Short answer: the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It ranks #19 of 172 medium speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $399. The JBL Pulse 5 ranks #47, rated 3.7/5, at $189, $210 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen is the better-sounding, longer-running pick. Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes). It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 12 for the JBL Pulse 5. At 1.2 lbs (558 g) it weighs much less than the JBL Pulse 5 at 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg). It supports aptX Adaptive Bluetooth, which the JBL Pulse 5 lacks. The tradeoff: Distorts easier than the 2nd gen with deeper bass.
What the JBL Pulse 5 does well: A 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) IP67 speaker with a built-in light show, a rated 12-hour battery and PartyBoost linking with up to 100 speakers. The catch: Bass is limited by its ~58Hz specification.
Buy the B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $210 you would save on the JBL Pulse 5 does not close the gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Longer battery than the 2nd gen (~24 hours at sensible volumes).
Amazon $399.00 B&H Photo Video $399.00 eBay
A 1.5 kg IP67 speaker with a built-in light show, a rated 12-hour battery and PartyBoost linking with up to 100 speakers.
Amazon $189.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 17, 2026 at 6:04 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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Specifications Side By Side
| B&O Beosound A1 3rd gen | JBL Pulse 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $189.00 |
| Ranked | #19 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #47 of 172 in Medium Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 12 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | - |
| EQ | Yes | Yes |
| Power Bank | No | - |
| Stereo | No | No |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) | No |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (558 g) | 3.3 lbs (1500 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 |
| Dimensions | 5.2” x 1.8” x 5.2” (133 x 46 x 133 mm) | 4.2” x 8.4” x 5.2” (107 x 214 x 131 mm) |
| Drivers | 82.5mm woofer, 15mm tweeter | 64mm woofer, 16mm tweeter |
| IP Rating | IP67 | IP67 |
| Amplifier Power | 60W | 40W |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Strap | Yes (built-in strap) | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | ~58Hz |
| Party Mode | - | Yes (PartyBoost up to 100 speakers) |
| Frequency Response | - | 58Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
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