A light show with a pulse and a voice
Smart lighting has come a long way, but what if your lamp could also kick out some tunes, react to your music, and become the centerpiece of your party, study session, or chill-out zone? That’s exactly what the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL sets out to do. This isn’t just a glorified nightlight—it’s a dynamic light show, a portable speaker, and a smart home accent all rolled into one sleek cylinder. Buy it on Amazon!
And while the name might sound like a marketing team ran out of commas, this is a surprisingly thoughtful and ambitious device. Govee’s known for their rich lighting features, and with JBL’s branding slapped on the speaker, expectations for the audio quality are naturally high. So… does it deliver?
The lamp itself looks sharp—rounded and modern with a soft matte texture and clean lines. It’s not exactly small, but it’s compact enough to move from room to room, patio to kitchen, or wherever you need a little color and sound. There’s no handle, and that becomes more noticeable the more you move it. Still, it feels solid and portable enough to be practical for everyday use.
The dual-light system—with main lighting up top and ambient lighting below—offers flexibility. You can turn each zone on or off independently, or have them sync together with music and mood presets. The result is one of the most immersive lighting experiences I've seen from a smart lamp. The LEDs are diffused beautifully, creating a soft, atmospheric glow that avoids that harsh “tech gadget” look.
Lighting is where this unit really flexes. If you’ve used other Govee products, you’ll feel right at home—the app is loaded with customization options, animated scenes, and dynamic effects. Some of the coolest presets include: Buy it on Amazon!
Best of all, these aren't just lighting effects—they sync with the speaker’s output to pulse, swirl, or flash in time with music. Govee claims a 32ms response time, and honestly, it shows. The sync is tight and rarely feels off-beat, making this a legitimate audiovisual experience, not just a light reacting vaguely to sound.
Now to the big question: how does it sound?
Let’s set expectations. This is not a replacement for a dedicated JBL Flip or Charge speaker, but for something that combines sound and light in one package, the performance is impressive—up to a point.
At moderate volume (think 40–60%), the sound is clear, punchy, and well-balanced. Mids are the star here—vocals, acoustic guitars, podcasts, and speech-forward content sound natural and present. For casual listening indoors, you’ll be surprised by how rich and full it sounds.
Push it past 70%, though, and things start to fall apart. The bass flattens out, and you’ll notice distortion creeping in, especially on bass-heavy tracks. It doesn’t clip aggressively, but you lose a lot of that low-end energy and clarity. At max volume, it's loud—but it’s not clean.
This is where the biggest compromise lives. There’s definitely punchy mid-bass, but sub-bass is lacking, and you’ll hear it if you're playing EDM, hip-hop, or cinematic tracks. That said, it’s leagues better than most lamps or portable devices in this category. You’ll feel the kick in a kick drum or the beat in a lo-fi playlist—but it’s not going to rumble your desk.
The highs are present, but slightly recessed. Cymbals, hi-hats, and strings never get shrill, but they also don’t sparkle. If you're used to brighter tuning, you may find it a touch muted. That said, it’s tuned for comfort—which makes sense given its use case. You're not blasting this across a field, you’re vibing in a room. Buy it on Amazon!
Govee allows you to pair two lamps together for true stereo sound, and that’s probably the best-case scenario for serious music lovers. Unfortunately, I only tested one, but if you're planning to use this as a primary speaker, buying two may be worth it. It won’t beat a real stereo system, but it’ll make your lighting setup feel like one.
One downside: no AirPlay 2, no Chromecast audio, and no smart speaker support. That means you can’t tell it to play music natively like a Sonos or Nest Hub. All audio must come from your phone or device over Bluetooth.
Battery life is solid but varies depending on how much lighting you use. With the lights at moderate brightness and music playing, I got around 6–7 hours of playtime. Crank the brightness and volume, and that drops closer to 3–4 hours.
There’s no waterproof rating. That said, I wouldn’t push your luck. It’s great on a covered patio, porch, or under an umbrella, but not built for camping or beach days.
| Perfect for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|
| Smart home enthusiasts | Audiophiles seeking deep bass |
| Families and kids | Outdoor adventurers |
| Ambient lighting lovers | People who need rugged, waterproof gear |
| Small gatherings or dorm rooms | Those who want native smart speaker features |
| Creators & vibe-setters | Critical listeners expecting flat studio sound |
The Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL surprised me. I didn’t expect to use it as much as I do. I didn’t expect the lights to be this immersive, or the sound to be this clean at low volumes. I didn’t expect it to become such a reliable part of my daily routine.
Sure, it’s not without limitations. The bass loses control at high volumes. It’s not weatherproof. And the lack of smart speaker functionality is a missed opportunity.
But at the same time, it’s one of the most fun, easy-to-use, and versatile smart devices I’ve tested this year. It’s the kind of product that fits in more places than you’d think—on a desk, in a kid’s room, at a backyard dinner, or during a yoga session. It’s not just a speaker. It’s not just a lamp. It’s a mood machine.
If you love ambient lighting, smart home gadgets, or the idea of mixing sound and color in a single portable package, the Govee Table Lamp 2 Pro x Sound by JBL is absolutely worth checking out—especially if you catch it on sale.
And when version 2.0 comes out with better bass, maybe a handle or better way to carry it, and full smart audio support? I’ll be first in line. Buy it on Amazon!
