Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen for the higher ranking, the JBL Charge 6 for the lower price. The B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen ranks #10 of 134 medium speakers at $200. The JBL Charge 6 ranks #11 at $149.95, $50.05 cheaper.
What the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen gets right: More neutral than the first A1. Set against that: Not stereo.
On the JBL Charge 6 side: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. Set against that: Still some boosted bass by default.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen if the ranking matters more than the price. Buy the JBL Charge 6 if the price matters more than the ranking.
Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen | JBL Charge 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $149.95 |
| Ranked | #10 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #11 of 134 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built in Microphone | Yes | No |
| EQ | Yes | Yes (7 band) |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Bluetooth Latency | 90ms | - |
| Max Volume | 93dB | 102dB |
| Power Bank | No | Yes |
| Stereo | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 558 g | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Drivers | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| Digital Aux Input | - | Yes (USB-C) |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (Auracast) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | - | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | - | 45W |
The Two Speakers In Full
B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen: $200 Amazon
Pros: More neutral than the first A1
Cons: Not stereo. Not as deep bass as the A1. Pumping sound artifacts above 60% volume, only good for lower listening levels.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 58Hz |
| Battery Life | 18 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Bluetooth Latency | 90ms |
| Built in Microphone | Yes |
| Drivers | 3.5mm aluminium driver + 0.75 inch silk dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes |
| IP Rating | IP67 |
| Max Volume | 93dB |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs / 558 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beoplay/Beosound A1 - all 3 generations compared
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen vs 2nd gen - worth the premium?
- Alan Ross Reviews: B&O Beoplay A1 2nd gen vs Minirig mk3 bluetooth speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: B&O Beoplay A1 2nd gen vs Minirig mk3 bluetooth speaker
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Motion Plus vs Beoplay A1 2nd gen - The Match!
- techkiste.net: B&O Beosound A1 (2nd Gen) vs Bose Revolve 2 vs Bose Revolve+ 2 sound-comparison
- Oluv Patreon: B&O Beosound A1 2nd gen vs Beoplay A1 outdoors with a bit of Anker Soundcore Motion+ too
- Oluv Patreon: (Anker) Soundcore Motion 300 - first impressions
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
JBL Charge 6: $149.95 Amazon Bhphotovideo
Pros: Seems more neutral than the Charge 5. Flatter frequency response through the mids and treble as the Charge 5 was quite rolled off up high. Use this EQ from Joy/Oluv and turn down the lowest bass slider for the best sound quality. Oluv has even more paid EQs specifically for the GG and TL models indoors and outdoors here
Cons: Still some boosted bass by default. Mids are recessed. Bright above 2khz. Quite a V shaped frequency response.
| App | Yes |
|---|---|
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 9.0" x 3.9" x 3.7" (228.8 x 98.5 x 94 mm) |
| Drivers | 53mm x 93mm woofer, 20mm tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (7 band) |
| Frequency Response | 56Hz - 20kHz (-6dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Max Volume | 102dB |
| Output Power | 45W |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Audio | Yes |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 990 g |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - outdoor test
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs SoundCore Boom 2 - David vs Goliath
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6 vs JBL Xtreme 4 - basstest (bigger=better?)
- JOY‘s 🎧3D🔈Audio-Show: JBL Charge 6, Xtreme 4 & Earfun UBoom X - taking sound to the top
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Charge 6 or the JBL Charge 5? don’t go home till you watch this!
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL Xtreme 4 vs Flip 7 vs Charge 6 – The ULTIMATE JBL Speaker Showdown!
- Oluv Patreon: Marshall Middleton II - better with EQ?
- Oluv Patreon: An evening with the “best portable speakers”?
- Oluv Patreon: Bose Soundlink Plus vs JBL Charge 6 - fight!
- Mateusz Cholewa: JBL Charge 6 🎶👌Unboxing 📦vs Jbl Charge 5 Short Test Audio i Hz.
- GYMCADDY: JBL Charge 6 Review - Worth Upgrading Even If You Have The JBL Charge 5
- Oluv Patreon: JBL Charge 6 - good or bad?
- Joy & Oluv’Sone: JBL, Bose, B&O, Sonos, Earfun, SoundCore… which portable speaker sounds best?
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.