Short answer: the JBL Go 5 for durability, the Boat Stone 190 for a lighter carry. The Go 5 steps up to an IP68 rating from the Go 4’s IP67 and adds AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking, but it is still overpriced and not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. The Boat Stone is quite light for the performance, though it has not much bass with slightly boosted mids and rolled off highs.
Buy the Boat Stone 190 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the JBL Go 5 if sound quality matters more than the price.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Portable Bluetooth rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Boat Stone 190 | JBL Go 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 9.00 | $39.95 |
| Ranked | #34 of 50 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #26 of 50 in Small Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | No | Yes |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz | - |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| EQ | No | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX7 | IP68 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes | - |
| Party Mode | No | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No | No |
| Power Input | USB-C | USB-C |
| Stereo | No | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up | Pointing up |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 g) | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 6.0 |
| Drivers | 52mm | 45mm |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Amplifier Power | 5W | 4.8W |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 4.1” x 2.6” (105 x 105 x 67 mm) | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | Yes (USB-C) |
| Strap | No | Yes (built-in loop) |
| Lights | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Go 5:
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Soundcore Boom Go 3i
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini 2
- JBL Go 5 vs Minirig Mini
- JBL Go 5 vs Tribit Stormbox Micro
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Boat Stone 190: 9.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Ultra-lightweight 185 g design with IPX7 waterproof protection. 52mm dynamic driver produces surprisingly clear volume for its size. Includes microSD slot and 3.5mm aux input. Measured bass extension of 95Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Minimal low bass extension below 95Hz; highs are rolled off at higher volume.
Full Boat Stone 190 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 5W |
|---|---|
| App | No |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 95Hz |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 4.1” x 4.1” x 2.6” (105 x 105 x 67 mm) |
| Drivers | 52mm |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 70kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IPX7 |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | No |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 lbs (185 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Go 5: $39.95 Amazon eBay
Older models: the JBL Go 4 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5) and the JBL Go 3 (ranked lower, rated 3.2/5).
Pros: IP68 rating, up from the Go 4’s IP67. AirTouch tap-to-pair stereo linking. 7-band custom app EQ, up from the Go 4’s 5-band. USB-C wired audio input.
Cons: Still overpriced for what it delivers, not very different from the Go 4 besides the lights. Still lacking bass and not very clear overall. Mono downmixing produces an audible growling artifact, the same issue noted on the JBL Charge 6. Falls well short of similarly priced rivals like the Tribit Stormbox Micro 2. Weak off-axis dispersion and an uneven, upper-mid-heavy tonal balance. Doesn’t get meaningfully louder at max volume, just harsher.
Full JBL Go 5 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 4.8W |
|---|---|
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Battery Life | 8 hours, 10 with Playtime Boost (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Version | 6.0 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Charging Time | 3 hours |
| Digital Aux Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Dimensions | 4” x 3” x 1.7” (101 x 77 x 43 mm) |
| Drivers | 45mm |
| EQ | Yes |
| Frequency Response | 100Hz - 19kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | Pointing up |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | No |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes (AirTouch tap-to-pair) |
| Strap | Yes (built-in loop) |
| TWS | Yes |
| Weight | 0.5 lbs (230 g) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons