Review: JBL Link Speakers (with Google Assistant)

My apartment is littered with speakers. They’re everywhere. I even have one in the shower. Some are connected to intricate multi-room setups, others are small battery-operated Bluetooth speakers, and a growing number of them will talk back to me with a voice assistant like Alexa, Google, or Cortana. I even have a robot that will soon play music.

Out of all these speakers, I’ve begun using JBL's new Link speakers the most. It's not because they sound the best—these JBLs are just so convenient. JBL didn't pull the multi-sized Link 10, Link 20, and Link 300 out of the oven with undercooked Google support and toss them up for sale. It went to great lengths to bake Google Assistant to deeply into them, and the attention to detail shows.

Like many JBL Bluetooth speakers, these look plain. If their design could talk, it would just loudly shout "Yeah, I'm a Bluetooth speaker" over and over. The Link 10 and 20 are shaped like soda cans (one 12 ounce, the other 24 ounce), and are covered in fabric with rubbery plastic caps on the top and bottom. The Link 300 is the same, just fatter than it is tall, with a somewhat ovular shape to it. It’s meant to look more like a speaker that ain't going anywhere, because, well, it isn't. Unlike its soda can-shaped siblings, the Link 300 has no battery so it's not meant to travel.

JBL

Boot any of them up for the first time and you'll begin to notice how much care went into the design. Saying “Hey Google,” or pressing the Google Assistant button on the top of a Link speakers triggers a voice prompt asking you to download the Google Home app, which helps you connect them to your Google account and to your home Wi-Fi. (Like all voice assistants, Google Assistant requires Wi-Fi to work.) Once you hook up a Link, you can always see how strong its connection is by looking at a light-up Wi-Fi meter on the bottom of the speaker. It's helpful, too! When I first set mine up, I didn’t realize just how bad my home Wi-Fi was in my main bathroom, but the indicator let me know exactly why my increasingly loud demands to “play more Macy Gray!” were going woefully unanswered.

Four dots also light up on the front, right up top. Like a Google Home speaker, they let you know that Google has heard your request and is listening. (You can also have it make a tone when Google is listening in Settings, which I recommend.) The four lights also indicate volume. The volume buttons are right up top, as are the play/pause and Bluetooth buttons. Bluetooth is especially useful. It’s shaped like a B and blinks when it’s in pairing mode. It's amazing how difficult the pairing process is on some speakers.

On the back there is a very clear power button and mute button, as well as five tiny light up dots that indicate battery. A Micro USB charging port is at the bottom, letting you easily keep the speakers plugged in and standing up without any additional accessories.

These features are all the more impressive when you realize that the Link 20 and 10 are IPX7 waterproof. In my tests, both work fantastic in the water and once they’re out---they also float fairly well, though sound is muffled when they’re in the water.

If these design features all sounds basic to you, I agree! It’s surprising how few portable assistant speakers get them right. Even UE’s Megablast with Alexa, one of my favorites, lacks most of these indicators in the name of stylish design, leading to some confusion from time to time---and the inability to charge while standing unless you buy an accessory. I always know what’s wrong if a Link speaker isn’t connecting; I always know if it’s running low on battery; I always know if Bluetooth is enabled; and I always know when Google can hear me. The battery life is also good enough that it won't annoy you, at least on the larger Link 20 speaker. The Link 20 gets about 10 hours per charge, and the smaller Link 10 gets about five.

The Google Assistant understands music requests better than Amazon’s Alexa, and works with Spotify, which is the service I use most. Google also seems to know more of the answers to obscure questions I ask it and is definitely better at finding places and directions if you want to, say, find a diner that serves milkshakes nearby. I do love a good shake!

Keep in mind that Alexa is compatible with a much wider array of smart home devices and appliances than Google right now. But Google can do more every day, and if you're deep into Google's ecosystem already, this may be the speaker for you.

The extensive permissions Google asks for are bothersome, too. Despite having to enter your address into the speaker, if you do not enable Google to record your location at all times on all Android devices on your account, you can’t even get basic information like the weather. Like Alexa, every recording is also stored in your Google account, as well. So take that into consideration.

The Link 10, 20, and 300 cannot match the sound of a Sonos One, or other top-notch speakers, but they do sound good enough to enjoy music without feeling like you’re listening to low-fidelity MP3s.

Quality exceeds your average speaker, but tracks can sound kinda mushy, especially on the Link 10, with its two 8 Watt full-range drivers. It tends to sound like there’s just a razor-thin wall between me and the concert I wish I were attending. That slight muddiness holds these speakers back from greatness.

They may not win audio awards, the JBL Link 20 and 10 still sound sensational compared to many portable speakers their size. They can rock the socks off a casual party or shower jam session. The sound carries well, too, making it ideal for a deck party or small outdoor gathering. If sound is of top concern, the 10 Watt drivers in the Link 20 are considerably nicer than the 10. And though it has no battery at all, the larger Link 300 sounds clearer and fuller, thanks to its 89mm woofer and a tweeter for the high-end.

My favorite part of JBL’s Link lineup is the price. The Link 10 costs $150, the Link 20 costs $200, and Link 300 costs $250, which puts them $50-$100 cheaper than many comparable smart speakers.

If you’re looking for a fantastic all-around smart speaker, the JBL Link 20 offers the most bang for your buck, but none of JBL’s options, including the new Link 500 (which we haven’t tested) are a bad deal. It’s hard to describe how freeing it is to just ask Google to play music instead of digging into your apps. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, I highly recommend it.