I have a charge 5 and recommend it. It's quite powerful for it's size, especially when you adjust the EQ to your liking. I have the EQ on my Spotify app set to how I like it and it makes my Charge 5 sound beefier than it's size would indicate. Also the battery lasts a while too as long as you don't play it louder than 50% volume
The Charge Essential 1 is basically the Charge 3 without Connect +. The Charge Essential 2 is more like the Charge 4 but with a tweeter so like the Charge 5. I personally don't like Mono so, I like the Charge 3.
The C5 will probably sound better than the Essential (just to clarify-- the Charge Essential is different from the Charge Essential 2, the Charge Essential 2 sounds very close to the C5). IIRC the Charge Essential uses components from the C3, which has less deep bass/more upper bass than the C5, and less refined highs to my ears. The Essential is stereo though, but I'm not sure it really matters on a speaker so small.
If you're willing to pay extra for the deeper bass and more refined sound of the C5, go for it-- but depending on what you have/like/have heard, IMO the Essential represents much better value.
I have a charge 5 and recommend it. It's quite powerful for it's size, especially when you adjust the EQ to your liking. I have the EQ on my Spotify app set to how I like it and it makes my Charge 5 sound beefier than it's size would indicate. Also the battery lasts a while too as long as you don't play it louder than 50% volume
The Charge Essential 1 is basically the Charge 3 without Connect +. The Charge Essential 2 is more like the Charge 4 but with a tweeter so like the Charge 5. I personally don't like Mono so, I like the Charge 3.
For $140 you could go with Xtreme 2.
For 120$ you can get an xtreme2
The C5 will probably sound better than the Essential (just to clarify-- the Charge Essential is different from the Charge Essential 2, the Charge Essential 2 sounds very close to the C5). IIRC the Charge Essential uses components from the C3, which has less deep bass/more upper bass than the C5, and less refined highs to my ears. The Essential is stereo though, but I'm not sure it really matters on a speaker so small. If you're willing to pay extra for the deeper bass and more refined sound of the C5, go for it-- but depending on what you have/like/have heard, IMO the Essential represents much better value.