JBL has officially announced the Pulse 6 Bluetooth speaker, which is launching first in China. As the name suggests, it serves as the successor to the Pulse 5, which was originally launched in 2023. The new speaker is also listed on JBL Cambodia’s website, potentially indicating that its availability could extend beyond the Chinese market, although JBL has yet to confirm a wider rollout.
In terms of design, the Pulse 6 retains a similar form factor to its predecessor, featuring a transparent cylindrical body surrounding a 360-degree LED lighting system. However, the new model introduces an illuminated handle on top, which should make it easier to carry around.
According to Gizmochina, the speaker comes with 16 different lighting patterns and basic EQ controls, both of which can be adjusted through the dedicated JBL One app. On the durability side of things, it has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Performance-wise, the Pulse 6 comes with a 30W RMS woofer and a 10W RMS tweeter, providing a total output of 40W. According to JBL Cambodia, the speaker has a frequency response of 42Hz to 20kHz. The website also details the use of an AI Sound Boost algorithm, which JBL says analyses audio in real time to reduce distortion at higher volumes.
Beyond that, the Pulse 6 supports Bluetooth 6.0 with SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs. It also supports Auracast, allowing it to connect to other compatible JBL speakers. Additionally, the speaker features a built-in digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) and USB-C port for lossless audio playback on both Mac and PCs.
The Pulse 6 packs a 34Wh battery that supports 15W USB-C charging, with a full charge taking around 4.5 hours. JBL claims up to 12 hours of playback on a single charge, while its Playtime Boost feature can extend this by around two hours.
As for pricing, Gizmochina reports that the Pulse 6 is priced at CNY2,499 (~RM1,516) in China. However, the publication did not specify when the speaker will officially go on sale there, while the same applies to its listing on JBL Cambodia’s website.
At the time of writing, the Pulse 6 is also not listed in SIRIM’s database. As such, there is currently no indication of when it will arrive in Malaysia. That said, its predecessor, the Pulse 5, is available through JBL’s Malaysian website, so there remains a possibility that the newer model could eventually make its way here.
(Source: Gizmochina, JBL Cambodia)
