If you’re anything like me, you love listening to music on speakers with powerful sound and deep bass. And when it comes to speakers, JBL is one of the top brands out there. I’ve been using JBL speakers for years and always been impressed with the audio quality and volume they can produce.
But did you know you can link multiple JBL speakers together for an even better listening experience? With JBL’s wireless speaker pairing technology like Connect Plus and PartyBoost, you can connect two or more compatible speakers to play audio in sync.
In this guide, I’ll explain everything you need to know about linking JBL speakers. I’ll go over the different wireless protocols, compatible models, step-by-step pairing instructions, and useful scenarios for connected speakers. Let’s get started!
An Overview of JBL’s Wireless Speaker Pairing Technology
JBL has two main protocols for wirelessly linking their Bluetooth speakers – Connect Plus and PartyBoost. Here’s a quick rundown of how they work:
Connect Plus
Connect Plus allows you to pair two or more JBL speakers together to play audio in perfect sync. The technology has a wireless range of up to 30 feet. With Connect Plus, you can connect over 100 JBL speakers to each other.
PartyBoost
PartyBoost is JBL’s newer wireless pairing protocol with an extended range of up to 60 feet. Like Connect Plus, PartyBoost lets you connect over 100 JBL speakers together with synchronized audio.
Both protocols are great for linking speakers to blast music across a wide area. PartyBoost just offers a longer pairing range.
JBL Speakers Compatible With Connect Plus and PartyBoost
Not all JBL portable Bluetooth speakers support Connect Plus and PartyBoost pairing. Here are the JBL speakers compatible with each protocol:
Connect Plus Compatible Speakers:
- JBL Flip 4
- JBL Boombox
- JBL Xtreme 2
- JBL Charge 4
- JBL Pulse 3
PartyBoost Compatible Speakers:
- JBL Flip 5
- JBL Boombox 2
- JBL Xtreme 3
- JBL Pulse 4
It’s important to note that PartyBoost and Connect Plus speakers can only be paired with other speakers using the same protocol. For example, you cannot mix PartyBoost and Connect Plus models together.
But any Connect Plus speakers can pair together. And any PartyBoost models can link up. This cross-compatibility makes it easy to connect multiple speakers.
Step-By-Step Guide to Linking JBL Speakers
Linking compatible JBL speakers is a breeze and only takes a few minutes. I’ll walk through the process using the buttons on the speakers themselves, without the JBL app.
What You’ll Need:
- 2 or more compatible JBL Bluetooth speakers
- Charged batteries in each speaker
- Devices with Bluetooth connectivity like a phone
Instructions:
- Connect to the first “primary” speaker. Power on your first speaker like the JBL Charge 4 and pair it with your phone via Bluetooth. Begin playing music through this speaker. It will be the “primary” speaker.
- Power on the second speaker. Turn on your second speaker like the JBL Flip 4 and make sure it’s close to the first speaker.
- Press the pairing buttons. Locate the Connect Plus or PartyBoost pairing button on both speakers. It’s usually a button with the two device icon. Press and hold this button for 2-3 seconds on each speaker.
- Wait for connection. After a few seconds, audio from the primary speaker will start playing through the secondary speaker as the link is established. Enjoy your paired JBL speakers!
And that’s it! The two speakers will now play audio in perfect unison. You can continue to add more speakers to the group by pressing the pairing button on the new speaker and existing speaker each time.
Easy wireless pairing without cables or a complex setup process.
Creating An Expansive Multi-Speaker System
With the ability to wirelessly link over 100 JBL speakers via PartyBoost or Connect Plus, you can create some really amazing multi-speaker systems.
Here are some of the key uses and benefits of pairing multiple JBL speakers:
Wider Stereo Sound
By placing two JBL speakers apart, you can create a wider stereo image with music that feels more immersive. The separation between left and right channels across properly distanced speakers simulates a true stereo setup. Much better than using just a single speaker for music.
Compact Home Theater
Having wireless rear surround speakers helps form a home theater setup even in a smaller room or apartment. Simply place two speakers in front and two in back without running unsightly cables across the floor. JBL’s clear sound shines for TV, movies and gaming.
House Parties
For parties, backyard gatherings, and large events, you can spread out 4, 6, 8 or more linked JBL speakers throughout the space. This lets you easily increase the volume and cover more ground for dancing and mingling areas without distortion.
Multi-Room Audio
Place Connect Plus or PartyBoost linked JBL speakers in different rooms around your home. You can play the same music everywhere or have different songs in each room. Seamless multi-room audio synchronization.
As you can see, the pairing potential with JBL speakers is astounding. Just remember to use the same protocol within a speaker group for connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions About Linking JBL Speakers
If you’re new to pairing JBL speakers, chances are you have some questions about how the process works. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Can I mix different JBL models when pairing speakers?
Yes, you can pair different models like a Flip 5 and Xtreme 3 together as long as they use the same PartyBoost or Connect Plus protocols. Don’t mix PartyBoost with Connect Plus models.
Do I need the JBL app to connect speakers?
No, you can pair JBL speakers using just the buttons on each speaker as outlined above. However, the JBL app does allow you to do wireless pairing as well.
Does the app work on Android devices?
Yes, the JBL app requires Android 5.0 or newer. iOS devices are also supported.
How do I disconnect linked speakers?
Press and hold the Connect Plus or PartyBoost button on any speaker to disconnect it from the group. Turning off a speaker won’t affect the rest of the paired speakers.
Start Linking Your Compatible JBL Speakers
After reading this guide, I hope you’re excited about the possibilities with linked JBL speakers! It’s amazing how easy JBL makes it to create huge synchronized speaker set-ups.
Just remember to pair PartyBoost models together and Connect Plus models together. Charge up your speakers, press those pairing buttons, and enjoy louder, room-filling audio in every corner of your home.
If you have any other questions about connecting your JBL speakers, let me know in the comments!
