Pros & Cons
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- Crisp, clear audio performance.
- Can get quite loud for its size.
- Built-in speakerphone.
- Splash-proof.
- Slim contour makes for easy stowing.
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- Can distort on deep bass tracks at high volumes.
- Not for those seeking massive low end.
JLab Crasher Slim Specs
| Bluetooth | |
| Channels | 2 |
| Physical Connections | 3.5mm |
There are so many affordable portable Bluetooth speakers on the market, it's hard for any particular model to truly stand out. The $49.99 JLab Crasher Slim manages to look a bit different than its peers, however, thanks to a long, thin frame that's a good deal sleeker than you often see in the sub-$100 realm. Sonically, the speaker sounds more or less like you might expect from a $50 option—crisp and clear, though it doesn't provide much in the way of robust bass. For this price and size, though, the splash-proof Crasher Slim delivers a mostly solid audio experience in a portable, outdoor-friendly design.
Design
The Crasher Slim ( at Amazon) looks refreshingly different compared with most portable Bluetooth speakers, but it doesn't break the mold entirely. With the focus on a very slim frame, the speaker's 6.6-by-2.3-by-1.0-inch rectangular body weighs in at 9 ounces, and sports a clean, simple look that contrasts with much of the bulkier designs currently available. Its IPX4 rating means it's splash-proof, so it can sit poolside, but it's not fully water-proof, so don't submerge it.
Available in metallic blue or gray, the top panel of the Crasher Slim houses a multifunction button (for play/pause, call management, and power), and - and + buttons that operate as both volume controls and track navigation depending on how long you hold them in. The volume levels work in conjunction with your mobile device's master volume.
A stylish perforated grille dominates the Crasher Slim's front panel, beneath which are two 1.5-inch neodymium drivers delivering a total of 5 watts of power. There's also a passive radiator, which JLab optimistically refers to as a subwoofer.
The right panel has a rubberized surface—this is where the mic, micro USB port (a charging cable is included), and 3.5mm aux input (no cable is included) are located. A status LED shines below the surface of the rubber, which has a semi-translucent quality—another simple touch that makes the design stand out. The bottom and left panels are also rubberized, giving you some flexibility in terms of how you place the speaker on a tabletop.
JLab estimates the Crasher Slim's battery life to be roughly 10 hours, but your results will vary with your volume levels and your mix of wireless and wired audio playback.
Performance and Conclusions
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the Crasher Slim delivers a decent sense of bass at moderate volumes, but at higher volumes, it tends to distort. Despite JLab's claims of a built-in subwoofer, the passive radiator behind the grille can't summon deep bass frequencies—not that you'd expect deep bass to emanate from such a modestly sized speaker.
Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track with less deep bass in its mix, sounds clear and bright through the Crasher Slim. Callahan's baritone vocals have a decent sense of low-mid richness, but also get plenty of high-mid treble edge to keep things crisp and well-defined. The speaker can get quite loud for its size, and on tracks like this one, which lacks super-deep lows, there's no hint of distortion. However, the drums and electric bass disappear a bit in the mix—there's not much low frequency presence to give them more body and presence. But again, you wouldn't necessarily expect much bass from a speaker this size or price.
On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop gets plenty of high-mid presence to allow its sharp attack to slice through the layers of the mix as the most powerful element. The vocals float cleanly and clearly over the entire mix without ever sounding harsh or sibilant, but the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat sound somewhat weak—we hear their raspy top notes and not the lower, deep bass frequencies.
Other than the minor distortion on deep bass tracks, there's little not to like about the JLab Crasher Slim. If you're looking for more bass from a portable Bluetooth speaker, you need to spend far more money, though the JBL Flip3 ($69.99 at Amazon) and the Braven BRV-Pro ($149.99 at Amazon) are solid options worth considering. If you're after a slightly different look, the JBL Clip+ ($69.95 at Amazon) and the Ultimate Ears UE Roll ($50.00 at Amazon) are solid, budget-friendly portable Bluetooth options.
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