connected device when you press the Bluetooth button on top. Simply push the button once more to put the speaker into pairing mode and connect it to a different device.
Price and release information for JBL Tuner 2
The JBL Tuner 2, which was released in 2020, isn’t the newest gadget on the market, but listening to the radio – even DAB radio – isn’t either, and there are times when connecting the original “wireless” is still superior.
The cost of the JBL Tuner 2 has slightly decreased since it was first released, now costing £79.99/AU$169.95.
There are two color options for it: white or black.
Features
In your hands, the JBL Tuner 2 feels smooth and svelte. Although you’ll be setting it down either horizontally or vertically for its primary use, carrying it feels comfortable despite the fact that there is no strap to grip onto.
On the bottom are two thick rubber grips that keep the speaker level when you position it pretty much anywhere. If you’d rather, you could also position it vertically.
To listen to the radio, you must remove the aerial from the top of the device. A USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio port are located on the rear.
The JBL Tuner 2’s front is the most intriguing portion because it features a tiny display that says hello when you turn it on and then informs you of the mode it’s in and the radio station you’re currently listening to.
The battery indicator, which is quite terrible, is also located there. A sequence of bars would have been so much more useful than simply a single bar that goes down vaguely. Even so, the battery lasts roughly 10 hours, so you won’t have to worry all that frequently.
The controls are at the top. There are two large volume buttons, a series of numbers for radio presets, a scan button to find everything available, and two large volume buttons. Although we had to read the handbook to learn how to identify even more stations, scanning is fairly speedy.
But, most of the time, configuring the JBL Tuner 2 to your preferences just takes a few minutes. “s”s”””””‘and ‘
When discussing controls, there are many of them on the top surface of keys. On either side, there are two sizable up and down volume controls. They are separated by two rows of small buttons.
Controls
The numbers in the top row range from 1 to 5. While in FM mode, a prolonged push on either of them will set the button to the desired frequency.
You can return to that frequency at any time by simply hitting the associated button.
The following high frequency in the bottom row will also be returned by pressing the scan button. You can manually tune the FM, however, by using the two arrow keys. The DAB/FM button can also be used to change between the two modes. Apart for the volume keys, none of the other buttons have any purpose when using Bluetooth.
Conclusion
To summarize our review, the JBL Tuner 2 is a fantastic choice if you want an FM radio on a Bluetooth speaker. The Bluetooth speaker aspect of the situation in this case isn’t too horrible. It differs from the majority of the possibilities on the market thanks to the screen and the style. In case DAB radio is offered in your area, it also offers that feature. But, there are better options available on the market, such the JBL Flip 5, if you don’t require FM radio functions and are seeking for a Bluetooth speaker.
