JBL BoomBox 3 Bluetooth Speaker Review

We all like our music. It’s also fun to take our music on the go. To allow us to take our music on the go, the boombox became popular several decades ago in the 70’s. JBL has re-invented the boombox with their BoomBox. Up for review is their BoomBox 3 with a $499 MSRP.

 

Features and specs:

 

General Specifications

Output power (W): 1x80W RMS-subwoofer + 2x40W RMS-midrange + 2x10W RMS-tweeter (AC mode) 1x60W RMS-subwoofer + 2x30W RMS-midrange + 2x8W RMS-tweeter (Battery mode)

Audio Specifications

Dynamic frequency response range (Hz): 40 Hz - 20k Hz

Dimensions

Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) (cm): 48.2 x 25.7 x 20.0

Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) (in): 19.0 x 10.1 x 7.9

Weight (kgs): 6.7

Weight (lbs): 14.7

Control and Connection Specifications

Bluetooth profiles: A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6

Bluetooth frequency: 2.402GHz - 2.480GHz

Bluetooth transmitted modulation: GFSK, π/4 DQPSK, 8DPSK

Bluetooth transmitter power: ≤ 9 dBm (EIRP)

Bluetooth version: 5.3

Battery

Charging time (hrs): 6.5

Maximum music playing time (hrs): 24

Features

JBL PartyBoost: Yes

3.5 mm audio cable Input: Yes

Bluetooth: Yes

Charging cable: Yes

Powerbank: Yes

Waterproof: Yes

Wireless: Yes

Rechargable battery: Yes

IP Code: IP67

 

The JBL BoomBox 3 came in a nice-looking color printed box. Opening the box revealed a well-protected product held in place by custom cardboard. Materials used in construction were mostly plastic with some metal, rubber and cloth. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, was excellent. Also included was the quick start guide and power cord.

 

As a child of the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s, before talking about the design of the JBL BoomBox 3, I feel I need to first talk about boomboxes in general and its evolution. I have owned my share of boomboxes. And they were designed to bring our music on the go. This was the radio and cassette tapes, add later included CD.s. They also improved on the sound by going from a single full range speaker to also include a separate tweeter. And to custom tailor the sound to our performance, many also included a graphic equalizer. I was the life of the party with my boombox.

 

Through the next few decades, our music has changed. Cassette tapes are gone, and CD’s are rarely used. Regular radio is also not used nearly as often. Born on physical media like cassette tapes, CD’s and radio listened to a large percentage of the time, I have even succumbed to the evolution of how we listen to our music. JBL BoomBox 3 is a result of this evolution. After all, why include a radio turner and CD player as well as the cost for them, when they may not be used?

 

I love the design of the JBL BoomBox 3. It has a similar form factor as the boomboxes of old, yet includes the features we need. Gone are the CD and radio turner replaced with Bluetooth. Most of what we listen to is accessed on our phones, be it downloaded music tracks or music services like Amazon, or Spotify, to name a couple. So all you really need is Bluetooth to connect to your phone. You can even connect 2 phones, to allow friends in on the action.

 

For it to be really easy to use, JBL went with a simple design. There are buttons for power, Bluetooth, play, volume up and down and link to link other JBL wireless speakers. At the bottom of the front is an LED to show the battery charge level. Connections on the back are for power cord, audio in for an external audio device, and USB port to access the internal power bank. This simplistic design also yields a clean look, and it looks great! The JBL app is also really simplistic, but gives good features with the 3-way equalizer, streaming to multiple JBL wireless speakers, and the quick start guide.

 

Unlike boomboxes of old, JBL also has upped its game in the sound quality of the BoomBox 3. JBL employs a 3-way system. There’s a .75” tweeter, 2.75”midrange, and 4.5”x7.4” subwoofer. But there’s also a passive radiator on each end. It’s a sophisticated subwoofer system that uses a single active subwoofer that is similar in cone area as a 6-inch round driver, and dual 5-inch passive radiators. I’m a fan of passive radiators.  And while use of a passive radiator is rare, this one uses two. Very rare, and very impressive! You get a separate tweeter and midrange for crisp and clean sound, with an active subwoofer with dual passive radiators to maximize the amount of bass from a small package. Add the IP67 dustproof and 1-meter waterproof feature, and you can get great sound anywhere. Now let’s see how they sound.

 

Earth Wind & Fire: September – Wood blocks had really good resolution of the woodiness tone of the block, tambourine was crisp and clean as were the cymbals. Vocals were silky smooth with great texture of the timbre. Shaker block also had nice texture. Snare was nice and dynamic.  Kick drum was also dynamic with really good low-end extension and played with authority. Trumpet was also really dynamic, super clean, with great harmonics.

Disturbed: Sound of Silance – piano sounded natural with very good harmonics. Vocals were smooth like honey with excellent resolution of the texture of the timbre. Acoustic guitar had really nice resolution of the strings. Strings were also smooth with excellent harmonics of the strings. Tympani had nice dynamics and low-end extension and authority with good resolution of the pad.

Tiesto @ Sevenn: Boom – Holy *#@*! I was not expecting this from a little boombox! Some of the bass beats were not as deep, but were nice and tight, super clean, and hit hard. Thers were deeper bass beats that also hit really hard with great low-end extension. And then others were really deep, really clean as well, but shook the room! I knew the single subwoofer with two passive radiators had high potential, but wow!

 

If you want to take your music with you outdoors, you’ll want great sound and a speaker that can handle any outdoor environment. The JBL BoomBox 3 handles both. It’s also well made to provide years of use. If you’re looking for an outdoor wireless speaker, especially if you like a lot of bass, the JBL BoomBox 3 is unique in that aspect and deserves to be on your short list. Based on its design, features, quality and performance, the JBL Boombox 3 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info check out their website at www.jbl.com.

SAMA Launches Complete P and G Series Power Supplies with ATX 3.1 and 12V-2x6 Support for High-Performance PC Builds

SAMA Launches Complete P and G Series Power Supplies with ATX 3.1 and 12V-2x6 Support for High-Performance PC Builds

 

Engineered for power-intensive GPUs, SAMA’s latest modular PSUs deliver ultra-quiet cooling, peak efficiency, and full NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series and AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series compatibility.

 

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., August 19, 2025 ---- SAMA, a global leader in performance PC hardware, today announced the launch of its complete lineup of fully modular power supply units, ranging from 650W to 1200W to meet the needs of entry-level to high-performance gaming systems. The new P Series includes the P850, P1000, and flagship P1200 Platinum, while the G Series spans the G650, G750, G850, and flagship G1000 Gold. All models are 80 PLUS certified, with the P Series delivering Platinum-level efficiency and the G Series meeting Gold-level standards, ensuring reliable power delivery, improved energy efficiency, and reduced thermal output under load.

 

Built to exceed the power and efficiency demands of modern PC builds; all models are fully compliant with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards and support the latest NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 Series and AMD Radeon™ RX 9000 Series graphics cards with 12V-2x6 connectors. The SAMA P1200 Platinum and SAMA G1000 Gold are optimized for enthusiast systems, overclocked CPUs, and multi-GPU configurations, delivering reliable, ultra-quiet performance with clean, modular design.

 

Designed for Modern Gaming and Performance Builds

The flagship SAMA P1200 Platinum 1200W and G1000 Gold 1000W fully modular power supplies are engineered to deliver precision power, GPU stability, and ultra-quiet operation for high-performance gaming PCs, creator workstations, and enthusiast-level systems. Featuring native 12V-2x6 (PCIe 5.1) connectors, both units provide seamless compatibility for the latest flagship GPUs, including the NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5090/5080 and AMD® Radeon™ 9070 XT Series. With full compliance to the ATX 3.1 specification, these PSUs support power excursion events up to 235%, making them ideal for demanding overclocking, intense gaming loads, and future-proof system upgrades.

 

Designed in a compact 150mm ATX form factor, both units maximize internal case airflow and fit easily into modern mid- and full-tower chassis. For noise-conscious users, an intelligent Zero RPM fan mode paired with a Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) cooling system ensures silent operation during low to moderate workloads. Builders will also appreciate the clean look and ease of use offered by fully modular flat cables, optimized for tight spaces and high visibility showcase builds. Both the P1200 and G1000 are fully compatible with Intel® Core™ Ultra and AMD Ryzen™ 9800/9900 Series processors and are optimized to power NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 50 and RTX™ 40 Series GPUs with stable, efficient delivery. They are engineered for drop-in integration with premium graphics cards from trusted partners, including NVIDIA® Founders Edition, ASUS ROG, GIGABYTE AORUS, MSI, Sapphire, ZOTAC, and more.

 

Key Features

P1200 Platinum – 1200W Fully Modular PSU | 80 PLUS Platinum | MSRP: $189.99 USD

·       Dual native 12V-2x6 connectors and 600W cable for next-gen GPU compatibility

·       Up to 93.12% efficiency, exceeding 80+ Platinum certification standards

·       All Japanese 105°C capacitors and <30mV ripple for clean, stable power

·       235% power excursion support for transient GPU loads

·       140mm FDB fan with fanless ECO mode below 60% load / 55°C

·       10-year warranty with global support coverage

·       Ideal for enthusiast builds, high-end workstations, and overclocked systems

 

G1000 Gold – 1000W Fully Modular PSU | 80 PLUS Gold | MSRP: $119.99 USD

·       Native 12V-2x6 connector and 450W cable with ATX 3.1 + PCIe 5.1 support

·       91.15% efficiency, ideal for mainstream to performance-grade gaming PCs

·       Main Japanese 105°C capacitor for long-term durability

·       200% power excursion compliance

·       140mm FDB fan with ECO mode (fanless below 40% load / 55°C)

·       Optimized for GeForce RTX 50/40 Series GPUs and high-core-count Intel® and AMD® processors

·       5-year warranty

 

“SAMA’s new power supplies are built with today’s most demanding PC users in mind—from gamers to creators to system integrators,” said Frank Wang, VP of SAMA. “The P1200 and G1000 are more than just compatible—they’re engineered to maximize GPU performance, ensure power stability, and meet the standards of tomorrow’s high-end PC builds.”

 

 

Where to Buy on Amazon

·       SAMA P1200 – Black & White | MSRP: $189.99

o   Black: B0F996CYT2

o   White: B0F99BFKL1

·       SAMA P1000 – Black & White | MSRP: $179.99

o   Black: B0F998PDN3

o   White: B0F9963V9X

·       SAMA P850 – Black & White | MSRP: $169.99

o   Black: B0F9941HQL

·       SAMA G1000 – Black & White | MSRP: $119.99

o   Black: B0F998XFMY

o   White: B0F998GTVN

·       SAMA G850 – Black & White | MSRP: $109.99

o   Black: B0F9995K43

o   White: B0F997VW66

·       SAMA G750 – Black & White | MSRP: $104.99

o   Black: B0F998CPJ9

o   White: B0F998FFK9

·       SAMA G650 – Black & White | MSRP: $99.99

o   Black: B0F99631LJ

o   White: B0F9LBSFHC

 

 

About SAMA

Founded in 2003, SAMA is a trusted global manufacturer of PC cases, cooling solutions, and power supplies for gaming, creative, and performance computing markets. With a reputation for reliability, thermal innovation, and industry-first support for emerging standards, SAMA products are used by gamers, system builders, and integrators in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Website: www.samagears.com
Instagram: @samagears
Facebook: facebook.com/samagear
X: @samagears_020
YouTube: youtube.com/@samagears-020
Amazon Storefront: SAMA on Amazon

Newegg Storefront: SAMA on Newegg

Lexar Enterprise’s Enterprise-grade DDR5 RDIMMs Achieve Compatibility Certification with AMD Threadripper PRO 9000WX-Series

Lexar Enterprise’s Enterprise-grade DDR5 RDIMMs Achieve Compatibility Certification with AMD Threadripper PRO 9000WX-Series

BG series DDR5 RDIMMs designated as the official memory configuration for AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9000-Series workstation systems

 

San Jose, CA, USA, August 6, 2025– As an official AMD partner, Lexar Enterprise’s enterprise-grade BG series DDR5 RDIMMs took the lead in passing AMD’s stringent compatibility testing with its new Ryzen Threadripper 9000-Series processors. Built on the advanced Zen 5 architecture, this lineup includes the Threadripper PRO 9000WX-Series which is designed for professional workstations and offers up to 96 cores and 192 threads for comprehensive performance optimization. Lexar Enterprise’s BG series DDR5 RDIMMs have been designated as the official memory configuration for the workstation systems.

This collaboration highlights Lexar Enterprise’s continued innovation in high-performance computing and professional content creation storage technology, offering HEDT (High-End Desktop) and workstation users a reliable, high-efficiency memory upgrade solution.

Comprehensive Specifications Unlock the Full Potential of Threadripper PRO 9000 Series

According to AMD, the Threadripper PRO 9000WX Series natively supports 8-channel DDR5-6400 ECC memory, delivering a theoretical bandwidth exceeding 410GB/s – a 37% increase over DDR5-5200 platforms. To meet the processor’s intensive multi-core computing and bandwidth demands, Lexar Enterprise DDR5 RDIMMs feature both 2R×4 and 2R×8 architectures, with capacities ranging from 32GB to 128GB and data rates of up to 6400Mbps (also supporting 5600Mbps). These modules are engineered to fully leverage the processor’s high-bandwidth, low-latency capabilities, significantly enhancing data throughput in workloads such as 3D rendering, 8K video processing, and AI model training.

Rigorous Validation for Workstation-Class Reliability

Lexar Enterprise’s enterprise-grade DDR5 RDIMMs have undergone comprehensive AMD validation, including high-temperature stress testing, hot-swapping, sustained load assessments, and cross-platform compatibility checks. Designed to operate reliably in 24/7 high-load environments, the modules are compliant with JEDEC standards and incorporate ECC (Error-Correcting Code) technology to ensure data integrity in mission-critical tasks such as financial modeling and AI inference.

Ecosystem Collaboration Accelerates Professional Deployment

Kainan Li, Director of Industry Solutions Sales at AMD Greater China, stated:“The Threadripper PRO 9000 Series demands memory systems that overcome bandwidth bottlenecks. Lexar Enterprise’s DDR5 RDIMMs, featuring 6400Mbps high-speed data rates and ECC support, align well with the computing power of the Zen 5 architecture, providing users with an outstanding out-of-the-box experience.”

“The AMD Threadripper PRO 9000 Series redefines the performance boundaries of HEDT platforms – and memory subsystem optimization is key to unlocking its full potential,” said Todd Levy, Vice President of Sales at Lexar Enterprise. “This collaboration with AMD not only affirms Lexar Enterprise’s leadership in enterprise-grade memory technology but the combination of enterprise DDR5 RDIMMs with the AMD Threadripper PRO 9000 Series also boosts the efficiency of professional applications such as content creation and engineering simulation.”

Looking ahead, Lexar Enterprise and AMD will continue to deepen their cooperation in advancing enterprise-class memory technologies, driving the HEDT ecosystem forward into the AI era.

About Lexar Enterprise

Building upon the foundation and the credibility of the well-established Lexar brand, Lexar Enterprise designs and manufactures memory and storage solutions that include embedded storage, mobile memory, solid-state drives, and memory modules in commercial, industrial, and automotive grades. Our cutting-edge products are deployed globally to drive higher performance, increase efficiencies, and deliver unwavering reliability. Our continued commitment to innovation ensures we are positioned to deliver superior solutions for our customers, partners, and communities

Lexar Enterprise. 1737 N First Street, Suite 680, San Jose, CA USA

Sundown Audio SALT-2 Subwoofer Amp Review The New Old School

When it comes to electronics, including our audio, there’s always newer and better. Tape decks gave way to CD’s, and CD’s gave way to streaming and Hi-Res Audio. But newer is not always better. Quality often gets sacrificed so products can be more affordable. Sometimes old school products are better. And in rare instances, you find a manufacturer making new products with old school quality. Such is the case with Sundown Audio and their SALT series car amplifiers. They’re the new old school. Up for review is their SALT-2 subwoofer amp.  MSRP is a very fair $875.

 

Features and specs:

4,000 x 1 @ 2 ohms RMS (when linked)

2,000 x 1 @ 1 ohms RMS mono

1,000 x 1 @ 2 ohms RMS mono

500 x 1 @ 4 ohms RMS mono

Frequency Response : 10 Hz – 250 HZ

Digital Class-D Linkable Mono Block Amplifier

Variable bass boost @ 45Hz 0-9dB

24dB variable subsonic filter: 10HZ - 50HZ

24dB variable low pass filter: 35HZ - 250HZ

Phase shift control 0-180 degrees

Power, clipping & protection indicators included

Thermal, voltage, speaker short, and dc-offset protection circuitry

Included Input wired remote control displays voltage, temperature, and clipping

Sensitivity : 6V - 0.2V

Dual MOS-FET PWM Power Supply

Efficiency : 90% <

Signal / Noise Ratio : 90DB <

Damping Factor : 400 <

Phase Shift Control 0-180 Degrees

Tested Voltage & THD : 12.8V & Less Than 1% THD

Operation Voltage : DC 9V - 15.5V Power Input

Recommended Fuse : 200 Amps

Dimensions : 15.74” L x 8.67” W x 2.80” H

 

The Sundown Audio SALT-2 came in a nice-looking color printed box, with photos and specs of the amplifier. Opening the box revealed a well-protected amp held in place by custom foam. Materials used in the construction was mostly metal. Quality of materials used, as well as fit and finish, are excellent! This is their premium amp and it shows! Also included was the bass remote, remote cable, Allen wrenches, and owner’s manual.

 

I absolutely love the old school quality of the Sundown Audio SALT series. To explain why, we first need to talk about the history of amp design. As time goes by, prices tend go up. And this included components. So manufacturers to try to keep prices down, have turned to lower quality components. This has caused lower performance. Sub amps many years ago, used to perform better, and handled power better. A sub amp that put out 300 watts at 4 ohm would actually double the power to 600 watts when the resistance dropped to 2 ohms. And it would double again to 1200 watts RMS when dropped further to 1 ohm. The internal components were better made and would put out more power. But now days, an amp rated a 300 watts RMS at 4 ohms, would only put out maybe 500 watts RMS when dropped to 2 ohms, and maybe around 750 or 800 at 1 ohm. And instead of rating their power at 12 volts, most amplifiers are now rated at 14.4 volts which not all vehicles hit.

 

This is what’s great about the Sundown Audio SALT series amps: their old school design.  When you drop the load from 4ohm to 2ohm, the power actually doubles.  Drop the load again from 2ohm to 1ohm, and the power doubles again.  The amp is also rated for the published power at 12 volts.  Their SALT series stands for Sundown Audio Low-Voltage Technology. Most amps are rated with published power at 14.1 volts, yet some alternators may only put out 13.6 volts or less. So being rated at full power at 12 volts, no matter what voltage your alternator is putting out, you will get the published power.

Sundown Audio however does not stop there. While they don’t publish it, may not recommend it, and it could void their warranty, their SALT amps can even handle ½ ohm loads! I would suspect this could be for you competitors, where you aren’t going to be running it for long lengths of time, just a couple minutes for competitions. And the quality continues even further. While most amps are made with Chinese components and made in China, some are made in China with some Korean components. The SALT series however take things even a step further. They are made in Korea with Korean components. It adds costs all around to do it this way, which increases the cost of the amp. It ends up being well worth it though. It’s a better performing amp that will last longer.

 

Ok, I’m going to date myself here, as I have been doing car audio for a VERY long time! But it kinda reminds me of my very first car audio system, that I powered with a very old school Rockford Fosgate Punch 75HD. Advertised at 37.5 watts RMS x 2 at 4 ohm, but really put out closer to 50 watts a channel at 4 ohm, and was able to be run in tri-made, which I did. That little amp powered a pair of 4” coaxials in the front, 6x9 co-axials in the rear deck, and a single 12” Punch Subwoofer. It ran close to 1ohm for a stereo amp, and it pounded hard all day long!

 

This Sundown Audio SALT-2 reminds me a bit of that amp, as this thing looks like a beast! The massive heat sinks are plenty to keep it cool. Connections on both sides are very well made, and solidly put together. The 0 gauge power and ground, followed by the 4 gauge speaker outs along with the line outs and stepping switch tell you this amp isn’t for the faint of heart. And looking inside at the beefy high-quality caps, power supply, as well as quality soldering, I was glad to see that they could be a new old school.

 

The layout was very user friendly. One side has your power, ground, speaker and remote turn on connectors. The other side contains your RCA ins and outs, remote turn on, as well as cross-over settings for high-pass, low-pass and subsonic filter. Tuning it was very simple.

 

And with the gift that keeps giving, Sundown Audio continues to impress. The bass remote is second to none. Not only is it used for the amount of bass output, it also advises you on the status of your amp. It has an LED readout that not only tells you the voltage that your amp is seeing, it also tells you the temperature of your amp. These can be not only helpful but also critical. Knowing the temperature can tell you your amp is on the verge of overheating, so time to tone it down.

 

All of this seems to be creating a synergy. It’s a compilation of parts, whose synergy created is higher than the sum of their parts. A product that leaves the competition in the dust. They even had their logo printed on both the top and the bottom. So no matter how you have it mounted, it looks great! Remember that scene in Ready Player One where Wade opened up the box and was looking at his newly delivered Nube Suit? Looking at the freshly installed Sundown Audio Salt-2 amp, it feels a lot like that. Now let’s see how it sounds.

 

Brandon Beal: Drop That Booty Down Low-  bass beats were nice and tight and super clean, had really good low end extension, and hit really hard!  But when he dropped the booty down low, it was really low but also really clean.  It hit so hard my whole truck shook!

Tiesto & Sevenn: Boom-  some bass beats were nice and as deep, but were super clean, tight, and played with authority. Others were deeper, yet were still super clean, tight, and played with excellent authority.  And then others were so deep, yet while still managed to be super clean. And it was like an earthquake in my truck.

Techmaster P.E.B: Activate-  so so deep!  It’s my old school subwoofer torture track.  Not only does it put out some serious bass, it shows how deep it can go.  Again, it was all super clean, yet so loud and shook my whole truck!

 

The Sundown Audio SALT-2 amplifier performed extremely well!  It provided excellent power to my sealed 12’s.  Motors were extremely well controlled, providing extremely tight quick beats when the music provided it. And when the provided bass was longer and sustained, it was extremely clean and smooth, providing tons of output.  It also proved to be very under-rated. Rated at 1000 watts RMS, our unit provided 1,495 watts at 2ohm.  And for 2 sealed subs in limited space under my rear seat which isn’t ideal, I still managed to get 131db. So the amp was very under-rated, provided real power, and made my not ideal set-up perform at its best. It will do the same for yours. And the bass remote with LED that also monitored the temperature of the amp and the volts it saw, also performed in spades.

 

The Sundown Audio SALT-2 amplifier proved to be a real performer! After listening to it, I can whole heartedly agree, as Wade Watts said……..Ohhhh…Yeah! With an MSRP of $875, some may consider it out of their budget. But whatever your wattage needs for your subs, Sundown Audio has a SALT series amp that will work for you, and worth every penny. It’s worth saving up for. And it will provide years of use. Based on its design, features, quality, and performance, the Sundown Audio SALT-2 has earned our Editor’s Choice Award. For more info and complete specs, check out their website at www.sundownaudio.com.