RGBs in microphones, RGBs in keyboards; in the gaming world, everything that you can think of likely has some form of LEDs embedded into the product. Some combinations work well, and others don't, and as we see more and more colorful pieces of tech enter the market, I can't help but wonder what new and innovative way we'll see RGBs incorporated next. While we wait, pre-existing LED-filled hardware will still release, as proven by JBL's Pulse 4 speaker. 

Some people are content with a wireless speaker they can move from room to room, loud and with battery life long enough to sustain a party. JBL takes that familiar concept and runs with it, adding a much more visual aspect to the typical audio listening experience. As evidenced by the name, the JBL Pulse 4, there's been a few of these in the past, each slowly improving upon the last. Gone is the large and rather bulky base of the Pulse 3, with the Pulse 4 opting to go all-in on the full-body glass look. The design is absolutely stunning, with the result being somewhat of a cross between a lava lamp inside of a giant clear espresso mug. 

This makes the Pulse 4 one beautiful speaker, as the entire cylindrical frame is entirely dedicated to its main selling point: the lights. You've got 360 degree sound and RGBs in this package. It'll certainly catch your eye, and it truly does look great, especially in the dark. Depending on your settings, the Pulse 4 will react to music, becoming a visual spectacle when listening to tunes. The glass-like material surrounding the outer layer of the speaker also helps make the whole presentation look top-notch, giving the speaker a reflective look that makes the lights look even brighter and flashier. 

Given just how ideal this thing seems for a party, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that this speaker is rated IPX7, ridiculously enough, meaning you can put this in water up to 3ft deep and keep it there for up to a half-hour, and it'll be absolutely fine. You won't be able to get away with tossing this into the deep end of a pool, but it will survive whatever people do at parties to require so many portable speakers to boast waterproof ratings. Concerningly, though, the speaker's charging port is not covered, nor is there any cover for it, so you might want to be careful drying it out if you need to charge it soon after splashing around with it. I wasn't able to take it to a pool, but it did handle being used as a really over the top speaker for the shower. 

The speaker part of the device is located on the top of the cylinder, while the bottom part packs in a bass-pumping woofer. When the music gets loud, this thing will do a pretty impressive job at putting out vibrations that emphasize the deep bass that this small speaker has to offer. Perhaps the second most impressive about the speaker--just behind the lights--is that bass; especially when compared to other 360 speakers, such as the much more mid-balanced Ultimate Ears Boom 3. 

JBL also has a companion app that goes with the Pulse 4. Use of the app isn't mandatory, thankfully, but you probably will want to grab it nonetheless, since it's how you control the equalizer and lighting effects. Having multiple devices paired to the speaker did cause a few connection errors from time to time, requiring having to re-pair the Pulse 4 all over again, though it's a simple and quick process. If you're just keeping it to one phone or tablet synced to the speaker at a time, everything should work seamlessly.

When it comes to Bluetooth speakers, the JBL Pulse 4 is a solid option. For the price, there are much better speakers out there, but if you're considering a speaker like this, then you're likely used to paying for "RGB tax" that comes with flashy products. Bar none, this is a fantastic speaker for parties, RGB gaming setups, or ambiance.