Which JBL Link Speaker Fits Your Needs?

JBL released the Link series of speakers, which follow a different approach to their familiar portable Bluetooth or party speaker legacy as they jump into the world of home audio with a series of compact home stereo systems. The JBL Link speakers are essentially a cross-over between their iconic portable Bluetooth audio solutions and smart speaker that’ll stay in your home. 

There are four speakers within the JBL Link family of speakers:

The portable, waterproof, versatile Link 10 and Link 20, and the larger Link 300 and Link 500, are designed to live in your home entertainment system, kitchen countertop, or bedside table.  

Smart Features and Design

The JBL Link speakers are the company’s first venture into home-based smart audio, capable of handling multi-room playback and long-range voice recognition technology linked to virtual assistants such as Apple Siri, Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and more. The JBL Link speakers run on Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi, depending on whether you want smart home features or standard Bluetooth audio streaming. 

All JBL Link speakers are available in either slick black or modern grey/silver, complimenting any home décor. The smaller speakers, the Link 10 and Link 20 are battery-powered, offering 5 and 10 hours of battery playback, respectively, while the Link 300 and Link 500 can only be used when connected to an AC power source.

Classic JBL Sound Quality

While the link speakers are new to JBL, the sound quality is still what you’d expect from the Bluetooth audio kings. JBL’s own Harman Curve sound signature is implemented here with all their portable and home audio products, delivering rich, tight low-end, punchy midrange, and crystal-clear and fresh highs at all listening levels.

As for volume levels, the smaller Link 10 and Link 20 are fairly limited, as they house a pair of 5W or 10W speakers per model. For listening by yourself or maybe one or two friends, this will provide enough volume to not get drowned by normal conversation. However, if you’re looking for party-like volumes or just enough to get you pumped while cleaning the house, the Link 300 or Link 500 may be better suited to your needs, sporting dual 25W drivers on the Link 300 and 4 x 15W speakers on the Link 500.

Built-in Chromecast Technology

All JBL Link speakers come with Google’s Chromecast technology pre-loaded, allowing for painless streaming and data transfer between your phone, tablet, laptop, or computer and its onboard platforms like Spotify, Google Play, Youtube, etc. to your TV, speakers, or other smart home devices.

Who are the JBL Link Speakers for?

The Link series is rather versatile and can be used in several applications. In short, I’d say the Link series speakers are well-suited to those looking for a speaker to form part of their Smart Home but want the guaranteed sound quality that comes with a familiar brand.

While we’d recommend something dedicated to the outdoors for the average consumer, if you want a speaker that can provide classic smart home audio but with the ability to take with you to friends, the Link 10 and 20 are the best options with their IPX ratings lending themselves to a more versatile nature.

JBL Link 10

The JBL Link 10 is the smallest of the Link family, measuring only 3.38 x 3.38 x 6.65 in size and weighing just north of 1.5 pounds. The Link 10 runs on Bluetooth 4.2 for high-quality data streaming and can connect to Wi-Fi too, enabling many of its smart home functions like voice assistant and multi-room listening. 

If you’re building a smart home or even want some smart devices for convenience, the JBL Link 10 is a great place to start, as you’re not forced into having a strictly home-based playback system; you can take the Link 10 out and about with you thanks to its portable nature and waterproofing. The Link 10’s battery can run for around 5 hours on a single charge.

Who should get the JBL Link 10?

The Link 10 is a great introduction to smart speakers for those who may be unfamiliar with it and would rather play it safe as you’ll end up with a portable, waterproof Bluetooth speaker if you choose not to use the home audio features but for that purpose, there are also better options out there at cheaper price points. The Link 10 is ideal if you want a portable speaker to join your smart home network.

JBL Link 20

Carrying all the features and functionality of the Link 10, the JBL Link 20 is only slightly larger, measuring 3.66 x 3.66 x 8.26, and weighs just above 2 pounds. The speakers are more powerful, offering 10W output per driver rather than the Link 10’s 8W speaker pair.

Because of this, the Link 20 can be considered a ‘beefed up’ version of the Link 10, which offers more volume and the tonal qualities that come with larger, more powerful speakers. The Link 20 still can’t be a party speaker, but you’ll find the volume enough for a couple of friends gathering around the barbeque or hanging out on the beach. The JBL Link 20 can run for around 10 hours on its built-in battery before a recharge is needed.

Who should get the JBL Link 20?

If you’re not necessarily looking for a smart speaker that’ll always stay in your home and would prefer something portable but with a little more power than the Link 10.

JBL Link 300

Sharing practically all its features with the Link 10 and Link 20, the JBL Link 300 is larger and more powerful, but can’t be taken around as it only runs on AC power, hence the absence of a water-resistance rating.

The sound they produce is the key difference between these bigger Link speakers and the smaller, more portable options. Larger drivers that push more air and suck more power will not only bring about higher listening levels but also a tighter low-end response and more immersive sound qualities.

Who should get the JBL Link 300?

If you’re looking for a smart speaker that’ll form part of your entertainment system or smart home and need enough volume for a small gathering or high-volume private listening.

JBL Link 500

The Link 500 is the largest and most powerful in the JBL Link speakers range. Sharing all the above features, the speaker array is the biggest difference, where 4 x 15W drivers are used rather than a pair. The Link 500 offers enough volume and power for a small to medium-sized house party if you’re looking for that kind of versatility from your home speaker, though we recommend one of these speakers for parties. The larger drivers and higher total output power also mean the JBL Link 500 will make for a good film-viewing speaker set.

Who should get the JBL Link 500?

The JBL Link 500 can reach the highest volume levels in the Link range, so for party enthusiasts and hosts, the Link 500 will satisfy those needs. As for its features, they’re all the same as the rest of the Link series. The Link 500 offers more power.